Network-based multimedia communications and directory system and method of operation
Patent 5740231 Issued on April 14, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date: April 14, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
379/88.22, Message management370/401, Bridge or gateway between networks370/407, Interconnected star couplers370/408, Nodes interconnected in hierarchy to form a tree370/425, Star configuration379/93.01, Having transmission of a digital message signal over a telephone line379/219, PLURAL EXCHANGE NETWORK OR INTERCONNECTION709/206Demand based messaging
A communications system (10) is provided which comprises a plurality of network hubs (12), (14), and (16). Network hubs (12), (14), and (16) are interconnected through a communications network (18). The system (10) interconnects messaging systems (24), (26), (28), (30), (32), (34), (36), (40), (42) and (44) having disparate capabilities and using disparate communications protocols. The network hubs use numbers of connection processors (52) and (54) to interact with the messaging systems. A hub database (68) and message store (58) are used to store control information and messaging information within the network hubs. A network processor (60) is used to interact with other hubs within the communications system (10). A message router (72), connection manager (74), data replicator (76), and an administrative event manager (78) are used to control the operations of the hub in processing a message. A management server (64) and a event processor (70) are used by communications system (10) to manage the internal operations of each of the network hubs. The network center (37) contains a customer computer interface system (167) and an interactive voice response system (169) to allow user interaction with information provider databases (39), a customer service system (161), a message tracking system (163), a billing system (159), and a HelpLine system (157). The network center (37) contains a master database (151) that is used to synchronize the databases stored in each of the network hubs (12), (14), and (16).
Other References
"Message Transport & Routing Service (MTRS), Technical Service & Architecture Description Special Report, (SR-INS-002662 Issue 1)", MTRS Industry Forum, Bellcore, Jul. 1, 1993
"Message Transport & Routing Service (MTRS), Technical Service and Architecture Description Special Report, (SR-INS-002662 Issue 1)", MTRS Technical Service and Architecture Description, Bellcore, May 1993
"Message Transport and Routing Service (MTRS), Voice Messaging and Beyond", by Angela Liu, Bellcore
Hunse, Tom Sheridan, "Voice Mail Service Bureaus--Not Just Mailboxes Anymore", Voice Processing Magazine, Mar. 1993, pp. 30-34
Company Profile of Voice Technologies Group, including a description of voice messaging products
Various Articles and Documents relating to Envoy Global, Inc. and their voice messaging product, the Apogee 2000 (marked as Exhibits A-N)
Boudette, Neal "IBM Plans `Smart ` Messaging Service", PC Week, vol. 10, No. 50, Dec. 20, 1993, pp. 1, 16-17
Smalley, Eric, et al., "AT&T to unveil On-Line Service Feating Intelligent Agents", PC Week, vol. 10, No. 49, Dec. 13, 1993, p. 1, 10-11
"AT&T Bodylink Services Announces Support for Microsoft At Work Architecture and Software for Personal Communicators", Business Wire, Jun. 9, 1993, pp. 3-4
April 14, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
