System and method for providing voice messaging services utilizing a network connection

• Main Authors: Castagna, William D, Smith, Shawn W, Vanderford, Jan
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.08.2002

There are two predominant types of systems used by home telephone or small office locations to answer telephone calls and electronically store telephone messages. The first is the common answering machine; the second is to subscribe to voice mail service provided by a central provider, such as the local telephone company. Each of these system have advantages and disadvantages compared with the other system. Central messaging systems are more reliable than home answering machines. The central systems use digital storage methods and often use redundant systems so that if a hard disk or other hardware system malfunctions, the system still operates correctly, without loss of data. If the subscriber's home loses power, the central messaging system keeps working while the home answering machine stops working. Central messaging systems can also handle more than one incoming call at a time for the same home telephone number. Home answering machines, on the other hand, only handle one call at a time and if a second call comes in, the second call gets a busy signal if the home does not have call waiting. If the home has call waiting, a possibly worse result may occur; the caller hears endless ringing, as the home answering machine is not able to answer call waiting calls, and the caller may assume that the phone number does not have answering machine and thus may not call back shortly to leave a message, with the result that the home user may miss an important message. Last, central messaging systems are often much easier to access by the subscriber when the subscriber is away from home. While many home answering machines have remote message retrieval features, the user interfaces are often clumsy and ineffective. Central messaging systems also sometimes have toll free numbers for out of town subscribers to use to retrieve messages. When an incoming call is received, a signal is sent to a computer that monitors the telephone line. If the telephone is not answered, the messaging system sends a signal and streaming audio signals to the computer. The signals are output over speakers connected to the computer.