Voicemail Archival and Forwarding Functionality for Communications Networks and Devices

Abstract

A voicemail system includes a memory and a processor. The memory can store data relating to one or more users. An incoming communication can be handled by the voicemail system and provided with functionality based upon, for example, preferences of a user. The voicemail system can include functionality to allow a user to archive a voicemail message, to convert a voicemail message to a desired format, and/or to forward a voicemail message or converted voicemail message file to one or more designated destinations. The voicemail system can operate on a communications network, at a communications device, or both. Methods for archiving, converting, and/or forwarding voicemail messages are also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising
 receiving a message associated with a mobile device, 
 storing a copy of the message in the memory, 
 receiving a command to forward the message to a recipient device, 
 retrieving the copy of the message from the memory, and 
 forwarding the copy of the message to the recipient device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 retrieving information relating to the recipient device; and   determining, based upon the information, a conversion format for the copy of the message.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 converting the copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and   forwarding the copy of the message converted to the conversion format to the recipient device.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 attaching a forwarding message to the copy of the message.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving a further command to archive the copy of the message.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the command to forward the message comprises receiving, from the mobile device, the command. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the command to forward the message comprises receiving, via a user interface, selection of an option to forward the message. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein forwarding the copy of the message to the recipient device comprises:
 sending retrieval instructions to the recipient device;   detecting a request, from the recipient device, for the copy of the message; and   providing, to the recipient device, the copy of the message in response to the request.   
     
     
         9 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a device comprising a processor, a message associated with a mobile device;   storing, by the device, a copy of the message at a memory;   receiving, by the device, a command to forward the copy of the message to a recipient device;   retrieving, by the device, the copy of the message from the memory, and   forwarding, by the device, the copy of the message to the recipient device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 retrieving information relating to the recipient device; and   determining, based upon the information, a conversion format for the copy of the message.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 converting the copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and   forwarding, to the recipient device, the copy of the message converted to the conversion format.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 attaching a forwarding message to the copy of the message.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving a further command to archive the copy of the message.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein forwarding the copy of the message to the recipient device comprises:
 sending retrieval instructions to the recipient device;   detecting a request, from the recipient device, for the copy of the message; and   providing, to the recipient device, the copy of the message in response to the request.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a message associated with a mobile device;   storing a copy of the message at a memory;   receiving a command to forward the copy of the message to a recipient device;   retrieving the copy of the message from the memory, and   forwarding the copy of the message to the recipient device.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 retrieving information relating to the recipient device; and   determining, based upon the information, a conversion format for the copy of the message.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 converting the copy of the message from a format to the conversion format; and   forwarding, to the recipient device, the copy of the message converted to the conversion format.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 attaching a forwarding message to the copy of the message.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations further comprising:
 receiving a further command to archive the copy of the message.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein forwarding the copy of the message to the recipient device comprises:
 sending retrieval instructions to the recipient device;   detecting a request, from the recipient device, for the copy of the message; and   providing, to the recipient device, the copy of the message in response to the request.