System and Method for Voice Messaging

Abstract

A system and method for voice messaging the enables the modification of recorded voice messages and caller-specific conveniences. More particularly, the present invention pertains to identifying a caller and, thereby, enabling the caller to modify recorded voice messages and enabling a recipient to designate how calls from a particular caller should be handled, for example, by specifying a greeting message for a particular caller or by specifying the order in which voice messages are presented based upon the associated caller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for the recording and presentation of voice messages and greeting messages, the system comprising:
 a communication device;   a voice message server, wherein the server comprises:
 a database, wherein the database is enabled to maintain a system record associated with identification information; 
 a recording mechanism, wherein the recording mechanism enables the recording of one or more of a voice message and a greeting message and the storage of one or more of a voice message and a greeting message in association with a system record; 
 a presentation mechanism, wherein the presentation mechanism enables the presentation of one or more of a voice message and a greeting message stored in association with a system record; and 
 an identification mechanism, wherein the identification mechanism enables the identification of a system record via identification information received from the communication device, thereby enabling the locating of a voice message or a greeting message stored in association with the system record; and 
   a communication network, wherein the communication network enables communication between the voice message server and the communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system record is identifiable by identification information associated with the communication device. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the identification information comprises one or more of the following: a phone number, mobile identification number, electronic serial number, and subscriber identity module data. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system record is identifiable by identification information associated with an individual employing the communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the identification information comprises one or more of the following: a pass phrase, a personal identification number, and biometric data. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication network is one of the following: a public switched network, a mobile network, or the Internet. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic address book mechanism, wherein the electronic address mechanism enables the selection of a user for which to record one or more of a voice message or greeting message. 
     
     
         8 . A method for recording a voice message in a voice messaging system, the method comprising:
 receiving from a caller a first voice message recording request at a voice message server, wherein the first voice message recording request includes identification information that identifies the caller and a recipient;   locating a caller system record maintained with the voice message server in association with the received identification information;   locating a recipient system record maintained with the voice message server in association with the received identification information;   recording a voice message received from the caller;   storing a voice message in association with the caller system record and the recipient system record;   receiving from the caller a second voice message recording request at the voice message server, wherein the second voice message recording request includes identification information that identifies the caller and the recipient;   locating the voice message stored in association with the caller system record and the recipient system record;   modifying the voice message; and   storing the voice message as modified in association with the caller system record and the recipient system record.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein locating a caller system record comprises determining the existence of a caller system record and, if no caller system record is associated with the received identification information, generating a caller system record. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising notifying the caller of whether the stored voice message has been received by the recipient. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein modifying the voice message comprises one or more of the following: amending the stored voice message, deleting the stored voice message, and re-recording the stored voice message. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising notifying the recipient of a modification to the voice message. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising presenting the voice message to the recipient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the presenting of the voice message to the recipient is performed in accordance with a priority setting established by the recipient. 
     
     
         15 . A method for recording a greeting message in a voice messaging system, the method comprising:
 receiving from a user a greeting message recording request at a voice message server, wherein the greeting message recording request includes identification information that identifies the user and a specific caller;   locating a system record associated with the user maintained with the voice message server in association with the received identification information;   locating a system record associated with the specific caller maintained with the voice message server in association with the received identification information;   recording a greeting message; and   storing the greeting message in association with the system record of the user and the system record of the specific caller.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising presenting the user with a listing of callers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein locating a system record associated with a recipient comprises determining the existence of a recipient system record and if no recipient system record is associated with the received identification information, generating a recipient system record. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving a greeting message presentation request at the voice message server from the specific caller, wherein the greeting message presentation request includes identification information that identifies the specific caller and the user;   locating the greeting message stored in association with the system record of the user and the system record of the specific caller; and   presenting the greeting message to the specific caller.