Methods and apparatus for obtaining and distributing voice mail information

A method of operating an Internet Protocol messaging device the method comprising:

• receiving Internet Protocol address information and directory number information for each of a plurality of voice mail service subscribers from an advanced intelligent network service control point coupled to said Internet Protocol messaging device;
• receiving a SMDI message;
• generating an IP message including at least one IP packet and at least some information obtained from the received SMDI message, said generating including incorporating an Internet Protocol address included in said received Internet Protocol address information in said at least one IP packet;
• and
• transmitting the IP message to an IP communications network.

A communications system, comprising:

• a telephone switch;
• a voice messaging system;
• a communications link coupled to the telephone switch and to the voice messaging system for carrying voice message waiting information between voice messaging system and the telephone switch;
• an Internet Protocol message server coupled to said communications link for detecting voice message waiting information transmitted over said communications link and for generating an Internet Protocol message including at least some of said voice message waiting information;
• and
• a voice message retrieval device coupled to said Internet Protocol message server by an Internet Protocol communications channel, the voice message retrieval device including means for retrieving a waiting message from said voice messaging system in response to receiving an IP message including at least some message waiting indicator information.

A message server for generating Internet Protocol (IP) messages from simplified message desk interface messages, the message server comprising:

• means for receiving simplified message desk interface messages from a simplified message desk interface data link;
• stored Internet address information;
• and
• an Internet Protocol message generation module for generating an Internet Protocol message including IP address information and at least some information obtained from a received simplified message desk interface data said Internet Protocol message generation module including at least a routine for accessing at least a portion of a stored history message to obtain a calling party name.

A system for providing voice messaging service to a plurality of message service subscribers, the system comprising:

• a telephone switch;
• a voice messaging system;
• a simplified message desk interface communications channel coupling the voice messaging system to the telephone switch;
• an Internet Protocol network for communicating messages using the Internet Protocol;
• an Internet Protocol message server coupled to the simplified message desk interface communications channel and to the Internet Protocol network, the Internet Protocol message server generating IP messages from simplified message desk interface messages transmitted over said simplified message desk interface communications channel;
• and
• a voice message retrieval system coupled to the Internet Protocol message server by said Internet Protocol network, the voice message retrieval system operating to retrieve voice messages from said voice message system in response to Internet Protocol messages received from the Internet Protocol message server.