# US 9,325,832 B2 · Ubiquitous voice messaging

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- Number: US 9,325,832 B2
- Document ID: US9325832B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/820,766
- Filed: 2015-08-07
- Published: 2015-12-03
- Granted: 2016-04-26
- Earliest claimed: 2008-01-24
- Assignees: Notevault, Inc.
- Applicants: Notevault, Inc.
- Inventors: John Major; Peter Lasensky
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9325832B2

## CPC

- H04L 61/4547: {for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier}
- H04L 51/56: Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
- H04M 1/72433: for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones (for answering incoming calls H04M1/64)
- H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
- H04M 3/5322: {for recording text messages}
- H04M 3/533: Voice mail systems
- H04M 3/53333: {Message receiving aspects}
- H04M 3/53341: {Message reply}
- H04M 3/53366: {Message disposing or creating aspects}
- H04M 3/537: Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message {, whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message}
- H04M 7/0048: {where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service}
- H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
- H04W 80/06: Transport layer protocols, e.g. TCP [Transport Control Protocol] over wireless {(transmission control protocol/Internet protocol [TCP/IP] or user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16)}
- H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing ubiquitous and configurable communications between users is provided. Ubiquity and other features are provided using a common identifier linking two or more users. In one embodiment, a common identifier is automatically provided when call forwarding is directed to a designated phone number. In another embodiment, a user can cause a common identifier to be created linking the user with a user of their choice by sending a text message to a designated address. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for processing communications in a server system, the server system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
providing a receiver identifier associated with the server system for receiving messages;
receiving a first message comprising a request to associate a first device identifier and a second device identifier with a common identifier;
locating the first device identifier within a database of device identifiers;
associating the common identifier with the first and second device identifiers, wherein the server system configures a first communication device associated with the first device identifier to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with a second communication device associated with the second device identifier, and wherein the server system configures the second communication device associated with the second device identifier to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the device associated with the first device identifier; and
sending a second message to the first communication device informing the first communication device of the common identifier associating the first and second device identifiers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a third message to the second communication device informing the second communications device of the receipt of a communication for the second communication device from the first communication device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the third message includes the common identifier associated with the first and second device identifiers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method claim 2, wherein the third message advises the second communication device of a voice message from the first communication device and the common identifier associated with the first and second device identifiers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a call from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and playing back the voice message.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving a call from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and redirecting the call to the first communication device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving a call from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and recording a voice message therefrom.

### Claim 8

A computing apparatus for processing communications comprising:
a memory;
at least one processor; and
a storage medium, the storage medium comprising a set of processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
providing a receiver identifier associated with a server system for receiving messages;
receiving a message comprising a request to associate a first device identifier and a second device identifier with a common identifier;
locating the first device identifier within a database of device identifiers;
associating the common identifier with the first and second device identifiers, wherein the processor configures a first communication device associated with the first device identifier to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with a second communication device associated with the second device identifier, and wherein the processor configures the second communication device associated with the second device identifier to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the device associated with the first device identifier; and
sending a second message to the first communication device informing the first communication device of the common identifier associating the first and second device identifiers.

### Claim 9

A method for processing communications by a server system, the server system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
associating a first common identifier with a first sending device identifier and a first group of receiving device identifiers, wherein the server system configures a first sending device associated with the first sending device identifier to communicate, via the first common identifier, with at least one first receiving device associated with at least one first receiving device identifier in the first group of receiving device identifiers; and
associating the first common identifier with a second sending device identifier and a second group of receiving device identifiers, wherein a second sending device associated with the second sending device identifier is linked, via the first common identifier, with at least one second receiving device associated with at least one second receiving device identifier in the second group of receiving device identifiers,
wherein the server system (i) configures the first sending device to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the at least one first receiving device, (ii) configures the at least one receiving device to communicate with the server system for a communication with the first sending device, (iii) configures the second sending device to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the at least one second receiving device, and (iv) configures the at least one receiving device to communicate with the server system for a communication with the first sending device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the first group of receiving device identifiers comprises a single first receiving device identifier and only a single first receiving device is associated with the first receiving device identifier.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the second group of receiving device identifiers comprises a single second receiving device identifier and only a single second receiving device is associated with the second receiving device identifier.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising associating a second common identifier with the first sending device identifier and the at least one first receiving device identifier in the first group of receiving device identifiers, the at least one first receiving device identifier being associated with the at least one first receiving device, wherein the server system configures the first sending device to communicate, via the second common identifier, with the at least one first receiving device, wherein (v) the server system configures the first sender device to communicate with the server system using the second common identifier for a communication with the at least one first receiving device, and (vi) the server system configures the at least one first receiver device to communicate with the first sending device using the second common identifier for a communication with the first sending device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the first common identifier is a local number with respect to the first sending device identifier and the second common identifier is a local number with respect to the at least one first receiving device identifier.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
receiving a message from the first sending device corresponding to the first common identifier;
determining the at least one first receiving device identifier, based on the first sending device identifier and the first common identifier;
forwarding the message to the at least one receiving device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the forwarded message lacks the first sending device identifier and any personal information associated therewith.

### Claim 16

A computing apparatus for processing communications comprising:
a memory;
at least one processor; and
a storage medium, the storage medium comprising a set of processor executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
associating a first common identifier with a first sending device identifier and a first group of receiving device identifiers, wherein the processor configures a first sending device associated with the first sending device identifier to communicate, via the first common identifier, with at least one first receiving device associated with at least one first receiving device identifier in the first group of receiving device identifiers,
associating the first common identifier with a second sending device identifier and a second group of receiving device identifiers, wherein the processor configures a second sender device associated with the second sending device identifier to communicate, via the first common identifier, with at least one second receiving device associated with at least one second receiving device identifier in the second group of receiving device identifiers,
wherein the processor (i) configures the first sending device to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the at least one first receiving device, (ii) configures the at least one receiving device to communicate with the server system for a communication with the first sending device, (iii) configures the second sender device to communicate with the server system using the common identifier for a communication with the at least one second receiving device, and (iv) configures the at least one receiving device to communicate with the server system for a communication with the first sending device.