# US 9,525,778 B2 · Ubiquitous voice messaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,525,778 B2 - Document ID: US9525778B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/136,802 - Filed: 2016-04-22 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2016-12-20 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-24 - Assignees: Notevault, Inc. - Applicants: Notevault, Inc. - Inventors: John Major; Peter Lasensky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9525778B2 ## 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 unique receiver identifier associated with the server system configured for receiving unanswered calls forwarded from a first communication device; receiving by the server system, an unanswered call redirected from a first communication device having a first unique device identifier, the call originating from a second communication device having a second unique device identifier; determining by the server system the first unique device identifier and the second unique device identifier; determining by the server system if the first and second unique device identifiers are contained within a database of unique identifiers maintained by the server system; associating by the server system the first and second unique device identifiers with a common identifier when no such association in the server database previously exists; and sending by the server system a message to the first communication device advising of the common identifier associated the first and second unique device identifiers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising recording by the server system a voice message from the second communication device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending by the server system a text message to the first communication device advising of the receipt of the redirected call. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the advising includes the common identifier associated with the first and second communication devices. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising recording by the server system a voice message from the second communication device, and wherein the advising includes advising of a voice message redirected from the second communication device to the first communication device, and of the common identifier associated with the first and second communication devices. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving by the server system a call from the first communication device directed to the common identifier and playing back by the server system the voice message. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a call by the server system from the first communication device directed to the common identifier and redirecting the call to the second communication device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving a call by the server system from the first communication device directed to the common identifier and recording a voice message therefrom. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending by the server system a text message to the second communication device advising of the receipt of the redirected call. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the advising includes the common identifier associated with the first and second communication devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the advising includes advising by the server system of the voice message from the first communication device and the common identifier associated with the first and second communication devices. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving by the server system a call from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and playing back by the server system the voice message. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a call by the server system from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and redirecting by the server system the call to the first communication device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a call by the server system from the second communication device directed to the common identifier and recording by the server system a voice message therefrom. ### Claim 15 A method for processing communications in a server system, the server system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising: providing a unique receiver identifier associated with the server system configured for receiving SMS protocol messages; receiving by the server system a SMS protocol text message comprising a request to associate a first enumerated unique device identifier and a second enumerated unique device identifier with a common identifier; locating by the server system the first device identifier within a database of unique identifiers maintained by the server system; associating by the server system a common identifier not previously associated with the first unique device identifier with the first and second unique device identifiers; and sending by the server system a message to a first communications device advising of the common identifier associating the first and second unique device identifiers. ### 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, configure the computing apparatus to: provide a unique receiver identifier associated with the server system configured for receiving unanswered calls forwarded from a first communication device; receive an unanswered call redirected from a first communication device having a first unique device identifier, the call originating from a second communication device having a second unique device identifier; determine the first unique device identifier and the second unique device identifier; determine if the first and second unique device identifiers are contained within a database of unique identifiers maintained by the server system; associate the first and second unique device identifiers with a common identifier when no such association in the server database previously exists; and send a message to the first communications device advising of the common identifier associated the first and second unique device identifiers.