Voice mail server, mobile station and method for voice mail message transmission

Abstract

Within a cellular network, an incoming voice mail message is received at a voice mail server ( 20 ), adapted into a format suitable for transmission by a network connection which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information, dispatched to a mobile station ( 30 ), and received, readapted and stored thereat within a storing means ( 35 ). Adaptation, transmission, reception and readaptation conform to standards such as the GPRS and the UMTS. The voice mail message is dispatched directly to the mobile station ( 30 ) via an IP address or an ISDN address thereof. In this manner, instead of dispatching a message via the SMS, the sending of an adapted voice mail message directly to a mobile station ( 30 ) and storing it thereat makes it possible to avoid that a user has to poll a service center by calling in order to have the message delivered.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
     
     
         33 . Mobile station for a cellular network, comprising: 
 a receiving means for receiving an adapted voice mail message, wherein the adapted voice message is packetised into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission,    a readapting means for readapting the received message into a reproducible format, and    a reproduction means for reproducing the received voice mail message.    
     
     
         34 . Mobile station according to  claim 33 , further comprising a storage means configured to store a plurality of voice mail messages.  
     
     
         35 . Mobile station according to  claim 33 , wherein said reproduction means comprises a speaker.  
     
     
         36 . Mobile station according to  claim 33 , wherein said reproduction means includes a display means for displaying an image or video portion included in said voice mail message.  
     
     
         37 . Mobile station according to one of  claim 33 , wherein said mobile station is configured to receive and readapt the voice mail message conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         38 . Mobile station according to  claim 33 , wherein said mobile station further includes 
 an adapting means for adapting a voice mail message into a format suitable for transmission by a network channel which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information, the adapting means comprising a packetising means for packetising the voice mail message into data packets suitable for packet switched transmission, and    a transmission means for dispatching the adapted voice mail message to a voice mail server.    
     
     
         39 . Mobile station according to  claim 38 , wherein the mobile station is configured to adapt and transmit the voice mail message conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         40 . Method for dispatching a voice mail message in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving an incoming voice mail message at a voice mail server of said cellular network,    adapting the received voice mail message into a format suitable for transmission by a network channel which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information,    dispatching the adapted voice mail message to a mobile station,    receiving the dispatched voice mail message at the mobile station, and    readapting the received voice mail message into a reproducible format;    wherein the adapting step includes packetising the voice mail message into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission.    
     
     
         41 . Method according to  claim 40 , further comprising the step of 
 storing the received voice mail message in a storage means of the mobile station.    
     
     
         42 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the adapting step, the dispatching step, the receiving step and the readapting step are carried out conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         43 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the voice mail message is dispatched to an internet protocol or integrated services data network address of said mobile station.  
     
     
         44 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the voice mail message is redispatched in a predefined manner if the addressed mobile station is unable to receive the message, said predefined manner including a repeated redispatchment on a regular or configurable basis for a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         45 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the voice mail message is queued into a store-and-forward service, if the addressed mobile station is unable to receive the message, and the mobile station is informed of the stored message when the mobile station becomes reachable again.  
     
     
         46 . according to  claim 40 , wherein the voice mail message is queued into a store-and-forward service, if the addressed mobile station is unable to receive the message, and dispatched to the mobile station when the mobile station becomes reachable again.  
     
     
         47 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein the stored message is dispatched when the mobile station asks for messages or for a certain message.  
     
     
         48 . Method according to  claim 41 , wherein, if the storage means of the mobile station can not store all voice mail messages waiting at the voice mail server at one time or if the voice mail message exceeds a predefined size, another message is dispatched to the mobile station indicating that further voice mail messages or a remainder of said large voice mail message are still waiting to be dispatched.  
     
     
         49 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein a list of a plurality of stored messages is dispatched to the mobile station.  
     
     
         50 . Method according to  claim 40 , wherein another message is transmitted to the mobile station if the voice mail message is not dispatchable within a predetermined period of time.  
     
     
         51 . Voice mail system for dispatching a voice mail message in a cellular network by 
 receiving an incoming voice mail message at a voice mail server of said cellular network,    adapting the received voice mail message into a format suitable for transmission by a network channel which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information,    dispatching the adapted voice mail message to a mobile station,    receiving the dispatched voice mail message at the mobile station, and    readapting the received voice mail message into a reproducible format;    wherein the adapting step includes packetising the voice mail message into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission, the voice mail system comprising: 
 a receiving means for receiving an adapted voice mail message, wherein the adapted voice message is packetised into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission,  
 a readapting means for readapting the received message into a reproducible format, and  
 a reproduction means for reproducing the received voice mail message.  
   
     
     
         52 . Mobile station for a cellular network, comprising: 
 a receiving means for receiving an adapted voice mail message,    an adapting means for adapting a voice mail message into a format suitable for transmission by a network channel which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information, and    a transmission means for dispatching the adapted voice mail message to another mobile station,    a readapting means for readapting the received message into a reproducible format, and    a reproduction means for reproducing the stored voice mail message,    wherein said adapting means includes, a packetising means for packetising the voice mail message into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission.    
     
     
         53 . Mobile station according to  claim 52 , further comprising a storage means configured to store a plurality of voice mail messages.  
     
     
         54 . Mobile station according to  claim 52 , wherein said reproduction means comprises a speaker.  
     
     
         55 . Mobile station according to  claim 52 , wherein said reproduction means includes a display means for displaying an image or video portion included in said voice mail message.  
     
     
         56 . Mobile station according to  claim 52 , wherein said mobile station is configured to receive and readapt the voice mail message conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         57 . Mobile station according to  claim 52 , wherein the mobile station is configured to adapt and transmit the voice mail message conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         58 . Method for dispatching a voice mail message in a cellular network, comprising the steps of: 
 adapting, within a mobile station, a voice mail message into a format suitable for transmission by a network channel which does not meet a delay requirement for delay sensitive information,    dispatching the adapted voice mail message to another mobile station,    receiving the adapted voice mail message by said other mobile station; readapting the received message into a reproducible format in said other mobile station, and    reproducing the stored voice mail message,    wherein said adapting step includes a step for packetising the voice mail message into data packets suitable for packet-switched transmission.    
     
     
         59 . Method according to  claim 58 , further comprising a step of storing a plurality of voice mail messages.  
     
     
         60 . Method according to  claim 58 , wherein said reproduction step comprises a step of displaying an image or video portion included in said voice mail message.  
     
     
         61 . Method according to  claim 58 , said readapting and receiving steps are performed conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.  
     
     
         62 . Method according to  claim 58 , wherein said adapting and transmitting steps are performed conforming to general packet radio service or universal mobile telecommunications system standards.