Unified message system and method

Abstract

A unified messaging system, method and user interface is provided for a handheld mobile communication device. The method may include the following steps: (a) receiving a notification signal at the wireless device via the wireless data channel indicating that the unified messaging system received and stored a voice mail message intended for a user of the wireless device; (b) transmitting a command signal from the wireless device to the unified messaging system via the wireless data channel, the command signal including a message retrieval command; (c) receiving via the wireless voice channel a voice call initiated by a voice mail system component of the unified messaging system in response to the message retrieval command transmitted from the wireless device; and (d) receiving the voice mail message from the unified messaging system via the wireless voice channel.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of multi-party communication using a wireless device, the method comprising:
 transmitting a conference request command over a data network to a unified messaging system;   receiving a voice call at the wireless device from the unified messaging system, the voice call initiated by the unified messaging system in response to the transmitted conference request command from the wireless device; and   receiving a voice call connection with a second wireless device and a third wireless device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein receiving a voice call connection with a second wireless device and a third wireless device comprises:
 receiving a voice connection between the second wireless device and the unified messaging system; and   receiving a voice connection between the third wireless device and the unified messaging system.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the voice connection between the second wireless device and the unified messaging system was initiated by the unified messaging system and the voice connection between the third wireless device and the unified messaging system was initiated by the unified messaging system. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conference request command includes a telephone number associated with the wireless device. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the conference request command includes a telephone number associated with the second wireless device and a telephone number associated with a third wireless device. 
     
     
         6 . A method of multi-party communication using a unified messaging system, the method comprising:
 receiving a conference request command at the unified messaging center from a wireless device over a data network;   making a voice call to the wireless device from the unified messaging system, the voice call initiated by the unified messaging system in response to the transmitted conference request command from the wireless device; and   connecting a second wireless device and a third wireless device to the voice call.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein connecting a second wireless device and a third wireless device to the voice call comprises:
 connecting to the voice call a voice connection between the second wireless device and the unified messaging system; and   connecting to the voice call a voice connection between the third wireless device and the unified messaging system.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein connecting a second wireless device and a third wireless device to the voice call comprises:
 making a second voice call to the second wireless device; and   making a third voice call to the third wireless device.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the conference request command includes a telephone number associated with the wireless device. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the conference request command includes a telephone number associated with the second wireless device and a telephone number associated with a third wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . A method of multi-party communication using a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving at a wireless device from a unified messaging system via a data network a voice call notification signal indicating that a voice call is on hold;   transmitting an instruction command to the unified messaging system via the data network directing the unified messaging system on how to handle the call; and   receiving the voice call from the unified messaging system when the instruction command requests that the voice call be redirected to the wireless device.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction command can instruct the unified messaging system to send the voice call to voice mail. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the instruction command can instruct the unified messaging system to disconnect the voice call. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the voice call notification signal includes the caller ID of the caller. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the voice call notification signal includes matching name information from a locally stored address book. 
     
     
         16 . A method of multi-party communication using a unified messaging system, the method comprising:
 transmitting to a wireless device from a unified messaging system via a data network a voice call notification signal indicating that a voice call is on hold;   receiving from the wireless device via the data network an instruction command with instructions on how to handle the voice call; and   redirecting the voice call to the wireless device when the instruction command requests that the voice call be redirected to the wireless device.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the instruction command can instruct the unified messaging system to send the voice call to voice mail. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the instruction command can instruct the unified messaging system to disconnect the voice call. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving the voice call; and   placing the voice call on hold.   
     
     
         20 . The method accord to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 playing a message to the calling party while the voice call is on hold.