阅读说明：本技术 用于用户设备的增强的内置语音邮件 (Enhanced built-in voicemail for user devices ) 是由 查尔斯·朱利安 马克西姆·马蒂厄 于 2018-08-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于处理语音或视频呼叫的用户设备(UE),例如智能电话、PC、膝上型计算机、平板电脑等,该UE具有集成在其OS中或应用形式的语音邮件客户端,该UE被配置为：接收呼入呼叫消息,使得最多在预设的无应答时间段内提醒有关呼入呼叫,在预设的无应答时间段之后,如果呼叫未被应答,则呼叫被设置为从呼叫方向基于网络的语音邮件中心完成；以及在预设的无应答时间段到期之前,应答呼入呼叫,使得呼叫被建立在呼叫方与UE的语音邮件客户端之间,其中,呼叫向基于网络的语音邮件中心未完成。语音邮件客户端还被配置为：使用UE的语音邮件客户端,在与呼叫方的呼叫上为呼叫方播放问候消息；记录来自呼叫方的语音消息；以及向UE的用户提醒有关语音邮件消息。因此,语音邮件消息在UE上本地保存和访问,避免了信令到基于网络的语音邮件客户端。(A User Equipment (UE), such as a smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, etc., for handling voice or video calls, the UE having a voicemail client integrated in its OS or in the form of an application, the UE being configured to: receiving an incoming call message such that at most a related incoming call is alerted within a preset no-answer time period, after which if the call is not answered, the call is set to be completed from the calling direction to a network-based voicemail center; and answering the incoming call before expiration of the preset no-answer time period such that the call is established between the calling party and the voicemail client of the UE, wherein the call is not completed to the network-based voicemail center. The voicemail client is further configured to: playing, using a voicemail client of the UE, a greeting message for the calling party on a call with the calling party; recording a voice message from a calling party; and alerting a user of the UE of the related voicemail message. Thus, voicemail messages are stored and accessed locally on the UE, avoiding signaling to network-based voicemail clients.)

1.A method for voicemail service in a user equipment, UE, including circuitry capable of handling telephone calls, the method comprising the steps of:

a. receiving an incoming call message such that a call client of the UE is alerted about the incoming call for at most a preset no-answer time period, after which the call is set to be completed from a caller to a network-based voicemail center if the call is not answered;

b. answering, by a voicemail client of the UE, the incoming call before the preset no-answer time period expires such that the call is established between the caller and the voicemail client of the UE, wherein the call is not completed to the network-based voicemail center;

c. playing, by the voicemail client, a greeting message for the caller through a call with the caller;

d. recording a voice message from the calling party on the UE using a voicemail client of the UE; and

e. alerting a user of the UE of the voicemail message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of recording the voice message further comprises the steps of:

d.1. determining when the user answers the call during the playing of the greeting message or the recording of the voicemail message, and

d.2. the call is transferred from a voicemail client of the UE and the user is enabled to speak with the caller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving the incoming call message comprises: receiving a call page from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC); and

alerting about the incoming call includes: playing a ring tone or generating a vibration by the UE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving an incoming call message comprises: a SIP invite message is received from a session initiation protocol, SIP, media center.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps before step a:

g. configuring the voicemail client to answer an incoming call that the user did not answer before the preset no-answer time period expires to avoid the incoming call from being routed to the network-based voicemail server.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of configuring the voicemail client of the UE comprises the steps of: obtaining the preset no-answer time period from the network-based voicemail server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein configuring the voicemail client of the UE comprises: and manually configuring the preset non-response time period.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of configuring the voicemail client of the UE comprises the steps of: configuring a time period less than the preset no-answer time period, and when the time period expires, if the user does not answer the call, the call will be answered by a call client of the UE.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: displaying the voicemail message in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: downloading, from the network-based voicemail center, other voicemail messages stored on the network-based voicemail center during a time period when the UE is turned off or otherwise unreachable, wherein the displaying step includes displaying the voicemail messages in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE along with the other voicemail messages.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a voicemail client of the UE is part of an operating system of the UE.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the voicemail client of the UE is an application running on top of an operating system of the UE.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is a smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, or computer device.

14. A user equipment, UE, comprising circuitry configured to process a telephone call, the UE configured to:

receiving an incoming call message such that a call client of the UE is alerted about the incoming call at most within a preset no-answer time period, after which if the call is not answered, the call is set to be completed from a call direction network-based voicemail center;

answering, by a voicemail client of the UE, the incoming call before the preset no-answer time period expires such that the call is established between the caller and the voicemail client of the UE, wherein the call is not completed to the network-based voicemail center;

playing, by the voicemail application, a greeting message for the calling party through a call with the calling party;

recording a voice message from the calling party on the UE using a voicemail client of the UE; and

alerting a user of the UE about the voicemail message.

15. The UE of claim 14, wherein to record the voice message, the UE is further to:

determining when the call is answered by the user, an

Transferring the call from a voicemail client of the UE to enable the user to speak with the caller.

16. The UE of claim 14, wherein:

receiving the incoming call message comprises: receiving a call page from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC); and

alerting about the incoming call includes: playing a ring tone or generating a vibration by the UE.

17. The UE of claim 14, wherein receiving the incoming call message comprises: a SIP invite message is received from a session initiation protocol, SIP, media center.

18. The UE of claim 14, wherein, prior to receiving the incoming call message, a voicemail client of the UE is configured to: answering an incoming call that is not answered by the user before expiration of the preset no-answer time period to avoid routing the incoming call to the network-based voicemail server.

19. The UE of claim 18, wherein to configure a voicemail client of the UE, the preset no-answer time period is preconfigured for the UE from the network-based voicemail server.

20. The UE of claim 18, wherein the preset no-answer time period is manually configured for a voicemail client of the UE.

21. The UE of claim 18, wherein to configure the UE's voicemail client, a time period less than the preset no-answer time period is preconfigured for the UE at which the call will be answered by the UE's calling client if the user does not answer the call.

22. The UE of claim 15, wherein the UE is further adapted to display an indication of the voicemail message in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE.

23. The UE of claim 15, wherein during a time period when the UE is turned off or otherwise unreachable, other voicemail messages stored on the network-based voicemail center are downloaded from the network-based voicemail center, wherein displaying comprises displaying voicemail messages in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE with the other voicemail messages.

24. The UE of claim 15, wherein a voicemail client of the UE is part of an operating system of the UE.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the voicemail client of the UE is an application running on top of an operating system of the UE.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to voice mail (voice mail) systems.

Background

Voice mail systems allow a calling party to leave a voice message to an unreachable called party.

The fixed telephone provides for the first time a method for a caller to leave a voice message for a called party via an answering machine normally connected to the called party's telephone line. After the phone rings for a period of time, if the called party does not answer the phone, the answering machine plays a greeting message inviting the calling party to leave a voice message for the called party. The called party will listen to the stored message at a later point in time.

A further enhancement of this concept is to implement a network-based answering machine in the fixed telephone. The called party no longer needs to purchase and set up an answering machine at home because the fixed telephone operator allows the service to be network based, i.e. when the called party does not answer the phone after a certain period of time, the call is rerouted to a network based voicemail server which plays the greeting and saves the calling party's voice message. The called party may then dial into a network-based voicemail server to listen to the stored message.

Cellular telephones also implement voicemail messaging that enables a calling party to leave a message for a called party.

For example, in GSM (global system for mobile communications), voicemail is processed through a call forwarding service (with various triggers associated with the called party, such as forwarding on the fly, without reply/answer, inactive, etc.) to a forwarding number (C-number).

When a call from a calling party arrives at a visited MSC, an MSRN (mobile station roaming number) is used to determine the called telephone, i.e. the MSRN maps back to the IMSI (international mobile subscriber identity) of the called party. The MSC (mobile switching center) pages all base stations in the area where the IMSI is registered in order to inform the called party phone of the incoming call directed to it. If the called party subscriber answers, then a voice path is established back to the calling party's network through the visited MSC and the gateway MSC, and then a normal call is made. However, if the called party subscriber is unanswered (e.g., the subscriber is busy with another call (and not using call waiting)), the visiting MSC will route the incoming call to a predetermined busy Call Forwarding (CFB) number, which in the current scenario is the number of the voicemail server. Once a call is detected, CFB transfer is performed and the call delivery process determines that the subscriber is busy and there is no call waiting.

Similarly, if the subscriber does not answer the call after a period of time (e.g., 30 seconds), the visited MSC routes the call to a predetermined call forwarding no answer (CFNRy) number. The operator may decide to default this value to the voicemail server of the mobile phone so that contact is made with the voicemail server and the caller may leave a message for the called party.

Furthermore, in yet another scenario, if the subscriber does not respond to the paging request because it is not in coverage or its battery is exhausted/removed, the visited MSC routes the call to a predetermined non-reachable call forwarding (CFNRc) number. Again, the operator may decide to default this value to the mobile phone's voicemail server so that the caller can leave a message.

When the terminal side is set to be a voice mail system, a call is established between the calling party and the voice mail system, and the voice mail system plays a greeting for the user and invites the user to leave a voice message. When this is done, the voicemail system alerts the called party, typically by SMS or MMS, of the presence of the recorded message after successful recording of the message. Whenever the called party desires, it may invoke the voicemail server to listen to and manage (e.g., drop, replay, store) the stored voice message.

Thus, in GSM, a call is also redirected to a voicemail server immediately when the called party is busy on another line and the call waiting feature is not activated, but typically occurs after a preset period of time for the user to answer the call expires, as in a CFNRy or CFNRy scenario.

Such a preset time period may be set by the network operator or the subscriber itself.

Newer cellular systems also implement voicemail services through IMS (IP multimedia subsystem). In IMS, SIP (session initiation protocol) is used for signaling between two parties.

Fig. 1.a (prior art) shows an IMS-based scenario in which a voicemail system is implemented in an application server 101, which application server 101 acts as a terminal UA (user agent) and performs the function of a voicemail server to terminate calls and record messages on behalf of UEs that are not in coverage or powered off.

The initial invite 1 to a UE (user equipment, not shown) that is not currently IMS registered is forwarded to an S-CSCF (serving call session control function) 103. Default filter criteria in the S-CSCF 103 indicates that for the case of non-registered users, the invite request should be forwarded to the voicemail and announcement server 103.

Upon receiving the invite request 1, the voicemail and notification server 101 determines that the target UE has subscribed to the voicemail service (possibly by downloading some subscriber profile information via the Sh interface (not shown)). Thus, the voicemail and announcement server 101 informs the caller that he may leave a message for the called party, in addition to playing an announcement to inform the calling party that the called party is powered off or out of coverage.

The calling party leaves a message for the called party and then hangs up the call by sending a bye request.

In more detail, the following steps are shown in fig. 1 (prior art):

1) an invite request destined for a non-registered user is received at the S-CSCF.

2) Based on the trigger point of the initial filter criteria, the S-CSCF proxies the invite request to the AS (voice mail server).

3-4) the AS initiates the voicemail application and responds with a 183 (Session on) response containing the SDP, which 183 (Session on) response is proxied back to the caller by the S-CSCF.

5-8) the caller responds with a PRACK request containing SDP, the S-CSCF proxies the PRACK request to the AS, and the AS responds with a 200(OK) response containing SDP, which the S-CSCF proxies back to the caller.

9) QOS establishment and resource reservation occurs.

10-13) after completing the resource reservation, the caller sends an update request containing the SDP, which is proxied by the S-CSCF to the AS, which responds with a 200(OK) response containing the SDP, which 200(OK) response is proxied back to the caller by the S-CSCF.

14-15) the AS then sends a 200(OK) response to the initial invite request, which the S-CSCF proxies to the caller.

16-17) the caller returns an ACK request for a 200(OK) response.

18) The AS uses the established session to play an announcement indicating that the caller has powered off, but that the caller can leave a message.

19) The caller uses the established session to leave a message.

20-21) caller hangs up by sending a bye request to the AS by the S-CSCF proxy.

22-23) the AS responds with a 200(OK) response, which the S-CSCF proxies back to the caller.

Fig. 1.b (prior art) illustrates a scenario in which the voicemail server 101 contacts a user and notifies him of any recorded messages after the user has registered with the network. The application server is not shown in this example playing announcements and selecting and playing recorded messages using MRF.

In detail, the steps of fig. 1.b (prior art) are as follows:

1-4) the UE sends a registration request to S-CSCF 103, and S-CSCF 103 authenticates using 401 (unauthorized) response challenge, where the authentication response is provided in the second registration request. The registration is completed with a 200(OK) response from the S-CSCF to the UE.

5-6) the S-CSCF downloads the UE' S filter criteria from the HSS indicating that the S-CSCF should send a third party registration request on behalf of the UE to the AS performing the voicemail service. The AS responds to the registration request with a 200(OK) response.

7-8) the AS downloads (possibly from the HSS via the Sh interface) the subscriber's subscriber data indicating that the subscriber has enabled a feature that causes the voicemail application to contact the subscriber after the subscriber has registered to deliver the recorded message. The AS sends an invite request containing SDP to the UE to the S-CSCF, which proxies it to the UE.

9-10) the UE responds with a 183 (Session on) response containing the SDP, and the S-CSCF proxies the 183 (Session on) response to the AS.

11-14) the AS sends a PRACK request, the S-CSCF proxies it to the UE, and the UE responds with a 200(OK) response, which the S-CSCF proxies to the AS.

15) QOS establishment and resource reservation occurs.

16-19) the AS sends an update request, the S-CSCF proxies the update request to the UE, the UE responds with a 200(OK) response, and the S-CSCF proxies the 200(OK) response to the AS.

20-21) the UE sends a 180 (ring) response indicating that it is alerting the user, and the S-CSCF proxies the 180 (ring) response to the AS.

22-25) the AS sends a PRACK request to indicate that a 180 (ring) response was received, the S-CSCF proxies the PRACK request to the UE and the UE responds with a 200(OK) response, the S-CSCF proxies the 200(OK) response to the AS.

26-27) when the subscriber answers, the UE sends a 200(OK) response to the initial invite request, and the S-CSCF proxies the 200(OK) response to the AS.

28-29) the AS replies to the 200(OK) response with an ACK request, which the S-CSCF proxies to the UE.

30) The AS plays an announcement indicating the number of the stored message and then plays back the message to the UE using the established session.

31-32) the UE hangs up by sending a bye request to the AS by the S-CSCF proxy.

33-34) the AS responds with a 200(OK) response, which the S-CSCF proxies back to the UE.

In short, various network-based implementations have been proposed in the prior art to implement voicemail systems. However, each such implementation requires network-based servers and techniques that are expensive both in terms of storage space (addressing the storage requirements of a large number of voicemail messages for all subscribers in a given network) and in terms of signaling and data transmission (since such voice messages first need to be exchanged between the called party and the network-based voicemail server, and then also between the latter and the called party).

Even voice over IP (VoIP) uses a similar concept. Skype^TMIt also allows voicemail messages to be stored in a network-based server and the user to be notified of the existence of the voicemail message after re-registration so that it can be downloaded and listened to. As mentioned above, this also requires a change in Skype^TMThe data storage space is implemented in the network server and occupies twice the network bandwidth.

The fixed telephone answering machine scenario also requires additional investment because the user needs to purchase and set up the answering machine.

A simpler and more efficient solution to the above disadvantages is needed.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present invention encompasses a method for voicemail service in a User Equipment (UE) that includes circuitry to enable handling of telephone calls. The method allows: receiving an incoming call message such that a call client of the UE is alerted about the incoming call for at most a preset no-answer time period, after which the call is set to be completed from the caller to the network-based voicemail center if the call is not answered. Then, before the expiration of the preset non-reply time period, the method enables: the incoming call is answered by a voicemail client of the UE such that the call is established between the calling party and the voicemail client of the UE, wherein the call is not completed to the network-based voicemail center. The method also allows the voicemail client to play a greeting message for the caller on a call with the caller, recording a voice message from the caller on the UE using the voicemail client of the UE; and alerting a user of the UE of the voicemail message.

In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a User Equipment (UE) comprising circuitry configured to process a telephone call, the UE configured to: receiving an incoming call message such that a call client of the UE is alerted about the incoming call at most within a preset no-answer time period, after which if the call is not answered, the call is set to be completed from a call direction network-based voicemail center; answering, by the voicemail client of the UE, the incoming call before expiration of the preset no-answer period such that the call is established between the caller and the voicemail client of the UE, wherein the call is not completed to the network-based voicemail center. The UE is further configured to play a greeting message for the caller on a call with the caller through the voicemail application, recording a voice message from the caller on the UE using a voicemail client of the UE; and alerting a user of the UE of the related voicemail message.

Recording the voice message further comprises: determining when a user answers a call during the playing of a greeting message or the recording of a voicemail message; and transferring the call from the voicemail client of the UE and enabling the user to speak with the caller.

Receiving the incoming call message may include receiving a call page from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) and alerting the relevant incoming call includes playing a ring or generating a vibration by the UE.

Further, receiving the incoming call message includes receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message from a SIP media center.

In other aspects, the present invention allows for configuring a voicemail client to answer an incoming call that is not answered by a user before a preset no-answer time period expires to avoid the incoming call from being routed to a network-based voicemail server. Configuring the voicemail client of the UE may include obtaining a preset no-answer period from a network-based voicemail server or manually configuring the preset no-answer period. Configuring the voicemail client of the UE may further include: a time period less than a preset no-answer time period is configured, and when the time period expires, if the user does not answer the call, the call will be answered by the calling client of the UE.

Once the voicemail message is recorded on the UE, embodiments of the present invention allow the voicemail message to be displayed in the visual voicemail inbox of the UE.

In another aspect, embodiments of the invention include: downloading, from the network-based voicemail center, other voicemail messages stored on the network-based voicemail center during a time period when the UE is turned off or otherwise unreachable, wherein the displaying includes displaying the voicemail message in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE along with the other voicemail messages.

In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide the voicemail client as part of the operating system of the UE, or alternatively as an application running on top of the operating system of the UE.

The UE may be a smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, or computer device.

Drawings

For a more detailed understanding of the present invention, and for further objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1.a (Prior Art) is a node operation and signal flow diagram of an IMS-based scenario implementing a voicemail system;

fig. 1.b (prior art) is another node operation and signal flow diagram implementing another IMS-based scenario of a voicemail system;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary high level diagram of a UE implementing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart of a method of implementing certain embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary node operation and signal flow diagram representing certain embodiments of the present invention; and

fig. 5 is an exemplary block diagram of a UE according to certain other embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The inventive teachings of this patent disclosure will be described with particular reference to various exemplary embodiments. It should be understood, however, that such embodiments provide only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the inventive teachings of the present invention. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In the drawings, like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views.

Embodiments of the present invention propose a voicemail solution in the form of an application or client on a User Equipment (UE) which may include, for example, a smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, or any other type of computer device for locally processing voicemail messages on the UE of the called party. In doing so, embodiments of the present invention avoid the need to interact with a traditional network-based voicemail server, since the call is always answered by the UE's voicemail client on the called party side, even if the user is busy, unreachable, etc.

According to embodiments herein, in such instances, a UE of the B-party (called party) is provided with a Voice Mail (VM) client (which may or may not be part of the UE's native OS) that runs on the UE and is responsible for intercepting voice calls before the "call busy" or "no answer" period that has been set on the UE or its network expires. Since the call is always answered before the no answer period expires, no answer message is sent back to the MSC/switch and therefore the VM center/server is not contacted. Instead, the local VM client simulates that the user answers the call before the expiration of the no answer period set to reroute the call to the network-based VM server, which triggers the establishment of a voice call with the UE voicemail client of the called party (e.g., via a voice channel in GSM), and then allows the establishment of a conventional voice call with the a-party (calling party) on behalf of the user. The VM client plays the user greeting to provide the a-party to store the voicemail message and records the voice message directly on the UE of the called party.

Thus, all preconditions are negotiated directly with the UE voicemail client, and thus, the voice message is recorded directly on the UE and presented in the user's VM client. Embodiments of the invention may be found inSuch as Android^TMAnd/or apple IOS^TMTo avoid end users from enabling or installing other types of applications in their associated "play" or "application" stores.

Alternatively, in other embodiments, the feature may also be implemented in an application available in an application store, which may be downloaded and run on top of the UE's OS.

According to embodiments herein, the storage of voicemail messages is the result of a call redirection to the B-party's own UE voicemail client (the B-party is unable to answer a voice call). Since embodiments of the present invention are only implemented at the terminal side, i.e. in the UE of the called party, GSM, SIP or other communication protocols can continue to be used without modification. All typical voicemail features continue to function, while the UE itself becomes its own voicemail server according to embodiments herein.

In addition to these embodiments, in some implementations, the operator's voicemail server may still be made available to serve non-UE users who cannot use the new client, or to provide a voicemail-fallback (fall-back) solution to those users who use voicemail clients but whose phones are turned off or out of reach. For example, after opening the phone, the application may then synchronize with a voicemail server and copy the unread voicemail message via IMAP (Internet message Access protocol), e.g., similar to how visual voicemail works.

Furthermore, some configuration of the UE's voicemail client may be provided so that, for example, when the B-party is roaming and not answering, the client will redirect to the operator's voicemail server to avoid incurring (potentially expensive) call time charges.

Finally, according to other embodiments, it should also be possible for the called party to take over the incoming voicemail call stored on the called party UE and talk directly to the a-party when released during storage of the voicemail message. For example, the voicemail client may alert or otherwise let party B know that a voicemail is currently being stored and provide the possibility to answer a voice call as needed (and thus cancel or not depending on the configuration parameters).

Fig. 2 shows a high level diagram of an exemplary UE 200 implementing an embodiment of the present invention. The UE implements the voicemail client presented herein, as shown, the user may access the voicemail client via an application icon 202. The voicemail client may be fully or partially integrated or not integrated with the OS of the UE 200. It may be an integral part of the call client of the UE 200 or may be implemented as a separate function or application.

Fig. 3 shows a high-level flow chart of a method proposed by an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. According to such an exemplary embodiment, the UE 200 is configured to receive calls and includes circuitry that enables processing of such calls. The method begins in act 310 with a called party UE receiving an incoming call message such that a calling client (also referred to herein as an application) of the UE alerts about the incoming call at most for a preset no-answer time period (e.g., by ringing, vibrating, or flashing), after which if the call is not answered, the call is set to complete from the calling direction to a network-based voicemail center. At act 312, according to embodiments herein, the incoming call is answered by the voicemail client of the UE 200 before the preset no-answer time period expires, such that the call is established between the calling party and the voicemail client of the UE, such that the call to the network-based voicemail center is incomplete. The UE voicemail client then plays a greeting message for the caller on the call with the caller (act 314), which allows the voice message from the caller to be recorded on the UE using the UE's voicemail client in act 316. Finally, in act 318, the UE client uses the UE's voicemail client (e.g., by voice, a flag on the UE's GUI, etc.) to alert the user of the UE of the newly stored voicemail message. Such alerts may include a vibration of the UE, or a display of one or more flags on a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the UE indicating the presence of a voicemail message.

The voicemail message is stored locally on the UE itself, which allows the message to be easily retrieved without further network signaling. Similarly, local recording of voicemail messages makes display, sorting, and access of messages easier, and voicemail message management becomes a purely local feature on the UE itself.

In some other embodiments, during the recording of the voice message, the called party user may become available (e.g., because another call is completed and hung up) and may answer the incoming call from the calling party. The method then determines when the call was answered by the called party user during the recording of the voicemail message, and transfers the call from the voicemail client of the UE to the call client of the UE and enables the user to speak with the calling party. In some embodiments, the voicemail client and the calling client are part of the same functionality of the UE, in which case the same behavior may be implemented in which the call is transferred from the voicemail functionality to the calling functionality of the same client.

In some other embodiments, the method entails configuring a voicemail client of the UE to answer an incoming call that is not answered by the user before expiration of a preset no-answer time period to avoid routing the incoming call to a network-based voicemail server.

In still other embodiments, configuring the voicemail client of the UE includes obtaining a preset no-answer time period, or only a short time period, from the network-based voicemail server. This can be achieved by: the user calls the operator's hotline of support or configures the UE itself to handshake with the network for a preset period of time, or only for a short period of time. For example, a voicemail client of the UE may be manually configured with a preset no-answer period or a shorter period of time.

Configuring the voicemail client of the UE may involve pre-configuring the UE with a time period less than a preset no-answer time period, upon expiration of which the call will be answered by the calling client of the UE if the user does not answer the call. This may be accomplished by manual configuration or by handshaking with a network-based voicemail server.

In other embodiments, the method includes displaying the voicemail message in a visual voicemail inbox of the UE.

Fig. 4 illustrates a node operation and signal flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which may be implemented using any communication protocol, including but not limited to GSM (global system for mobile communications), IMS (IP multimedia subsystem), VoIP (voice over internet protocol), etc. Further, such embodiments may be implemented using any type of call, including but not limited to voice calls, video calls, and the like.

In action 410, an incoming call may be initiated from the calling party 402 to the called party UE 200, possibly via some switch, router or MSC 403. Such calls may be implemented via various communication protocols (e.g., without limitation, GSM, IMS/SIP, etc.). For example, receiving the incoming call message 412 may include: receiving a call page from the MSC if the protocol used is GSM; alternatively, if the protocol used is the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), a SIP invite message is received from the SIP media center. In act 412, an alert (or indication of an alert) to the incoming call is sent to the called party UE 200, which triggers the incoming call alert to the UE 200 in act 414, which alert may take the form of a sound, vibration, or some notification displayed. Timer 413 is typically started at the beginning of the receipt of call message 412 so that the no answer time period may be monitored by node 403 or called party 200 because if the called party does not answer the call during that time, the call is set to be routed to a voicemail server (not shown in fig. 4) after expiration of the no answer preset time period.

If the user of the UE 200 does not answer the call, the UE's voicemail client is configured to answer the call before a preset time period expires, act 416. This means that the time associated with act 413 has not expired or reached the preset time period and a call to a network-based voicemail server (not shown in fig. 4) has not been established. Instead, the call is established between the calling and called party UE 200 voicemail clients in act 418, which enables the voicemail client to play a greeting for the calling party in act 420 just like a network-based VM server and allows the calling party to store the voicemail message on the UE's voicemail client. Then, if the user did not answer the call during the greeting message or recording of act 420, as determined in act 421 to be a negative result, the user of UE 200 may access the stored message, e.g., via the UE's voicemail client, act 422. Otherwise, if it is determined in act 421 that the user answered the call during the processing of the incoming call by the voicemail client, the call is transferred from the voicemail client to the telephony client of the UE 200, enabling the user to process the real-time call with the caller, act 423. In some embodiments, the voicemail client and the calling client are part of the same functionality of the UE, in which case the same acts of act 423 may be implemented, wherein transferring the call from the voicemail functionality to the calling functionality of the same client still enables the user of UE 200 to answer the real-time call.

Fig. 5 illustrates a generalized high-level block diagram in accordance with other embodiments and in accordance with the invention herein. Such embodiments may be implemented in a UE running a voicemail client or application as described above, for example in a smart phone, tablet, PC, laptop or any kind of computerized device that may manage voice or video calls using any type of communication protocol. The node 200 (smartphone, PC, laptop, tablet, etc.) includes a GUI 502, e.g., in the form of a screen, and circuitry 504 that implements the implementation and operation of a voicemail client as described above. Such circuitry may also include a processor 506 and a memory 508 storing instructions that, when executed by the processor 506, cause the node 200 to operate in accordance with the description above.

In particular, the node 200 circuitry 504 is configured to support calls, and in particular to receive incoming call messages, such that the UE's client is alerted as to the incoming call at most for a preset no-answer time period, after which the call is set to complete from the calling direction to the network-based voicemail center if the call is not answered. The circuitry is further configured to cause the incoming call to be answered by a voicemail client (also referred to as a voicemail application) 505 before the preset no-answer period expires such that the call is established between the calling party and the UE's voicemail client 505, wherein the call to the network-based voicemail center is not completed, to cause the voicemail client 505 to play a greeting message for the calling party on the call with the calling party, to record a voicemail message from the calling party on the UE using the UE's voicemail client, and to alert the user of the UE of the related voicemail message using the UE's voicemail client.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an advantageous solution that enables better, more efficient and more flexible voicemail management in a UE, such as a smartphone, PC, laptop or tablet, in a network-based implementation of a voicemail system, while also reducing network-based signaling associated with the management of voicemail messages.

Based on the foregoing, it should now be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments of the present invention provide advantageous solutions that provide simple and efficient voicemail messaging. Although the system and method of the present invention have been described with particular reference to certain radio telecommunications messaging standards, it should be recognized by reference thereto that the innovative teachings contained herein are not necessarily limited thereto and may be advantageously implemented using any applicable radio telecommunications standard. It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the method and system shown and described has been characterized as being preferred, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. By way of example only, while certain embodiments have been described with reference to a voicemail client, a voicemail application, or a voicemail system, it should be understood that such embodiments may also process video mails or video messages in a similar manner. A voice message is also understood to be a message that contains at least voice, but may also contain video or other media.

Although several preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that: the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.