(12) United States Patent
`Ramey et al.
`
`USOO6298 128B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,298,128 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Oct. 2, 2001
`
`2- - -a-
`
`3/1998 Sizer, II et al. ...................... 379/142
`5.727,053
`5,754,636 * 5/1998 Bayless .......
`... 379/142
`5,867,567
`2/1999 Itho ..........
`... 379/142
`E. : AC t
`- - -
`3.
`6,005,928 * 7/1999 Johnson ...
`... 379/142
`6,026,158
`2/2000 Bayless ...
`... 379/142
`6,047,054 * 4/2000 Bayless ...
`... 379/142
`6,192,118
`2/2001 Bqyless ................................ 379/142
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`ayless ....
`
`WO98/23058
`
`(54) UNIFIED DIRECTORY FOR CALLER ID
`AND ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESSES
`
`(75) Inventors: Blaine Edward Ramey; John Justin
`at Mingyang, all of
`s
`(73) ASSignee: Agon Licensing S.A., Boulogne
`
`AA
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/266,477
`(22) Filed:
`Mar 11, 1999
`(51) Int. Cl." ............................ H04M 1156; HO4M 15/06
`(52) U.S. Cl. ................................ 379,142.01; 379/142.17;
`379/142.06; 379/142.04; 379/142.15
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 379/142, 127,
`379/93.24, 100.08, 88.11, 88.12, 88.13,
`88.15, 88.17, 88.16, 88.19, 88.2, 88.21,
`88.22, 88.26, 93.23, 93.17, 100.01, 142.01,
`14217,4206.4215
`
`5/1998 (WO).
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 37, No. 9-Sep.
`1994, “Workstation Communications Bulletin”, pp.
`101-104.
`PCT search report citing AM and AR.
`sk -
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Curtis Kuntz
`ASSistant Examiner-Rexford N Barnie
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Joseph S. Tripoli; Frank Y.
`Liao
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A method and System for message communications in
`different media. A first message is received via a first
`communications medium. First address information associ
`ated with the first communications medium is extracting
`from the first communications medium. Second address
`... 179/6.11
`9/1986 Emerson et al. ......
`information associated with a Second communications
`6/1989 Cohen et al. .......................... 379/88
`di
`is det
`ined aut
`ticallvi
`to the first
`6/1990 Kenney et al. ...
`... 370/60
`8/1993 Bates et al. ...........
`so medium is determined automatically. In response to the Iirs
`9/1996 Hyde-Thomson
`379/88
`address information. A reply for the first message is Sent via
`7/1007 Bison...I 380.40
`the Second communications medium using the Second
`8/1997 Haddock et al. .....
`379/93.23
`address information.
`9/1997 Egan et al. ............................. 379/88
`11/1997 Kraus et al. ......................... 379/210
`
`Cited
`Ref
`CS
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`56
`(56)
`
`4,612,416
`4,837,798
`4,932,022
`5,239,577
`5557.659
`5647002
`5,657,378
`5,671,269
`5,692,038
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`ween
`555-4321
`555-1234
`555-4231
`5551324
`
`ENTRY
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CALLERD
`
`
`
`NUMBER
`
`...I dones Insanus T. Gia T is
`ADDRESS
`|
`|
`|
`|
`|
`BBey e il.com
`Bill Bey
`JRay cab.com
`John Ray
`T
`THays icom
`Tom Hays
`ICTrei e H.com
`Charlie Trei
`
`ADDRESS
`
`John Ray
`Bill Bey
`Tom Hays
`Hank Day
`
`|
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`Ex. 1010
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 1 of 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 2, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`114
`
`D 112
`
`5
`
`SUBSCRBER
`LINE
`
`NE
`INTERFACE
`
`108
`
`SP
`D
`
`116
`
`102
`
`104
`
`106
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`18
`
`DISPLAY
`
`display
`
`PROCESS OR
`
`120
`
`SERIAL
`PORT
`122
`
`PRINTER
`
`PORT
`
`130
`
`O
`11
`
`124 "
`
`126
`
`use
`
`128
`
`Fig. 1
`
`Ex. 1010
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 2 of 12
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 2, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`
`
`SNOISNEIXE
`
`TV1S0d
`
`SSE 800W
`
`Ex. 1010
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 3 of 12
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 2, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE
`MESSAGE
`
`EXTRACT
`MESSAGE
`ADDRESS
`
`SEARCH MESSAGE
`MEDIUM FELDS
`FOR MESSAGE
`ADDRESS
`
`O4
`
`3O8
`Y UPDATE MESSAGE
`MEDUM NAME
`FIELD
`
`310
`Goone)
`
`N
`
`O6
`
`SEARCH OTHER
`MEDIUM FELDS
`FOR MESSAGE
`NAME
`
`12
`
`Y
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`MESSAGE
`MEDUM
`ADDRESS AND
`NAME FIELDS
`EMPTY?
`
`32O
`
`Y
`
`INSERT MESSAGE
`ADDRESS AND
`NAME INTO ENTRY
`
`MAKE NEW
`ENTRY
`
`
`
`Ex. 1010
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 2, 2001
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`REPLY TO
`MESSAGE
`
`401
`
`FIND ENTRY WITH
`ORIGINATING
`ADDRESS IN
`MESSAGE MEDUM
`ADDRESS FELDS
`
`402
`
`CHECK OTHER
`MEDUM
`ADDRESS FELD
`
`404
`
`4.08
`
`
`
`N
`
`Y
`
`406
`
`COMPOSE
`MESSAGE
`USING OTHER
`MED UM
`ADDRESS
`
`410
`Goone)
`
`SEARCH FOR ENTRY
`WITH ORGINATING
`NAME IN OTHER
`MEDUM NAME FIELD
`
`412
`
`416
`
`418
`
`MERGE ENTRY WITH
`ORIGINATING ADDRESS N EE 420
`MESSAGEMEDI UM ADDRESS
`US NG OTHER
`Coone)
`FIELD AND ENTRY WITH
`MEDUM
`ORIGINATING NAME IN OTHER
`MEDUM NAME FIELD
`
`ADDRESS
`
`N
`
`
`
`INSERT OTHER
`MEDUM
`INFORMATION
`
`COMPOSE
`MESSAGE
`USING NEW
`ADDRESS
`
`Ex. 1010
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`

`

`1
`UNIFIED DIRECTORY FOR CALLER ID
`AND ELECTRONIC MAIL ADDRESSES
`
`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`2
`any other media Such as facsimile. The central location
`receives notification of each message received, and then
`notifies the recipient of the receipt of the message. The
`centralized repository also performs conversion of the mes
`Sage from one medium to another (for example, from e-mail
`to voice mail via text-to-voice generation) to the extent
`possible to permit the recipient to retrieve all messages in
`whatever medium desired.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,577 issued Aug. 24, 1993 to Bates et
`al. illustrates a telephone System in which all telephone
`numbers (for example, home, home fax, business, business
`fax, mobile, etc.) for an individual are accessible through a
`publically available, centrally located, directory of directo
`ries for that individual. A call intended for one of the
`telephone numbers may be completed by Specifying another
`telephone number (e.g. home telephone), and requesting the
`desired other number (e.g. business telephone). The desired
`telephone number is found by consulting the centrally
`located directory of directories, and then the directory con
`taining that individual’s busineSS telephone number.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,557.659, issued Sep. 17, 1996 to Hyde
`Thomson, illustrates a System in which the e-mail commu
`nications medium is used for both e-mail and Voice mail.
`Voice mail messages are converted to Sound files and
`attached to e-mail messages which are, in turn, Sent to the
`e-mail device of the Subscriber.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,647,002, issued Jul. 8, 1997 to Brunson,
`illustrates a System in which each different communication
`medium (i.e. voice mail, e-mail, facsimile, etc.) has it's own
`message reception center (i.e. mail box), in the usual man
`ner. Each message is duplicated when it is received, to the
`extent possible, and Sent to the reception centers of each of
`the other communications media. Each reception center is
`coupled to a Synchronizer which maintains all of the mail
`boxes in Synchronism.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,269, issued Sep. 23, 1997 to Egan et
`al., illustrates a personal computer based telephone System
`in which a telephone number, derived in any of a number of
`different ways, is associated with each incoming telephone
`call, and if a return phone call is desired, the associated
`telephone number is used to place the return call.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,038, issued Nov. 25, 1997 to Kraus
`et al. illustrates a centrally controlled communications SyS
`tem involving Several communications media in which a
`personal identification number is assigned to an individual,
`and each telephone number (or other identification Such as
`e-mail address) associated with that individual is searched in
`an order set by the individual when that individual receives
`a meSSage.
`In addition, Software products available at this time
`maintain a unified mail box for messages from different
`communications media. For example, MicroSoft Outlook
`e-mail client maintains a single mail box containing both
`e-mail and facsimile messages.
`It may, however, be desirable that a received Voice mail
`message be replied to with an e-mail message, or Vice versa.
`For example, a phone request for a document is best
`answered with an e-mail message to which the desired
`document is attached. Similarly, an e-mail message contain
`ing a document for which approval is Sought may be best
`answered with a telephone call giving that approval.
`However, none of the above Systems extract information
`asSociated with a message received in one communications
`medium and use that information to permit a user to reply to
`that message using a different communications medium.
`In accordance with principles of the present invention, a
`method and System for messages communications in differ
`
`15
`
`The present invention relates to a communication device
`able to communicate in more than one communications
`medium, and in particular to a communication device with
`interaction between the communications media.
`One Such communications medium is telephone. Tele
`phone instruments with caller ID capabilities have been in
`use for Some time. When Such instruments receive a tele
`phone call, they also receive the telephone number of the
`calling telephone and the name of the perSon owning the
`calling telephone. The telephone number and/or name may
`be displayed when the telephone call is received. The
`Subscriber can then know the perSon making the call, and
`prepare for the conversation or not answer the call at all.
`The caller ID capabilities are often combined with
`answering machine capabilities, a combination termed Voice
`mail. Should the intended recipient be unable to receive a
`telephone call, the caller records a message, which may be
`retrieved later by the Subscriber. The caller ID information
`is associated with the recorded message, and also Stored.
`Should the subscriber wish to return the telephone call, the
`associated caller ID information is retrieved and allows the
`call to be automatically placed to the originating telephone
`number.
`Another Such communications medium is electronic mail
`(e-mail). Electronic mail communications devices have also
`been in use for Some time. Such devices are coupled to a
`communications network, and have the capability of receiv
`ing e-mail messages from others also connected to that
`communications network. In its most basic form, e-mail
`messages are textual in nature, and are generally typed at a
`alphanumeric keyboard by the originator. The recipient can
`read the message on an alphanumeric display. Extensions to
`the basic e-mail System permit inclusion of, for example,
`Sound files, image files, or other data files which may be seen
`in-line or processed as Separate attachments. The message is
`packaged in an electronic envelope, which is sent, via the
`communications network, to the recipient. The envelope
`includes, among other things, the e-mail address of the
`recipient, the e-mail address of the originator, and the e-mail
`name of the originator.
`In general, e-mail messages for a Subscriber are Stored in
`a System coupled to the communications network termed a
`mail box or mail server. When the Subscriber wishes, the
`mail box is accessed from the e-mail device and the accu
`mulated e-mail messages forwarded to the recipient and
`read. The information from the envelope, including the
`originating e-mail address and e-mail name, is retrieved
`along with the message. Should the recipient wish to reply
`to the e-mail message, the retrieved recipient e-mail address
`from the envelope allows the return e-mail to be addressed
`automatically.
`Systems for accessing messages in various communica
`tions media in an integrated manner have also been
`described in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,416, issued Sep. 16,
`1986 to Emerson et al., illustrates a PBX system including
`different communications functions for corresponding com
`munications media (i.e. voice mail, e-mail, facsimile, etc.).
`60
`When a Subscriber checks any message function, all can be
`checked, and the user Switched transparently to which ever
`function contains a message to be retrieved.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,798, issued Jun. 6, 1989 to Cohen et
`al., illustrates a communications System including a
`centralized, unified repository for received messages in any
`communications medium, including Voice mail, e-mail, and
`
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`US 6,298,128 B1
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`ent media is disclosed. A first message is received via a first
`communications medium. First address information associ
`ated with the first communications medium is extracting
`from the first communications medium. Second address
`information associated with a Second communications
`medium is determined automatically in response to the first
`address information. A reply for the first message is Sent via
`the Second communications medium using the Second
`address information.
`Also in accordance with principles of the present
`invention, a method for automatically providing a destina
`tion address for a reply in a first communications medium to
`a message received from an originating address and an
`originating name in a Second communications medium
`comprises the following Steps. A correspondent data base
`contains a plurality of entries, each entry representing a
`correspondent and containing an address field and a name
`field for messages in the first communications medium, and
`an address field and a name field for messages in the Second
`communications medium. This data base is Searched for a
`first entry containing the originating address in the address
`field for messages in the Second communications medium. If
`the first entry contains an address in the address field for
`messages in the first communications medium, that address
`is provided as the destination address. If the first entry does
`not contain an address in the address field for messages in
`the first communications medium, the correspondent data
`base is Searched for a Second entry having a name in the
`name field for messages in the first communications medium
`corresponding to the originating name. If a Second entry is
`found, the contents of the address field for messages in the
`first communications medium in the Second entry is pro
`Vided as the destination address and the first and Second
`entries are merged. If a Second entry is not found, an address
`is requested from a user. The first entry is updated by Storing
`the user-Supplied address in the address field for messages in
`the first communications medium and the originating name
`is Saved in the name field for messages in the first commu
`nications medium. The user-Supplied address is provided as
`the destination address.
`A communications device according to the invention
`permits a user to easily reply to an incoming message in any
`communications medium by a reply message in whatever
`communications media is most convenient, regardless of
`which communications medium was used to Send the incom
`ing message.
`In the drawing:
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications device
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a table describing the structure and contents of
`a database used in the communications device illustrated in
`FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the method for
`inserting information into the database illustrated in FIG. 2;
`and
`FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the method for
`Supplying a reply address in one communications medium to
`a message received in the other communications medium.
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications device 10
`according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a Subscriber
`telephone line is coupled to an bi-directional terminal 5.
`Terminal 5 may, for example, be an easy-connect RJ11 type
`connector. Terminal 5 is bidirectionally coupled to a pro
`ceSSor 110 through a Serial connection of a line interface
`circuit 102, a multiplexer (MUX) 104, a coder/decoder
`(codec) 106 and a digital signal processor (DSP) 108. An
`output terminal of the multiplexer 104 is coupled to an input
`
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`4
`terminal of a speaker 112 and an output terminal of a
`microphone 114 is coupled to an input terminal of the
`multiplexer 104.
`An output terminal of a keyboard 116 is coupled to an
`input terminal of the processor 110 and an output terminal of
`the processor 110 is coupled to an input terminal of a display
`device 118. Abi-directional terminal of the processor 110 is
`coupled to a Serial port 120, and an output terminal of the
`processor 110 is coupled to an output port 122 to which a
`printer may be connected. An output terminal of a non
`volatile read-only memory (ROM) 124 is coupled to an
`input terminal of the processor 110 and a bi-directional
`terminal of a read/write random access memory (RAM) 126
`is coupled to a corresponding terminal of the processor 110.
`In operation, the processor 110 controls the operation of
`the communications device 10. The processor reads and
`executes the Stored program code in the ROM 124, accesses
`constants in the ROM 124 and reads and writes variable data
`from and to the RAM 126. Further the processor exchanges
`data with the various input/output (I/O) ports: the Serial port
`120, the printer port 122, the keyboard 116, the display
`device 118, and the telephone line port coupled to the DSP
`108, all in a known manner. Images are displayed on the
`display device 118 to provide information to the user, and
`depression of the keys on the keyboard 116 are detected to
`accept information from the user. A least Some of the keys
`in the keyboard 116 are physically adjacent to the display
`device 118. The image displayed on the display device can
`provides the labels for at least some of the buttons on the
`keyboard, thus providing dynamic functioning for those
`buttons, all in a known manner.
`The communications device illustrated in FIG. 1 operates
`as both a telephone caller ID and answering machine, and an
`e-mail terminal. The Subscriber line is used to couple the
`device 10 to the public telephone system. The public tele
`phone System is used in the normal way in a telephone mode
`of operation, and connects the device 10 to an e-mail Server
`or mailbox in an e-mail mode of operation.
`In the telephone mode, an incoming telephone call from
`the subscriber line causes the device 10 to ring, either via a
`Separate ringer (not shown) or using the speaker-phone
`Speaker 112. At this time, caller ID information, including
`the telephone number of the originating telephone and the
`name associated with the originating telephone, is extracted
`from the incoming telephone call by the processor 110 via
`the codec 106 and DSP 108, and displayed in the display
`device 118, all in a known manner. The caller ID information
`is further inserted into a database of correspondent infor
`mation 130, maintained in a portion 130 of the RAM 126 in
`a manner to be described in more detail below.
`If the user does not answer the call after Some predeter
`mined number of rings (e.g. 4), the processor 110 retrieves
`from the ROM 124 or RAM 126 a digitized version of a
`message for the originator of the incoming telephone call,
`for example asking the originator to leave a message. The
`combination of the codec 106 and DSP 108 converts the
`digitized message into an audio message and Supplies it to
`the originating telephone via the multiplexer 104. The
`originator, in turn, can choose to dictate a message for the
`user. That message is received by the device 10, and
`digitized via the combination of the codec 106 and DSP 108.
`The processor then Stores the digitized message in a portion
`128 of the RAM 126 allocated to storing such messages. The
`caller ID information associated with this message is also
`Stored with the message. Other information about the incom
`ing message, Such as the date and time it was received, is
`also stored with the message in the message portion 128 of
`the RAM 126.
`
`Ex. 1010
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`

`

`S
`In the e-mail mode, the processor 110 accesses the e-mail
`Server by dialing the telephone number of that Server, in a
`known manner. E-mail messages for the user are retrieved,
`and stored in the RAM 126, also in the message portion 128.
`Each e-mail message includes identification information,
`including the e-mail address and e-mail name of the origi
`nator of the message. Other e-mail information relating to
`that message may also be included, Such as the date and time
`the message was sent, the location from which it was sent,
`routing information, etc. The e-mail identification informa
`tion is also stored with the message in the message portion
`128 of the RAM 126. The e-mail information is also inserted
`into the database of correspondent information 130, main
`tained in a portion 130 of the RAM 126 in a manner to be
`described in more detail below.
`When a message is received, the identification informa
`tion relating to that message (e.g. originating telephone
`number and name for telephone messages and originating
`e-mail address and e-mail name for e-mail messages, and
`possibly other related information) is stored in a common
`database, as referred to above. In this manner the content of
`the database is maintained.
`FIG. 2 is a table describing the structure and contents of
`a database used to contain correspondent information in the
`communications device illustrated in FIG. 1. The structure
`of the correspondent database is represented in FIG. 2 as a
`table.
`Each row of the table represents an entry in the corre
`spondent database and represents one correspondent. Each
`entry contains a plurality of fields able to hold information
`relating to the correspondent represented by that entry. The
`fields are partitioned into: a group of fields able to contain
`caller ID information including the telephone number, caller
`ID name, and other attributes (represented by an ellipsis)
`related to the telephone for that correspondent; a group of
`fields able to contain e-mail identification information
`including the e-mail address, e-mail name, and other
`attributes (represented by an ellipsis) related to e-mail of that
`correspondent; and a group of fields able to contain exten
`Sions to the correspondent information, including, for
`example, the facsimile telephone number, postal address and
`other Such information (represented by an ellipsis).
`When a telephone call is received, the caller ID telephone
`number and name is extracted from the originating message
`in a known manner, as described above. The originating
`telephone number is compared to the telephone numbers
`stored in the caller ID number field of all the entries in the
`database. If a match is found, then the caller ID name field
`of that entry is updated with the originating caller ID name,
`in case the name for that telephone number has changed. If
`this happens, one of the caller ID attributes, a Status
`attribute, is changed to “new”. For example, if the caller ID
`information for the originating telephone call is the number
`555-4321 and the name is “John Ray', then this search finds
`entry 1. The database field containing the caller ID name is
`replaced with the name “John Ray'.
`If no entry is found which contains the originating
`message telephone number in the caller ID number field,
`then the originating caller ID name is compared with the
`names in the e-mail name field of all the entries in the
`database. In one embodiment, an exact match of the origi
`nating name is Searched for. In another embodiment, recog
`nizing that the e-mail and telephone caller ID names may not
`be exactly the Same, a closest match is Searched for. Such a
`Search may be made by parsing both the originating message
`name and extracting last names and first name or first initial,
`then comparing them. Or a Search may be made on like
`
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`US 6,298,128 B1
`
`6
`Sounding names using the known SoundeX System. If no
`match is found, then a new entry is created, and the caller ID
`number and name fields of that entry are filled with the caller
`ID number and name, respectively, of the originating tele
`phone call. For example, if a telephone call is received with
`a number 555-6789 and a name of “Dave May”, there is
`neither a match for the caller ID number nor the e-mail name
`for Such a person. A new entry is created (for example, entry
`7) and the caller ID number, 555-6789, is inserted into the
`caller ID number field of entry 7, and the caller ID name,
`Dave May, is inserted into the caller ID name field of entry
`7.
`
`If no entry is found which contains the originating
`message caller ID number in the caller ID number field, but
`an entry is found which contains date corresponding to the
`originating message caller ID name in the e-mail name field,
`then the caller ID number and name fields for that entry are
`checked. If there are entries in those fields, then this entry
`represents a different correspondent, but with a similar
`e-mail name. In this case, as well, a new entry is created, and
`the caller ID number and name from the originating tele
`phone call are inserted, as described above. For example, if
`a telephone call is received with a number 555-6789 and a
`name of “Bill Bey Jr.', The search of the database finds entry
`2, but this represents a different correspondent. A new entry
`is created (for example, entry 7) and the caller ID number,
`555-6789, is inserted into the caller ID number field of entry
`7, and the caller ID name, Bill Bey Jr., is inserted into the
`caller ID name field of entry 7.
`If, however, the caller ID number and name fields of that
`entry are empty, then it is assumed that this entry represents
`the same correspondent as that of the originating telephone
`message. In one embodiment, the caller ID number and
`name of the originating telephone message are inserted into
`the caller ID number and name fields, respectively, of the
`entry. However, this assumption may not be correct. In one
`preferred embodiment, data from this entry is displayed on
`the display device 118, and the user allowed to indicate
`whether this entry represents the same correspondent via the
`keyboard 116. If not, then a new entry is made, as described
`above. In another preferred embodiment, a list of entries
`which have e-mail names close to the originating message
`caller ID name is displayed on the display device 118, and
`the user Selects one of the listed entries, or none at all, using
`the keyboard. If an entry is selected, it is updated with the
`caller ID information, otherwise, a new entry is created.
`For example, if a telephone call is received with a
`number 555-9786 and a name Charlie Trei, there is no match
`for the originating message caller ID number in any caller ID
`number field of any entry in the database. However, there is
`a match for the originating message caller ID name in the
`e-mail name field of entry 6. In this case the caller ID
`number and name fields are empty. The data related to this
`entry (and possible other similar entries) is displayed on the
`display device 118. If the user accepts this entry as repre
`senting the caller, then the caller ID number, 555-9786, is
`inserted into the caller ID number field of entry 6, and the
`caller ID name, Charlie Trei, is inserted into the caller ID
`name field of entry 6. If the user does not accept this entry
`as representing the caller, then a new entry (for example,
`entry 7) is created, as described above.
`In a similar manner, when the communications device 10
`receives an e-mail message, it parses the e-mail address and
`e-mail name from the message. The originating e-mail
`address is compared to the e-mail address fields of all the
`entries in the database. If an entry with a matching e-mail
`address is found, the e-mail name is updated to the e-mail
`
`Ex. 1010
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 8 of 12
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`US 6,298,128 B1
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`name in the originating message. If no entry with a matching
`e-mail address is found in the database, the originating
`e-mail name is compared to the caller ID name fields in all
`the entries in the database. If a matching entry is found and
`the e-mail address and e-mail name fields of that entry are
`empty, the user is allowed to indicate whether the originating
`e-mail message comes from the same perSon as represented
`by that entry, as described above in more detail. If so, the
`e-mail address and e-mail name is inserted into the e-mail
`address and e-mail name fields, respectively, of the entry.
`Otherwise, a new entry is created with the e-mail address
`and e-mail name of the originating message, as described
`above.
`AS can be seen, FIG. 3, in general when a message is
`received (301) in either communications medium, the mes
`Sage address (i.e. caller ID number for telephone messages,
`and e-mail address for e-mail messages) is extracted from
`the message (302). The message address field is compared to
`the address field for the communications medium of the
`message (i.e., for telephone messages, the caller ID number
`is compared to the caller ID number field, and for e-mail
`messages, the e-mail address is compared to the e-mail
`address field) for all the entries in the database (304). If a
`matching entry is found (306), then the name field for the
`message communications medium is updated with the mes
`Sage name (i.e. caller ID name for telephone messages,
`e-mail name for e-mail messages). The database updating is
`then complete (310).
`If a match is not found (306), the message name field is
`compared to the name field in the other communications
`medium (i.e. e-mail name for telephone messages, and caller
`ID name for e-mail messages) for all the entries in the
`database (312). If a matching entry is found (314), then the
`address and name fields for the message medium (i.e. caller
`ID number and name for telephone messages, and e-mail
`address and name for e-mail messages) are checked to
`determine if they are empty (320). If not, then a new entry
`is created with the message address and message name in the
`message medium address and name fields in the new entry
`(316). The database updating is then complete 318. If the
`message medium address and name fields are empty, then
`the message address and name are inserted into the message
`medium address and name fields, respectively (322), possi
`bly with the approval of the user, and possibly with the user
`Selecting one of a number of possible matching entries, all
`as described above. The database updating is then complete
`(318).
`Referring again to FIG. 1, and the general operation of
`the communication device 10, the display screen 118 dis
`plays general information, Such as the current date and time,
`the number of messages received, etc. The display Screen
`also displays an integrated list of all messages which have
`been received, both telephone messages and e-mail
`messages, in a list window. Each entry in the list of messages
`shows the originator name-e.g. caller ID name for tele
`phone messages and e-mail name for e-mail messages.
`Using the keyboard 116, the user is able to highlight entries
`in the message list. A detail window provides further infor
`mation about the highlighted entry, Such as whether it is a
`telephone or e-mail message, the caller ID name and number
`for telephone messages or e-mail address and e-mail name
`for e-mail messages, the date and time associated with the
`meSSage, etc.
`Using the keyboard 116, the user may perform several
`functions for each message. For example, the message may
`be retrieved. For telephone messages, the digitized voice
`message is retrieved from the message portion 128 of the
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`RAM 126, converted to audio and played back through the
`speaker 112 by the codec 106 and DSP 108 under the control
`of the processor 110. For e-mail messages the textual body
`of the message is retrieved from the message portion 128 of
`the RAM 126, and displayed on the display device 118. For
`another example, the user may desire to reply to the mes
`Sage.
`The user may reply to any message in either communi
`cations medium. That is, the reply to any message may be by
`either a telephone message or an e-mail message. When the
`user indicates, via the keyboard 116, that he wishes to reply
`to the message, a question is displayed on the display device
`118 asking which communications medium is desired for the
`reply. The user Supplies the answer to the question via the
`keyboard 116.
`The user may specify that the reply be sent in