System, method and computer program product for conveying presence information via voice mail

摘要

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for conveying availability information of a calling party to a called party. A PBX serving the telephones of the calling and called parties is connected to a presence server. In an embodiment of the invention, the presence server is also connected to a computer and/or other information device (such as a personal data assistant or telephone) of the calling party. After the calling party has left a voice mail message for the called party, the called party will subsequently retrieve the message. In an embodiment of the invention, the PBX then queries the presence server as to the availability of the calling party. The presence server senses whether the calling party has indicated his or her presence; if so, it is inferred that the calling party is probably present and available for a return call. If the presence server detects no such indication by the calling party, it is inferred that the calling party is likely to be absent. The presence server responds to the query of the PBX by indicating the calling party's likely availability (or absence) to the PBX. Based on this information, the PBX modifies the voice mail message to include a statement that the calling party is either available or unavailable.

主权项

1. A system for providing presence information of a first party to a second party, said system comprising:
a first device of or associated with the first party and adapted to be in communication with a communications network; a second device of or associated with the second party and adapted to be in communication with the communications network, wherein the first device is adapted to receive a first message from the first party for retrieval by the second party after a communication attempt between the first device and the second device was unsuccessful, wherein the communication attempt with the second device is initiated by the first party at the first device; a presence server connected to the first device, via the communications network, and adapted to detect presence of the first party by receiving a second message from the first device comprising presence information of the first party; a memory for associating and storing the first message with the presence information; and a communications path between the presence server and the second device, allowing the presence information regarding the first party to be sent from the presence server to the second device upon retrieval of said first message by said second party.