Voicemail Storage Management via Remote Policy-Based Decentralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional voicemail systems face challenges in scalability, affordability, and resilience due to the need for expensive dedicated servers, high costs associated with storage and handling of voice and multimedia SPAM, and the requirement for redundant storage to prevent legal and regulatory risks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for managing voicemail that allows users to store voicemails on a remote storage device associated with either the sending or receiving communication device, with a policy-based system determining storage location based on white, black, and grey lists, and an optional resiliency policy for redundant storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated voicemail server is used to store voicemails, then reliability and resiliency are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voicemail storage function from the communication device and places it on remote storage devices accessible via the network. This allows the communication device to remain simple while reliability is maintained through network-based storage and potential redundancy across multiple remote devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network as an intermediary between the communication device and storage resources. This mediator enables the system to achieve reliability through distributed storage without requiring each device to have complex local storage infrastructure.
2Reliability
If a dedicated voicemail server is deployed to ensure resiliency, then legal compliance is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes storage devices universal by allowing them to serve multiple purposes: storing voicemails for multiple users, providing backup capabilities, and potentially serving other communication-related functions. This eliminates the need for dedicated single-purpose servers, reducing overall resource requirements while maintaining compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines storage resources that can be shared across multiple users and functions. By merging storage capabilities into network-accessible resources, the system achieves the required resiliency and compliance without duplicating storage across separate dedicated servers.
3Ease of operation
If local storage is provided at each telephone device, then accessibility is improved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves storage from the local dimension (device-attached memory) to a remote dimension (network-accessible storage). This dimensional shift allows users to access voicemails conveniently through the network while avoiding the high cost of local memory, especially for users who would otherwise require large storage capacity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If voice and multimedia SPAM is stored locally, then SPAM handling capability is improved, but storage resources are depleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts harmful SPAM content from local device storage and redirects it to remote storage devices. This extraction protects local storage capacity while still allowing the system to handle and store SPAM messages in an isolated environment where they do not consume precious local resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, method and apparatus for managing voicemail in a communication session between a sending communication device and a receiving communication device are provided. It is determined at the receiving communication device that a voicemail is to be created. The voicemail based on content received via the sending communication device. The voicemail is recorded. The voicemail is caused to be stored at resources associated with the sending communication device.