Systems and methods for monitoring network-based voice messaging systems

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides systems and methods for monitoring a call directed to a network-based voice messaging service (VMS) via packet-based network conferencing resources, such as, for example an IP-based voice-over-IP telephony system.
The system and method use one or more media gateway systems providing an interface between a conventional telephony domain and the Packet-switched data network domain.
When a call is to be redirected to the VMS system, it is routed via the Packet-switched data network domain using the media gateway.
An application server in the Packet-switched data network domain maintains registration information associated with the subscriber.
If the subscriber is logged onto the Packet-switched data network domain, the conferencing resources are used to establish a conference call between the caller, the VMS and the subscriber.
In embodiments of the present invention, the subscriber may actively participate in the conference call.
That is, as with conventional answering machines, the subscriber may listen to the caller leaving a message with the voice messaging service and decide to answer the call.
In this case, the voice messaging service may be dropped from the conference call.