Method and system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users

• US 10,250,746 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yahoo Assets LLC
• Original Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kumar, Anshuman, Srivatsa, Rajiv, Datar, Sandeep
• Primary Examiner(s): Kelley, Steven S
• Application Number:
  US13/207,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20130040612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,791 Days
• Field of Search: 455466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

Method and system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. A method for receiving electronic mails on a feature phone includes receiving a text message on the feature phone in response to a first electronic mail. The method also includes calling a telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to an audio clip of the first electronic mail and providing a voice input as a response to the first electronic mail. The system includes a feature phone that receives a plurality of electronic mails. The system also includes one or more electronic devices, and a communication interface in electronic communication with the feature phone and the one or more electronic devices. The system further includes a memory that stores instructions, and a processor responsive to the instructions to receive a text message in response to an electronic mail transmitted by an electronic mail user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a first electronic mail from an electronic mail user;

converting, by the processor, the first electronic mail to an audio clip in response to the receipt of the first electronic mail;

generating, by the processor, a text message for communication to a user of a feature phone, said text message comprising embedded information referencing the audio clip, and further comprising a name of the electronic mail user, and an email identifier of the electronic mail user;

authenticating, by the processor, the user of the feature phone by requesting a username and password of the feature phone user;

comparing, by the processor, a number of characters in the first electronic mail to a predefined number;

when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is below the predefined number, including, by the processor, the first electronic mail in the text message;

when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is above the predefined number or when the first electronic mail has been included in the text message, transmitting, by the processor, the text message to the feature phone;

receiving, by the processor, a voice input provided by the feature phone user as a response to the first electronic mail;

receiving, by the processor, the email identifier of the electronic mail user from the feature phone;

creating and storing, by the processor, a shortcut key, said shortcut key comprising the email identifier of the electronic mail user and a phone number of the electronic mail user;

embedding, by the processor, the voice input as an audio file in a second electronic mail; and

transmitting, by the processor, the second electronic mail to the electronic mail user via the shortcut key.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the text message comprises a multilingual text message for the feature phone user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a telephone number is included in said text message, and said telephone number is associated with one of the feature phone user and a plurality of feature phone users.

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising processor executable instructions that when executed by a processor of a computing device, perform a method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a first electronic mail from an electronic mail user;

converting, by the processor, the first electronic mail to an audio clip in response to the receipt of the first electronic mail;

generating, by the processor, a text message for communication to a user of a feature phone, said text message comprising embedded information referencing the audio clip, and further comprising a name of the electronic mail user, and an email identifier of the electronic mail user;

authenticating, by the processor, the user of the feature phone by requesting a username and password of the feature phone user;

comparing, by the processor, a number of characters in the first electronic mail to a predefined number;

when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is below the predefined number, including, by the processor, the first electronic mail in the text message;

when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is above the predefined number or when the first electronic mail has been included in the text message, transmitting, by the processor, the text message to the feature phone;

receiving, by the processor, a voice input provided by the feature phone user as a response to the first electronic mail;

receiving, by the processor, the email identifier of the electronic mail user from the feature phone;

creating and storing, by the processor, a shortcut key, said shortcut key comprising the email identifier of the electronic mail user and a phone number of the electronic mail user;

embedding, by the processor, the voice input as an audio file in a second electronic mail; and

transmitting, by the processor, the second electronic mail to the electronic mail user via the shortcut key.

5. The medium of claim 4, the text message comprising a multilingual text message for the feature phone user.

6. The medium of claim 4, a telephone number is included in said text message, and said telephone number being associated with a plurality of feature phone users.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for tangibly storing thereon program logic for execution by the processor, the stored program logic comprising;

electronic mail receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a first electronic mail from an electronic mail user;

converting logic executed by the processor for converting the first electronic mail to an audio clip in response to the receipt of the first electronic mail;

text message generating logic executed by the processor for generating a text message for communication to a user of a feature phone, said text message comprising embedded information referencing the audio clip, and further comprising a name of the electronic mail user, and an email identifier of the electronic mail user;

authentication logic executed by the processor for authenticating the user of the feature phone by requesting a username and password of the feature phone user;

comparing logic executed by the processor for comparing a number of characters in the first electronic mail to a predefined number;

email including logic executed by the processor for, when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is below the predefined number, including the first electronic mail in the text message;

transmitting logic executed by the processor for, when the number of characters in the first electronic mail is above the predefined number or when the first electronic mail has been included in the text message, transmitting the text message to the feature phone;

voice input receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving a voice input provided by the feature phone user as a response to the first electronic mail;

email identifier receiving logic executed by the processor for receiving the email identifier of the electronic mail user from the feature phone;

creating and storing, by the processor, a shortcut key, said shortcut key comprising the email identifier of the electronic mail user and a phone number of the electronic mail user;

embedding logic executed by the processor for embedding the voice input as an audio file in a second electronic mail; and

second email transmitting logic executed by the processor for transmitting the second electronic mail to the electronic mail user via the shortcut key.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the text message comprises a multilingual text message for the feature phone user.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, the storage medium further comprising:

authenticating logic executed by the processor for authenticating the feature phone user upon receiving a call from the feature phone user via a telephone number associated with the feature phone.