Method and apparatus for delivering messages based on user presence, preference or location

• US 20030135569A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Krishnaswamy, Venkatesh, Siddiqui, Anwar A., Zenner, Hal B., Khakoo, Shabbir A.
• Application Number:
  US10/261,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for delivering messages to one or more intended recipients based on the presence, preferences or location of the recipient(s). Text-based messages, such as instant messages, can be delivered to one or more intended recipients by means of (i) a voice call to a voice-capable device associated with the recipients; (ii) a voice mail message to a voice mail box associated with the recipients; or (iii) a text or voice message, as appropriate, that is delivered upon the availability of one or more intended recipients. An instant message originating as a text message is converted to speech, if necessary, before being delivered to the intended recipient. The speech corresponding to the text of the message is played out once the call is answered or once the voice mail message is retrieved. The invention thus enables the delivery of messages to be routed and scheduled based on the location and availability of the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, comprising:

receiving said message from a sender;

converting a textual portion of said message to speech; and

delivering said speech to said recipient as a telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based message is an instant message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting step further comprises the step of retrieving a prerecorded message indexed by said text-based message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said converting step further comprises the step of synthesizing said textual portion to speech.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said text-based message is processed in accordance with the SIP protocol.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering step is conditioned upon an availability of said recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said delivering step is conditioned upon an availability of said recipient at a voice-capable device.

8. A method for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, comprising:

receiving said message from a sender;

evaluating an availability of said recipient to receive said message;

converting a textual portion of said message to a speech file; and

delivering said speech file to said recipient as a voice mail message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said text-based message is an instant message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said converting step further comprises the step of retrieving a prerecorded message indexed by said text-based message.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein said converting step further comprises the step of synthesizing said textual portion to a speech file.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said text-based message is processed in accordance with the SIP protocol.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein said delivering step further comprises the step of retrieving an indication of a voice mailbox associated with said recipient.

14. A method for delivering a message to a recipient, comprising:

receiving said message from a sender;

evaluating an availability of said recipient to receive said message; and

delivering said message to said recipient when said recipient is available.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said message is an instant message.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said message is delivered to a text-enabled device associated with said recipient.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said message is delivered to a voice-enabled device associated with said recipient.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of retrieving a prerecorded message indexed by a text-based message.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of synthesizing a textual portion of a text-based message to speech.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said message is processed in accordance with the SIP protocol.

21. A system for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to;

receive said message from a sender;

convert a textual portion of said message to speech; and

deliver said speech to said recipient as a telephone call.

22. A system for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to;

receive said message from a sender;

evaluate an availability of said recipient to receive said message;

convert a textual portion of said message to speech; and

deliver said speech to said recipient as a voice mail message.

23. A system for delivering a message to a recipient, comprising:

a memory that stores computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to implement said computer-readable code, said computer-readable code configured to;

receive said message from a sender;

evaluate an availability of said recipient to receive said message; and

deliver said message to said recipient when said recipient is available.

24. An article of manufacture for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, said article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to receive said message from a sender;

a step to convert a textual portion of said message to speech; and

a step to deliver said speech to said recipient as a telephone call.

25. An article of manufacture for delivering a text-based message to a recipient, said article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to receive said message from a sender;

a step to evaluate an availability of said recipient to receive said message;

a step to convert a textual portion of said message to speech; and

a step to deliver said speech to said recipient as a voice mail message.

26. An article of manufacture for delivering a message to a recipient, said article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to receive said message from a sender;

a step to evaluate an availability of said recipient to receive said message; and

a step to deliver said message to said recipient when said recipient is available.