Method for non-real time group interaction using a voice messaging system

• US 20050041786A1
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John N. Craig
• Original Assignee: John N. Craig
• Inventors: Craig, John N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,526,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53316 Messaging centre selected by message originator
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

This invention provides a method for conducting a non-real time group interaction, employing a programmable voice messaging system, such as a voice message board, for storing and replaying messages from facilitators and group members. The invention provides a method for communication in rounds of discussion, whereby facilitators leave a first message and group members listen to and optionally respond to that message. The facilitators then listen to the members'"'"' responses and optionally create additional messages or optionally edit the members'"'"' messages, to guide and control the discussion. The cycle of facilitators listening, optionally responding, optionally editing followed by group members listening and optionally responding can be repeated multiple times. Also provided is a voice note pad means for users of the instant invention, whereby users can interrupt the stream of voice messages and create a new, private voice note pad message, and optionally later listen to or edit their voice note pad messages.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a non-real time group interaction comprising:

a. a group of at least one facilitator and one member;

b. a programmable voice messaging system providing authentication to each individual facilitator and member;

c. an initial interaction phase wherein the facilitators provide a voice message addressed to the group members at a first predetermined scheduled time;

d. a second interaction phase wherein the members access and listen to the facilitators voice message at a second predetermined scheduled time, and the members optionally respond to the facilitators voice message by providing a voice message addressed to the facilitator or the entire group or both;

e. a feedback loop interaction phase, wherein

i. at a third predetermined scheduled time, the facilitators access and listen to the messages left by the group members, and optionally respond and provide feedback on the voice messaging system to the group as a whole, to one or more individual members, or to one or more specific messages, or to any combination thereof, and

ii. the facilitators have the capability to optionally edit specific voice messages, and

iii. at a fourth predetermined scheduled time, each group member accesses the voice message system and listens to the messages left by the others in the group or by the facilitators or both, all optionally edited by the facilitators, and

iv. the facilitator and members optionally repeat the feedback loop, wherein the members respond to the set of messages left at the fourth predetermined time, and wherein the events at the third and fourth predetermined scheduled times are repeated;

f. an optional termination phase, wherein

i. at a fifth predetermined scheduled time, the facilitator summarizes the contents of the voice messages of the group and facilitator'"'"'s provided during the loop interaction phase, by leaving summary voice messages for the group, and

ii. at a sixth predetermined scheduled time the group members listen to the summary voice messages, and

iii. at a seventh predetermined scheduled time, the group interaction ends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the optional editing of messages by the facilitator comprises reordering, rearranging, reorganizing, combining, redirecting, or deleting of any specific voice message on the system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the feedback loop interaction phase is repeated one or more times.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the feedback loop interaction phase is repeated two or more times.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein during the fourth predetermined scheduled time, the members can rewind, fast forward, skip messages, or pause the playing of messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the group interaction has a termination phase.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the group interaction does not have a termination phase.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more group members have authentication and voice messaging system rights that allow them to listen to messages on the voice messaging system and leave messages on the voice messaging system for the facilitator or other group members or both.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein none, one, or more group members have authentication and voice messaging system rights that allow them to only listen to messages on the voice messaging system.

10. A method for conducting a non-real time group interaction comprising:

a. a group of at least one facilitator and one member;

b. a voice messaging system with a communal voice mail account, and personal voice mail accounts for each individual member;

c. an initial interaction phase wherein at a first predetermined scheduled time the facilitator provides a voice message forwarded to each personal voice mail account;

d. a second interaction phase, wherein

i. at a second predetermined scheduled time the members access their personal voice mail account and listen to the facilitator'"'"'s voice message, and

ii. the members optionally respond to the facilitators voice message by accessing the communal voice mail account and leaving a voice message;

e. a feedback loop interaction phase, wherein

i. at a third predetermined scheduled time, the facilitator optionally creates an Introductory Message and forwards this message to each member;

ii. the facilitator then accesses the communal voice mail account and listens to each message left by the group members, and for each message, the facilitator forwards that message to each member, and then optionally responds and provides feedback to each individual message on the communal voice mail account, and then forwards each response to each member, and

iii. the facilitator optionally creates a Concluding Message and forwards this message to each member, and

iv. at a fourth predetermined scheduled time, each group member accesses their personal voice mail account and listens to the set of messages forwarded by the facilitator, and

v. the facilitator and members optionally repeat the feedback loop interaction phase, wherein the members then access the communal voice mail box and leave a new message, and wherein the facilitator and members repeat the events at the third and fourth predetermined scheduled times;

f. an optional termination phase, wherein

i. at a fifth predetermined scheduled time, the facilitator creates summary remarks and distributes them to the personal voice mail accounts for each member, and

ii. at a sixth predetermined scheduled time the group members listen to the summary voice message, and

iii. at a seventh predetermined scheduled time, the group interaction ends.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback loop phase is repeated one or more times.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback loop phase is repeated two or more times.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the group interaction has a termination phase.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the group interaction does not have a termination phase.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the facilitators leave a follow up message inserted at the beginning of the communal voice mail box.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the facilitators leave a concluding message inserted at the end of the communal voice mail box.

17. A voice note pad method for users of the non-real time group interaction system, comprising:

a. a programmable voice messaging system wherein users of the non-real time group interaction system listen to a stream of voice messages; and

b. a command for the programmable voice messaging system that enables users to stop the stream of voice messages, and create a new voice note pad message; and

c. optionally a command to enable users to resume the stream of voice messages; and

d. optionally one or more commands to enable users to edit a voice note pad message, by reordering, rearranging, reorganizing, combining, redirecting, recalling, listening to, adding to, deleting, or transmitting to others one or more voice note pad messages.