Method and system to enable submission and subsequent retrieval of enhanced voice mail messages
First Claim
1. A method suitable for execution by a voice mail system for handling a call placed by a caller, comprising:
- providing the caller with an opportunity to submit a voice segment destined for an intended recipient;
providing the caller with an opportunity to submit an auxiliary electronic message destined for the intended recipient;
storing in a mailbox associated with the intended recipient a composite message comprising the voice segment and the auxiliary electronic message;
releasing the auxiliary electronic message to the intended recipient upon interaction with the intended recipient.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method suitable for execution by a voice mail system for handling a call placed by a caller. The method comprises providing the caller with an opportunity to submit a voice segment and providing the caller with an opportunity to submit an auxiliary electronic message, such as text or files. A composite message comprising the voice segment and the auxiliary electronic message is stored in a database. The auxiliary electronic message is released to its intended recipient upon subsequent interaction between the intended recipient and the voice mail system. The ability of the caller to submit text or files increases the accuracy and flexibility with which certain types of information can be conveyed to the intended recipient. At the same time, the ability of the intended recipient to access text or files associated with individual messages allows the intended recipient to better manage missed calls when eventually accessing his or her mailbox.
80 Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method suitable for execution by a voice mail system for handling a call placed by a caller, comprising:
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providing the caller with an opportunity to submit a voice segment destined for an intended recipient;
providing the caller with an opportunity to submit an auxiliary electronic message destined for the intended recipient;
storing in a mailbox associated with the intended recipient a composite message comprising the voice segment and the auxiliary electronic message;
releasing the auxiliary electronic message to the intended recipient upon interaction with the intended recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. Computer-readable media tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computing device to perform a method of handling a call placed by a caller, the method comprising:
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providing the caller with an opportunity to submit a voice segment destined for an intended recipient;
providing the caller with an opportunity to submit an auxiliary electronic message destined for the intended recipient;
storing in a mailbox associated with the intended recipient a composite message comprising the voice segment and the auxiliary electronic message;
releasing the auxiliary electronic message to the intended recipient upon interaction with the intended recipient.
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69. A voice mail system, comprising:
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a plurality of mailboxes associated with respective users of the voice mail system, each of said mailboxes comprising a respective set of at least one message, at least one particular message in the mailbox associated with a particular user comprising a respective voice content field and a respective auxiliary content field, the voice content field of the particular message comprising a voice segment submitted by a caller during prior interaction with the voice mail system, the auxiliary content field of the particular message comprising an auxiliary electronic message information submitted by the caller during said prior interaction with the voice mail system; and
a control unit operative for interacting with the particular user to allow the particular user to retrieve the voice segment in the voice content field of the particular message and the auxiliary electronic message in the auxiliary content field of the particular message.
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Specification