System and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device

• US 20060256934A1
• Filed: 04/11/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onset Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Onset Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Mazor, Gadi
• Granted Patent: US 7,746,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

A system and method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device. In some embodiments, the audio file may be recorded remotely from the portable client device, and may be attached to the electronic message at an enterprise server while being transmitted from the portable client device to an intended recipient.

Claims

1. A system that records and attaches an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device, the system comprising:

a gateway that receives audio content and a message identifier from the portable client device, the gateway recording the received audio content as the audio file and associating the message identifier with the audio file;

a server that receives the electronic message generated by the portable client device, wherein a dummy file that represents the audio file is attached to the electronic message;

a server extension module in communication with the server that detects the dummy file attached to the electronic message as the electronic message is received at the server; and

an attachment management module that receives the audio file from the gateway and, based on the message identifier and the detection of the electronic message by the server extension module, replaces the dummy file with the audio file.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the gateway comprises an audio recording module that enables a user to perform one or more of the following actions:

re-record the audio file, replay the audio file, or edit the audio.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment management module is associated with the gateway.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the attachment management module is associated with the server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is an enterprise server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, subsequent to the replacement of the dummy file with the audio file by the attachment management module, the server forwards the electronic message and the attached audio file to an intended recipient.

7. A portable client device that enables audio content to be attached to an electronic message generated by the portable client device, the portable client device comprising:

a message management module that enables a user to open an electronic message;

an audio communications module that enables the user to provide audio content to a gateway the records the audio content in an audio file; and

a dummy attachment module that creates a dummy file that represents the audio file and attaches the dummy file to the electronic message;

wherein the portable client device delivers the electronic message and the attached dummy file to a server.

8. The portable client device of claim 7, wherein the audio communications module transmits a message identifier to the gateway for association with the audio content, and wherein the message identifier enables the attachment of the audio file to the electronic message subsequent to delivery of the electronic message by the portable client device.

9. The portable client device of claim 7, wherein the audio communications module comprises a microphone and a speaker.

10. The portable client device of claim 7, wherein the message management module enables the user to edit the electronic message.

11. The portable client device of claim 7, wherein the message management module enables the user to initiate delivery of the electronic message and the attached dummy file to the server.

12. The portable client device of claim 7, wherein the electronic message comprises one or more of a reply to another electronic message, a new electronic message, or a forwarded electronic message.

13. A method for recording and attaching an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device, the method comprising:

opening the electronic message;

recording audio content into an audio file remotely from the portable client device;

flagging the electronic message;

transmitting the flagged electronic message from the portable client device to the server;

attaching the audio file to the flagged electronic message remotely from the portable client device; and

transmitting the electronic message with the audio file attached thereto to an intended recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein flagging the electronic message comprises attaching a dummy file to the electronic message, the dummy file representing the audio file.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein attaching the audio file to the flagged electronic message comprises replacing the dummy file with the audio file.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing an identifier to be associated with the audio file.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

identifying the flagged electronic message subsequent to the transmission of the flagged electronic message from the portable client device to the server; and

associating the identified electronic message with the audio file based on the identifier.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising enabling the user to perform one or more of the following actions:

editing the audio content in the audio file, replaying the audio content in the audio file, or re-recording the audio content in the audio file.