Three turn interactive voice messaging method

• US 20060270361A1
• Filed: 05/25/2005
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Aokl, Paul M., Thornton, James D., Woodruff, Allison G., Szymanski, Margaret H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/10 Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-On-Call services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/45 for Push-to-Talk [PTT] or Push-to-Talk over cellular [PoC] services

Abstract

A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network in which an application is stored and executed for use by network devices. The system includes a session management module for management of communication sessions among the audio communication devices. Session management includes receiving an initial message as an audio stream through an audio channel from a first audio communication device, producing a response message within the network devices, and determining whether the first communication device is responsively engaging the response message. The system also includes an audio processing module for storage, retrieval, and transmission of audio communication streams, including sending a response message to the first audio communication device and recording a reply message as an audio stream through the audio channel from a first communication device if the first communication device indicates responsive engagement with the response message.

Claims

1. A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network, the system storing and executing an application for use by network devices, comprising:

session management module, for management of communication sessions among the audio communication devices, wherein said management of communication sessions comprises;

receiving an initial message as an audio stream through an audio channel from a first audio communication device, said initial message being directed to a second audio communication device;

producing a response message within said network devices; and

determining whether said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message; and

audio processing module, for storage, retrieval, and transmission of audio communication streams, wherein said storage, retrieval, and transmission comprise;

sending said response message to said first audio communication device; and

recording a reply message as an audio stream through said audio channel from said first audio communication device if said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message.

2. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, further comprising a state assessment module for evaluating state assessment data, said state assessment data including at least one member selected from the group consisting of network status data, context state data, and manual state data.

3. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein the application includes at least one module capable of generating said state assessment data.

4. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein the application includes at least one module capable of receiving said state assessment data.

5. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said management of communication sessions further includes terminating communication between said first communication device and said second communication device if said first audio communication device does not indicate responsive engagement with said response message.

6. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said audio stream is buffered.

7. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said management of communication sessions further comprises pausing for a specified period of time after sending said response message.

8. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein the content of said response message is partially or wholly generated by the application.

9. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said management of communication sessions further comprises monitoring said audio channel for communication requests.

10. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said management of communication sessions further comprises determining whether to transmit said initial message through the communication network to said second audio communication device or to record said initial message for later retrieval, based on said state assessment.

11. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said network status data indicates whether said second audio communication device is present on said communication network.

12. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said response message indicates that said second audio communication device is not capable of receiving said initial message.

13. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said session management module directs transmission of said initial message if said state assessment indicates that said second audio communication device is present on the communication network and capable of receiving said initial message through said audio channel.

14. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said state assessment further comprises computing said context state data from context sensor data, wherein said context sensor data includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of proximity, location, and environment data.

15. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 14, wherein said context sensor data is provided by at least one member selected from the group consisting of proximity sensors, location sensors, environment sensors, and microphones.

16. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said response message indicates that said second audio communication device is in an inappropriate context for receiving said initial message.

17. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said manual state data indicate whether said second audio communication device is set to accept said initial message.

18. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said response message indicates that said second audio communication device is not set to accept said initial message.

19. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said state assessment data is retrieved following receipt of an acknowledgment message from said second audio communication device, wherein said acknowledgment message indicates that said initial message has been played.

20. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 2, wherein said state assessment data is retrieved prior to receipt of an acknowledgment message from said second communication device, wherein said acknowledgment message indicates that said initial message has been played.

21. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 1, wherein said audio processing module further transmits additional audio communications between said first communication device and said second communication device.

22. The system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices according to claim 21, wherein said additional audio communications comprise:

sending said reply message to said second audio communication device;

determining whether said second audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said reply message; and

receiving an additional message as an audio stream through said audio channel from said second audio communication device if said second audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said reply message, said additional message being directed to said first audio communication device.

23. A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network, the system storing and executing an application for use by a server accessible by network devices, comprising:

session management module, for management of communication sessions among the audio communication devices, wherein said management of communication sessions comprises;

receiving an initial message as an audio stream through an audio channel from a first audio communication device, said initial message being directed to a second audio communication device;

producing a response message within said network devices; and

determining whether said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message; and

audio processing module, for storage, retrieval, and transmission of audio communication streams, wherein said storage, retrieval, and transmission comprise;

sending said response message to said first audio communication device; and

recording a reply message as an audio stream through said audio channel from said first audio communication device if said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message.

24. A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network, the system storing and executing an application for use by at least one audio communication device, comprising:

session management module, for management of communication sessions among the audio communication devices, wherein said management of communication sessions comprises;

receiving an initial message as an audio stream through an audio channel from a first audio communication device, said initial message being directed to a second audio communication device;

producing a response message within said network devices; and

determining whether said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message; and

audio processing module, for storage, retrieval, and transmission of audio communication streams, wherein said storage, retrieval, and transmission comprise;

sending said response message to said first audio communication device; and

recording a reply message as an audio stream through said audio channel from said first audio communication device if said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message.

25. A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network, the system storing and executing an application for use by network devices, comprising:

means for receiving an initial message as an audio stream through an audio channel from a first audio communication device, said initial message being directed to a second audio communication device;

means for producing a response message within said network devices;

means for sending said response message to said first audio communication device;

means for determining whether said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message; and

means for recording a reply message as an audio stream through said audio channel from said first audio communication device if said first audio communication device indicates responsive engagement with said response message.

26. A system for interactive communication among lightweight audio communication devices over a communication network, the system storing and executing an application for use by network devices, comprising:

session management module, for management of communication sessions among the audio communication devices, wherein said plurality of audio communication devices includes at least a first audio communication device and a second audio communication device for communicating at least one initial message over an audio channel;

audio processing module, for storage, retrieval, and transmission of audio communication streams;

network status monitoring module, for receiving network status data;

state assessment module, for determining the readiness of said second audio device to accept incoming communication requests, wherein said readiness of said second audio device comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of presence on the network, context quality, and reception setting;

manual state monitoring module for monitoring activity of at least one control input device, wherein said at least one control input device comprises a component of the audio communication devices, and wherein said manual state monitoring module provides manual state monitoring data retrieved from said control input device to said state assessment module; and

context-based state monitoring module, for monitoring at least one context sensor included in the audio communication devices and providing context-based state monitoring data from said context sensor to said state assessment module.