Multimedia data transfer for a personal communication device

• US 20070173231A1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,083 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

In a portable multimedia device, data is passed between a sender and receiver unit by way of voice channel only. Multimedia data is vocalized and then forwarded to a receiver unit by way of the voice channel without the use of a backend server. Once received at the receiver unit, the vocalized data can be converted to an audio signal that can then output by way of an audio output device (such as a speaker, earphone, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of transferring multimedia data between personal communication devices without a backend server, comprising:

vocalizing the multimedia data by a first personal communication device;

passing the vocalized multimedia data to a second personal communication device using only a voice channel; and

receiving the vocalized multimedia data by the second personal communication device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising;

displaying a user activated selection tool for selecting the multimedia data by the first personal communication device;

receiving a user generated selection prompt indicating the multimedia data to be vocalized; and

receiving a user generated disposition prompt indicating the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communication device.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data comprises:

displaying the vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communication device;

converting the vocalized multimedia data to an audible signal;

passing the audible signal to an audio output device; and

outputting the audible signal corresponding to the vocalized multimedia data.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data comprises:

opening a channel to a voice mail server by the receiving personal communication device;

forwarding the vocalized multimedia data to the voice mail server by way of the channel;

storing the vocalized multimedia data by the voice mail server; and

updating a voice mail indicator at the receiving personal communication device.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the personal communication device is a cell phone or a personal digital assistant.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the multimedia data is a text message.

18. Computer program product as recited in claim 6, wherein the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data comprises:

computer code for opening a channel to a voice mail server by the receiving personal communication device;

computer code for forwarding the vocalized multimedia data to the voice mail server;

computer code for storing the vocalized multimedia data by the voice mail server; and

computer code for updating a voice mail indicator at the receiving personal communication device.

7. A consumer product suitable transferring multimedia data between personal communication devices without a backend server, comprising:

a memory device arranged to store the multimedia data;

a display coupled to the memory device suitable for displaying the multimedia data;

a wireless interface arranged to establish a voice channel between the consumer product and any of the personal communication devices;

an audio output device for outputting an audible signal; and

a processor arranged to fetch the multimedia data from the memory, vocalize the multimedia data and pass the vocalized multimedia data to the wireless interface that subsequently passes the vocalized multimedia data by way of the voice channel to at least one of the personal communication devices.

8. A consumer product as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

a graphical user interface displayed on the display.

9. A consumer product as recited in claim 8, wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a user activated selection tool for selecting the multimedia data to be vocalized; and

an interactive disposition prompt arranged to indicate the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communication device.

10. A consumer product as recited in claim 9, wherein a receiving personal communication device comprises:

a receiving personal communication device display screen;

a receiving personal communication device wireless interface arranged to establish receive the vocalized multimedia data by way of the voice channel; and

a receiving personal communication device processor arranged to disposition the received vocalized multimedia data as indicated by the interactive disposition prompt.

11. A consumer product as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiving personal communication device processor dispositions the vocalized multimedia data by converting the vocalized multimedia data to an audible signal corresponding to the vocalized multimedia data and passing the audible signal to the audio output device that, in turn, outputs the audible signal.

12. A consumer product as recited in claim 10, wherein the receiving personal communication device processor dispositions the vocalized multimedia data by opening a channel to a voice mail server, forwarding the vocalized multimedia data to the voice mail server, and updating a voice mail indicator.

13. A consumer product as recited in claim 7 wherein the consumer product is a cell phone or a personal digital assistant.

14. A consumer product as recited in claim 7 wherein the multimedia data is a text message.

15. Computer program product executable by a processor for transferring multimedia data between personal communication devices without a backend server, comprising:

computer code for vocalizing the multimedia data by a first personal communication device;

computer code for passing the vocalized multimedia data to a second personal communication device using only a voice channel;

computer code for receiving the vocalized multimedia data by the second personal communication device; and

computer readable medium for storing the computer code.

16. Computer program product as recited in claim 15, further comprising;

computer code for displaying a user activated selection tool for selecting the multimedia data by the first personal communication device;

computer code for receiving a user generated selection prompt indicating the multimedia data to be vocalized; and

computer code for receiving a user generated disposition prompt indicating the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communication device.

17. Computer program product as recited in claim 16, wherein the disposition of the vocalized multimedia data comprises:

computer code for displaying the vocalized multimedia data by the receiving personal communication device;

computer code for converting the vocalized multimedia data to an audible signal;

computer code for passing the audible signal to an audio output device; and

computer code for outputting the audible signal corresponding to the vocalized multimedia data.

19. Computer program product as recited in claim 15 wherein the personal communication device is a cell phone or a personal digital assistant.

20. Computer program product as recited in claim 15 wherein the multimedia data is a text message.