Methods for Identifying Messages and Communicating with Users of a Multimodal Message Service

• US 20080004046A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Multimodal Media LLC (Quest Patent Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kirusa Inc.
• Inventors: Uppaladadium, Prasanna, Moorthy, Raja, Mumick, Inderpal, Anderl, Ewald
• Granted Patent: US 8,688,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

Methods for combining speech with existing text wireless Short Message Service (SMS) to create a multimodal SMS service are provided. A user of standard SMS text service is provided with a link within each message that allows adding or retrieval of a voice message associated with an SMS text message. A speech server in the wireless network may be used for recognition of voice commands, rendering of test into speech, and recording or playing back voice recordings. An automatic and unique identification of each message is created to allow retrieval of the message without manually selecting the message. Additional services include message lists, integration with voicemail systems, image and video messages, cross-functional applications with Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS) and Enhanced Message Services (EMS), and extensions of the combination of voice with text SMS to other computing devices such as PDAs and PCs.

Claims

1. A method of communicating a message in a multimodal SMS communication, the method comprising:

creating the message;

generating an SMS message containing a link, which when activated allows a recipient to retrieve the message;

assigning a unique message identifier to the SMS message, wherein the message identifier is associated with the recipient;

adding the message identifier to the SMS message;

storing the message identifier with the SMS message; and

transmitting the SMS message to the recipient via a connection that comprises a wireless network;

wherein the message contains audio, text, or both audio and text.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the SMS message by activating the link.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the recipient providing an outgoing SMS message in reply to the SMS message by accessing the link.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the outgoing SMS message is intercepted by an SMS center if the recipient is part of a defined subset of recipients.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique message identifier is comprised of a user identifier combined with a network identifier and is assigned by a network pool.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the audio message is a voice mail message and wherein the link allows access to the voice mail message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the message contains audio and wherein the step of creating the message comprises:

calling an assigned network number; and

speaking the desired message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the SMS message comprises:

sending the SMS message to a virtual service identifier number, wherein the SMS message is directed to a multimodal platform.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the multimodal platform associates the virtual service identifier number with the recipient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the SMS message comprises:

an SMS center intercepting the SMS message sent to the recipient if the recipient is part of a defined subset of recipients.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the SMS message is converted into a multimodal SMS message.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering the SMS message to determine if the sender of the text SMS message is a subscriber to a multimodal SMS service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a sender of the SMS message is a subscriber to a network carrier responsible for sending and delivering the message.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting the SMS message to a multimedia message, comprising dividing the text message into multimedia components.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding a multimodal SMS link to a non-text portion of the message, if the outgoing message is directed to an instant message platform.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the SMS message is a message from a voice message system.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

retrieving the SMS message by one of (i) activating the link and (ii) calling an access number, wherein the retrieval of the SMS message may result in a predetermined charge to the recipient.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions to perform a method of communicating a message in a multimodal SMS communication, the method comprising:

creating the message;

generating an SMS message containing a link, which when activated allows a recipient to retrieve the message;

assigning a unique message identifier to the SMS message, wherein the message identifier is associated with the recipient;

adding the message identifier to the SMS message;

storing the message identifier with the SMS message; and

transmitting the SMS message to the recipient via a connection that comprises a wireless network;

wherein the message may contain audio, text, or both audio and text.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

accessing the SMS message by activating the link.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the unique message identifier is comprised of a user identifier combined with a network identifier and is assigned from a network pool.