VOICE MESSAGING PRIORITIZATION

• US 20080153529A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: SNOW, Michael P., O'NEILL, Kenneth R., OFFER, Brad W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,107 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/512
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

A voice radio communication system prioritizes radio voice communications so that higher priority voice transmission is given precedence. The communication system comprises a transmitter that inserts a digital watermark into a voice communication. Software in a receiver decodes the digital watermark to determine a priority requested by the sender, and other information about the sender and the message. The software determines the message priority based on multiple factors. Voice transmissions are digitally recorded and played in order of priority. Options exist for the user to control the playback.

Claims

1. A method for presenting multiple voice radio transmissions, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of voice radio transmissions at a radio receiver;

digitally recording said plurality of voice radio transmissions at the radio receiver;

determining a sender identification and a priority for each of said plurality of voice radio transmissions; and

presenting each of said plurality of voice radio transmissions based on the priority of each voice radio transmission.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting each of said plurality of voice radio transmissions comprises presenting an audible transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting each of said plurality of voice radio transmissions comprises presentation of a text display representative of the voice transmission.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting each of said plurality of voice radio transmissions is performed automatically in real-time.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising manually selecting one of said plurality of voice radio transmissions.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a plurality of voice radio transmissions comprises receiving a first voice radio transmission of said plurality of voice radio transmissions that overlaps in time with receiving a second voice radio transmission.

7. A voice radio communications apparatus, comprising:

a processor adapted to insert a digital watermark representing a desired priority level into a voice radio transmission.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which the digital watermark comprises a time stamp, source identification, and a user requested priority level.

9. A voice radio communications apparatus, comprising:

a processor adapted to read a digital watermark embedded in a voice radio transmission and assign a priority level to the voice radio transmission.

10. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the processor is adapted to assign a priority level based on a requested priority level in the digital watermark.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the processor is adapted to assign a priority level based on source identification in the digital watermark.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, in which the processor is adapted to assign a priority level based on a mission context parameter.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which the mission context parameter represents an operational status of an aircraft.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which the operational status of the aircraft includes cruise conditions, take off, and landing.

15. A method of performing voice radio communications with an aircraft, comprising the steps of:

decoding a digital watermark embedded in a radio voice communication;

assigning a priority level to the voice communication based on information in the watermark and operational conditions on the aircraft;

displaying information about the voice communication to a user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising recording the voice communication.

17. The method of claim 15, in which the information in the watermark comprises source identification.

18. The method of claim 15, in which the information in the watermark comprises a user requested priority.

19. The method of claim 15, in which the information in the watermark comprises a time stamp.

20. The method of claim 15, in which the operational conditions on the aircraft include, cruise, takeoff, and landing conditions.

21. The method of claim 15, in which the priority level is low, medium, high, or emergency.

22. The method of claim 15, in which displaying step comprises displaying one or more of a time stamp, a source identification, a priority level, and a designation of whether the message has been played by a user.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of playing back the recorded voice communication.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

pausing playback of the recorded voice communication.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

rewinding the recorded voice communication.