VOICEMAIL SYSTEM FOR A HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20090061827A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mak-Fan, David J., BULGIN, SCOTT E., Kuhl, Lawrence E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,042,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A voicemail system utilizing a wireless handheld device with a suitable user interface for presenting voice messages and email messages is disclosed. Voice messages are received over a wireless network, and stored on the handheld device. Upon receipt of a voice message, the handheld device records the audio message in local memory. Subsequently a message record entry corresponding to the received audio message is displayed in a user interface screen of the handheld. When the user opens the displayed message record, the handheld device plays back the corresponding audio message stored in local memory.

Claims

1. A method of providing a voicemail service at a handheld wireless device, comprising:

recording an incoming audio message in a local memory of said handheld device; and

displaying an incoming audio message record, corresponding to said incoming audio message, in a user interface screen of said handheld device, said user interface screen contemporaneously presenting email message records along with said incoming audio message record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon selection of said incoming audio message record through said user interface of said handheld device, playing back said incoming audio message recorded in said local memory through a speaker of said handheld device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(i) placing a call to a recipient;

(ii) determining that said call is answered by a remote voicemail system;

(iii) transmitting an outgoing audio message to said remote voicemail system; and

(iv) displaying in said user interface screen an outgoing message record for said outgoing audio message.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising recording said outgoing audio message in said local memory.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising selectively associating said outgoing message record with said incoming message record.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

comparing a phone number called to leave said outgoing audio message with an originating phone number associated with said incoming audio message record and upon a match, associating said outgoing message record with said incoming message record.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said remote voicemail system comprises a remote handheld device, said method further comprising exchanging message association data with said remote handheld device to associate said outgoing message record with said incoming message record.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

(i) storing a first unique caller identifier corresponding to a recipient of said outgoing audio message in association with said outgoing audio message;

(ii) upon receiving a new incoming message, recording said new incoming message and creating a new message record, and comparing a second unique caller identifier for an originator of said new incoming message with said first unique caller identifier; and

(iii) on a match, associating said outgoing message record with said new message record.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising positioning said incoming audio message record corresponding to said incoming audio message on said screen adjacent to said outgoing message record.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein said incoming audio message record is visually presented as a sub-record of said outgoing message record corresponding to said outgoing audio message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon a user selecting said incoming audio message record through said user interface, enabling said user to select to reply to an original caller of said audio message; and

upon said user selecting to reply;

while said user leaves an outgoing audio message in a remote voicemail, concurrently recording said outgoing audio message in said local memory;

creating an outgoing message record for said outgoing audio message; and

associating said outgoing message record with said incoming audio message record.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said incoming audio message record comprises a caller identification field.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said incoming audio message record comprises a time field.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving a phone call from a caller, placing said handheld device in answering-machine mode prior to said recording.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, entering said answering-machine mode upon receipt of a user input to ignore an incoming phone call.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, automatically entering said answering-machine mode responsive to a user setting, upon receipt of incoming phone calls.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein said recording comprises:

(i) taking digital voice samples using an audio codec coupled to said local memory and a wireless receiver in said handheld device;

(ii) compressing said voice samples; and

(iii) writing compressed voice samples into said local memory.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said compressed voice samples are written in said local memory using MP3 audio file format.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said playing back comprises:

(i) reading compressed voice samples from said local memory

(ii) decompressing said compressed voice samples using said audio codec; and

(iii) outputting said decompressed samples in said speaker.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said audio codec comprises an MP3 player.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said user interface screen of said handheld device also presents text message records along with said audio message record.

22. A method of providing a voicemail service at a wireless handheld device, comprising:

recording an incoming audio message for an original caller in a local memory of said handheld device; and

displaying an incoming audio message record corresponding to said incoming audio message in a user interface screen of said handheld device;

upon a user selecting said incoming audio message record through said user interface, enabling said user to select to reply to said original caller; and

upon said user selecting to reply being connected to voicemail and leaving an outgoing audio message;

recording said outgoing audio message in said local memory;

creating an outgoing message record for said outgoing audio message; and

associating said outgoing message record with said incoming audio message record.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said associating comprises positioning said incoming audio message record on said user interface screen adjacent to said outgoing message record.

24. A handheld device comprising:

a wireless receiver;

a speaker;

memory;

a display;

and a processor, operable to;

(i) transition said device to answering-machine mode and record an incoming audio message from said caller in said memory; and

(ii) display an incoming audio message record corresponding to said audio message in a user interface screen on said display, said screen contemporaneously presenting email message records and said incoming audio message record.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein said processor is further operable to play back said incoming audio message through said speaker upon selection of said message record by a user.

26. The device of claim 24, further comprising a microphone wherein said processor is further operable to record on said memory using said microphone, an outgoing audio message left on a remote voicemail system.

27. The device of claim 24, further comprising an audio codec.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein said processor displays text message records contemporaneously with said incoming audio message record.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein said user interface screen displays an outgoing message record corresponding to said outgoing audio message.

30. The device of claim 24, further comprising a digital signal processor (DSP) in communication with said processor.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said DSP executes answering machine detection software.