METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENABLING A CALLING PARTY TO LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE FOR A CALLED PARTY

• US 20100272247A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Lessard, Yannick, Archer, Nathan Gerald, Fortin, Pierre, Arsenault, Jonathan Allan
• Granted Patent: US 8,897,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.220
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53391 dependent on calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network. The method may comprise: consulting at least one source of information in an attempt to obtain message destination information associated with the called party; if the attempt is successful, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party; receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device; generating an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.

Claims

1. A network apparatus for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, said network apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with the communication device via a communications network; and

a processing unit coupled to said interface and operative for;

consulting at least one source of information in an attempt to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

if said attempt is successful, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

2. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of entries, each entry being associated with a potential called party and including message destination information associated with the potential called party.

3. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of records, said consulting comprising accessing a particular one of the records that is associated with the calling party.

4. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the particular one of the records includes an address book associated with the calling party.

5. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one source of information includes the calling party, said consulting comprising sending a message inviting the calling party to supply message destination information associated with the called party.

6. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one source of information includes a public data network, said consulting comprising performing a search on at least one site of the public data network.

7. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one site of the public data network includes a search engine site or a social networking site.

8. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said providing comprises sending a message to the communication device, the message inviting the calling party to leave a voice message for the called party.

9. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including the audio file in the electronic message.

10. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

applying a speech-to-text function on the voice message provided by the calling party to generate text representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including the text in the electronic message.

11. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the audio file.

12. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

generating text representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the text.

13. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message destination information includes an email address associated with the called party and the electronic message is an email message.

14. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message destination information includes an instant messaging identifier associated with the called party and the electronic message is an instant messaging message.

15. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the message destination information includes an identifier of a wireless communication device associated with the called party and the electronic message is a text message or a multimedia message.

16. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing unit is operative for:

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service; and

performing said providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service.

17. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, said processing unit being operative for initiating a call to be established between the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the called party.

18. A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:

consulting at least one source of information in an attempt to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

if said attempt is successful, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of entries, each entry being associated with a potential called party and including message destination information associated with the potential called party.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of records, said consulting comprising accessing a particular one of the records that is associated with the calling party.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the particular one of the records includes an address book associated with the calling party.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one source of information includes the calling party, said consulting comprising sending a message inviting the calling party to supply message destination information associated with the called party.

23. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the at least one source of information includes a public data network, said consulting comprising performing a search on at least one site of the public data network.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one site of the public data network includes a search engine site or a social networking site.

25. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said providing comprises sending a message to the communication device, the message inviting the calling party to leave a voice message for the called party.

26. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including the audio file in the electronic message.

27. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said generating comprises:

applying a speech-to-text function on the voice message provided by the calling party to generate text representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including the text in the electronic message.

28. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the audio file.

29. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said generating comprises:

generating text representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the text.

30. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the message destination information includes an email address associated with the called party and the electronic message is an email message.

31. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the message destination information includes an instant messaging identifier associated with the called party and the electronic message is an instant messaging message.

32. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the message destination information includes an identifier of a wireless communication device associated with the called party and the electronic message is a text message or a multimedia message.

33. A method as claimed in claim 18, comprising:

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service; and

performing said providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service.

34. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, said method comprising initiating a call to be established between the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the called party.

35. Computer-readable media storing a program element for execution by a computer system to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the computer system being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said program element comprising:

first program code for causing the computer system to consult at least one source of information in an attempt to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

second program code for causing the computer system, if said attempt is successful, to provide an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party;

third program code for causing the computer system to receive a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

fourth program code for causing the computer system to generate an electronic message representative of the voice message provided by the calling party; and

fifth program code for causing the computer system to cause transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

36. A network apparatus for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, said network apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with the communication device via a communications network; and

a processing unit coupled to said interface and operative for;

consulting a record associated with the calling party to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

37. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the record includes an address book associated with the calling party.

38. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message; and

including the audio file in the electronic message.

39. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said generating comprises:

applying a speech-to-text function on the voice message to generate text representative of the voice message; and

including the text in the electronic message.

40. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the audio file.

41. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said generating comprises:

generating text representative of the voice message; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the text.

42. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the message destination information includes an email address associated with the called party and the electronic message is an email message.

43. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the message destination information includes an instant messaging identifier associated with the called party and the electronic message is an instant messaging message.

44. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the message destination information includes an identifier of a wireless communication device associated with the called party and the electronic message is a text message or a multimedia message.

45. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein said processing unit is operative for:

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service; and

providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service.

46. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, said processing unit being operative for initiating a call to be established between the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the called party.

47. A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:

consulting a record associated with the calling party to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

48. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the record includes an address book associated with the calling party.

49. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message; and

including the audio file in the electronic message.

50. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein said generating comprises:

applying a speech-to-text function on the voice message to generate text representative of the voice message; and

including the text in the electronic message.

51. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein said generating comprises:

generating an audio file representative of the voice message; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the audio file.

52. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein said generating comprises:

generating text representative of the voice message; and

including in the electronic message a link to access the text.

53. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the message destination information includes an email address associated with the called party and the electronic message is an email message.

54. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the message destination information includes an instant messaging identifier associated with the called party and the electronic message is an instant messaging message.

55. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the message destination information includes an identifier of a wireless communication device associated with the called party and the electronic message is a text message or a multimedia message.

56. A method as claimed in claim 47, comprising:

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service; and

providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service.

57. A method as claimed in claim 47, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, said method comprising initiating a call to be established between the first communication device and a second communication device associated with the called party.

58. Computer-readable media storing a program element for execution by a computer system to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the computer system being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said program element comprising:

first program code for causing the computer system to consult a record associated with the calling party to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

second program code for causing the computer system to receive a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

third program code for causing the computer system to generate an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

fourth program code for causing the computer system to cause transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

59. A network apparatus for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, said network apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with the communication device via a communications network; and

a processing unit coupled to said interface and operative for;

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service;

if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party;

consulting at least one source of information to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

60. A network apparatus as claimed in claim 59, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of records, said consulting comprising accessing a particular one of the records that is associated with the calling party.

61. A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:

determining whether the calling party subscribes to a messaging service;

if the calling party subscribes to the messaging service, providing an opportunity for the calling party to leave a message for the called party;

consulting at least one source of information to obtain message destination information associated with the called party;

receiving a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

62. A method as claimed in claim 61, wherein the at least one source of information includes a database containing a plurality of records, said consulting comprising accessing a particular one of the records that is associated with the calling party.

63. A network apparatus for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, said network apparatus comprising:

an interface for communicating with the communication device via a communications network; and

a processing unit coupled to said interface and operative for;

obtaining message destination information associated with the called party;

interacting with the communication device to obtain a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device, said interacting being independent of whether the called party subscribes to a voicemail service;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.

64. A method for execution by a network entity to allow a calling party to leave a message for a called party, the calling party using a communication device to call the called party, the network entity being connected to the communication device via a communications network, said method comprising:

obtaining message destination information associated with the called party;

interacting with the communication device to obtain a voice message provided by the calling party via the communication device, said interacting being independent of whether the called party subscribes to a voicemail service;

generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and

causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information.