Interface system and method for interconnecting a voice message system and an interactive voice response system

• US 5,349,636 A
• Filed: 08/02/1993
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Imaginex Fund I, LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Centigram Communications Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Irribarren, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US08/101,342
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/94, 379/100, 379/212
• US Class Current: 379/88.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange

Abstract

A communication system for verbal telephonic communication has a voice message system for storing and retrieving voice messages integrated with a computer database accessing system for storing and retrieving text messages from a separate computer system and for converting the text messages into voice. The systems are integrated via a network which coordinates the functions of each individual system. Additionally, the input/output ports of the voice message system and the computer database accessing system are connected in a parallel fashion to at least one telephone line. In this configuration a user may access both voice messages and database information, including text or electronic mail messages, with a single telephone call. Optionally, facsimile messages can be stored, retrieved and manipulated with a single telephone call.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a telephone line;

a voice message system directly coupled to said telephone line, said voice message system storing and retrieving voice messages, said voice message system including a first transfer mechanism to generate a first transfer command in response to a first instruction;

a text message system directly coupled to said telephone line, said text message system storing and retrieving text messages, said text message system including a second transfer mechanism to generate a second transfer command in response to a second instruction; and

a network coupled between said voice message system and said text message system for transferring processing of a call between said voice message system and said text message system in response to said first transfer command and said second transfer command, said first transfer command initiating a first control transfer wherein processing of a call is transferred from said voice message system to said text message system and said second transfer command initiating a second control transfer wherein processing of a call is transferred from said text message system to said voice message system, said first control transfer including the transfer of user identification data to enable access to said text message system.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said network includes

means for correlating said user identification data with a text message system user identification code;

and

log-in means, utilizing said text message system user identification code, for logging into said text message system.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said voice message system includes apparatus for storing and retrieving facsimile data.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said text message system includes a text-to-speech converter for orally presenting said stored text messages.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said voice message system further includes a first memory and at least one first microprocessor and said text message system includes a second memory and at least one second microprocessor and wherein said network includes an operating system distributively located in both said first and second memories.

6. The communication system of claim 5 wherein said first memory stores a plurality of tasks for controlling said voice message system and said second memory stores a plurality of tasks for controlling said text message system and said network coordinates execution of said tasks.

7. The communication system of claim 6 wherein said at least one second microprocessor controls said at least one first microprocessor operation in a master-slave relationship via said network.