Method for designating recorded messages
First Claim
1. A method for providing a message designation to messages recorded in an answering machine comprising the steps of:
- assigning a message designation to each recorded message indicating that a message is new; and
updating the message designation for selected recorded messages upon replay of the recorded messages, wherein the message designation is updated for recorded messages which have been replayed for a predetermined period of time during a playback session.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for designating messages allows individual messages to be designated as "read" if (i) the message has been played for a predetermined amount of time (150) or (ii) the replay of the message is completed (154). After a playback session, messages designated as "read" can be designated as "old" (102). Because of the queuing capability of the digital answering machine (142), stored messages can be replayed in any order, or a portion of a message can be conveniently replayed to determine whether the message should be replayed in full. As a result, new messages (i.e., messages which have not been designated as "read") can be located anywhere in the sequence of recorded messages. Such a function of the present invention allows a user to preview messages to selectively listen to messages, while maintaining a designation as "new" for any message in the sequence which has not been replayed in full or at least for a predetermined period of time. A user has the option of playing back all messages (92), or only those messages designated as "new" (98).
43 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for providing a message designation to messages recorded in an answering machine comprising the steps of:
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assigning a message designation to each recorded message indicating that a message is new; and updating the message designation for selected recorded messages upon replay of the recorded messages, wherein the message designation is updated for recorded messages which have been replayed for a predetermined period of time during a playback session. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for providing a message designation to a message recorded in an answering machine comprising the steps of:
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assigning a new message designation to each recorded message; sequentially assigning a first number to each recorded message; updating the message designation for selected recorded messages after a playback session, wherein the message designation is updated for recorded messages which have been replayed for a predetermined amount of time during said playback session; and sequentially assigning a second number for each remaining new message respectively. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for recording and replaying messages in an answering machine comprising the steps of:
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(a) recording incoming messages received by the answering machine; (b) initially assigning a message designation to each recorded message indicating that the recorded message is new; (c) replaying selected recorded incoming messages; and (d) updating the message designation for said selected messages which are replayed for a predetermined period of time during a playback session. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification