System and method for integrating voice, facsimile and electronic mail data through a personal computer
First Claim
1. A communication system comprising:
- voice message means for storing and retrieving voice messages, said voice message means including facsimile means for storing and retrieving facsimile data;
computer database accessing means for storing and retrieving text messages from a computer system and for converting said text messages into voice data;
individual computer processing means coupled to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means through an interface device, said individual computer processing means including means for interacting with a graphical user interface to coordinate access to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means; and
network means for coordinating operation of said voice message means and said computer database accessing means responsive to commands originating from a user operating said individual computer processing means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In summary, the present invention is a communication system comprising a voice message system for storing and retrieving voice messages and facsimile data, a computer database accessing system for storing and retrieving text messages from a separate computer system and for converting the text messages into voice messages, and a personal computer which allows a user to generate and receive voices messages, facsimile data, and text messages. 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 a personal computer. In this configuration, a user may access voice messages, facsimile messages, and text messages through the personal computer.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising:
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voice message means for storing and retrieving voice messages, said voice message means including facsimile means for storing and retrieving facsimile data; computer database accessing means for storing and retrieving text messages from a computer system and for converting said text messages into voice data; individual computer processing means coupled to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means through an interface device, said individual computer processing means including means for interacting with a graphical user interface to coordinate access to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means; and network means for coordinating operation of said voice message means and said computer database accessing means responsive to commands originating from a user operating said individual computer processing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A communication system comprising:
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a voice message system that stores and retrieves voice messages and facsimile data, 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 that stores and retrieves text messages from a computer system, said text message system including a second transfer mechanism to generate a second transfer command in response to a second instruction; a network coupled between said voice message system and said text message system for transferring master processing 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 master processing is transferred from said voice message system to said text message system, said second transfer command initiating a second control transfer wherein master processing is transferred from said text message system to said voice message system; and an individual computer connectable through an interface to said text message system and said voice message system, said individual computer including a data processor and user interface devices for interacting with a graphical user interface allowing selection of said first instruction and said second instruction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification