Method and system for a video answering machine

• US 5,896,165 A
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Rao, Kashipati G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US08/838,661
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/15, 348/16, 348/17, 348/18
• US Class Current: 348/14.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/141 between two video terminals, e.g. videophone telephonic communication systems combined with television receiver for reception of entertainment or information matter H04M11/085

Abstract

The present invention is a video answer machine which includes a video data recorder (26) for accepting and recording an outgoing video message, an audio data recorder (22) for accepting and recording an outgoing audio message, and data storage (19) for storing said outgoing video message and said outgoing audio message. Also included in he video answering machine is a control module (12) for accepting an incoming call from a caller, for determining a device type associated with the incoming call, for responding to the incoming call using either the outgoing video message or the outgoing audio message in accordance with the associated device type and for accepting either an audio response or a video response from the caller in accordance with said associated device type.

Claims

1. A video answering machine comprising:

video data recording means, responsive to a controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing video message;

audio data recording means, responsive to said controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing audio message;

data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said outgoing video message and said outgoing audio message;

said controller means for accepting an incoming call from a caller, for determining the device type associated with said incoming call, for responding to said incoming call using either said outgoing video message or only said outgoing audio message in accordance with said associated device type and for accepting either an audio only response or video response from said caller in accordance with said associated device type;

said data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said audio response and said video response;

video data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing video message; and

audio data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing audio message;

wherein said controller means further includes control code processor means for detecting and processing control codes received from said caller;

wherein said control code processor means includes change outgoing message means, responsive to said control codes and said associated device type determined by the control codes, for accepting either a new outgoing audio only message or a new outgoing video message form said caller;

said data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said new outgoing audio message and said new outgoing video message from said caller.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control code processor means includes message playback means, responsive to said control codes and said associated device type determined by the control codes, for retrieving and transmitting either said audio response only or said video response to said caller.

3. The system of claim 1 further including data compression means, responsive to said controller means, for compressing said outgoing video message or said outgoing audio message or said audio response or said video response to generate compressed data before storage.

4. The system of claim 1 further including data decompression means, responsive to said controller means, for decompressing said compressed data retrieved from said data storage.

5. A video answering machine comprising:

video data recording means, responsive to a controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing video message;

audio data recording means, responsive to said controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing audio message;

data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said outgoing video message and said outgoing audio message;

said controller means for accepting an incoming call from a caller, for determining a device type associated with said incoming call, for responding to said incoming call using either said outgoing video message or only said outgoing audio message in accordance with said associated device type and for accepting either an audio only response or a video response from said caller in accordance with said associated device type;

said controller means includes control code processor means for detecting and processing control codes received from said caller;

said control code processor means includes message playback means, responsive to said control codes and said associated device type determined by the control codes, for retrieving and transmitting either said audio response only or said video response to said caller;

said control code processor means includes change outgoing message means, responsive to said control codes and said associated device type determined by the control codes, for accepting either a new outgoing audio only message or a new outgoing video message from said caller;

said data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said new outgoing audio only message and said new outgoing video message from said caller;

said data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said audio response and said video response;

video data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing video message; and

audio data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing audio message.

6. A video answering machine comprising:

video data recording means, responsive to a controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing video message;

audio data recording means, responsive to said controller means, for accepting and recording an outgoing audio message;

data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said outgoing video message and said outgoing audio message;

said controller means for accepting an incoming call from a caller, for determining a device type associated with said incoming call, for responding to said incoming call using either said outgoing video message or only said outgoing audio message in accordance with said associated device type and for accepting either an audio only response or a video response from said caller in accordance with said associated device type;

said controller means includes control code processor means for detecting and processing control codes received from said caller;

said control code processor means includes message playback means, responsive to said control codes and said associated device type determined by the control codes, for retrieving and transmitting either said audio response only or said video response to said caller;

data compression means, responsive to said controller means, for compressing said outgoing video message or said outgoing audio message or said audio response or said video response to generate compressed data before storage;

data decompression means, responsive to said controller means, for decompressing said compressed data retrieved from said data storage;

said data storage means, responsive to said controller means, for storing said audio response and said video response;

video data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing video message; and

audio data player means, responsive to said controller means, for retrieving and playing said outgoing audio message.