Electronic voice mail message handling system

• US 6,021,181 A
• Filed: 02/24/1997
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Wildfire Communications, Inc. (Orange S.A.)
• Inventors: Pelland, David M., Warner, William J., Benovich Gilby, Nancy, Miner, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Application Number:
  US08/804,548
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/201, 379/88.23, 379/67.1, 379/88.02, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.24, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• 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 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 9/02 involving a common line for all parties

Abstract

A virtual intercom method implemented by a computer-based electronic assistant and including the steps of receiving a voice command from a first party, wherein the voice command identifies a user selectable one of a plurality of subscriber parties; responding to the voice command by generating a greeting to the first party, wherein the greeting is an audio recording in the voice of the identified subscriber; receiving a message generated by the first party for the identified subscriber; and storing the received message for later playback to the identified subscriber.

Claims

1. A message handling method implemented by a computer-based electronic assistant, said method comprising:

storing a voice message that includes a recorded message and stored information describing said voice message, and wherein said voice message is a reply to a first message;

receiving a command of a first command type from a caller;

in response to receiving said command of said first command type, playing said recorded message to said caller;

after playing said recorded contents, receiving a command of a second command type from said caller;

in response to receiving the command of said second command type, reporting to said caller said stored information describing said voice message; and

after reporting said stored information, receiving a further command of said second type; and

in response to receiving the further command of said second command type, playing said first message to which the voice message was a reply.

2. A call handling method implemented by a computer-based electronic assistant, said method comprising:

using the computer-based electronic assistant to monitor a telephone call between a first person and a second person;

in response to a first command issued by either the first or second person, causing the electronic assistant to intervene and participate in the telephone call; and

in response to a further command issued by either the first or second person, causing the electronic assistant to provide voice mail services to the party issuing the further command, thereby permitting the other party to terminate its participation in the telephone call.