System and method for communicating electronic messages over a telephone network using acoustical coupling

• US 6,084,952 A
• Filed: 12/22/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: PocketScience, Inc. (Pocketmail, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fullam, Scott, Beerman, Richard C. Jr., Du, Zhifang, Chen, Zongbo, Korek, Brian D., Langill, Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US09/218,911
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.17, 379/93.21-93.25, 379/100.01, 379/100.8, 379/93.37, 358/402, 706/47, 709/206, 709/300
• US Class Current: 379/93.25
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/15 Cyclic codes, i.e. cyclic shifts of codewords produce other codewords, e.g. codes defined by a generator polynomial, Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem [BCH] codes H03M13/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/43 Majority logic or threshold decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/16 in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1812 Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/22 using redundant apparatus to increase reliability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409

Abstract

A system and method for communicating electronic messages between a remote device and a messaging server over telephone lines using acoustic coupling. Information is communicated between the remote device and the messaging server using acoustical tones corresponding to the information. The messaging server provides store-and-forward capability for messages received from external sources and which are then forwarded to the remote device. The remote device generates acoustical tones corresponding to information to be transmitted to the messaging server. The acoustical tones are transmitted to the messaging server over a telephone network which is acoustically coupled to the remote device. The messaging server performs processing based on information received from the remote device. The messaging server generates acoustical tones corresponding to information, including messages, to be transmitted to the remote device. These acoustical tones are transmitted by the messaging server over the telephone network and received by the remote device via the acoustic coupling between the remote device and the telephone network.

Claims

1. In a communication system including a messaging server and a portable hand held remote device coupled to a telephone network, a method of communication between the remote device and the messaging server, the method comprising:

providing a message database accessible to the messaging server for storing electronic messages;

establishing an acoustical coupling between the remote device and the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network;

generating an initial set of acoustical tones at the remote device corresponding to setup information to be transmitted to the messaging server;

transmitting the initial set of acoustical tones to the messaging server via the acoustical coupling and over the telephone network;

receiving the initial set of acoustical tones and converting them to setup information at the messaging server;

establishing a session between the remote device and the messaging server based on the setup information;

generating a first set of acoustical tones at the remote device remote corresponding to a first set of information to be communicated from the remote device to the messaging server;

transmitting the first set of acoustical tones from the remote device to the messaging server via the acoustic coupling and over the telephone network;

converting the first set of acoustical tones to the first set of information at the messaging server;

performing processing at the messaging server based on the first set of information, the processing including performing forward error correction on the first set of information;

assembling, at the messaging server, a second set of information to be communicated to the remote device based on the first set of information and the setup information;

generating a second set of acoustical tones at the messaging server corresponding to the second set of information;

transmitting the second set of acoustical tones from the messaging server to the remote device over the telephone network; and

the remote device receiving the second set of acoustical tones via the acoustical coupling and converting the second set of acoustical tones to the second set of information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein establishing an acoustical coupling between the remote device and the telephone network comprises:

providing a phone coupled with the telephone network;

providing a speaker and a microphone coupled with the remote device;

acoustically coupling the speaker with a mouthpiece of the phone; and

acoustically coupling the microphone with an earpiece of the phone.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein:

the setup information includes remote device identification information; and

establishing the session between the remote device and the messaging server includes the messaging server performing authentication of the remote device based on the remote device identification information, and establishing the session between the remote device and the messaging server if the authentication is successful.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein authentication performed by the messaging server comprises:

maintaining a database containing remote device configuration information; and

determining if the remote device is authorized to establish the session with the messaging server by comparing the remote device identification information transmitted by the remote device with remote device configuration information stored in the database.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first set of information includes command requests; and

assembling the second set of information comprises generating command responses to the command requests; and

including the command responses as part of the second set of information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first set of information includes remote device preference information; and

wherein performing processing at the messaging server based on the first set of information comprises providing a preferences database for storing preference information for the remote device, and updating the preference database for the remote device based on the remote device preference information contained in the first set of information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein assembling the second set of information comprises:

determining a first electronic message to be transmitted to the remote device; and

including the first electronic message as part of the second set of information.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein determining the first electronic message to be transmitted to the remote device comprises:

using the remote device identification information to search the message database to identify one or more electronic messages addressed to the remote device and which have not yet been transmitted to the remote device;

selecting one of the identified electronic messages as the first electronic message.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

terminating the session between the remote server and the messaging server;

determining if the first message was successfully transmitted to the remote device, and if so updating the message database to indicate the successful transmission of the first message to the remote device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of information includes at least one message to be delivered to an addressee, the method further comprising:

determining if the message to be delivered is a facsimile message; and

if the message to be delivered is a facsimile message;

formatting the message into a format compatible for faxing;

making the formatted facsimile message accessible to a facsimile module, wherein the facsimile module is configured to transmit the formatted facsimile to the addressee.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of information includes at least one message to be delivered to an addressee, the method further comprising:

determining at the messaging server if the message to be delivered is an electronic mail message; and

if the message to be delivered is an electronic mail message, transmitting the electronic mail message to the addressee.

12. In a communication system including a messaging server and a portable hand held remote device coupled with a telephone network, a method of communication between the remote device and the messaging server, the method comprising:

receiving at the messaging server a message addressed to a user of the remote device;

determining the remote device to which the message is to be transmitted;

processing the message at the messaging server;

storing the message in a message database;

establishing a communication session between the remote device and the messaging server over the telephone network, wherein the remote device is acoustically coupled to the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network;

generating acoustical tones at the messaging server corresponding to the message to be sent to the remote device;

communicating the acoustical tones from the messaging server to the remote device over the telephone network via the acoustical coupling; and

retrieving the message from the acoustical tones at the remote device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining the remote device to which the message is to be transmitted comprises:

maintaining a list of remote devices and their corresponding users;

determining a user to which the message is addressed, and

identifying from the list the remote device corresponding to the user.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein processing the message at the messaging server comprises:

providing a preference database storing a set of preferences for the remote device; and

wherein storing the message in the message database only if the message satisfies the set of preferences.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the set of preferences comprises filter rules selected from a group of filter rules including of rules based on the addressee field of the message, rules based on the sender field of the message, rules based on the title field of the message, rules based on the subject contents of the message, and rules based on the size of the message.

16. A messaging system for communicating messaging information comprising:

a messaging server coupled to a telephone network;

a hand held remote device acoustically coupled to the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network;

the remote device configured to generate an initial set of acoustical tones corresponding to setup information to be transmitted to the messaging server and to transmit the initial set of acoustical tones over the telephone network via the acoustic coupling;

the remote device further configured to generate a first set of acoustical tones corresponding to a first set of information to be transmitted to the messaging server, and to transmit the first set of acoustical tones to the messaging server;

the remote device further configured to receive a second set of acoustical tones from the messaging server, and to convert the second set of acoustical tones to a second set of information; and

wherein the messaging server comprises;

a processor;

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory configured to store electronic message;

a network interface module configured to receive the initial set of acoustical tones transmitted by the remote device, and to convert the initial set of acoustical tones to the setup information;

the network interface module further configured to receive the first set of acoustical tones transmitted by the remote device, and to convert the first set of acoustical tones to the first set of information;

the network interface module further configured to generate the second set of acoustical tones corresponding to the second set of information, and to communicate the second set of acoustical tones to the remote device over the telephone network via the acoustical coupling;

an information processing module configured to establish a session between the remote device and the messaging server based on the setup information transmitted by the remote device; and

the information processing module further configured to perform processing based on the first set of information and the setup information, to perform forward error correction on the first set of information and to determine the second set of information to be transmitted to the remote device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the remote device further comprises:

a speaker and a microphone configured to acoustically couple the remote device with a phone coupled with the telephone network;

the speaker configured to transmit the initial set and first set of acoustical tones to the telephone network via the acoustic coupling; and

the microphone configured to receive the second set of acoustical tones transmitted by the messaging server via the acoustic coupling.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the setup information includes remote device identification information; and

the information processing module is configured to authenticate the remote device based on the remote device identification information, and to establish the session between the remote device and the messaging server if authentication is successful.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the memory of the messaging server is configured to store a database containing remote device configuration information; and

the information processing module is configured to authenticate the remote device by comparing the remote device identification information transmitted by the remote device with remote device configuration information stored in the database.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the first set of information includes command requests; and

the information processing module is further configured to generate command responses to the command requests, and to include the command responses as part of the second set of information.

21. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the first set of information includes remote device preference information;

the memory of the messaging server is configured to store preference information for the remote device; and

the information processing module is configured to update the preference information for the remote device based on the remote device preference information contained in the first set of information.

22. The system of claim 16 further wherein the information processing module is further configured to determine a first electronic message to be transmitted to the remote device, and to include the first electronic message as part of the second set of information.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein, in order to determine the first electronic message to be transmitted to the remote device, the information processing module is further configured to use the remote device identification information to identify one or more electronic messages addressed to the remote device and which have not been transmitted to the remote device, and to select one of the identified electronic messages as the first electronic message.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the network interface module is further configured to terminate the session between the remote server and the messaging server, and to determine if the first electronic message was successfully transmitted to the remote device; and

the information processing module is further configured to update status of the first electronic message in the memory.

25. The system of claim 16 wherein the first set of information includes at least one message to be delivered to an addressee, and the messaging server further includes:

a message dispatcher module configured to determine if the message to be delivered is a facsimile message, and to make the message accessible to a facsimile processing module if the message is a facsimile message; and

the facsimile processing module configured to format the message into a format compatible for faxing, and to make the formatted facsimile message accessible to a facsimile module, the facsimile module being configured to fax the formatted message to the addressee.

26. The system of claim 16 wherein the first set of information includes at least one message to be delivered to an addressee, and the messaging server further includes:

a message dispatcher module configured to determine if the message to be delivered is an electronic mail message, and to forward the message to a mail processing module if the message is an electronic mail message; and

the mail processing module configured to route the electronic mail message to the addressee.

27. A messaging system for communicating messaging information comprising:

a messaging server coupled to a telephone network;

at least one portable hand held remote device acoustically coupled to the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network, the remote device configured to initiate a communication session with the messaging server over the telephone network and via the acoustical coupling, and to receive messages from the messaging server; and

wherein the messaging server comprises;

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor;

a mail processing module configured to receive a message addressed to a user of the remote device, the mail processing module further configured to determine the remote device to which the message is to be transmitted, the mail processing module further configured to process the message; and

a network interface module configured to generate acoustical tones corresponding to the message to be sent to the remote device, and to communicate the acoustical tones to the remote device over the telephone network via the acoustical coupling during the communication session between the remote device and the messaging server.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein in order to determine the remote device to which the message is to be transmitted:

the memory of the messaging server is configured to maintain a list of remote devices and their corresponding users; and

the mail processing is configured to determine a user to whom the message is address, and to determine from the list the remote device corresponding to the user.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein:

the memory of the messaging server is configured to store a preference database storing a set of preferences for the remote device; and

the mail processing module is configured to accept the message only if the message satisfies the set of preferences.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the set of preferences comprises filter rules selected from a group of filter rules consisting of rules based on the addressee field of the message, rules based on the sender field of the message, rules based on the title field of the message, rules based on the subject contents of the message, and rules based on the size of the message.

31. A computer program product for communicating electronic messages between a messaging server and a portable hand held remote device coupled with a telephone network, the product comprising:

code for providing a message database accessible to the messaging server for storing electronic messages;

code for establishing an acoustical coupling between the remote device and the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network;

code for generating an initial set of acoustical tones at the remote device corresponding to setup information to be transmitted to the messaging server;

code for transmitting the initial set of acoustical tones to the messaging server via the acoustical coupling and over the telephone network;

code for receiving the initial set of acoustical tones and converting them to setup information at the messaging server;

code for establishing a session between the remote device and the messaging server based on the setup information;

code for generating a first set of acoustical tones at the remote device remote corresponding to a first set of information to be communicated from the remote device to the messaging server;

code for transmitting the first set of acoustical tones from the remote device to the messaging server via the acoustic coupling and over the telephone network;

code for converting the first set of acoustical tones to the first set of information at the messaging server;

code for performing processing at the messaging server based on the first set of information, the processing including performing forward error correction on the first set of information;

code for assembling, at the messaging server, a second set of information to be communicated to the remote device based on the first set of information and the setup information;

code for generating a second set of acoustical tones at the messaging server corresponding to the second set of information;

code for transmitting the second set of acoustical tones from the messaging server to the remote device over the telephone network;

code for receiving at the remote device the second set of acoustical tones via the acoustical coupling and converting the second set of acoustical tones to the second set of information; and

a computer-readable storage medium that stored the codes.

32. A computer program product for communicating electronic messaging information between a messaging server and a portable hand held remote device coupled with a telephone network, the product comprising:

code for receiving at the messaging server a message addressed to a user of the remote device;

code for determining the remote device to which the message is to be transmitted;

code for processing the message at the messaging server;

code for storing the message in a message database;

code for establishing a communication session between the remote device and the messaging server over the telephone network, wherein the remote device is acoustically coupled to the telephone network without requiring a wired connection between the remote device and the telephone network;

code for generating acoustical tones at the messaging server corresponding to the message to be sent to the remote device;

code for communicating the acoustical tones from the messaging server to the remote device over the telephone network via the acoustical coupling;

code for retrieving the message from the acoustical tones at the remote device; and

a computer-readable storage medium that stores the codes.