Communication device having capability to convert between voice and text message

• US 6,366,651 B1
• Filed: 01/21/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Lehder, Wilfred E., Griffith, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/010,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.22, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 379/100.13, 379/100.15, 379/93.23, 379/88.18, 455/412-415, 455/566, 455/556, 709/203, 709/206, 709/207, 704/235, 704/258, 704/260
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

The communication device provides the capability to automatically convert between voice and text messages. This communication device enables the calling party to input a message in voice mode, then activate the communication device to automatically convert the message into a text message format for transmission to the called party. The communication device can display the content of the text message prior to transmission or can retrieve the message from its memory and play the message back to the calling party in an audio mode. The communication device automatically initiates the outgoing call and, since the message is transmitted in a text mode to the called party, the destination can be a computer system or output to a printer. This feature therefore enables hands free operation for E-Mail. The communication device also provides a data retrieval feature where the user can retrieve E-Mail or voice mail messages using the communication device and have the retrieved messages output in either text or audio format. The retrieved messages, since they are stored in memory in the communication device, can be forwarded to another destination once the user has reviewed their content.

Claims

1. A communication device, located in a communication system, for exchange of voice and text message communications with an identified destination, said communication device comprising:

means, responsive to receipt from a user of voice signals, comprising a message and associated command strings, for converting said message into text message format;

means for identifying said command strings contained in said voice signals, for activation of said communication device, comprising;

means for comparing said input voice signals with a predetermined set of command strings indicative of predefined communication functions;

means, responsive to said comparison indicating a match of said voice signals with a one of said predetermined set of command strings, for excerpting said command strings from said voice signals,

means for retrieving from a memory, contained in said communication device, a set of program instructions that, when executed, cause said communication device to perform a one of said predefined communication functions;

means for originating a telephone call from said communication device to a user identified destination, pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings; and

means for transmitting a text message, comprising said message contained in said voice signals, to said user identified destination pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings.

2. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for enabling said user to review said text message prior to activation of said means for transmitting to transmit said text message.

3. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

means, responsive to user input voice commands, for activating a communication connection to a user designated destination to retrieve at least one text message from said designated destination.

4. The communication device of claim 3 further comprising:

means for forwarding said retrieved text message to a user designated destination.

5. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

means, responsive to user input voice commands, for activating a communication connection to a user designated destination to retrieve at least one voice message from said designated destination.

6. The communication device of claim 5 further comprising:

means for converting said retrieved voice message into a text message indicative of said retrieved voice message.

7. The communication device of claim 6 further comprising:

means for forwarding said generated text message indicative of said retrieved voice message to a user designated destination.

8. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

means, responsive to user input voice signals, for authenticating an identity of said user.

9. The communication device of claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting comprises:

means for initiating a communication connection with said designated destination; and

means for generating signals required by said designated destination to effect exchange of said text message with said designated destination.

10. A method of operating a communication device, located in a communication system, for exchange of voice and text message communications with an identified destination, comprising executing in said communication device the steps of:

converting, in response to receipt from a user of voice signals, comprising a message and associated commands, said message into text message format;

identifying said command strings contained in said voice signals for activation of said communication device, comprising;

comparing said input voice signals with a predetermined set of command strings indicative of predefined communication functions;

excerpting, in response to said comparison indicating a match of said voice signals with a one of said predetermined set of command strings said command strings from said voice signals,

retrieving, from a memory located in said communication device, a set of program instructions that, when executed, cause said communication device to perform a one of said predefined communication functions;

originating a telephone call from said communication device to a user identified destination, pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings; and

transmitting a text message, comprising said message contained in said voice signals, to said user identified destination pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings.

11. The method of operating a communication device of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

enabling said user to review said text message prior to activation of said means for transmitting to transmit said text message.

12. The method of operating a communication device of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

activating, in response to user input voice commands, a communication connection to a user designated destination to retrieve at least one text message from said designated destination.

13. The method of operating a communication device of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

forwarding said retrieved text message to a user designated destination.

14. The method of operating a communication device of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

activating, in response to user input voice commands, a communication connection to a user designated destination to retrieve at least one voice message from said designated destination.

15. The method of operating a communication device of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

converting said retrieved voice message into a text message indicative of said retrieved voice message.

16. The method of operating a communication device of claim 15 further comprising:

means for forwarding said generated text message indicative of said retrieved voice message to a user designated destination.

17. The method of operating a communication device of claim 10 further comprising the step of:

authenticating, in response to user input voice signals, an identity of said user.

18. The method of operating a communication device of claim 10 wherein said step of transmitting comprises:

initiating a communication connection with said designated destination; and

generating signals required by said designated destination to effect exchange of said text message with said designated destination.