Controller for use with communications systems for converting a voice message to a text message

• US 6,687,339 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: USA Mobility Wireless, Inc. (Spok Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WebLink Wireless, Inc. (Spok Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Larry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/800,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033639A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.05, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.15, 379/88.16, 379/88.22, 704/275, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/416
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/658 Combination of voice calls and paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

The principles of the present invention introduce non-realtime messaging systems (and controllers for use therewith) that are capable of converting received oral messages from callers into at least substantially equivalent text messages for transmission to subscribers thereof. This may be accomplished by processing the received oral messages using data patterns representing oral phrases specific to non-realtime messaging systems. An exemplary messaging system includes each of a messaging controller, a data repository and a translating controller. The messaging controller is capable of receiving oral messages from callers and transmitting text messages to communications devices associated with subscribers of the non-realtime messaging system. The data repository is capable of storing data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to the non-realtime messaging system. The translating controller, which is associated with the messaging controller and data repository, is operable to process the received oral messages using the stored data patterns and to generate at least substantially equivalent text messages in response thereto.

Claims

1. A non-realtime messaging system comprising:

a messaging controller that is capable of receiving oral messages from callers into said non-realtime messaging system and capable of transmitting text messages to communications devices associated with subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system;

a data repository that is capable of storing data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to said non-realtime messaging system; and

a translating controller, associated with said messaging controller and said data repository, that is operable to process said oral messages using said stored data patterns and to generate said text messages in response thereto.

2. A non-realtime messaging system that is operable, in part, to receive oral messages from callers into said non-realtime messaging system and operable to transmit text messages to communications devices associated with subscribers of said non-realtime message system, said non-realtime messaging system comprising (I) a data repository operable to store data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to said non-realtime messaging system and (ii) a translating controller operable to process said received oral messages using said stored data patterns and to generate said text messages in response thereto.

3. The non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 2 wherein said translating controller assigns at least one confidence factor to said generated text messages.

4. The non-realtime messaging system set forth claim 2 wherein said translating controller separates said received oral messages into sub-parts.

5. The non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 2 wherein said translating controller is further operable to verify said generated text messages.

6. The non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 2 wherein said stored data patterns represent oral phrases currently specific to said non-realtime messaging system.

7. The non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 2 further comprising data records specific to said subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system.

8. The non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 7 wherein said data records are associated with ones of said stored data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to said subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system.

9. A method of operating a non-realtime messaging system that receives oral messages from callers into said non-realtime messaging system and transmits, in response thereto, text messages to communications devices associated with subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system, said method of operation comprising the steps of:

storing data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to said non-realtime messaging system in a data repository; and

controlling a translating controller that operates to process said received oral messages using said stored data patterns and to generate said text messages in response thereto.

10. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of assigning at least one confidence factor to said generated text messages.

11. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of separating said received oral messages into sub-parts.

12. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of verifying said generated text messages.

13. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of dynamically modifying said stored data patterns.

14. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of storing data records specific to said subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system.

15. The method of operating said non-realtime messaging system set forth in claim 14 wherein said data records are associated with ones of said stored data patterns that represent oral phrases specific to said subscribers of said non-realtime messaging system.

16. For use in a messaging paging system that includes a paging controller that is operable to receive oral messages from callers into said message paging system and operable to transmit text messages to message paging devices associated with subscribers of said message paging system, a translating controller that is associated with a data repository that stores data patterns that represent oral phrases currently specific to said message paging system and is operable to process said received oral messages using said stored data patterns and to generate said text messages in response thereto.

17. The message paging system set forth in claim 16 wherein said translating controller is further operable to assign at least one confidence factor to said generated text messages.

18. The message paging system set forth in claim 16 wherein said translating controller separates said received oral messages into sub-parts.

19. The message paging system set forth in claim 16 wherein said translating controller is further operable to verify said generated text messages.