Method and system for voice electronic mail

• US 6,707,891 B1
• Filed: 12/28/1998
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ONMOBILE LIVE, INC. (Onmobile Global Limited)
• Original Assignee: NMS Communications Corporation (Live Microsystems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guedalia, Jacob Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/220,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01, 379/444, 379/88.12, 379/131, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.25, 379/102.02, 379/67.1, 379/80, 379/88.04, 379/88.14, 379/88.16, 379/88.18, 709/228, 345/733
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply

Abstract

A method for management of electronic mail, comprising the steps of converting an e-mail message from text to speech, receiving an input request for a selected e-mail message, reading the selected e-mail message, recording a reply to the selected e-mail message, producing an audio file, and sending the audio file as an attachment to a reply e-mail.

Claims

1. A method for management of electronic mail, in a computerized device comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail message at a Voice Response Unit (VRU);

converting said e-mail message from text-to-speech;

receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

reading said e-mail message;

recording a reply to said e-mail in a computerized device message producing a reply audio file;

posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format; and

using said voice response unit to send a reply e-mail containing a link to said reply audio file.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reply audio file is a WAV file.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said reply audio file is a compressed WAV file.

4. The method of claim 1 and also including the step of downloading an e-mail message from an e-mail server.

5. The method of claim 1 and also including said step of forwarding the selected e-mail message to a pager.

6. The method of claim 1 and also including the step of forwarding said selected e-mail message to a fax machine.

41. A method according to claim 1 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

7. A method for management of electronic mail, comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail message at a Voice Response Unit (VRU);

converting said e-mail message from text-to-speech;

receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

reading said e-mail message;

recording a reply to said selected e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format; and

sending a reply e-mail containing a link to said reply audio file.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said reply audio file is a RealAudio file.

9. The method of claim 7 and also including the step of downloading an e-mail message from an e-mail server.

10. The method of claim 7 and also including the step of forwarding said selected e-mail message to a pager.

11. The method of claim 7 and also including the step of forwarding said selected e-mail message to a fax machine.

42. A method according to claim 7 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

12. A system for management of electronic mail, comprising:

a voice response unit (VRU) operative to send links by e-mail, said voice response unit comprising;

a text-to-speech converter converting an e-mail message from text to speech;

a receiver receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

an audio player reading said e-mail message;

an audio recorder recording a reply to said e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

a transmitter posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format; and

an electronic message sender operative to send an e-mail message containing a link to said reply audio file.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said reply audio file is a WAV file.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said reply audio file is a compressed WAV file.

15. The system of claim 12 and also including a downloader downloading an e-mail message from an e-mail server.

16. The system of claim 12 and also including a mail forwarder forwarding said selected e-mail message to a pager.

17. The system of claim 12 and also including a mail forwarder forwarding said selected e-mail message to a fax machine.

43. A system according to claim 12 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

18. A system for management of electronic mail in a computerized device, comprising:

a voice response unit (VRU) receiving an e-mail message;

a text-to-speech converter converting an e-mail message from text to speech;

a receiver receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

an audio player reading said e-mail message;

an audio recorder recording a reply to said e-mail message, producing a reply audio file; and

a transmitter posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format

wherein the voice response unit is operative to send an e-mail message containing a link to said reply audio file.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said reply audio file is a RealAudio file.

20. The system of claim 18 and also including a downloader downloading an e-mail message from an e-mail server.

21. The system of claim 18 and also including a mail forwarder forwarding said selected e-mail message to a pager.

22. The system of claim 18 and also including a mail forwarder forwarding said selected e-mail message to a fax machine.

44. A system according to claim 18 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

23. A method for management of electronic mail in a computerized device, comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail message at a Voice Response Unit (VRU);

converting said e-mail message from text to speech;

receiving an input request for said selected e-mail message;

reading said e-mail message;

recording a reply to said selected e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format;

sending a reply e-mail containing a link to said reply audio file; and

playing said reply audio file.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said reply audio file is a WAV file.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said reply audio file is a compressed WAV file.

26. The method of claim 25 and wherein said playing step includes the step of decompressing said reply audio file.

45. A method according to claim 23 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

27. A method for management of electronic mail in a computerized device, comprising the steps of:

receiving an e-mail message at a Voice Response Unit (VRU);

converting said e-mail message from text to speech;

receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

reading said e-mail message;

recording a reply to said e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

employing a first computer for posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format;

sending a reply e-mail containing a link to said reply audio file;

playing said reply audio file; and

saving said reply audio file.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said reply audio file is a RealAudio file.

29. The method of claim 27 and wherein said saving step includes the step of converting said reply audio file to a designated file format.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said designated file format is a WAV format.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said designated file format is a compressed WAV format.

46. A method according to claim 27 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

32. A system for management of electronic mail, comprising:

a voice response unit (VRU) receiving an e-mail message;

a text-to-speech converter converting said e-mail message from text to speech;

a receiver receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

a first audio player reading said e-mail message;

an audio recorder recording a reply to said e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

a transmitter posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format; and

a second audio player playing said reply audio file.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said reply audio file is a WAV file.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said reply audio file is a compressed WAV file.

35. The system of claim 34 and also comprising a decompressor decompressing said reply audio file.

47. A system according to claim 32 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.

36. A system for management of electronic mail, comprising:

a voice response unit (VRU) receiving an e-mail message;

a text-to-speech converter converting an e-mail message from text to speech;

a receiver receiving an input request for said e-mail message;

a first audio player reading said e-mail message;

an audio recorder recording a reply to said e-mail message, producing a reply audio file;

a computer posting said reply audio file on a web site in a streaming audio format;

a transmitter sending a reply e-mail containing a link to said reply audio file;

a second audio player playing said reply audio file; and

a data processor saving said reply audio file.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said reply audio file is a RealAudio file.

38. The system of claim 36 and wherein said data processor converts said reply audio file to a designated file format.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said designated file format is a WAV format.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein said designated file format is a compressed WAV format.

48. A system according to claim 36 and wherein said streaming audio format is RealAudio R.