Methods for forwarding voice messages to an email account

• US 6,732,151 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Loudeye Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindvall, Eric, Brown, Mathews, Tobias, Martin, Kite, Beverley
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/502,161
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/246, 709/249, 370/401, 370/428, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/88.24, 379/88.25, 713/200, 713/201, 713/202
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

A method and system forwarding voice messages to an email account is disclosed. According to one method, a voice message that is associated with a particular user is retrieved from a voice mail system. The voice message is then encoded into a streaming media file and automatically forwarded in an email message to one or more email addresses. According to another method, a voice message is converted into a text file and automatically forwarded in an email message to one or more email addresses.

Claims

1. A method for forwarding voice messages to an email account, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of passwords associated with a plurality of voice mail boxes that are password protected, wherein the plurality of voice mail boxes are associated with a voice mail system;

retrieving a voice message from one of the plurality of voice mail boxes by providing a password that is associated with the respective voice mail box, wherein the voice message is associated with a particular user;

encoding the voice message into a streaming media file; and

automatically forwarding the streaming media file in an email message to one or more email addresses, wherein the one or more email addresses are associated with the particular user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using specific protocols that are required to check and retrieve messages from the one of the plurality of voice mail boxes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising associating specific protocols for retrieving messages from the voice mail box with the password for the voice mail box.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using specific key sequences that are required to check and retrieve messages from the one of the plurality of voice mail boxes.

5. A method for forwarding voice messages to an email account, comprising:

maintaining a plurality of passwords associated with a plurality of voice mail boxes that are password protected, wherein the plurality of voice mail boxes are associated with a voice mail system;

retrieving a voice message from one of the plurality of voice mail boxes by providing a password that is associated with the respective voice mail box, wherein the voice message is associated with a particular user;

converting the voice message into a text file; and

automatically forwarding the text file in an email message to one or more email addresses, wherein the one or more email addresses are associated with the particular user.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising using specific protocols that are required to check and retrieve messages from the one of the plurality of voice mail boxes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising associating specific protocols for retrieving messages from the voice mail box with the password for the voice mail box.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising using specific key sequences that are required to check and retrieve messages from the one of the plurality of voice mail boxes.

9. A method for forwarding voice messages to an email account, comprising:

associating a password with a voice mail box that is password protected within a voice mail system;

associating specific protocols for retrieving messages from the voice mail box with the password;

accessing the voice mail box using the password;

retrieving a voice message from the voice mail box using the specific protocols;

encoding the voice message into one of a streaming media file and a text file; and

automatically forwarding the one of the streaming media file and the text file in an email message to one or more email addresses, wherein the one or more email addresses are associated with a particular user associated with the voice mail box.