User interface for message access

• US 6,983,138 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helferich Patent Licensing LLC
• Original Assignee: Richard J. Helferich, The Thompson Investment Group, LLC
• Inventors: Helferich, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US09/513,998
• Time in Patent Office: 2,141 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/550, 455/404, 455/414, 455/413, 455/418, 455/575, 455/422, 709/209, 705/51
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability

Abstract

Devices, systems and processes for accessing and management of voice and other messages. Such devices, systems and processes employ an interface which allows the user to access and manage messages on his or her user device and, furthermore, automatically to access and manage messages on remote devices via radio frequency link. These interfaces may present users with intuitive and direct options for accessing and managing voice mail, such as, for instance, to push a designated forward button when the user desires to forward a voice mail. Such common interfaces promote more efficient and effective use and management of messaging resources because they among other things eliminate the requirement to be conversant in different interfaces, rules and protocols for the different platforms on which messages may be accessed and managed.

Claims

1. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:

a transceiver to communicate with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages;

memory capacity adapted to store a second plurality of messages;

a processor associated with said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and

an interface associated with said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access one or more messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein

said interface is further adapted to control a process that plays said one or more of messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically plays one or more of said messages stored in said at least one remote device, and

said process that plays said messages stored in said at least one remote device automatically accesses and plays said messages when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a communication session with said at least one remote device in order to access and play one or more of said messages stored on said at least one remote device.

2. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:

a transceiver to communicate with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages;

memory capacity adapted to store a second plurality of messages;

a processor associated with said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and

an interface associated with said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access one or more messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein

said interface is further adapted to control a process that allows response to one or more of said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and

said interface automatically allows the response to occur when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device, and when said transceiver is not on-line with said at least one remote storage device, initiates a communications session with said at least one remote storage device to enable said response to occur.

3. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:

a transceiver to communicate with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages;

memory capacity adapted to store a second plurality of messages;

a processor associated with said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and

an interface associated with said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access one or more of said messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein

said interface is further adapted to control a process that saves one or more of said messages in said at least one remote storage device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device.

4. In a user device comprising a transceiver for communicating with at least one remote system, a memory capacity for storing messages, a processor for controlling the transceiver and access to the memory capacity, and an interface associated with the processor and adapted to allow a user to access messages, a method comprising the steps of:

sensing actuation of the interface by the user; and

responsive to said actuation, accessing at least one message stored in the memory capacity and automatically accessing at least one message stored in the at least one remote system, wherein

said step of automatically accessing at least one message stored in the at least one remote system comprises the steps of automatically accessing said at least one message when the user device is on-line with the at least one remote system and, if not on-line, automatically initiating a communications session with the at least one remote system and, as part of that session, accessing said at least one message.

5. A process for accessing messages from a user device that includes an interface for accessing and managing the messages, comprising the steps of:

sensing user input to the interface; and

in response to said user input, accessing at least one message stored in the user device and automatically accessing at least one message stored in at least one remote device, wherein

said step of automatically accessing said at least one message stored in said at least one remote device comprises the steps of automatically accessing said at least one message when the user device is on-line with said at least one remote device, and when the user device is not on-line with said at least one remote device, automatically initiating a communications session with said at least one remote device and, as part of that session, accessing said at least one message.

6. In a device including a memory for storing messages and information pertaining to messages, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select one or more messages and a function to be performed on the selected one or more messages, a method comprising the steps of:

reading from the memory information pertaining to one or more messages selected by the user;

receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected one or more messages;

analyzing said information pertaining to said selected one or more messages to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and

performing said function to be performed on said selected one or more messages if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote device;

automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected one or more messages.

7. In a device including a memory for storing messages and information pertaining to messages, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select one or more messages and a function to be performed on the selected one or more messages, a method comprising the steps of:

reading from the memory information pertaining to one or more messages selected by the user;

receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected one or more messages analyzing said information pertaining to said selected one or more messages to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and

performing said function to be performed on said selected one or more messages if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote device;

prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

establishing said connection with the remote device and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected one or more messages if the user indicates that said connection with the remote device should be established.

8. A user device, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a remote device adapted to store a plurality of messages;

a memory for storing messages;

a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select a message and a function to be performed on the selected message; and

a processor means for performing a procedure in response to the user selecting a message and a function to be performed on the selected message, the procedure comprising the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote device;

automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform the function on the selected message.

9. A user device, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a remote device adapted to store a plurality of messages;

a memory for storing messages;

a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select a message and a function to be performed on the selected message; and

a processor means for performing a procedure in response to the user selecting a message and a function to be performed on the selected message, the procedure comprising the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote device;

prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

establishing the connection with the remote device and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform the function on the selected message if the user indicates that the connection with the remote device should be established.

10. A user device, comprising:

a transceiver for communicating with a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages;

a memory for storing one or more messages;

a user interface for enabling a user to input a command to reproduce a message stored in said memory or stored in said remote storage device; and

a processor means for performing a procedure in response to said user inputting said command to reproduce a message, said procedure comprising the steps of;

(a) determining if said message to be reproduced is stored in said memory;

(b) reading said message from said memory if said message is stored therein;

(c) automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device if a connection is not already established and if said message is not stored in said memory;

(d) receiving said message from said remote storage device by means of said transceiver after performing step (c); and

(e) reproducing said message for said user.

11. The messaging device of claim 10, wherein said user interface further enables said user to input a command to pause a message that is currently playing.

12. The messaging device of claim 11, wherein said processor is further programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user inputting said pause command, said procedure comprising the step of pausing the playing of said message while continuing to receive said message from said remote storage device if said message is playing from said remote storage device.

13. In a device including a memory for storing information and data pertaining to the information, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select information stored in the memory and a function to be performed on the selected information, a method comprising the steps of:

reading from the memory data pertaining to information selected by the user;

receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected information;

analyzing said data pertaining to said selected information to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and

performing said function to be performed on said selected information if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of;

determining whether a connection is established between the transceiver and the remote device;

automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

transmitting data to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected information.

14. In a device including a memory for storing information and data pertaining to the information, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select information that is stored in the memory and a function to be performed on the selected information, a method comprising the steps of:

reading from the memory data pertaining to information selected by the user;

receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected information;

analyzing said data pertaining to said selected information to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and

performing said function to be performed on said selected information if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, otherwise] and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of;

determining whether a connection is established between the transceiver and the remote device;

prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that a connection is not established between the transceiver and the remote device; and

establishing said connection with the remote device and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected message if the user indicates that said connection with the remote device should be established.

15. A messaging device, comprising:

a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store a plurality of messages;

a memory for storing messages;

a user interface for enabling a user of the device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message;

means, responsive to the user selecting a message and a function to be performed on said selected message, for determining whether the transceiver is currently online with the remote device;

means for automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently online with the remote device; and

means for transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected message.

16. A messaging device, comprising:

a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store a plurality of messages;

a memory for storing messages;

a user interface for enabling a user of the device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message;

means, responsive to the user selecting a message and a function to be performed on said selected message, for determining whether the transceiver is currently online with the remote device;

means for asking the user if a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently online with the remote device; and

means for establishing said connection with the remote device and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected message if the user indicated that said connection with the remote device should be established.

17. A messaging device, comprising:

a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store a plurality of messages;

a memory for storing messages;

a user interface for enabling a user to input a command to play a message stored in said memory or said remote storage device;

means, responsive to the user inputting said command to play a message, for determining if said message to be played is stored in said memory;

means for reading said message from said memory if said message is stored therein;

means for automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device if a connection is not already established and if said message is not stored in said memory;

means for receiving said message from said remote storage device by means of said radio transceiver after said means for automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device establishes a connection with said remote storage device; and

means for playing said message for said user.

18. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for forwarding the information, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command from the user of the user device to forward the information;

reading from the memory the data pertaining to the information;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the storage unit of the remote system;

if it is determined that the information is stored in the storage unit of the remote system, then sending to the remote system a command that causes the remote system to flag the information for forwarding; and

if it is determined that the information is not stored in the storage unit of the remote system, then sending to the remote system the information and said command.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device automatically establishes a communication link with the remote system.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device prompts the user for an indication of whether a communication link with the remote system should be established and establishes said communication link if the user indicates that said communication link with the remote system should be established.

21. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for saving the information, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command from the user of the user device to save the information;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the memory of the user device;

if it is determined that the information is stored in the memory, setting a flag that prevents the information from being overwritten in the memory; and

if it is determined that the information is not stored in the memory, sending to the remote system a command instructing the remote system to flag the information stored in the storage unit as being saved, thereby preventing the information from being overwritten in the storage unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device automatically establishes a communication link with the remote system.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device prompts the user for an indication of whether a communication link with the remote system should be established and establishes said communication link if the user indicates that said communication link with the remote system should be established.

24. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for displaying the information to a user of the user device, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command from the user of the user device to display the information;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the memory of the user device;

if it is determined that the information is stored in the memory, retrieving the information from the memory and displaying it to the user; and

if it is determined that the information is not stored in the memory, then performing the steps of;

(1) sending to the remote system a command instructing the remote system to transmit the information to the user device, (2) receiving the information transmitted from the remote system, (3) storing the information in the memory, and (4) displaying the information to the user.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device automatically establishes a communication link with the remote system.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein prior to sending said command to the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not established, the user device prompts the user for an indication of whether a communication link with the remote system should be established and establishes said communication link if the user indicates that said communication link with the remote system should be established.

27. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for sending the information to a recipient, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command to send the information to a recipient;

establishing a communication link with the remote system;

transmitting over said link the address of the recipient and an instruction for causing the remote system to send the information to said address of the recipient;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the storage unit of the remote system; and

if it is determined that the information is not stored in the storage unit of the remote system, then transmitting the information over said link to the remote system.

28. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for deleting the information, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command to delete the information;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the memory of the user device and whether the information is stored in the storage unit of the remote system;

if it is determined that the information is not stored in the memory of the user device, then performing the steps of (1) establishing a communication link with the remote system, (2) transmitting over said link an instruction for causing the remote system to delete the information from the storage unit, and (3) deleting the data pertaining to the information from the memory of the user device; and

if it is determined that the information is stored in the memory of the user device but not in the storage unit of the remote system, then performing the steps of (1) deleting the information from the memory of the user device and (2) deleting the data pertaining to the information from the memory.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein, if it is further determined that the information is stored in the memory of the user device and in the storage unit of the remote system, the following steps are performed:

prompting the user for an indication of whether both copies of the information should be deleted;

if the user indicates that both copies should be deleted, then deleting both copies of the information and deleting the data pertaining to the information from the memory; and

if the user indicates that only one of the copies is to be deleted, then deleting either the copy in the memory of the communication device or the copy in the storage unit of the remote system, but keeping the data pertaining to the information in the memory of the user device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of deleting the information from the memory of the communication device, comprises the step of flagging the information for overwriting.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein prior to establishing said communication link with the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is already established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not already established, the user device automatically establishes said communication link with the remote system.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein prior to establishing said communication link with the remote system, the user device determines whether a communication link with the remote system is already established, and if a communication link with the remote system is not already established, the user device prompts the user for an indication of whether a communication link with the remote system should be established and establishes said communication link if the user indicates that said communication link with the remote system should be established.

33. In a user device including a user interface for allowing a user of the user device to provide commands to the device, and also including a memory for storing data pertaining to information, wherein the information is stored in the memory of the user device and/or in a storage unit of a remote system, a method for deleting the information, comprising the steps of:

receiving, through the user interface, a command to delete the information;

determining, from the data pertaining to the information, whether the information is stored in the memory of the user device and whether the information is stored in the storage unit of the remote system; and

if it is determined that the information is stored in the memory of the user device and in the storage unit of the remote system, then performing the steps of (1) prompting the user for an indication of whether both copies of the information should be deleted, (2) if the user indicates that both copies should be deleted, then deleting both copies of the information and deleting the data pertaining to the information from the memory, and (3) if the user indicates that only one of the copies is to be deleted, then deleting either the copy in the memory of the communication device or the copy in the storage unit of the remote system, but keeping the data pertaining to the information in the memory of the user device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of deleting the information from the memory of the communication device, comprises the step of flagging the information for overwriting.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of deleting the copy of the information in the storage unit of the remote system includes the steps of:

determining whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if one is not established, automatically establishing a communication link with the remote system; and

transmitting over said established communication link an instruction for causing the remote system to delete the information from the storage unit.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of deleting the copy of the information in the storage unit of the remote system includes the steps of:

determining whether a communication link with the remote system is established, and if one is not established, prompting the user for an indication of whether one should be established and establishing a communication link with the remote system if the user indicates that said communication link should be established; and

transmitting over said established communication link an instruction for causing the remote system to delete the information from the storage unit.

37. A communication system, comprising:

a remote system comprising a storage unit for storing information; and

a user device, said user device comprising;

a transceiver for communicating with the remote system;

a memory for storing information;

a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select (a) information stored in the memory of the user device and/or stored in the storage unit of the remote system and (b) a function to be performed on the selected information; and

a processor means for performing a procedure in response to the user selecting information and a function to be performed on the selected information, the procedure comprising the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote system;

automatically establishing a connection with the remote system if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote system; and

transmitting information to the remote system so that the remote system can perform the function on the selected information.

38. A communication system, comprising:

a remote system comprising a storage unit for storing information; and

a user device, said user device comprising;

a transceiver for communicating with the remote system;

a memory for storing information;

a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select (a) information stored in the memory of the user device and/or stored in the storage unit of the remote system and (b) a function to be performed on the selected information; and

a processor means for performing a procedure in response to the user selecting information and a function to be performed on the selected information, the procedure comprising the steps of;

determining whether a connection is currently established between the transceiver and the remote system;

prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote system if it is determined that a connection is not currently established between the transceiver and the remote system; and

establishing the connection with the remote system and transmitting data to the remote system so that the remote system can perform the function on the selected information if the user indicates that the connection with the remote system should be established.

39. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:

a transceiver to communicate with at least one remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages;

memory capacity adapted to store one or more messages;

a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and

an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access one or more messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein

said interface is further adapted to control a process that reproduces at least one of said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically reproduces at least one of said messages stored in said at least one remote storage device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device, and

said process that reproduces said at least one message stored in said at least one remote storage device automatically accesses and reproduces said at least one message when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session with said at least one remote storage device in order to access and reproduce said at least one message stored on said at least one remote device.

40. A device for allowing a user to access information stored in a remote storage device, comprising:

a transceiver to communicate with the remote storage device;

memory capacity adapted to store information;

a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and

an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access information in said memory capacity and in the remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that reproduces said information stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically reproduces said information stored in the remote storage device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with the remote storage device, and

said process that reproduces said information stored in the remote storage device automatically accesses and reproduces said information when said transceiver is on-line with the remote storage device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session by means of a radio frequency link with the remote storage device in order to access and reproduce said information stored the remote storage device.

41. A device including an interface for receiving input from a user of the device, a memory for storing voice messages, a transceiver for communicating with one or more remote systems, and a processor coupled to the memory, the interface, and the transceiver, wherein the processor performs a procedure comprising the steps of:

sending a signal to the interface to cause the interface to notify the user that a voice message is available to be reproduced for the user;

receiving, from the interface, a signal indicating that the user desires to listen to the voice message, wherein the user is unaware of where the voice message is stored;

determining whether the voice message is stored in the memory or in a remote system in response to receiving the signal from the user interface;

if the voice message is stored in the memory, reading the voice message from the memory and reproducing it for the user so that the user can hear the message; and

if the voice message is stored in a remote system, using the transceiver to transmit a signal to the remote system to cause the remote system to transmit the voice message to the device so that it can be reproduced at the device for the user.

42. A device including an interface for receiving input from a user of the device, a memory for storing information and data pertaining to the stored information, a transceiver for communicating with one or more remote systems, and a processor coupled to the memory, the interface, and the transceiver, wherein the processor performs a procedure comprising the steps of:

sending a signal to the interface to cause the interface to notify the user that information intended to be perceived by the user is available to be accessed;

receiving, from the interface, a signal indicating that the user desires to perceive the available information, wherein the user is unaware of where the available information is stored;

determining whether the available information is stored in the memory or in a remote system in response to receiving the signal from the user interface;

if the available information is stored in the memory, reading the available information from the memory and reproducing the available information for the user so that the user can perceive the available information; and

if the available information is stored in a remote system, (1) using the transceiver to transmit a signal to the remote system to cause the remote system to transmit the available information to the device and (2) reproducing the available information for the user so that the user can perceive the available information.