Short voice message (SVM) service method, apparatus and system
First Claim
1. Method for use in an instant messaging session established in a telecommunications network for instant messages between tenninals, comprising:
- receiving in a second terminal of said network, during said instant messaging session, a first instant voice message transmitted from a first terminal for playing to a second user at said second terminal, said first instant voice message spoken by a first user at said first terminal and converted in said first terminal to said first instant voice message,sending from said second terminal, during said instant messaging session, a second instant voice message to the first terminal during said instant messaging session said second instant voice message spoken by said second user at said second terminal and converted in said second terminal to said second instant voice message,converting said first instant voice message speech to text in the first terminal for said sending to said second terminal as a first text message during said instant messaging session, andconverting said second instant voice message spoken by the second user to text in the second terminal for transmission as a second text message over said network to said first terminal,wherein at least said first and second text messages are sent during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Tiresome entry of numerous letters of the alphabet into a hand-held device for assembling a short text message for transmission via a short message service (SMS) to a second terminal is avoided by the sending of a short voice message (SVM). The SVM is recorded in the sending terminal and sent to a SVM service center (SVMSC). The SVMSC may notify the intended recipient of the arrival of the SVM and await acceptance before sending it, or send it immediately if the presence of the intended recipient is detected. The second terminal may then commence a bidirectional communication so that an instant voice message session can be established. Alternatively, the problem can be overcome by converting the spoken SVM to text in the user terminal by means of voice recognition software and sending the converted text to the recipient by means of the traditional SMS infrastructure for display as text or for playback as text converted to voice.
61 Citations
49 Claims
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1. Method for use in an instant messaging session established in a telecommunications network for instant messages between tenninals, comprising:
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receiving in a second terminal of said network, during said instant messaging session, a first instant voice message transmitted from a first terminal for playing to a second user at said second terminal, said first instant voice message spoken by a first user at said first terminal and converted in said first terminal to said first instant voice message, sending from said second terminal, during said instant messaging session, a second instant voice message to the first terminal during said instant messaging session said second instant voice message spoken by said second user at said second terminal and converted in said second terminal to said second instant voice message, converting said first instant voice message speech to text in the first terminal for said sending to said second terminal as a first text message during said instant messaging session, and converting said second instant voice message spoken by the second user to text in the second terminal for transmission as a second text message over said network to said first terminal, wherein at least said first and second text messages are sent during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for use in an instant messaging session in a telecommunications network for instant messages between terminals, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a first instant voice messages, converted to a first text message in a first terminal, from said first terminal spoken by a first user at said first terminal and sent to a second terminal by the first user for audio playback to a second user at said second terminal; and a transmitter in said second terminal for sending a second instant voice message spoken by the second user and converted to a second text message in said second terminal during said session to the first terminal for audio playback to the first user wherein at least said first and second text messages are sent and received during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An instant message system including a plurality of terminals for engaging in an instant messaging session and a message service center, said service center comprising:
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means for receiving an instant voice message converted to text in a first subscriber terminal, from said first subscriber terminal used by a first subscriber; means for storing the received instant voice message converted to text from the first subscriber terminal; means for checking availability of an intended second subscriber at a second subscriber terminal; and means for sending the stored instant voice message converted to text received from the first subscriber terminal to the second subscriber terminal if the second subscriber is available at the second subscriber terminals, wherein at least said instant voice message converted to text is sent and received by said service center during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. User equipment for use in a telecommunication system, comprising:
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a receiver, responsive to a voice message spoken by a first user, for converting the voice message to an instant voice message; a memory device for storing said instant voice message; a device for retrieving the instant voice message from storage; a device for converting said instant voice message into text; and a transmitter for sending the instant voice message converted to text as an outgoing instant voice message to user equipment of a second user of said system engaged in an instant voice message session with said first user wherein said instant voice message converted to text is sent using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus with data structure embodied in a computer-readable medium for storage in a physical device, comprising:
an instant voice message presence information database for storing instant voice message presence tuples, each tuple having a status marker indicative of availability for receipt of instant voice messages, and a communication address indicative of at least one of an instant voice message service and an instant voice message inbox address.
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32. A voice message system including a plurality of terminals and a voice message service center, said service center comprising:
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means for receiving an instant voice message from a first user terminal; means for storing the received instant voice message from the first terminal; a presence service for checking availability of an intended second user at a second terminal; and means for sending the stored received message from the first terminal to the second terminal if the second terminal is available, wherein one or more of said plurality of terminals comprises; means for receiving said instant voice message at said first user terminal spoken by a first user for providing said instant voice message from said first user terminal to said means for receiving said instant voice message at said service center; means for storing instant voice messages including said instant voice message spoken by said first user; means for receiving a designation signal from said first user designating a second user as an intended recipient; means for retrieving the stored voice message in response to the designation signal for providing the instant voice message retrieved from storage and the designation signal; and means for sending the instant voice message retrieved from storage to the second user of the voice message system as an outgoing instant voice message.
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33. Apparatus for use in an instant messaging session in a telecommunications network for instant messages between terminals, comprising:
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means for receiving a first instant voice message, converted to a first text message in a first terminal, from said first terminal spoken by a first user at said first terminal and sent to a second terminal by the first user for audio playback to a second user at said second terminal; and means for sending a second instant voice message spoken by the second user and converted to a second text message in said second terminal during said session to the first terminal for audio playback to the first user; wherein at least said first and second text messages are sent and received during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. An instant message system including a plurality of terminals for engaging in an instant messaging session and a message service center, said service center comprising:
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a receiver for receiving an instant voice message converted to text in a first subscriber terminal, from said first subscriber terminal used by a first subscriber; a memory device for storing the received instant voice message converted to text from the first subscriber terminal; a user agent for checking availability of an intended second subscriber at a second subscriber terminal; and a module for sending the stored instant voice message converted to text received from the first subscriber terminal to the second subscriber terminal if the second subscriber is available at the second subscriber terminal; wherein at least said instant voice message converted to text is sent and received by said service center during said instant messaging session using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. User equipment for use in a telecommunication system, comprising:
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means, responsive to a voice message spoken by a first user, for converting the voice message to an instant voice message; means for storing said instant voice message; means for converting said instant voice message into text; and means for sending the instant voice message converted to text as an outgoing instant voice message to user equipment of a second user of said system engaged in an instant voice message session with said first user; wherein said instant voice message converted to text is sent using a short text messaging service protocol layer. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification