Network support for voice-to-text memo service

• US 7,333,803 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia of America Corporation (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sheen, Baoling S., True, Sandra L., Voight, Kenneth J., Benco, David S., Overend, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/760,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20050159959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.14, 379/88.25, 455/412.1, 455/466, 455/414.4, 704/260
• US Class Current: 455/414.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message

Abstract

A method for a wireless network to provide a voice-to-text memo service to a wireless subscriber associated with a mobile device is provided. The method includes: a) routing an active call path associated with the mobile device to a voice-to-text conversion system, b) capturing audio from the active call path for a period of time, and c) converting the captured audio to a text memo to create a voice-to-text memo. In another embodiment, a method for providing a voice-to-text memo service in a wireless network is provided. Additionally, a wireless network is provided. The wireless network includes: means for determining that a subscriber is properly enrolled in a calling plan, a voice-to-text conversion system, means for routing an active call path to the voice-to-text conversion system, a text messaging system, and means for communicating the text memo from the voice-to-text conversion system to the text messaging system.

Claims

1. A method for a wireless network to provide a voice-to-text memo service to a wireless subscriber associated with a mobile device, the method including:

receiving a request initiated by the subscriber via a command signal;

determining that a subscriber associated with the wireless network is properly enrolled in a calling plan with voice-to-text memo feature active, wherein the subscriber is associated with a mobile device and the mobile device is associated with the wireless network;

routing an active call path associated with the mobile device to a voice-to-text conversion system, where the active call path connects at least two parties, where the subscriber is one of the parties;

capturing audio from the active call path for a period of time; and

converting the captured audio to a text memo to create a voice-to-text memo.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, the method further including:

communicating the voice-to-text memo from the voice-to-text conversion system to a text messaging system.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, the method further including:

if the voice-to-text memo exceeds a predetermined length, dividing the voice-to-text memo into multiple voice-to-text memos such that none of the multiple voice-to-text memos exceed the predetermined length.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, the method further including:

communicating a signal to the mobile device to alert the subscriber that the voice-to-text memo was created.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, the method further including:

communicating the voice-to-text memo to the mobile device.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the voice-to-text memo is communicated to the mobile device in response to a voice-to-text memo retrieval process initiated by the subscriber at the mobile device.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, the method further including:

activating the voice-to-text memo service in response to the subscriber activating a start voice-to-text memo control at the mobile device.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, the method further including:

de-activating the voice-to-text memo service in response to at least one of the subscriber activating a stop voice-to-text memo control at the mobile device and termination of the active call path.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, the method further including:

determining if a call associated with the mobile device is currently active; and

if a call associated with the mobile device is not currently active, establishing an active call path between the mobile device and the voice-to-text memo service associated with the subscriber.

10. A method for providing a voice-to-text memo service in a wireless network, the method including:

receiving a request initiated by the subscriber via a command signal;

determining that a subscriber associated with the wireless network is properly enrolled in a calling plan with a voice-to-text memo feature active, wherein the subscriber is associated with a mobile device and the mobile device is associated with the wireless network;

routing an active call path associated with the mobile device to a voice-to-text conversion system, the active call path being a connection between the subscriber and at least one other party;

capturing audio from the active call path for a period of time;

converting the captured audio to text to create a text memo;

communicating the text memo from the voice-to-text conversion system to a text messaging system;

communicating a signal to the mobile device to alert the subscriber that the text memo was created; and

communicating the text memo to the mobile device.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, the method further including:

if the text memo exceeds a predetermined length, dividing the text memo into multiple text memos such that none of the multiple text memos exceed the predetermined length.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the text memo is communicated to the mobile device in response to a text memo retrieval process initiated by the subscriber at the mobile device.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10, the method further including:

activating the voice-to-text memo service in response to the subscriber activating a start voice-to-text memo control at the mobile device.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, the method further including:

de-activating the voice-to-text memo service in response to at least one of the subscriber activating a stop voice-to-text memo control at the mobile device and termination of the active call path.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13, the method further including:

determining if a call associated with the mobile device is currently active; and

if a call associated with the mobile device is not currently active, establishing an active call path between the mobile device and the voice-to-text memo service associated with the subscriber.

16. A wireless network, including:

means for receiving a request initiated by the subscriber via a command signal;

means for determining that a subscriber associated with the wireless network is properly enrolled in a calling plan with a voice-to-text memo feature active, wherein the subscriber is associated with a mobile device and the mobile device is associated with the wireless network;

a voice-to-text conversion system;

means for routing an active call path associated with the mobile device to the voice-to-text conversion system, wherein the active call path is a connection where the subscriber is a party and the voice-to-text conversion system captures audio from the active call path for a period of time and converts the captured audio to text to create a text memo;

a text messaging system; and

means for communicating the text memo from the voice-to-text conversion system to the text messaging system, wherein the text messaging system communicates a signal to the mobile device to alert the subscriber that the text memo was created and communicates the text memo to the mobile device.

17. The wireless network as set forth in claim 16, further including:

means for dividing the text memo into multiple text memos if the text memo exceeds a predetermined length such that none of the multiple text memos exceed the predetermined length.

18. The wireless network as set forth in claim 16, further including:

means for activating the voice-to-text memo service in response to the subscriber activating a start voice-to-text memo control at the mobile device.

19. The wireless network as set forth in claim 18, further including:

means for determining if a call associated with the mobile device is currently active; and

means for establishing an active call path between the mobile device and the voice-to-text memo service associated with the subscriber if a call associated with the mobile device is not currently active.