Selectable audio and mixed background sound for voice messaging system
First Claim
1. A method of enhancing a voice mail message for playback to a listener, comprising steps of:
- creating the voice mail message for the listener, by a caller using a telephone device, the voice mail message comprising a plurality of message segments;
identifying, by the caller using the telephone device, at least two of the message segments which are to have background sounds associated therewith;
selecting, for each of the identified message segments by the caller using the telephone device, a sound to be associated therewith as the background sound, wherein the sounds selected as the background sound for at least two of the message segments are different sounds; and
responsive to a request from the listener for playback of the voice mail message, playing back at least two of the identified message segments for which a sound was selected to be associated therewith as the background sound, while concurrently playing back the sound selected as the background sound for each of the played-backed identified message segments, and wherein the sounds selected as the background sound for at least two of the played-back identified message segments are different sounds, such that the background sound played back for the voice mail message changes at least once during the playback.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, computer program products, and methods of doing business by selectably mixing one or more sound files with a telephone caller'"'"'s voice message, either as background for that message or embedded within the message. Or, the mixing may occur within a telephone conversation between parties. The disclosed techniques enable alleviating some of the problems that result from distance communication (as contrasted to face-to-face communication). In particular, context information (such as emotional context) can be provided through appropriate use of background sound and/or embedded audio files. The disclosed techniques may also make communication through voice mail exchange more enjoyable and/or increase its productivity.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of enhancing a voice mail message for playback to a listener, comprising steps of:
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creating the voice mail message for the listener, by a caller using a telephone device, the voice mail message comprising a plurality of message segments; identifying, by the caller using the telephone device, at least two of the message segments which are to have background sounds associated therewith; selecting, for each of the identified message segments by the caller using the telephone device, a sound to be associated therewith as the background sound, wherein the sounds selected as the background sound for at least two of the message segments are different sounds; and responsive to a request from the listener for playback of the voice mail message, playing back at least two of the identified message segments for which a sound was selected to be associated therewith as the background sound, while concurrently playing back the sound selected as the background sound for each of the played-backed identified message segments, and wherein the sounds selected as the background sound for at least two of the played-back identified message segments are different sounds, such that the background sound played back for the voice mail message changes at least once during the playback. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification