Interactive voice and text message system

• US 7,444,375 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Good Technology Corporation (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: McConnell, Brian, Krupinski, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone; Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): BHATIA, AJAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/884,531
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,688 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370/313, 370/349, 370/389, 370/390, 370/392, 370/471, 709/206, 709/207, 709/217, 379/32.05, 379/93.24, 379/100.08, 379/265.09
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for a user of a portable electronic device to respond to a received electronic message. Instructions for reply and message identification are appended to the electronic message to enable a response. The recipient replies by placing a telephone call to a server phone number. After authentication, a voice message is recorded, and, once approved by the sender, the message is converted to an archivable form. The recorded message is sent as an attachment to a text email message to the sender of the original electronic message.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal of an enterprise, comprising:

receiving a call in an email server of the enterprise from the portable electronic device;

determining if the portable electronic device is registered in the email server of the enterprise;

obtaining, at the email server, a pre-assigned message identifier from the portable electronic device, the pre-assigned message identifier assigned by the e-mail server to an e-mail message provided to the portable electronic device from the email server, the pre-assigned message identifier corresponding to an author of the received email;

authenticating the pre-assigned message identifier at the email server of the enterprise;

requesting a recording of a voice message from the user of the portable electronic device as a reply to the email message;

recording the voice message at the email server; and

transmitting the voice message to the enterprise terminal.

2. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

converting the recorded voice message into a format adapted for attachment to an electronic message.

3. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

playing an error message and terminating communication with the e-mail server if the device is not registered in the email server.

4. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal by voice according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the recorded message is acceptable; and

recording the message again if the previously recorded message is not acceptable.

5. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with a terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a user of the portable electronic device by using a Caller ID service.

6. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with a an enterprise terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

prompting, if a Caller ID service is not operating, a user of the portable electronic device to enter a personal identification number (“

PIN”

); and

authenticating the PIN to determine whether the PIN is valid.

7. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1, wherein the pre-assigned message identifier allows transmission of the voice message to the enterprise terminal.

8. A method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal of an enterprise, comprising:

receiving a call in an email server of the enterprise from the portable electronic device;

determining if the portable electronic device is registered in the email server;

obtaining, at the email server, a pre-assigned message identifier from the portable electronic device, the pre-assigned message identifier assigned by the email server to an email message provided to the portable electronic device from the email server, the pre-assigned message identifier corresponding to an author of the received email;

authenticating the pre-assigned message identifier at the email server of the enterprise;

requesting a recording of a voice message from the user of the portable electronic device as a reply to the email message;

recording the voice message at the email server;

converting the recorded voice message into MP3 format; and

transmitting the converted voice message to the user of the enterprise terminal.

9. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8, further comprising identifying a user of the device by using a Caller ID service.

10. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8, further comprising:

prompting, if a Caller ID service is not operating, a user of the portable electronic device to enter a PIN; and

authenticating the PIN to determine whether the PIN is valid.

11. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8, wherein the pre-assigned message identifier allows transmission of the voice message to the terminal.