Method to enable instant collaboration via use of pervasive messaging

• US 7,463,723 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2007
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jaiswal, Peeyush, Mansey, Pradeep, Davis, Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/856,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 451 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.16, 379/201.01, 704/260, 707/103.R, 709/206, 455/466
• US Class Current: 379/88.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

A system and method to enable instant collaboration between a user of an instant messaging network and a user of a communications network can include the steps of connecting the instant messaging network and the communications network via a data network; providing a processor in the data network for: receiving a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via an instant messaging server of the instant messaging network, wherein the text message is intended for a phone coupled to a voicemail system of the communications network; recognizing the designation; converting the text message to a voice message; calling the phone; delivering the voice message to the voicemail system; enabling a scheduled delivery of the voice message to a user of the phone; and delivering the voice message to the user.

Claims

1. A method to enable instant collaboration between a user of an instant messaging network and a user of a communications network, comprising the steps of:

connecting the instant messaging network and the communications network via a data network;

providing a processor in the data network for;

receiving a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via an instant messaging server of the instant messaging network, wherein the text message is intended for a phone coupled to a voicemail system of the communications network;

recognizing the designation;

converting the text message to a voice message;

calling the phone;

delivering the voice message to the voicemail system;

enabling a scheduled delivery of the voice message to a user of the phone; and

delivering the voice message to the user.

2. A system enabling instant collaboration between a user of an instant messaging network and a user of a communications network, comprising:

a voicemail system incorporated in the communications network;

the instant messaging network coupled to the communications network via a data network, the instant messaging network having an instant messaging server;

a processor in the data network programmed to;

receive a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via the instant messaging server, wherein the text message is intended for a phone coupled to the voicemail system;

recognize the designation;

convert the text message to a voice message;

call the phone;

deliver the voice message to the voicemail system;

enable a scheduled delivery of the voice message to a user of the phone; and

deliver the voice message to the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processor resides within the voicemail system.

4. A machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

connecting an instant messaging network and a communications network via a data network;

providing a processor in the data network for;

receiving a text message having a designation for text-to-speech conversion via an instant messaging server of the instant messaging network, wherein the text message is intended for a phone coupled to a voicemail system of the communications network;

recognizing the designation;

converting the text message to a voice message;

calling the phone;

delivering the voice message to the voicemail system;

enabling a scheduled delivery of the voice message to a user of the phone; and

delivering the voice message to the user.