Method and system of processing messages

• US 7,606,352 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2002
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SpinVox Limited (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Cass, William Edward Wyndham
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/498,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20050070255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,503 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.14, 379/88.22, 379/88.13, 379/211.02, 379/75, 379/88.01, 379/88.11, 375/240, 455/412.1, 455/422.1, 455/72, 709/206, 709/223
• US Class Current: 379/88.22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/1016 Telecontrol
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network

Abstract

The invention provides a method of processing messages. The method includes the step of obtaining a subscriber message, from a subscriber communication device over a telecommunications network, the subscriber message representing a voice message from a subscriber. The subscriber message is stored in computer memory and then presented in an audio form to a human operator. A data file is composed which is derived from the subscriber message and the data file transmitted to a subscriber computing device and/or the subscriber communication device. The invention provides a related system for processing messages.

Claims

1. A method for organizing personal information for a subscriber comprising the steps of:

obtaining a subscriber message over a telecommunications network, the subscriber message representing a voice message;

translating the subscriber message to an audio file;

storing the audio file in computer memory;

presenting the audio file to a human operator;

displaying to the human operator information identifying a plurality of data entry forms and means to select one of the data entry forms, a data entry form comprising at least one data entry field;

displaying to the operator one of the data entry forms selected by the operator;

populating at least one data field associated with the selected data entry form with text derived from the content of the audio file;

composing a data file derived from the selected data entry form; and

transmitting the data file to a subscriber computing device programmed with a personal information management (PIM) program for the subscriber to access the data file.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of storing two or more audio files from successive subscriber messages in computer memory;

and retrieving successive audio files from computer memory to present to the human operator.

3. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of linking the subscriber message with a unique identifier code and storing the audio file with the unique identifier code.

4. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting the subscriber message in addition to the data file to the subscriber computing device.

5. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of queuing and retrieving audio files from successive subscriber messages from computer memory in an ordered sequence.

6. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of distributing and presenting the audio file to one of a plurality of human operators.

7. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting the data file to the subscriber communication device that transmitted the subscriber message over the telecommunications network.

8. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting the data file to the subscriber computing device that transmitted the subscriber message over the telecommunications network over a communications network distinct from the telecommunications network.

9. A method as in claim 1 wherein the subscriber message comprises a voice message.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the subscriber message further comprises a text message.

11. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of composing the data file in accordance with a format prespecified by the subscriber.

12. A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a text message to the subscriber communication device that transmitted the subscriber message over the telecommunications network.

13. A system for processing messages comprising:

a mail system configured to obtain a subscriber message from a subscriber communication device over a telecommunications network, the subscriber message representing a voice message;

a device for translating the subscriber message to an audio file;

a database maintained in computer memory configured to store the audio file;

a retrieval component configured to retrieve a audio file from the database and to present the audio file to a human operator;

a plurality of data entry forms maintained in computer memory, the data entry forms associated with at least one data field;

an operator selection component configured to display to the operator information identifying a plurality of data entry forms and means to select one of the data entry forms; and

a data entry component configured to display to the operator one of the data entry forms selected by the operator and to enable population of at least one data field associated with the selected data entry form with text derived from the content of the audio file.