Concatenated audio messages

• US 7,672,439 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Appelman, Barry, Murphy, Stephen Vaughan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US10/747,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20040196963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,254 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.12, 379/207.16, 379/88.11, 379/88.13, 379/252, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/374.01, 379/374.02, 455/466
• US Class Current: 379/207.16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

Audibly identifying an event includes enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier. The identifier enables identification of an entity related to the event. A notification of an occurrence of the event is received. The notification includes the identifier. An intended recipient is alerted of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound that is related to the event.

Claims

1. A method for audibly identifying an event using a system including at least one processor, the method comprising:

using the at least one processor to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier, the identifier enabling identification of an entity related to the event and the first sound audibly identifying the entity;

receiving a notification of an occurrence of the event, the notification including the identifier; and

using the at least one processor to alert an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound that is related to the event audibly identifies a group to which the entity belongs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier comprises enabling selection of a first sound based upon a phone number of a caller, receiving the notification comprises receiving notification of a telephone call, and alerting an intended recipient of the telephone call comprises playing a ring tone including at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier comprises enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an instant message sender and receiving the notification comprises receiving notification of receipt of an instant message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier comprises enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an instant message sender and receiving the notification comprises receiving a notification of a change in an online presence state of the instant messaging sender.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier comprises enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an e-mail sender and receiving the notification comprises receiving notification of receipt of an e-mail message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting an intended recipient of the event comprises alerting an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and alerting an intended recipient of the event comprises alerting an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified byte user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting an intended recipient of the event comprises alerting an intended recipient of the event by concatenating a portion of the first sound with a portion of the second sound to form a concatenated sound and playing the concatenated sound.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting an intended recipient of the event comprises alerting an intended recipient of the event by blending at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound to form a blended sound and playing the blended sound.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound is a spoken version of a user identity corresponding to the user.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound identifies that the user is a member of a buddy group of the recipient.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound identifies that the user is a member of a contacts list of the recipient.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein alerting an intended recipient of the event comprises alerting an intended recipient of the event by playing at least a portion of the first sound, at least a portion of the second sound, and at least a portion of a third sound.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first sound is a sound chosen to identify the entity or event, the second sound is a sound chosen to classify the entity or event, and the third sound is a sound chosen to further classify the entity or event.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third sound identifies the geographic location where the event occurred.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the third sound identifies the urgency or importance of the event.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the second sound identifies that the user is a member of a subgroup of a buddy group of the recipient.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the second sound identifies an organization to which the user belongs.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the organization comprises one of an organization that employs the user and a social club.

41. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is a user and the second sound identifies a profession of the user.

42. The method of claim 8, wherein the entity is a user and the first sound is specified by the user.

43. The method of claim 9, wherein the first sound is specified by the recipient.

19. A computer system for audibly identifying an event, the computer system comprising:

a computer processor configured to;

enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier, the identifier enabling identification of a user related to the event and the first sound audibly identifying the entity;

receive a notification of an occurrence of the event, the notification including the identifier; and

alert an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound that is related to the event audibly identifies a group to which the entity belongs.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier by enabling selection of a first sound based upon a phone number of a caller, to receive the notification by receiving notification of a telephone call, and to alert an intended recipient of the telephone call by playing a ring tone including at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound.

21. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier by enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an instant message sender and to receive the notification by receiving notification of receipt of an instant message.

22. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier by enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an instant message sender and receive the notification by receiving a notification of a change in an online presence state of the instant messaging sender.

23. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier by enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identity of an e-mail sender and receive the notification by receiving notification of receipt of an e-mail message.

24. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to enable selection of the first sound by enabling selection of the first sound by the recipient.

25. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the entity is a user and the computer processor is configured to enable selection of the first sound by enabling selection of the first sound byte user.

26. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to alert art intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the recipient.

27. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the entity is a user and the computer processor is configured to alert an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the user.

28. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to alert an intended recipient of the event by concatenating a portion of the first sound with a portion of the second sound to form a concatenated sound and playing the concatenated sound.

29. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to alert an intended recipient of the event by blending at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound to form a blended sound and playing the blended sound.

30. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound is a spoken version of a user identity corresponding to the user.

31. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound identifies that the user is a member of a buddy group of the recipient.

32. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the entity is a user and the first or second sound identifies that the user is a member of a contacts list of the recipient.

33. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is configured to alert an intended recipient of the event by playing at least a portion of the first sound, at least a portion of the second sound, and at least a portion of a third sound.

34. The computer system of claim 33, wherein the first sound is a sound chosen to identify the entity or event, the second sound is a sound chosen to classify the entity or event, and the third sound is a sound chosen to further classify the entity or event.

35. The computer system of claim 34, wherein the third sound identifies the geographic location where the event occurred.

36. The computer system of claim 34, wherein the third sound identifies the urgency or importance of the event.

37. An apparatus for audibly identifying an event, the apparatus comprising:

means for enabling selection of a first sound based upon an identifier, the identifier enabling identification of an entity user related to the event and the first sound audibly identifying the entity;

means for receiving a notification of an occurrence of the event, the notification including the identifier; and

means for alerting an intended recipient of the event by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound that is related to the event and that audibly identifies a group to which the entity belongs.

44. A method for alerting a monitoring user using a system including at least one processor of an online status change of a monitored user, the method comprising:

using the at least one processor to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier of a monitored user, the first sound audibly identifying the monitored user;

receiving a notification of a change in online presence state of the monitored user, the notification including the identifier; and

using the at least one processor to alert a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound, the second sound audibly informing the monitoring user of occurrence of a user online presence state change, wherein the monitored user is included in a buddy list of the monitoring user, the buddy list including user identities selected by the monitoring user for online presence state monitoring.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitoring user.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitored user.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein alerting a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user comprises alerting the monitoring user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the monitoring user.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitored user.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein alerting a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user comprises alerting the monitoring user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the monitored user.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitoring user.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein alerting a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user comprises alerting the monitoring user by concatenating a portion of the first sound with a portion of the second sound to form a concatenated sound and playing the concatenated sound.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein alerting a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user comprises alerting the monitoring user by blending at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound to form a blended sound and playing the blended sound.

53. The method of claim 44, wherein the online presence state change of the monitored user comprises the monitored user going from an offline state to an online state, and the second sound audibly informs the monitoring user of occurrence of a user transition from an offline state to an online state.

54. The method of claim 44, wherein the online presence state change of the monitored user comprises the monitored user going from an online state to an offline state and the second sound audibly informs the monitoring user of occurrence of a user transition from an online state to an offline state.

55. A method for alerting a monitoring user using a system including at least one processor of an online status change of a monitored user, the method comprising:

using the at least one processor to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier of a monitored user, the first sound audibly identifying the monitored user;

receiving a notification of a change in online presence state of the monitored user, the notification including the identifier; and

using the at least one processor to alert a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound, the second sound audibly informing the monitoring user of occurrence of a user online presence state change,

wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitoring user.

56. A method for alerting a monitoring user using a system including at least one processor of an online status change of a monitored user, the method comprising:

using the at least one processor to enable selection of a first sound based upon an identifier of a monitored user, the first sound audibly identifying the monitored user;

receiving a notification of a change in online presence state of the monitored user, the notification including the identifier; and

using the at least one processor to alert a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of a second sound, the second sound audibly informing the monitoring user of occurrence of a user online presence state change,

wherein alerting a monitoring user of the change in online presence state of the monitored user comprises alerting the monitoring user by playing, in response to the notification, at least a portion of the first sound and at least a portion of the second sound, wherein the second sound is specified by the monitoring user.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein enabling selection of the first sound comprises enabling selection of the first sound by the monitored user.