Method for announcing e-mail and converting e-mail text to voice
First Claim
1. An electronic message configured to be communicated between a sender'"'"'s device and a recipient'"'"'s device, the electronic message comprising:
- an attached sound file; and
an attached predetermined identifier associated with the sound file, the predetermined identifier comprising;
a distinguishing indication configured to distinguish the sound file from other files attached to the electronic message; and
a course of action indication configured to indicate a course of action to be taken by the recipient'"'"'s device with the sound file, the course of action indication comprising an information tag;
wherein based on the course of action indicated by the predetermined identifier, the recipient'"'"'s device is configured to selectively convert a content of the electronic message from text to voice using at least one of the sound file and a locally stored voice sample; and
wherein the recipient'"'"'s device is configured to selectively play at least one of the sound file and the converted content of the electronic message.
23 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a selective announce system for announcing the receipt of electronic mail and instant messages (e-mail). The e-mail has an attached sound file and a predetermined identifier regarding the nature of the sound file. This sound file may be in the sender'"'"'s voice, a third party'"'"'s voice, a computer-simulated voice, or some combination. Upon receipt of the e-mail, the sound file is played or used to convert some portion of the e-mail text to voice. The sound file may be played at a recipient computer or it may be played at a recipient'"'"'s voice mail or it may be played at some other terminal.
45 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An electronic message configured to be communicated between a sender'"'"'s device and a recipient'"'"'s device, the electronic message comprising:
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an attached sound file; and an attached predetermined identifier associated with the sound file, the predetermined identifier comprising; a distinguishing indication configured to distinguish the sound file from other files attached to the electronic message; and a course of action indication configured to indicate a course of action to be taken by the recipient'"'"'s device with the sound file, the course of action indication comprising an information tag; wherein based on the course of action indicated by the predetermined identifier, the recipient'"'"'s device is configured to selectively convert a content of the electronic message from text to voice using at least one of the sound file and a locally stored voice sample; and wherein the recipient'"'"'s device is configured to selectively play at least one of the sound file and the converted content of the electronic message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for sending an electronic message from a sender'"'"'s device to a recipient'"'"'s device, the method comprising the steps of:
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attaching a sound file to the electronic message; associating a predetermined identifier with the sound file and attaching the predetermined identifier to the electronic message, the predetermined identifier comprising; a distinguishing indication configured to distinguish the sound file from other files attached to the electronic message; and a course of action indication configured to indicate a course of action to be taken by the recipient'"'"'s device with the sound file, the course of action indication comprising an information tag; based on the course of action indicated by the predetermined identifier, selectively converting a content of the electronic message from text to voice using at least one of the sound file and a locally stored voice sample; and selectively playing at least one of the sound file and the converted content of the electronic message. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for announcing electronic messages, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving an electronic message with an attached sound file; noting the presence of a predetermined identifier attached to the electronic message, wherein the predetermined identifier comprises; a distinguishing indication configured to distinguish the sound file from other files attached to the electronic message; and a course of action indication configured to indicate a course of action to be taken with the sound file, the course of action indication comprising an information tag; based on a course of action indicated by predetermined identifier, selectively converting a content of the electronic message from text to voice using at least one of the sound file and a locally stored voice sample; and selectively playing at least one of the sound file and said converted content of the electronic message in response to the noting of the predetermined identifier. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification