Wireless server based text to speech email
First Claim
1. An email system comprising:
- a mobile device;
a server configured to receive an email directed to the mobile device, the email including text, the server further configured to convert said text in the email into an audio file; and
the mobile device in communication with the server over a wireless link to receive the email from the server, the mobile device configured to include a media player, the media player configured to receive the audio file from the server and play back the audio file as a voice message on the mobile device;
wherein the mobile device is further configured for;
executing a listening application for identifying the email, the email being a text message;
retrieving a message body from the text message, the message body including the text which is suitable for audio conversion;
retrieving header information from the text message;
retrieving a device specific identifier indicative of the mobile device; and
sending the message body, header information, and device specific identifier to the server; and
wherein the server is further configured for;
receiving the text message from the mobile device;
performing a text-to-speech (TTS) conversion on the text message to generate audio data corresponding to the message body retrieved from the text message; and
loading the audio data into the audio file, the audio file having an audio file format recognized by the mobile device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An email system for mobile devices, such as cellular phones and PDAs, is disclosed which allows email messages to be played back on the mobile device as voice messages on demand by way of a media player, thus eliminating the need for a unified messaging system. Email messages are received by the mobile device in a known manner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the email messages are identified by the mobile device as they are received. After the message is identified, the mobile device sends the email message in text format to a server for conversion to speech or voice format. After the message is converted to speech format, the server sends the messages back to the user'"'"'s mobile device and notifies the user of the email message and then plays the message back to the user through a media player upon demand.
41 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An email system comprising:
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a mobile device; a server configured to receive an email directed to the mobile device, the email including text, the server further configured to convert said text in the email into an audio file; and the mobile device in communication with the server over a wireless link to receive the email from the server, the mobile device configured to include a media player, the media player configured to receive the audio file from the server and play back the audio file as a voice message on the mobile device; wherein the mobile device is further configured for; executing a listening application for identifying the email, the email being a text message; retrieving a message body from the text message, the message body including the text which is suitable for audio conversion; retrieving header information from the text message; retrieving a device specific identifier indicative of the mobile device; and sending the message body, header information, and device specific identifier to the server; and wherein the server is further configured for; receiving the text message from the mobile device; performing a text-to-speech (TTS) conversion on the text message to generate audio data corresponding to the message body retrieved from the text message; and loading the audio data into the audio file, the audio file having an audio file format recognized by the mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification