Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices

• US 8,112,104 B1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Thomas, C. Douglass, Tong, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Dung
• Application Number:
  US12/987,018
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 455/466, 455/414.4, 455/417, 455/412.1, 455/550.1, 455/566, 455/556.1, 455/569.1, 455/518, 37942001-42004, 379/211.01, 379/207.02, 379/220.01, 379/88.22, 704/246, 704/235
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Improved approaches for users of electronic devices to communicate with one another are disclosed. The electronic devices have audio and/or textual output capabilities. The improved approaches can enable users to communicate in different ways depending on device configuration, user preferences, prior history, etc. In one embodiment, the communication between users is achieved by short audio or textual messages.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless headset; and

a wireless communication device that supports wireless communication, including messaging, for a first user, said wireless communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with the wireless headset,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the method of;

receiving an incoming text message from a second user;

converting the incoming text message to an incoming audio message;

presenting the incoming audio message for the first user via the wireless headset;

recording a reply audio message by the first user via the wireless headset;

converting the reply audio message into a reply text message; and

transmitting the reply text message to the second user.

2. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of determining whether the wireless headset is active, and

wherein said converting of the incoming text message is automatically invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message, provided that said determining determines that the wireless headset is active.

3. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of:

prompting the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to said recording of the reply audio message.

4. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of:

limiting the reply audio message during said recording and/or said converting of the reply audio message so that the reply text message does not exceed a predetermined text message size.

5. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of:

determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner, and

wherein said converting of the incoming text message is invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message, provide that said determining determines that the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner.

6. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 5,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of determining whether the wireless headset is active, and

wherein said converting of the incoming text message is automatically invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message, provide that said determining determines that the wireless headset is active.

7. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 6, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to perform the operation of:

prompting the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to said recording of the reply audio message.

8. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said determining is based on a preference setting that is able to be set by the first user.

9. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said determining is based on a user indication.

10. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 5, wherein said determining comprises determining whether the wireless headset is active.

11. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

12. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user preference that is able to be set by the first user.

13. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting provided at said wireless communication device.

14. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic pertains to at least a voice for use in producing the incoming audio message.

15. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 11, wherein said presenting of the incoming audio message comprises playing the incoming audio message, with the playing of the incoming audio message being dependent on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

16. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message.

17. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message, and wherein the reply text message is a SMS message.

18. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

translating at least a portion of the incoming text message from a condensed format to an uncondensed text format; and

converting at least the portion of the incoming text message in the uncondensed text format to at least a portion of the incoming audio message.

19. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 18, wherein said converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

20. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting provided at said wireless communication device.

21. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein said converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises expanding the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words.

22. A wireless communication system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is a mobile telephone.

23. A wireless headset that at least supports messaging for a first user, said wireless headset operatively connects to a mobile electronic device having wireless communication capability, and

wherein said wireless headset is configured to at least:

wirelessly receive an incoming audio message from the mobile electronic device, the incoming audio message being produced by converting an incoming text message from another wireless electronic device, the incoming text message being received at the mobile electronic device via a wireless network;

output the incoming audio message for the first user;

receive a reply audio message from the first user in response to the incoming audio message; and

wirelessly transmit the reply audio message to the mobile electronic device.

24. A wireless headset according to claim 23, wherein the reply audio message thereafter being converted to a reply text message and transmitted to the another wireless electronic device via the wireless network.

25. A wireless headset as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of said wireless headset and the mobile electronic device are configured to:

limit the reply audio message and/or the reply text message so that the reply text message does not exceed a maximum text message size.

26. A wireless headset as recited in claim 24, wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message, and wherein the reply text message is a SMS message.

27. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein said wireless headset is configured to:

prompt the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to said receiving of the reply audio message.

28. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

29. A wireless headset as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user preference able to be set by or for the first user.

30. A wireless headset as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting able to be provided at the mobile electronic device.

31. A wireless headset as recited in claim 28, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic pertains to at least a voice for use in producing the incoming audio message.

32. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23,

wherein said wireless headset includes at least one speaker,

wherein the output of the incoming audio message comprises directing the incoming audio message to the at least one speaker in said wireless headset, and

wherein the output of the incoming audio message is dependent on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

33. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message.

34. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

translation of at least a portion of the incoming text message from a condensed format to an uncondensed text format; and

conversion of at least the portion of the incoming text message in the uncondensed text format to at least a portion of the incoming audio message.

35. A wireless headset as recited in claim 34, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

36. A wireless headset as recited in claim 35, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting able to be provided at the mobile electronic device.

37. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises expanding the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words.

38. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises at least increasing the number of alphabets in the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language.

39. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23, wherein the mobile electronic device is a mobile telephone.

40. A wireless headset as recited in claim 23,

wherein said wireless headset is configured to:

prompt the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to said receiving of the reply audio message,

wherein the reply audio message thereafter being converted to a reply text message and transmitted to the another wireless electronic device via the wireless network,

wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic,

wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting able to be provided at the mobile electronic device, and

wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message, and wherein the reply text message is a SMS message.

41. A wireless headset as recited in claim 40, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises expanding the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words.

42. A wireless headset that at least supports messaging for a first user, said wireless headset operatively connects to a mobile electronic device having wireless communication capability, and

wherein said wireless headset is configured to at least:

play an incoming audio message for the first user via the wireless headset, the incoming audio message being produced by converting an incoming text message from a second user, the incoming text message being received at the mobile electronic device via a wireless network; and

receive a reply audio message from the first user via the wireless headset in response to the incoming audio message, the reply audio message thereafter being converted to a reply text message and transmitted to the second user via the wireless network.

43. A wireless headset as recited in claim 42,

wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic, and

wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting able to be provided at the mobile electronic device.

44. A wireless headset as recited in claim 43,

wherein said wireless headset is configured to:

prompt the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to the reply audio message being received at said wireless headset,

45. A wireless headset as recited in claim 43, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises expanding the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words.

46. A wireless headset as recited in claim 43, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

translation at least a portion of the incoming text message from a condensed format to an uncondensed text format; and

conversion of at least the portion of the incoming text message in the uncondensed text format to at least a portion of the incoming audio message.

47. A wireless headset as recited in claim 43, wherein the reply audio message is converted to the reply text message and transmitted to the another wireless electronic device by the mobile electronic device.