Methods and system for instant voice messaging and instant voice message retrieval
First Claim
1. In a non-Internet protocol (IP) based communications network, a system for instant voice messaging comprising:
- an instant voice messaging (IVM) server operative to receive from an initiating user fragments of an instant voice message;
to store said fragments; and
to stream already stored fragments of said instant voice message to at least one target user, while receiving other fragments of said instant voice message from said initiating user and storing said other fragments;
wherein said non-IP based communication network is a telephony network and wherein said IVM server is coupled to a telephony switch that is operative to switch communications between said initiating user and said IVM server and to switch communications between each of said at least one target user and said IVM server; and
a paging system selected from a group consisting of a text paging system and a voice paging system, said paging system coupled to said IVM server, wherein said IVM server further includes;
i. a voice recognition module operative to convert voice messages into voice paging messages, andii. a text-to-speech recognition module operative to convert voice messages into text messages, and wherein said paging system is operative to communicate said voice paging messages and said text messages to a pager belonging to said at least one target user.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for instant voice messaging comprising an IVM server operative to essentially simultaneously receive from an initiating user at least one voice message fragment and stream the at least one voice fragment to at least one target user; and a switch coupled to the IVM server and operative to effect communications between the initiating user and each target user and the IVM server, as well as between the users themselves. The streaming operation ends with an entire instant voice message being transmitted to the target user(s). Each target user may instantly retrieve a message by using a smart notification provided by the IVM server. Special numbering systems facilitate both the instant voice messaging and the instant message retrieval aspects.
40 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a non-Internet protocol (IP) based communications network, a system for instant voice messaging comprising:
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an instant voice messaging (IVM) server operative to receive from an initiating user fragments of an instant voice message;
to store said fragments; and
to stream already stored fragments of said instant voice message to at least one target user, while receiving other fragments of said instant voice message from said initiating user and storing said other fragments;
wherein said non-IP based communication network is a telephony network and wherein said IVM server is coupled to a telephony switch that is operative to switch communications between said initiating user and said IVM server and to switch communications between each of said at least one target user and said IVM server; anda paging system selected from a group consisting of a text paging system and a voice paging system, said paging system coupled to said IVM server, wherein said IVM server further includes; i. a voice recognition module operative to convert voice messages into voice paging messages, and ii. a text-to-speech recognition module operative to convert voice messages into text messages, and wherein said paging system is operative to communicate said voice paging messages and said text messages to a pager belonging to said at least one target user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for relaying an instant voice message from an initiating user to at least one target user over a non-Internet protocol (non-IP) based communications network, comprising the steps of:
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a) at an instant voice messaging (IVM) server, receiving from an initiating user, fragments of said instant voice message and storing said fragments;
said receiving enabled by a switch coupled to the IVM server and operative to switch communications between said initiating user, said at least one target user and said IVM server,b) if said at least one target user answers said IVM server, streaming already stored fragments of said instant voice message to said at least one target user, while receiving other fragments of said instant voice message from said initiating user and storing said other fragments, until said instant voice message is transmitted;
wherein said streaming includes, at said IVM server, starting to record and store said fragments of said instant voice message while accessing said at least one target user;c) providing a unique IVM number to each target user; and d) if said at least one target user does not answer said IVM server, processing said instant voice message at the IVM server according to predetermined rules. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification