Optical image processing to wirelessly transfer a voice message

• US 8,254,785 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Bushman, Serge J. L., Gailloux, Michael, Persson, Carl Joseph, Wilson, Thomas Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Bello, Agustin
• Application Number:
  US12/120,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 398115-117, 398/132, 398135-139, 398/140
• US Class Current: 398/118
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2755 by optical scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

An image encodes a voice message and communication data for delivery of the voice message. A wireless communication device optically receives and processes the received image to generate image data. The image data represents the voice message and indicates the communication data. The wireless communication device processes the image data, and in response, wirelessly transmits the voice message for delivery based on the communication data.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication device comprising:

optically receiving an image into the wireless communication device, wherein the image encodes a voice message and communication data, wherein the communication data includes an identifier of a destination for delivery of the voice message over a communication network;

processing the optically received image to generate image data that represents the voice message and that indicates the communication data for delivery of the voice message over the communication network; and

processing the image data, and in response, wirelessly transmitting the voice message to the communication network via a wireless access point for delivery to the destination based on the communication data.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication data comprises a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication data comprises an email address.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication data comprises a uniform resource locator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication data comprises an Internet address.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication data comprises an emergency services access number.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the image comprises a two-dimensional bar code.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the image encodes an instruction to transmit the voice message for delivery based on the communication data, wherein processing the optically received image to generate the image data comprises processing the optically received image to obtain the instruction, and wherein wirelessly transmitting the voice message in response to processing the image data comprises wirelessly transmitting the voice message in response to processing the instruction.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the image encodes medical information, wherein processing the optically received image to generate the image data comprises processing the optically received image to obtain the medical information, and further comprising displaying the medical information in response to processing the image data.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile Internet access device.

11. A wireless communication device comprising:

a camera configured to optically receive an image that encodes a voice message and communication data, wherein the communication data includes an identifier of a destination for delivery of the voice message over a communication network, and to process the optically received image to generate image data that represents the voice message and that indicates the communication data for delivery of the voice message over the communication network;

a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly transmit the voice message to the communication network via a wireless access point for delivery to the destination based on the communication data; and

a processing system configured to process the image data to direct the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmit the voice message to the communication network for delivery based on the communication data.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the communication data comprises a telephone number.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the communication data comprises an email address.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the communication data comprises a uniform resource locator.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the communication data comprises an Internet address.

16. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the communication data comprises an emergency services access number.

17. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the image comprises a two-dimensional bar code.

18. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the image encodes an instruction to transmit the voice message for delivery based on the communication data, wherein the camera is configured to process the optically received image to obtain the instruction, and wherein the processing system is configured to direct the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmit the voice message in response to processing the instruction.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the image encodes medical information and further comprising a display configured to display the medical information, wherein the camera is configured to process the optically received image to obtain the medical information, and wherein the processing system is configured to direct the display to display the medical information.

20. The wireless communication device of claim 11 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a mobile Internet access device.