Adaptable communication techniques for electronic devices

• US 8,280,419 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• 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:
  US13/363,360
• Time in Patent Office: 245 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 automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• 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 mobile electronic device configured to support wireless communication, including messaging, for a first user, said mobile electronic device capable of wirelessly communicating with a wireless headset, said mobile electronic device comprising:

a data storage device for storing at least computer program code; and

hardware for performing at least a portion of the computer program code,

wherein the computer program code includes at least;

computer program code for receiving an incoming text message for the first user, the incoming text message being associated with a second user;

computer program code for converting the incoming text message to an incoming audio message;

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

computer program code for recording a reply audio message from the first user via the wireless headset;

computer program code for converting the reply audio message into a reply text message; and

computer program code for transmitting the reply text message to the second user.

2. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for determining whether the wireless headset is active, and

wherein the computer program code for converting the incoming text message is automatically invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message if the computer program code for determining determines that the wireless headset is active.

3. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for prompting the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to recording of the reply audio message by the computer program code for recording.

4. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for limiting the reply audio message so as to not exceed a predetermined text message size.

5. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for determining whether the wireless headset is active, and

wherein the computer program code for converting of the incoming text message is automatically invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message if the computer program code for determining determines that the wireless headset is active.

6. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1,

wherein the computer program code includes at least:

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

wherein the computer program code for converting of the incoming text message is invoked to convert the incoming text message to the incoming audio message if the computer program code for determining determines that the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner.

7. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for prompting the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to recording of the reply audio message by the computer program code for recording.

8. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a preference setting that is able to be set by the first user.

9. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein the computer program code for determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is active is based on at least a user indication.

10. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 6, wherein computer program code for determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a determination of whether the wireless headset is active.

11. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for converting the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

12. A mobile electronic device 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 mobile electronic device 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 the mobile electronic device.

14. A mobile electronic device 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 mobile electronic device as recited in claim 11, wherein the computer program code for presenting the incoming audio message comprises computer program code for playing the incoming audio message, with the playing of the incoming audio message being dependent on the at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

16. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the incoming text message is a SMS message, and wherein the reply text message is a SMS message.

17. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code for converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

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

computer program code for 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.

18. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 17, wherein the computer program code for converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

19. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting provided at the mobile electronic device.

20. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the computer program code for converting of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises computer program code for expanding at least one term in the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words in a non-chat language.

21. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.

22. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer program code includes at least:

computer program code for presenting a plurality of predetermined reply messages to the first user;

computer program code for receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of predetermined reply messages; and

computer program code for initiating delivery of the selected one of the plurality of predetermined reply messages to the second user as a response to the incoming text message.

23. A mobile electronic device as recited in claim 1,

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 preference that is able to be set by the first user,

wherein the presentation of the incoming audio message operates to at least play the incoming audio message in a manner dependent on the at least one user-selected speech characteristic,

wherein at least a portion of the incoming text message is in a chat language, and wherein the computer program code for converting the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises computer program code for expanding the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words,

wherein the computer program code also includes computer program code for determining whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner,

wherein the computer program code for converting the incoming text message to the incoming audio message converts the incoming text message to the incoming audio message if the computer program code for determining determines that the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner,

wherein the determination of whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a determination of whether the wireless headset is active, and

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

24. A wireless communication device, said wireless communication device supports wireless communication, including messaging, for a first user, said wireless communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with a wireless headset,

wherein said wireless communication device includes at least a processor and is configured to at least:

receive an incoming text message for the first user, the incoming text message being associated with a second user;

convert the incoming text message to an incoming audio message;

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

record a reply audio message from the first user via the wireless headset;

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

transmit the reply text message to the second user.

25. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to determine whether the wireless headset is active, and

wherein the incoming text message is automatically converted to the incoming audio message if it is determined that the wireless headset is active.

26. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to:

prompt the first user to provide the reply audio message to be recorded.

27. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to:

limit the reply audio message when operating to record and/or convert the reply audio message so that the reply text message does not exceed a predetermined text message size.

28. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to:

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

wherein the incoming text message is converted to the incoming audio message if it is determined that the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner.

29. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to:

prompt the first user to provide the reply audio message prior to the reply audio message being recorded.

30. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the determination of whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a preference setting that is able to be set by the first user.

31. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the determination of whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a user indication.

32. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 28, wherein the determination of whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner is based on at least a determination of whether the wireless headset is active.

33. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

34. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 33, 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.

35. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 33, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting provided at said wireless communication device.

36. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 33, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic pertains to at least a voice for use in producing the incoming audio message.

37. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 33, wherein the presentation of the incoming audio message operates to at least present the incoming audio message in a manner dependent on at least the one user-selected speech characteristic.

38. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein at least one of the incoming text message or the reply text message is a SMS message.

39. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message comprises:

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

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

40. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 39, wherein the conversion of the incoming text message to the incoming audio message depends on at least one user-selected speech characteristic.

41. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 40, wherein the at least one user-selected speech characteristic is set based on at least one user setting provided at said wireless communication device.

42. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, 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 expansion of the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words.

43. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein said wireless communication device is a mobile telephone.

44. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein said wireless communication device is a computing device having communication capabilities.

45. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein the incoming text message includes or references at least a speech characteristic for use during presentation of the incoming audio message.

46. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein the incoming text message includes or references at least a speech characteristic for use during conversion of the incoming text message to an incoming audio message.

47. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, 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 characters in the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language.

48. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24, wherein said wireless communication device is configured to:

present a plurality of predetermined reply messages to the first user; and

receive a user selection of one of the plurality of predetermined reply messages to use as a response to the incoming text message for the second user.

49. A wireless communication device as recited in claim 24,

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 preference that is able to be set by the first user,

wherein the presentation of the incoming audio message operates to at least play the incoming audio message in a manner dependent on at least the one user-selected speech characteristic,

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 expansion of the portion of the incoming text message that is in the chat language to a plurality of words,

wherein said wireless communication device is configured to at least determine whether the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner,

wherein the incoming text message is converted to the incoming audio message if it is determined that the incoming text message should be presented to the first user in an audio manner, and

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