Outgoing voice mail recording and playback

• US 8,706,092 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2008
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hashem, Lisa
• Application Number:
  US12/006,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20090175425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,301 Days
• Field of Search: 379/68, 379/88.23, 379/215.01, 379/393, 379/265, 379/266, 379/215, 379/87, 379/70, 379/74, 379/77, 379/162, 379/163, 379/204, 379/88.26, 379/88.22, 379/88.14, 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/88.18, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/207.04, 455/414.1, 455/412.1, 455/413, 455/455, 455/567, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling users to listen to outgoing voice mail messages are provided. These systems and methods record an audio file corresponding to a voice message being left by a user during an outgoing telephone call to a recipient, link the audio file to contact information associated with the recipient, and provide the user access to the audio file through, for example, playback of the audio included in the file. These systems and methods may be implemented through individual communications devices, such as an iPhone, through a telephone communications provider, or a combination of the same.

Claims

1. A method for accessing outgoing voice mail messages on a user'"'"'s wireless communication device, the method comprising:

recording an audio file on a non-transitory memory, the audio file corresponding to a voice mail message that is left by a user to a recipient during an outgoing telephone call to the recipient after the outgoing telephone call is not answered by the recipient and is diverted to voice mail, the outgoing telephone call being initiated on the user'"'"'s wireless communication device;

linking the audio file to contact information associated with the recipient;

notifying the user of an existence of the audio file, wherein notifying includes displaying on the wireless communication device a notification in conjunction with the contact information associated with the recipient; and

providing the user access to the audio file on the wireless communication device, wherein providing the user access to the audio file comprises playing back audio included in the audio file to the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an instruction from the user to record the voice mail message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the instruction is a selection of at least one potential recipient before the outgoing telephone call is made.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the instruction is received during the outgoing telephone call.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the instruction comprises a voice command.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the instruction comprises a key input.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording of the audio file is initiated after the outgoing telephone call is diverted to voice mail.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording and the linking are implemented through the wireless communication device used to initiate the outgoing telephone call.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the wireless communication device comprises a smart phone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the recording and the linking are implemented through a telephone communications provider.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying on the wireless communication device the notification includes at least one of displaying a visual cue that blinks, displaying a visual cue that flashes, displaying a visual cue that changes colors, and displaying a message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the notifying the user ceases when the audio file is no longer outstanding.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the audio file is no longer outstanding if (i) there has been a communication from, or to, the recipient, or (ii) there has been a playback of the audio file.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the user access to the audio file occurs in response to an incoming communication from the recipient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the incoming communication is selected from a group consisting of a call, a fax, an e-mail and a message.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the user access to the audio file occurs in response to an outgoing communication to the recipient.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the outgoing communication is selected from a group consisting of a call, a fax, an e-mail and a message.

18. A communication device for accessing outgoing voice mail messages, the device comprising:

a recorder that records an audio file corresponding to a voice mail message that is left by a user to a recipient during an outgoing telephone call made using the device to the recipient after the outgoing telephone call is not answered by the recipient and is diverted to voice mail;

a non-transitory memory that stores the audio file and a plurality of contact files;

control circuitry including a processor, the control circuitry that links the audio file to at least one of the contact files associated with the recipient, and that displays a notification in conjunction with the at least one of the contact files associated with the recipient, wherein the notification notifies the user of an existence of the audio file; and

an output that provides the user with content included in the audio file, wherein providing the user with content included in the audio file includes playing back audio included in the audio file to the user.

19. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is to display the notification by displaying one of a visual cue that blinks, a visual cue that flashes, a visual cue that changes colors, and a message.

20. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the control circuitry is to cease the display of the notification when the audio file is no longer outstanding.

21. The communication device of claim 20, wherein the audio file is no longer outstanding if (i) there has been a communication from, or to, the recipient, or (ii) there has been a playback of the audio file.

22. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the output provides the user access to the audio file in response to an incoming communication from the recipient.

23. The communication device of claim 18, wherein the output provides the user access to the audio file in response to an outgoing communication to the recipient.