System to record and analyze voice message usage information

• US 8,737,582 B1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TP Lab, Inc.
• Inventors: Ho, Chi Fai, Chiu, Shin Cheung Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/943,321
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/68, 379/88.08, 379/88.09, 379/88.16, 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/88.27
• US Class Current: 379/88.27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A voice message system records voice message usage information by creating voice message records when a voice message is sent and when it is received. The voice message record includes: the voice message, a voice message sender identity, a voice message recipient identity, and voice message action records. A voice message action records includes a voice message action that specifies an action on the voice message, and a voice message action time that includes the time at which the action occurs. Voice message actions include sent, received, and listened. The system further includes a voice message analyzer for analyzing voice message records, and a voice message reporter for generating reports from an analysis by the analyzer. The voice message system provides tractable information for voice messages, allowing companies to enforce a voice message usage policy.

Claims

1. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receiving a time by the voice message system;

(d) in response to determining that the time matches the sending time, retrieving the first voice message record; and

(e) in response to determining that the time matches the receiving time, retrieving the second voice message record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the time received by the voice message system comprises a range, wherein the retrieving (d) and the retrieving (e) comprises:

(d1) in response to determining that the sending time is within the range, retrieving the first voice message record; and

(e1) in response to determining that the receiving time is within the range, retrieving the second voice message record.

3. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receiving an action by the voice message system;

(d) in response to determining that the action matches the send action, retrieving the first voice message record; and

(e) in response to determining that the action matches the receive action, retrieving the second voice message record.

4. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message;

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

a sender identity;

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

a recipient identity;

(c) receiving an identity by the voice message system;

(d) in response to determining that the identity matches the sender identity, retrieving the first voice message record; and

(e) in response to determining that the identity matches the recipient identity, retrieving the second voice message record.

5. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs; and

a location of a voice message recipient during the receive action.

6. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receiving a word by the voice message system; and

(d) in response to determining that the voice message comprises an audio pattern matching the word, retrieving the first voice message record and the second voice message record.

7. A method for recording voice message usage information, comprising:

(a) creating and storing by the voice message system a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creating and storing by the voice message system a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receiving a pattern by the voice message system, wherein the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

an identity;

a time; and

an action;

(d) in response to determining that the first voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieving the first voice message action record, wherein the first voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a sender identity in the first voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the first voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the send action; and

(e) in response to determining that the second voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieving the second voice message action record, wherein the second voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a recipient identity in the second voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the second voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the receive action.

8. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receives a time;

(d) in response to determining that the time matches the sending time, retrieves the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the time matches the receiving time, retrieves the second voice message record from the datastore.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the time received by the voice message system comprises a range, wherein the retrieves (d) and the retrieves (e) comprises:

(d1) in response to determining that the sending time is within the range, retrieves the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e1) in response to determining that the receiving time is within the range, retrieves the second voice message record from the datastore.

10. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receives an action;

(d) in response to determining that the action matches the send action, retrieves the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the action matches the receive action, retrieves the second voice message record from the datastore.

11. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message;

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

a sender identity;

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs; and

a recipient identity;

(c) receives an identity;

(d) in response to determining that the identity matches the sender identity, retrieves the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the identity matches the recipient identity, retrieves the second voice message record from the datastore.

12. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs; and

a location of a voice message recipient during the receive action.

13. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receives a word; and

(d) in response to determining that the voice message comprises an audio pattern matching the word, retrieves the first voice message record and the second voice message record.

14. A system, comprising:

a datastore storing a plurality of voice message records; and

a voice message system, wherein the voice message system;

(a) creates and stores in the datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) creates and stores in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receives a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

an identity;

a time; and

an action;

(d) in response to determining that the first voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieves the first voice message action record, wherein the first voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a sender identity in the first voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the first voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the send action; and

(e) in response to determining that the second voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieves the second voice message action record, wherein the second voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a recipient identity in the second voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the second voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the receive action.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receive a time;

(d) in response to determining that the time matches the sending time, retrieve the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the time matches the receiving time, retrieve the second voice message record from the datastore.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the time received comprises a range, wherein the retrieve (d) and the retrieve (e) comprises:

(d1) in response to determining that the sending time is within the range, retrieve the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e1) in response to determining that the receiving time is within the range, retrieve the second voice message record from the datastore.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message;

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receive an action;

(d) in response to determining that the action matches the send action, retrieve the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the action matches the receive action, retrieve the second voice message record from the datastore.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message;

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

a sender identity;

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs; and

a recipient identity;

(c) receive an identity;

(d) in response to determining that the identity matches the sender identity, retrieve the first voice message record from the datastore; and

(e) in response to determining that the identity matches the recipient identity, retrieve the second voice message record from the datastore.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message; and

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message;

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs; and

a location of a voice message recipient during the receive action.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message;

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

a location of a voice message sender during the send action;

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receive a word; and

(d) in response to determining that the voice message comprises an audio pattern matching the word, retrieve the first voice message record and the second voice message record.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer readable program instructions for recording voice message usage information, wherein the computer readable program instructions when executed by a computer causes the computer to:

(a) create and store in a datastore a first voice message record corresponding to a voice message from a voice message sender, wherein the first voice message record comprises;

at least a first voice message action record recording a send action for the voice message;

a sending time comprising a time when the voice message sender sends the voice message; and

a location of a voice message sender during the send action;

(b) create and store in the datastore a second voice message record corresponding to the voice message, the second voice message record comprising;

at least a second voice message action record recording a receive action for the voice message; and

a receiving time comprising a time when the receive action occurs;

(c) receive a pattern, wherein the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

an identity;

a time; and

an action;

(d) in response to determining that the first voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieve the first voice message action record, wherein the first voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a sender identity in the first voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the first voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the send action; and

(e) in response to determining that the second voice message action record matches the pattern, retrieve the second voice message action record, wherein the second voice message action record matching the pattern comprises two or more of the following;

a recipient identity in the second voice message action record matches the identity;

the time in the second voice message action record matches the time received by the voice message system; and

the action matches the receive action.