Retrieval of deleted voice messages in voice messaging system

• US 8,811,576 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2012
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems LLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ali, Syed S., Jampanaboyana, Lakshmi Narayana, Greybush, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US13/364,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20120134481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5335 Message type or catagory, e.g. priority, indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects

Abstract

Apparatus and method to allow retrieval of voice messages deleted from the voice message memory of a voice messaging system. A voice messaging system such as a telephone answering device includes a deleted voice message memory for storing voice messages deleted from the voice message memory. The deleted voice messages stored in the deleted voice message memory are retrievable by the user for review subject to rules for permanent deletion of the deleted voice messages (e.g., after a period of time, when the deleted voice message memory approaches capacity, periodically, etc.).

Claims

1. A voice messaging system, comprising:

a controller;

a user accessible voice message memory to store at least one user accessible voice message; and

a deleted voice message memory to store at least one user deleted voice message;

wherein;

a first voice message is initially stored in said user accessible voice message memory as a first user accessible voice message, and upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said first user accessible voice message from said user accessible voice message memory, said first user accessible voice message is automatically compressed, moved and restored in said deleted voice message memory as a first user deleted voice message,

a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space is dynamically adjusted to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory;

said first user deleted voice message stored in said deleted voice message memory is removable from said deleted voice message memory to effect permanent deletion; and

said first user deleted voice message is removed from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined percentage use of a memory capacity of said deleted voice message memory.

2. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a telephone line interface over which said first voice message is initially received by said voice messaging system.

3. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user deleted voice message stored in said deleted voice message memory is retrievable for playback by a user.

4. The voice messaging system according to claim 1 wherein:

said first user deleted voice message is permanently deletable from said deleted voice message memory via input from a keypad.

5. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user deleted voice message is removed from said deleted voice message memory and permanently deleted at a predetermined time interval.

6. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user deleted voice message is removed from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages being simultaneously stored in said deleted voice message memory.

7. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user deleted voice message stored in said deleted voice message memory is compressed more than one or more other voice messages stored in said user accessible voice message memory.

8. The voice messaging system according to claim 1, wherein:

said first user deleted voice message in said deleted voice message memory is compressed using a bit rate which is lower than a bit rate of one or more other voice messages stored in said user accessible voice message memory.

19. The voice messaging system according to claim 6, wherein:

said user deleted voice message is an oldest stored voice message in said deleted voice message memory.

9. A method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system, comprising:

automatically removing said user deleted voice message stored in a user accessible first memory area upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said user deleted voice message from said user accessible first memory area,

compressing said user deleted voice message to produce a compressed user deleted voice message,

storing said compressed user deleted voice message in a second memory area,

dynamically adjusting a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory,

permanently deleting said compressed user deleted voice message by removing said compressed user deleted voice message stored in said second memory area, and

removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said second memory area upon reaching a predetermined percentage of a memory capacity of said second memory area.

10. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 9, further comprising:

retrieving said compressed user deleted voice message from said second memory area for playback.

11. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 9, further comprising:

inputting a predetermined code via a keypad for retrieving said compressed user deleted voice message from said second memory area.

12. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 9, wherein:

said permanent deletion occurs automatically based on a predetermined condition.

13. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 12, wherein:

said predetermined condition corresponds to a length of time after said compressed user deleted voice message is stored in said second memory area.

14. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 9, further comprising:

removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said second memory area upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages simultaneously stored in said second memory area.

20. The method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 12, wherein:

said predetermined condition corresponds to a predetermined time interval.

15. Apparatus for retrieving a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system, comprising:

means for automatically removing said user deleted voice message stored in a user accessible first memory area upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said user deleted voice message from said user accessible first memory area;

means for compressing said user deleted voice message to produce a compressed user deleted voice message;

means for storing said compressed user deleted voice message in a deleted voice message memory; and

means for retrieving said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory for playback,

means for dynamically adjusting a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory, and

means for removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined percentage of a memory capacity of said deleted voice message memory.

16. The apparatus for retrieving a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for inputting a predetermined code via a keypad for retrieving said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory.

17. The apparatus for retrieving a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for permanently deleting said voice message by removing said compressed user deleted voice message stored in said deleted voice message memory.

18. The apparatus for retrieving a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system according to claim 15, further comprising:

means for removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages simultaneously stored in said deleted voice message memory.

21. A voice messaging system, comprising:

a controller;

a user accessible voice message memory to store at least one user accessible voice message; and

a deleted voice message memory to store at least one user deleted voice message;

wherein;

a first voice message is initially stored in said user accessible voice message memory as a first user accessible voice message, and upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said first user accessible voice message from said user accessible voice message memory, said first user accessible voice message is automatically compressed, moved and restored in said deleted voice message memory as a first user deleted voice message,

a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space is dynamically adjusted to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory;

said first user deleted voice message stored in said deleted voice message memory is removable from said deleted voice message memory to effect permanent deletion; and

said voice message is removed from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages being simultaneously stored in said deleted voice message memory.

22. A method for managing a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system, comprising:

automatically removing said user deleted voice message stored in a user accessible first memory area upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said user deleted voice message from said user accessible first memory area,

compressing said user deleted voice message to produce a compressed user deleted voice message,

storing said compressed user deleted voice message in a second memory area,

dynamically adjusting a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory,

permanently deleting said compressed user deleted voice message by removing said compressed user deleted voice message stored in said second memory area, and

removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said second memory area upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages simultaneously stored in said second memory area.

23. Apparatus for retrieving a user deleted voice message from a voice messaging system, comprising:

means for automatically removing said user deleted voice message stored in a user accessible first memory area upon a user selecting a keypad option to delete said user deleted voice message from said user accessible first memory area;

means for compressing said user deleted voice message to produce a compressed user deleted voice message;

means for storing said compressed user deleted voice message in a deleted voice message memory; and

means for retrieving said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory for playback,

means for dynamically adjusting a total storage space allocated to each of said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory from a common total memory space to re-allocate a space available for said user accessible voice message memory and said deleted voice message memory, and

means for removing said compressed user deleted voice message from said deleted voice message memory upon reaching a predetermined number of voice messages simultaneously stored in said deleted voice message memory.