Voice-messaging with attachments

• US 9,628,626 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray, Lucas, John F., Pressley-Harris, Vivian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/845,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20150381812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 379 671, 379 8813, 379 8818, 379 8812, 379 8817, 379 8823, 37920102, 455411, 455413, 705 1438, 705 2644, 709206, 704270
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/39 using speech synthesis speech synthesis per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• 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 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A network method for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which a caller may leave a voice-message that includes the identification of an attachment, which may include, as examples only, audio, video, text, programs, spreadsheets and graphic attachments. A video, text, spreadsheet or graphic attachment may be converted to an audible attachment to the voice-mail at the caller'"'"'s or the voice-mail subscriber'"'"'s request. Such entries may be made, after receiving an automated prompt for leaving an attachment identifier or conversion request, audibly or by using a keypad entry. A network method is also provided for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which the voice-mail service may detect an attachment to a voice-mail message and provide access to the attachment to the voice-mail message.

Claims

1. A method of operating a voice mail system, the method comprising:

storing a voice mail message from a caller in a voice mail message store;

receiving an identification of an attachment and an identification of a location of the attachment from the caller, the attachment associated with the voice mail message;

transmitting to a computer associated with a called party an indication that the attachment is associated with the voice mail message; and

retrieving the attachment from an attachment store separate from the voice mail message store in response to called party input requesting the attachment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting a security credential in response to the called party input.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

transmitting the attachment to the computer associated with the called party in response to determining that the security credential is valid.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting to the computer associated with the called party an indication of a content type of the attachment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the attachment store is a document storage system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that the attachment is a text file;

converting the text file to speech to generate a converted text file; and

transmitting the converted text file to the computer associated with the called party in response to the called party input.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting the attachment comprises transmitting an electronic mail message including the attachment to the computer associated with the called party.

8. A method of operating a voice mail system, the method comprising:

storing a voice mail message from a caller in a voice mail message store;

receiving an identification of an attachment and an identification of a location of the attachment from the caller;

determining, at a voice mail system, that the attachment is associated with the voice mail message;

transmitting to a computer associated with a called party an indication that the attachment is associated with the voice mail message; and

retrieving the attachment associated with the voice mail message from an attachment store associated with the voice mail system and separate from a voice mail message store, the retrieving in response to called party input requesting the attachment.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

requesting a security credential in response to the called party input.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the attachment to the computer associated with the called party in response to determining that the security credential is valid.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting to the computer associated with the called party an indication of a content type of the attachment.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the attachment store is a document storage system.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining that the attachment is a text file;

converting the text file to speech to generate a converted text file; and

transmitting the converted text file to the computer associated with the called party in response to the called party input.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitting the attachment comprises transmitting an electronic mail message including the attachment to the computer associated with the called party.

15. An apparatus comprising:

an attachment store; and

a voice mail system comprising a voice mail message store, the attachment store separate from the voice mail message store, the voice mail system performing operations comprising;

storing a voice mail message from a caller in the voice mail message store;

receiving an identification of an attachment and an identification of a location of the attachment from the caller, the attachment associated with the voice mail message;

transmitting to a computer associated with a called party an indication that the attachment is associated with the voice mail message; and

retrieving the attachment from the attachment store in response to called party input requesting the attachment.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

requesting a security credential in response to the called party input.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, the operations further comprising:

transmitting the attachment to the computer associated with the called party in response to determining that the security credential is valid.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

transmitting to the computer associated with the called party an indication of a content type of the attachment.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the attachment store is a document storage system.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, the operations further comprising:

determining that the attachment is a text file;

converting the text file to speech to generate a converted text file; and

transmitting the converted text file to the computer associated with the called party in response to the called party input requesting the attachment.