Voice messaging system for converting oral messages into text messages

• US 20040062365A1
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Markowitz, Robert Edward, Rosen, Kenneth H., Goldberg, Randy G., Agraharam, Sanjay
• Application Number:
  US10/662,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects

Abstract

A network-based voice messaging system is provided. A voice message is received at a network. The network converts the voice message into a text message by utilizing speech recognition software. The text message is transmitted to the intended recipient as an electronic mail (e-mail) message or facsimile document and is received by the intended recipient on conventional text receiving equipment.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting a message to an intended recipient, the method comprising:

receiving an oral message for an intended recipient from a sending party;

determining whether a voice mail box associated with the intended recipient is full;

if the intended recipient'"'"'s mail box is full, converting the oral message into a text message using speech recognition software; and

transmitting the text message to the intended recipient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the text message further comprises emailing the text message to the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the text message further comprises faxing the text message to the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the text message further comprises sending an instant message to the recipient.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of determining a facsimile phone number for the intended recipient by accessing a database.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of determining an e-mail address for the intended recipient by accessing a database.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of notifying the sender of the oral message of the status of transmitting the text message to the intended recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the oral message is received on an integrated services network.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the oral message is received on an integrated services network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information related to the transmitted text message.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of billing the intended recipient of the text message.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of billing the sender of the oral message.

13. An answering service, the answering service performing the steps of:

receiving an oral message from a sender for a recipient;

determining whether a voice mail box associated with the recipient is full;

if the recipient voice mail box is full;

converting the oral message into a text message;

audibly playing the text message to the sender for error correction;

receiving error correction from the recipient, if any; and

transmitting the text message to the recipient; and

if the recipient voice mail box is not full, delivering the oral message to the recipient'"'"'s voice mail box.

14. The answering service of claim 13, wherein converting the oral message into a text message occurs using speech recognition software.

15. The answering service of claim 13, wherein converting the oral message into a text message further comprises:

determining whether words exist in the oral message that may not be contained in a general purpose speech recognition software program; and

if words exist in the oral message that are not likely contained in a general purpose speech recognition software program, applying a restricted domain speech recognition program.