System and method for caller initiated voicemail annotation and its transmission over IP/SIP for flexible and efficient voice mail retrieval

• US 20050037739A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Zhong, Jialin
• Granted Patent: US 7,369,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/303 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4554 Sender-side editing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5335 Message type or catagory, e.g. priority, indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A voice-mail annotation system and method that enables callers to annotate the messages they leave at the time they leave them. Annotation may be performed using a touch screen or a telephone key-pad. In addition to allowing the caller to more clearly specify the intent of their message and the location of crucial information within the message, the annotations of this invention then allow the person retrieving the message flexibility in how they listen to the message. These choices include prioritizing the messages by the importance of subject, listening to summaries of the message and having random access to embedded information such as names and call back numbers,

Claims

1. A device for annotating a first user'"'"'s voice message, comprising:

means, operable by said first user, for creating a markup file, said markup file including at least one message structure descriptor;

means for storing said markup file and a voice signal corresponding to said first user'"'"'s voice message; and

means, operable by a second user and including said stored markup file, for retrieving a selected portion of said voice signal.

2. The device of claim 1 further including means, operable by said first user, for creating said at least one message structure descriptor.

4. The device of claim 1 in which said markup file an eXtended Markup Language (XML) file.

5. The device of claim 1 further including means operable by said first user for editing said markup file after said markup file has been stored.

6. The device of claim 1 in which said means for retrieving includes means to play an augmented version of said voice signal;

and means to skim said voice signal, hearing only portions of said voice signal that have been annotated.

7. The device of claim 1 further including means for automatically notifying said second user that said voice signal and said markup file have been stored.

8. The device of claim 7 further including means for transmitting said markup file to said second user.

3. The device of claim 3 in which said message structure descriptor is chosen from the group consisting of a caller name, a callback number, a change of topic marker, a degree of importance marker and an urgency of response marker.

9. A method for annotating a first user'"'"'s voice message, comprising the steps of:

a) said first user creating a markup file, said markup file including at least one message structure descriptor related to said first user'"'"'s voice message;

b) storing said markup file and a voice signal corresponding to said first user'"'"'s voice message; and

c) a second user retrieving a selected portion of said voice signal using said stored markup file.

10. The method of claim 9 further including the step d) of creating said at least one message structure descriptor.

11. The method of claim 10 in which said step d) of creating includes choosing said message structure descriptor from the group consisting of a caller name, a callback number, a change of topic marker, a degree of importance marker and an urgency of response marker.

12. The method of claim 9 in which said markup file is an eXtended Markup Language (XML) file.

13. The method of claim 9 further including the step e) of said first user editing said markup file after said markup file has been stored.

14. The method of claim 9 in which said step c) of retrieving further includes the step

f) of playing an augmented version of said voice signal;

and the step

g) of skimming said voice signal, hearing only portions of said voice signal that have been annotated.

15. The method of claim 9 further including the step

h) of automatically notifying said second user that said voice signal and said markup file have been stored.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step

j) of transmitting said markup file to said second user.

17. An apparatus for annotating a first user'"'"'s voice message, comprising:

a user interface, operable by said first user, for creating a markup file, said markup file including at least one message structure descriptor;

a message server for storing said markup file and a voice signal corresponding to a first user'"'"'s voice message; and

a voice communications device, operable by a second user and including said stored markup file, for retrieving a selected portion of said voice signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further including pre-defined keys, operable by said first user, for creating said at least one message structure descriptor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said message structure descriptor is chosen from the group consisting of a caller name, a callback number, a change of topic marker, a degree of importance marker and an urgency of response marker.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said markup file is an eXtended Markup Language (XML) file.

21. The apparatus of claim 17 further including buttons operable by said first user for editing said markup file after said markup file has been stored.

22. The apparatus of claim 17 in which said voice communications device includes a pre-set button to play an augmented version of said voice signal;

and a pre-set button to skim said voice signal, hearing only portions of said voice signal that have been annotated.

23. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a message server module for automatically notifying said second user that said voice signal and said markup file have been stored.

24. The apparatus of claim 17 further including a message server module for transmitting said markup file to said second user.