System and method for integrating voice, facsimile and electronic mail data through a personal computer

• US 5,530,740 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Contigram Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Vargo, Michael, Irribarren, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG, FAN S
• Application Number:
  US08/482,608
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/94, 379/100, 379/212
• US Class Current: 379/88.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange

Abstract

In summary, the present invention is a communication system comprising a voice message system for storing and retrieving voice messages and facsimile data, a computer database accessing system for storing and retrieving text messages from a separate computer system and for converting the text messages into voice messages, and a personal computer which allows a user to generate and receive voices messages, facsimile data, and text messages. The systems are integrated via a network which coordinates the functions of each individual system. Additionally, the input/output ports of the voice message system and the computer database accessing system are connected in a parallel fashion to a personal computer. In this configuration, a user may access voice messages, facsimile messages, and text messages through the personal computer.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

voice message means for storing and retrieving voice messages, said voice message means including facsimile means for storing and retrieving facsimile data;

computer database accessing means for storing and retrieving text messages from a computer system and for converting said text messages into voice data;

individual computer processing means coupled to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means through an interface device, said individual computer processing means including means for interacting with a graphical user interface to coordinate access to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means; and

network means for coordinating operation of said voice message means and said computer database accessing means responsive to commands originating from a user operating said individual computer processing means.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said interface device includes a host computer operating as a server of a network.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said interface device includes a telephone line to carry signals between said individual computer processing means and said computer database accessing means, said interface device thereby providing said individual computer processing means remote access to said computer database accessing means.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said individual computer processing means includes a microphone, a speaker, and audio processing means to generate and play said voice messages obtained from said voice message means.

5. The communication system of claim 4 further comprising a text-to-speech translator for playing said text messages obtained from said computer database accessing means over said speaker.

6. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a remotely positioned telephone coupled to said voice message means and said computer database accessing means through said interface device, said network means being responsive to commands entered at said telephone.

7. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of remotely positioned telephones coupled to said voice message means and said computer database means through a corresponding plurality of interface devices.

8. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of remotely positioned individual computer processing means coupled to said voice message means and said computer database means through a corresponding plurality of interface devices.

9. A communication system comprising:

a voice message system that stores and retrieves voice messages and facsimile data, said voice message system including a first transfer mechanism to generate a first transfer command in response to a first instruction;

a text message system that stores and retrieves text messages from a computer system, said text message system including a second transfer mechanism to generate a second transfer command in response to a second instruction;

a network coupled between said voice message system and said text message system for transferring master processing between said voice message system and said text message system in response to said first transfer command and said second transfer command, said first transfer command initiating a first control transfer wherein master processing is transferred from said voice message system to said text message system, said second transfer command initiating a second control transfer wherein master processing is transferred from said text message system to said voice message system; and

an individual computer connectable through an interface to said text message system and said voice message system, said individual computer including a data processor and user interface devices for interacting with a graphical user interface allowing selection of said first instruction and said second instruction.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said individual computer includes a microphone, a speaker, and audio processing means to generate and play said voice messages obtained from said voice message means.

11. The communication system of claim 10 further comprising a text-to-speech translator for playing said text messages from said text message system over said speaker.

12. The communication system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of remotely located individual computers connectable through an interface to said text message system and said voice message system.

13. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said interface includes a telephone line to carry signals between said individual computer and said text message system.

14. The communication system of claim 9 wherein said interface is a host computer operating as a server of a network, said host computer being connected to said text message system.