Abstracting system for multi-media messages

• US 6,192,111 B1
• Filed: 02/06/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Wu, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/019,616
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/880.06, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.14, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/88.15, 379/106.09, 379/201
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview

Abstract

The present multi-media message storage system functions to provide the user with a playback that represents a capsulization of the content of the stored message to thereby enable the user to determine whether the stored message contains sufficient information that warrants the user playing back the entirety of the message. The summary consists of content descriptive information that is excerpted from the body of the message and played back to the user in a form that differs from that used to store the received message. This feature enables a multi-media message storage system to store and retrieve text messages for a user in an efficient manner, thereby enabling the multi-media message storage system to function as a multi-media mail system.

Claims

1. A multi-media message storage system for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message to produce a capsulization of the content of the received message that is indicative of a content of said message to enable the user to determine whether the stored message contains sufficient information that warrants the user playing back the entirety of the message; and

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message.

2. The multi-media message storage system of claim 1 wherein said native mode of said received message is text mode, said means for extracting comprises:

means for abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode.

3. The multi-media message storage system of claim 2 further comprising:

means, responsive to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, for enabling said user to retrieve said stored extracted data in audible form.

4. The multi-media message storage system of claim 1, when consisting of a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, further comprising:

means, responsive to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, for enabling said user to retrieve said received message in its entirety in a mode that differs from a native mode of said received message.

5. The multi-media message storage system of claim 4 wherein said enabling means comprises:

means for converting said received message into a mode selected by said user; and

means for outputting said received message to said user in said selected mode.

6. The multi-media message storage system of claim 4 wherein said enabling means comprises:

means for outputting said received message in audible form.

7. The multi-media message storage system of claim 1, when consisting of a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, further comprising:

means for identifying a native mode of a received message; and

means, responsive to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, for presenting all messages received by said multi-media message storage system and addressed for said user in order or arrival of said message in said communication independent of said native mode of said received message.

8. A multi-media message storage system for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

means for abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

means for identifying frequency of word occurrence in said received message,

means for storing a predetermined number of said words in order of frequency of occurrence; and

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message.

9. A multi-media message storage system for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

means for abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

means for computing a length of time required to play said received message in audible form,

means for storing said computed time in with said excerpted information; and

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message.

10. A multi-media message storage system for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

means for abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

means for excerpting a header prepended to said received message,

means for storing said excerpted header; and

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message.

11. A multi-media message storage system, consisting of a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message;

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message;

means for identifying a native mode of a received message; and

means for disabling operation of said means for extracting in response to receipt of a voice mode message.

12. A multi-media message storage system, consisting of a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, for providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising:

a memory for storing messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

means, responsive to said received message, for extracting information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message;

means for storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message;

means for identifying a native mode of a received message; and

means, responsive to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, for presenting all messages received by said multi-media message storage system and addressed for said user in order or arrival of said message in said communication as grouped by said native mode of said received message.

13. In a multi-media message storage system, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extracting, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message to produce a capsulization of the content of the received message that is indicative of a content of said message to enable the user to determine whether the stored message contains sufficient information that warrants the user playing back the entirety of the message; and

storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said native mode of said received message is text mode, said step of extracting comprises:

abstracting said recieved message to create said extracted data in said text mode.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of:

enabling, in response to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, said user to retrieve said stored extracted data in audible form.

16. The method of claim 13, when implemented in a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, further comprising the step of:

enabling, in response to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, said user to retrieve said received message in its entirety in a mode that differs from a native mode of said received message.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of enabling comprises:

converting said received message into a mode selected by said user; and

outputting said received message to said user in said selected mode.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of enabling comprises:

outputting said received message in audible form.

19. The method of claim 13, when implemented in a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a native mode of a received message; and

presenting, in response to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, all messages received by said multi-media message storage system and addressed for said user in order or arrival of said message in said communication independent of said native mode of said received message.

20. In a multi-media message storage system, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extracting, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message,

identifying frequency of word occurrence in said received message; and

storing a predetermined number of said words in order of frequency of occurrence.

21. In a multi-media message storage system, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extracting, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

computing a length of time required to play said received message in audible form,

storing said computed time in with said excerpted information; and

storing a predetermined number of said words in order of frequency of occurrence.

22. In a multi-media message storage system, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extracting, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message, comprising;

abstracting said received message to create said extracted data in said text mode, comprising;

excerpting a header prepended to said received message,

storing said excerpted header; and

storing a predetermined number of said words in order of frequency of occurrence.

23. In a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extracting, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said messages; and

storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message;

identifying a native mode of a received message; and

disabling operation of said means for extracting in response to receipt of a voice mode message.

24. In a multi-media message storage system for the storage of messages of differing modes, a method of providing a user with efficient access to messages stored therein, comprising the steps of:

storing in a memory messages received by said multi-media message storage system in a mode native to said received message;

extraction, in response to said received message, information from a body of said received message that is indicative of a content of said message;

storing said extracted data in a manner to enable presentation of said stored extracted data in a mode that differs from said native mode of said received message;

identifying a native mode of a received message; and

presenting, in response to a user accessing said multi-media message storage system, all messages received by said multi-media message storage system and addressed for said user in order or arrival of said message in said communication as grouped by said native mode of said received message.