System and method for organizing multi-media messages folders from a displayless interface and selectively retrieving information using voice labels

• US 6,584,181 B1
• Filed: 09/19/1997
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Aktas, Christoph A., Blohm, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US08/934,148
• Time in Patent Office: 2,104 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.04, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.25, 379/88.13, 379/88.14
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• 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 2203/254 where the visual mode comprises menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/301 Management of recordings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/303 Marking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/355 Interactive dialogue design tools, features or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• 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: H04M 3/5335 Message type or catagory, e.g. priority, indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 Message preview

Abstract

A system and method for organizing and accessing multi-media messages from a displayless interface. According to one embodiment, voice recognition techniques are used to allow the user to identify and create a hierarchical organization for stored messages.

Claims

1. A method for accessing messages in an interactive message response system, comprising:

accessing a memory responsive to an identification command;

delivering a message; and

saving said message according to a user-definable subject hierarchy responsive to a voice command, said user-definable hierarchy comprising one or more user defined subject headings defining one or more folders for said messages,

wherein a subject heading may be left by a caller and is searchable such that a user can access caller-left messages by a search of subject headings, and can change a subject heading left by a caller for said saving.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said saving includes creating said subject hierarchy via keypad input.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said saving includes creating said subject hierarchy via voice command.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising converting said voice command to text.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising accessing said text via a computer.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said subject hierarchy is saved as constituent voice parameters.

7. A system for accessing messages in an interactive message response system, comprising:

means for accessing a memory responsive to an identification command;

means coupled to said accessing means for delivering a message; and

means for manually saving said message according to a user-definable subject hierarchy responsive to a voice command, said user-definable hierarchy comprising one or more user defined subject headings defining one or more folders for said messages;

wherein a subject heading may be left by a caller and is searchable such that a user can access caller-left messages by a search of subject headings, and can change a subject heading left by a caller for said saving.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said saving means includes means for creating said subject hierarchy via keypad input.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said saving means includes means for creating said subject hierarchy via voice command.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising means for converting said voice command to text.

11. A system according to claim 10, further comprising means for accessing said text via a computer.

12. A system according to claim 7, wherein said subject hierarchy is saved as constituent voice parameters.

13. A system according to claim 7, further including means for forwarding said message to a predetermined group of recipients.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein said forwarding means includes means for storing a list of said predetermined group of recipients.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein said voice message is a user-created message.

16. A system for accessing messages in an interactive message response system, comprising:

a memory configured to store one or more messages; and

a controller coupled to said memory and configured to store said one or more messages in said memory according to a user-definable subject hierarchy responsive to a voice command, said user-definable hierarchy comprising one or more user defined subject headings defining one or more folders for said messages;

wherein a subject heading may be left by a caller and is searchable such that a user can access caller-left messages by a search of subject headings, and can change a subject heading left by a caller for said saving.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to create said subject hierarchy responsive to keypad input.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein said controller is configured to create said subject hierarchy responsive to voice input.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said controller is configured to convert said voice input to text.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said controller is configured to save said subject hierarchy as constituent voice parameters.

21. A system according to claim 16, said controller further adapted to associate a forwarding number with one or more of said folders and such that said user can forward a content of said one or more folders to said forwarding number.