Delivery of an instant voice message in a wireless network using the SMS protocol
First Claim
1. In a wireless communication system, a method of initiating delivery of a voice message to a recipient wireless station, comprising:
- receiving an instant voice message at a message server from a sender device, the voice message designating a recipient;
storing the instant voice message in an interactive voice response (IVR) system associated with the message server;
determining whether a recipient wireless station associated with the designated recipient is enabled for Short Message Service (SMS) messages;
initiating transmission of a Short Message Service (SMS) notification to the recipient wireless station, the SMS notification including information permitting the recipient wireless station to access the IVR system; and
in response to the IVR system receiving a request for the stored instant voice message, transmitting the stored instant voice message from the IVR system to the recipient wireless station.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sender can create and send a message that can be delivered to recipients with SMS-enabled wireless stations regardless of the other communication capabilities of the wireless stations and the network or network service providers of the recipients. The sender creates a voice message and sends the message to a message server, which stores the message in an interactive voice response (IVR) system. An SMS notification is sent to the recipient and includes instructions for accessing the voice message from the IVR system. The recipient views the SMS notification and accesses the IVR system. After entering a password or otherwise authenticating the recipient or the recipient wireless station, the recipient retrieves the message from the IVR system. If it is not known whether the recipient has an SMS-enabled wireless station, the message server initiates attempts to send SMS notifications using multiple SMS message generation mechanisms.
206 Citations
35 Claims
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1. In a wireless communication system, a method of initiating delivery of a voice message to a recipient wireless station, comprising:
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receiving an instant voice message at a message server from a sender device, the voice message designating a recipient; storing the instant voice message in an interactive voice response (IVR) system associated with the message server; determining whether a recipient wireless station associated with the designated recipient is enabled for Short Message Service (SMS) messages; initiating transmission of a Short Message Service (SMS) notification to the recipient wireless station, the SMS notification including information permitting the recipient wireless station to access the IVR system; and in response to the IVR system receiving a request for the stored instant voice message, transmitting the stored instant voice message from the IVR system to the recipient wireless station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a server of a wireless network, a method of initiating delivery of an instant voice message to a recipient wireless station, comprising:
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in response to an instant voice message addressed to a designated recipient being stored in an interactive voice response (IVR) system, determining whether a database associated with the server indicates whether a recipient wireless station associated with the designated recipient is enabled for Short Message Service (SMS) messages; if it is determined that the database indicates that the recipient wireless station is enabled for SMS messages, transmitting an SMS message to the recipient wireless station, the SMS message including instructions for accessing the instant voice message stored in the IVR system; and if it is determined that the database does not indicate whether the recipient wireless station is enabled for SMS messages; communicating with one or more interfaces to determine whether the recipient wireless station is capable of receiving SMS messages from any of the one or more interfaces; and if it is determined that the recipient wireless station is capable of receiving SMS messages from one of the one or more interfaces, transmitting an SMS message to the recipient from said one of the one or more interfaces, the SMS message including instructions for accessing the instant voice message stored in the IVR system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a wireless station that operates in a wireless network, a method of accessing an instant voice message, comprising:
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receiving a Short Message Service (SMS) message that includes instructions for accessing an instant voice message stored in an interactive voice response (IVR) system, wherein the instant voice message is associated with a first mobile directory number that is provided by a sender of the instant voice message; in response to the performance of the instructions, accessing the IVR system; providing a second mobile directory number to the IVR system from a recipient wireless station; and using the IVR system, accessing the instant voice message stored in the IVR system if the second mobile directory number is the same as the first mobile directory number. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. In a wireless network in which a sender can initiate delivery of instant voice messages to recipients, a method for determining whether an instant voice message can be sent to a potential new recipient, comprising:
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receiving input from a sender identifying a potential new recipient; in response to the input, determining whether SMS messages can be sent to the recipient by; communicating to one or more interfaces to determine whether the potential new recipient has a recipient wireless station with a capability of receiving SMS messages from any of the one or more interfaces; and if it is determined that the recipient has the recipient wireless station with the capability of receiving SMS messages from any of the one or more interfaces, updating a database in the wireless network indicating said capability of the recipient wireless station. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. In a wireless communication system, a method for delivering an instant voice message to a recipient wireless station, the method comprising:
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receiving an instant voice message at a message server that designates a recipient, wherein the instant voice message is created at a sender device without placing a call to the recipient; storing, by the message server, the instant voice message at an interactive voice response system, wherein the interactive voice response system is not a voicemail system associated with the recipient; transmitting a Short Message Service (SMS) message to the recipient wireless station, the SMS message including information enabling the recipient to access the interactive voice response system; and transmitting the stored instant voice message from the interactive voice response system to the recipient upon authenticating a request for the stored instant voice message from the recipient.
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Specification