System and method for providing multi-party message-based voice communications
First Claim
1. A system for providing flexible message-based communications over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
- a controller, comprising;
an interface to a plurality of devices interconnected over a digital data network, each device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other device;
a security module configured to provide security to digital voice messages exchanged with each device by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the devices;
an access module configured to process a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the devices; and
a session module configured to form a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one device and, for each of the voice message sessions, to add the user associated with the at least one device to a discussion group; and
a voice message server configured to centrally transact the voice message sessions, comprising;
a message queue configured to receive the digital voice messages for the at least one device, to associate a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each of the digital voice messages, and to transiently store the digital voice messages; and
a queue manager configured to route the transiently stored digital voice messages to another of the devices,wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one device and each other of the devices in the discussion groups.
24 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method for providing flexible message-based communications between two or more individuals logically interconnected over a centralized messaging infrastructure. A voice message server interfaces to a plurality of personal communication devices (PCDs) over a wireless data network. Each PCD includes an “Attention” button that alerts the PCD to begin processing voice messages. Voice messages are forwarded to the voice message server and are queued, stored and played to the user of the receiving PCD. Each user must be signed on in a voice messaging session and can participate in one or more moderatable and simultaneous discussion groups.
54 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A system for providing flexible message-based communications over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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a controller, comprising; an interface to a plurality of devices interconnected over a digital data network, each device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other device; a security module configured to provide security to digital voice messages exchanged with each device by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the devices; an access module configured to process a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the devices; and a session module configured to form a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one device and, for each of the voice message sessions, to add the user associated with the at least one device to a discussion group; and a voice message server configured to centrally transact the voice message sessions, comprising; a message queue configured to receive the digital voice messages for the at least one device, to associate a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each of the digital voice messages, and to transiently store the digital voice messages; and a queue manager configured to route the transiently stored digital voice messages to another of the devices, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one device and each other of the devices in the discussion groups. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing flexible message-based communications over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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interfacing a plurality of devices over a digital data network, each device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other device; providing security to digital voice messages exchanged with each device by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the devices; processing a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the devices; forming a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one device and, for each of the voice message sessions, adding the user associated with the at least one device to a discussion group; and centrally transacting the voice message sessions, comprising; receiving the digital voice messages for the at least one device; associating a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each of the digital voice messages; transiently storing the digital voice messages; and routing the transiently stored digital voice messages to another of the devices, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one device and each other of the devices in the discussion groups. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for providing flexible message-based communications over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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means for interfacing a plurality of devices over a digital data network, each device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other device; means for providing security to digital voice messages exchanged with each device by means for applying encryption using a key unique to each of the devices; means for processing a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the devices; means for forming a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one device and, for each of the voice message sessions, means for adding the user associated with the at least one device to a discussion group; and means for centrally transacting the voice message sessions, comprising; means for receiving the digital voice messages for the at least one device; means for associating a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each of the digital voice messages; means for transiently storing the digital voice messages; and means for routing the transiently stored digital voice messages to another of the devices, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one device and each other of the devices in the discussion groups.
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21. A system for providing flexible message-based communications with personal communication devices over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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a plurality of personal communication devices configured to originate digital voice messages comprising digitized voice, each personal communication device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other personal communication device; a voice message server configured to communicatively interface to the one or more personal communication devices over a digital data network, comprising; a security module configured to provide security to the digital voice messages exchanged with each personal communication device by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the personal communication devices; an access module configured to process a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the personal communication devices; a session module configured to form a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one personal communication device and, for each of the voice message sessions, to add the user associated with the at least one personal communication device to a discussion group; and a queue manager to centrally process the digital voice messages, comprising; a receiver module configured to receive each digital voice message from at least one such personal communication device; an identification module configured to associate a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each digital voice message; a message queue configured to transiently store the digital voice message; and a sender module configured to send the digital voice message to at least one such personal communication device identified in the digital voice message, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one personal communication device and each other of the personal communication devices in the discussion groups. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for providing flexible message-based communications with personal communication devices over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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originating digital voice messages comprising digitized voice through a plurality of personal communication devices, each personal communication device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other personal communication device; communicatively interfacing the one or more personal communication devices over a digital data network, comprising; providing security to the digital voice messages exchanged with each personal communication device by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the personal communication devices; processing a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the personal communication devices; forming a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one personal communication device and, for each of the voice message sessions, adding the user associated with the at least one personal communication device to a discussion group; and centrally processing the digital voice messages, comprising; receiving each digital voice message from at least one personal communication device; associating a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each digital voice message; transiently storing the digital voice message; and sending the digital voice message to at least one personal communication device identified in the digital voice message, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one personal communication device and each other of the personal communication devices in the discussion groups. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for providing flexible message-based communications with personal communication devices over a centralized messaging infrastructure, comprising:
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means for originating digital voice messages comprising digitized voice through a plurality of personal communication devices, each personal communication device being physically located at a location distinctly removed from each other personal communication device; means for communicatively interfacing the one or more personal communication devices over a digital data network, comprising; means for providing security to the digital voice messages exchanged with each personal communication device means for by applying encryption using a key unique to each of the personal communication devices; means for processing a sign-in requested by a user via at least one of the personal communication devices; means for forming a plurality of voice message sessions for the user associated with the at least one personal communication device and, for each of the voice message sessions, means for adding the user associated with the at least one personal communication device to a discussion group; and means for centrally processing the digital voice messages, comprising; means for receiving each digital voice message from at least one such personal communication device; means for associating a user identifier and a discussion group identifier with each digital voice message; means for transiently storing the digital voice message; and means for sending the digital voice message to at least one such personal communication device identified in the digital voice message, wherein logical participation in a plurality of the discussion groups is provided through exchange of the digital voice messages between the at least one personal communication device and each other of the personal communication devices in the discussion groups.
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Specification