Voice-messaging with attachments
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a request from a called party to play a selected voice message stored in a voice mail message store;
retrieving the selected voice message from the voice mail message store;
playing the selected voice message to the called party;
determining that an attachment stored in an attachment store separate from the voice mail message store is associated with the selected voice message;
indicating to the called party that there is an attachment associated with the selected voice message;
receiving input from the called party requesting access to the attachment associated with the selected voice message;
retrieving the attachment associated with the selected voice message from the attachment store in response to the receiving input; and
transmitting the attachment associated with the selected voice message to the called party via email in response to the receiving the input.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network method for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which a caller may leave a voice-message that includes the identification of an attachment, which may include, as examples only, audio, video, text, programs, spreadsheets and graphic attachments. A video, text, spreadsheet or graphic attachment may be converted to an audible attachment to the voice-mail at the caller'"'"'s or the voice-mail subscriber'"'"'s request. Such entries may be made, after receiving an automated prompt for leaving an attachment identifier or conversion request, audibly or by using a keypad entry. A network method is also provided for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which the voice-mail service may detect an attachment to a voice-mail message and provide access to the attachment to the voice-mail message.
36 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
receiving a request from a called party to play a selected voice message stored in a voice mail message store; retrieving the selected voice message from the voice mail message store; playing the selected voice message to the called party; determining that an attachment stored in an attachment store separate from the voice mail message store is associated with the selected voice message; indicating to the called party that there is an attachment associated with the selected voice message; receiving input from the called party requesting access to the attachment associated with the selected voice message; retrieving the attachment associated with the selected voice message from the attachment store in response to the receiving input; and transmitting the attachment associated with the selected voice message to the called party via email in response to the receiving the input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method comprising:
-
receiving, at a voice mail system, a request from a called party to play a selected voice message stored in a voice mail message store of the voice mail system; retrieving the selected voice message from the voice mail message store of the voice mail system; playing the selected voice message to the called party; determining, at the voice mail system, that an attachment stored in an attachment store associated with the voice mail system and separate from the voice mail message store is associated with the selected voice message; indicating to the called party that there is an attachment associated with the selected voice message; receiving input from the called party requesting access to the attachment associated with the selected voice message; retrieving the attachment associated with the selected voice message from the attachment store associated with the voice mail system in response to the receiving input; and transmitting the attachment associated with the selected voice message to the called party via email in response to the receiving the input. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for operating a voice mail system, the method comprising:
-
receiving a request from a party to play a specific voice message stored in a voice mail message store of the voice mail system; retrieving the specific voice message from the voice mail message store of the voice mail system; playing the specific voice message to the party; determining, at the voice mail system, that a particular attachment stored in an attachment store associated with the voice mail system and separate from the voice mail message store is associated with the specific voice message; indicating to the party that there is an attachment associated with the specific voice message; receiving input from the party requesting access to the particular attachment associated with the specific voice message; retrieving the particular attachment associated with the specific voice message from the attachment store in response to the receiving input; and transmitting the particular attachment associated with the specific voice message to the party via email in response to the receiving the input. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification