Patent US5943401A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5943401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic forms voice messaging apparatus and method
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-03
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Granted: 1999-08-24
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Expires: 2017-01-03
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for electronic form voice messaging. Logic is provided for generating a plurality of user specified outgoing and playback message components. Incoming message components that are responsive to the outgoing message components are combined in a user defined manner with the playback message components to form an output playback message. A user may specify a plurality of playback formats. Computer based and answering machine based embodiments are disclosed. A graphic user interface is taught in conjunction with the computer based implementation.
Inventors
- 👤 David A. Risner
- 👤 Michael L. Flanary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/64; H04M1/65
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A voice messaging apparatus, comprising: means for storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; means, responsive to an incoming call, for serially broadcasting said plurality of stored outgoing message components; means for recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; and means that permits a user to select an order in which said recorded incoming message components are output from said recording means during incoming message retrieval.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A voice messaging apparatus, comprising: means for storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; means, responsive to an incoming call, for serially broadcasting said plurality of stored outgoing message components; means for recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; and means that permits a user to select an order in which said recorded incoming message components are output from said recording means during incoming message retrieval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means for storing a plurality of playback message components; and means for combining said incoming message components and said playback message components in a predefined manner to produce an output playback message.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said order selecting means comprises means for selecting a plurality of playback formats which include different groups of said incoming message components.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising logic that creates an identifier for each of said incoming messages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: logic that creates a graphic user interface including an icon indicative of each of said outgoing message components; and means responsive to designation of at least one of said icons by a user for initiating specification of the content of the one of said outgoing message components that corresponds to the designated icon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: means that permits a user to prerecord a plurality of different groups of outgoing message components.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
81 words
A voice messaging apparatus, comprising: means for storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; means, responsive to an incoming call, for serially broadcasting each of said plurality of stored outgoing message components; means for recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; means for storing a plurality of playback message components; and means for combining said incoming message components and said playback message components in a user specified manner to produce an output playback message.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
A voice messaging apparatus, comprising: means for storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; means, responsive to an incoming call, for serially broadcasting each of said plurality of stored outgoing message components; means for recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; means for storing a plurality of playback message components; and means for combining said incoming message components and said playback message components in a user specified manner to produce an output playback message.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said combining means comprises means for selecting a plurality of playback formats which include different groups of said incoming message components.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising logic that creates an identifier for each of said incoming components.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: logic that creates a graphic user interface including an icon indicative of each of said outgoing message components; and means responsive to designation of at least one of said icons by a user for initiating specification of the content of the one of said outgoing message components that corresponds to the designated icon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: means that permits a user to prerecord a plurality of different groups of outgoing message components.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of voice message processing, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; serially broadcasting said plurality of stored outgoing message components in response to an incoming call; recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; and causing said incoming message components to be played back in an order specified by a user.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of voice message processing, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of discrete outgoing message components; serially broadcasting said plurality of stored outgoing message components in response to an incoming call; recording an incoming message component after each of said broadcast outgoing message components; and causing said incoming message components to be played back in an order specified by a user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of playback message components; and combining said incoming message components and said playback message components in a substantially alternating manner to produce an output playback message.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said playback ordering step comprises the step of permitting a user to create a plurality of playback formats which each include a different combination of said incoming message components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of creating an identifier for each of said incoming message components.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: creating a graphic user interface including an icon indicative of each of said outgoing message components; and initiating specification of the content of each of said outgoing message components in response to designation of the one of said icons that corresponds to the outgoing message component by a user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: permitting a user to prerecord a plurality of different groups of outgoing message components.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-23 | 2003-02-22 | 2003-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-23 | 2007-02-22 | 2007-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-23 | 2011-02-22 | 2011-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |