US6269151B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for delivering voice messages to voice mail systems
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-13
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Granted: 2001-07-31
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Expires: 2018-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A system of delivering a message to a voice messaging system, coupled to a telephone extension, calls a telephone number received from a database. Subsequently, the call is monitored for speech energy and for a continuous silence interval after speech has been detected. Finally, a message is played to a voice messaging system after the continuous interval of silence expires.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Lowell Hanson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53333
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of delivering a message to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension over a network, comprising the steps of: calling a telephone number retrieved from a database, the telephone number corresponding to the telephone extension; monitoring the call for a beginning of speech energy after an answer supervision signal has been received; monitoring the call from the beginning of the speech energy for a continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy, and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering a message to the voice messaging system; and playing the message to the telephone extension after the continuous silence interval expires.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of delivering a message to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension over a network, comprising the steps of: calling a telephone number retrieved from a database, the telephone number corresponding to the telephone extension; monitoring the call for a beginning of speech energy after an answer supervision signal has been received; monitoring the call from the beginning of the speech energy for a continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy, and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering a message to the voice messaging system; and playing the message to the telephone extension after the continuous silence interval expires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous silence interval is between 1.5 and 5 seconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous silence interval is between 2.7 and 3.5 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous silence interval is about 3 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: initiating steps (a)-(d) upon arrival of a start time specifying when a live party is unlikely to be present at the telephone extension.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method according to claim 5 , further comprising: initiating steps (e)-(h) upon receipt of message delivery instruction specifying live delivery; (e) calling a telephone number retrieved from the database, the telephone number corresponding to a telephone extension; (f) monitoring the call for a beginning of speech energy after an answer supervision signal has been received; (g) monitoring the call for not more than 1.5 seconds of continuous silence within the first 4 seconds from the beginning of the speech energy; and (h) playing a message to the telephone extension after the continuous silence expires.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of: flagging a message as having been delivered to a live party when the continuous silence interval occurs before 4 seconds of speech are detected after the beginning of the speech energy.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for delivering a message to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension, comprising: message means for storing a message; a memory having a telephone database including a plurality of telephone numbers, and a voice mail delivery instruction, the voice mail delivery instruction specifying the message within the message means, at least one of the plurality of telephone numbers, and a start time specifying when a live party is unlikely to answer a call; a network interface coupled to a telecommunications network that includes a plurality of telephone extensions; and a processor coupled to the message means, the memory and the network interface, the processor executing the voice mail delivery instruction in the memory and in response to arrival of the start time specified in the voice mail delivery instruction, the processor retrieving from the telephone database one of the plurality of telephone numbers, placing a call to a telephone extension corresponding to the retrieved telephone number through the network interface, and playing the message stored in the message means during the call after detecting a beginning of speech energy and thereafter a continuous silence interval from the telephone extension, the continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering the message to the voice messaging system.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
232 words
A system for delivering a message to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension, comprising: message means for storing a message; a memory having a telephone database including a plurality of telephone numbers, and a voice mail delivery instruction, the voice mail delivery instruction specifying the message within the message means, at least one of the plurality of telephone numbers, and a start time specifying when a live party is unlikely to answer a call; a network interface coupled to a telecommunications network that includes a plurality of telephone extensions; and a processor coupled to the message means, the memory and the network interface, the processor executing the voice mail delivery instruction in the memory and in response to arrival of the start time specified in the voice mail delivery instruction, the processor retrieving from the telephone database one of the plurality of telephone numbers, placing a call to a telephone extension corresponding to the retrieved telephone number through the network interface, and playing the message stored in the message means during the call after detecting a beginning of speech energy and thereafter a continuous silence interval from the telephone extension, the continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering the message to the voice messaging system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 8 , wherein the continuous silence interval is between 1.5 and 5 seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 8 , wherein the continuous silence interval is between 2.7 and 3.5 seconds.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 8 , wherein the continuous silence interval is about 3 seconds.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
205 words
A computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein for enabling a computer to deliver messages to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension, wherein the computer program logic comprises: initiating means for enabling the computer to initiate automatic delivery of a message to a telephone extension upon arrival of a start time specifying when a live party is unlikely to be present at the telephone extension; retrieving means for enabling the computer to retrieve from a telephone database one of a plurality of telephone numbers; calling means for enabling the computer to place a call through a network interface to a telephone extension corresponding to the retrieved telephone number; detecting means for enabling the computer to detect a beginning of speech energy and intervals of silence at the telephone extension; and playing means for enabling the computer to play the message to the telephone extension after the beginning of the speech energy is detected and after a continuous silence interval is detected, the continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering the message to the voice messaging system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
205 words
A computer useable medium having computer program logic stored therein for enabling a computer to deliver messages to an automated voice messaging system coupled to a telephone extension, wherein the computer program logic comprises: initiating means for enabling the computer to initiate automatic delivery of a message to a telephone extension upon arrival of a start time specifying when a live party is unlikely to be present at the telephone extension; retrieving means for enabling the computer to retrieve from a telephone database one of a plurality of telephone numbers; calling means for enabling the computer to place a call through a network interface to a telephone extension corresponding to the retrieved telephone number; detecting means for enabling the computer to detect a beginning of speech energy and intervals of silence at the telephone extension; and playing means for enabling the computer to play the message to the telephone extension after the beginning of the speech energy is detected and after a continuous silence interval is detected, the continuous silence interval having a duration that is independent of an elapsed time from the beginning of the speech energy and the continuous silence interval being chosen to optimize delivering the message to the voice messaging system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein the continuous time interval is between 1.5 and 5 seconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the continuous time interval is between 2.7 and 3.5 seconds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 12 , wherein the continuous time interval is about 3 seconds.
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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) | 2004-07-30 | 2005-01-29 | 2005-07-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-30 | 2009-01-29 | 2009-07-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-30 | 2013-01-29 | 2013-07-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |