US6304573B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving electronic voice messages
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-03
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Granted: 2001-10-16
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Expires: 2017-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for communicating voice messages. An electronic voice mail (EVM) server receives a recipient and target device selection over a packet-switched network A sender records a voice message for delivery to the intended recipient. The voice message is stored as an audio file at the EVM server. The recipient is notified that they have received a voice message. The audio file is delivered to the target device over the packet-switched network.
Inventors
- 👤 John Alson Hicks, III
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M7/00; H04M7/006; H04M7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for communicating voice messages, comprising the steps of: receiving a recipient and target device selection at an electronic voice mail (EVM) server over a packet-switched network; recording a voice message for delivery to said recipient by receiving a voice signal from an input device with a wireless connection to an internet television device; storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; notifying said recipient of said voice message; and delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
87 words
A method for communicating voice messages, comprising the steps of: receiving a recipient and target device selection at an electronic voice mail (EVM) server over a packet-switched network; recording a voice message for delivery to said recipient by receiving a voice signal from an input device with a wireless connection to an internet television device; storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; notifying said recipient of said voice message; and delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said recipient, available target devices for said recipient, and a delivery address for each of said available target devices for said recipient, are stored in a data dictionary at said EVM server.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein a list of desired recipients and target devices are sent to a client site for display on a screen, and said EVM server receives recipient and target device selections from the client site, the selections being made using the wireless input device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said EVM server receives recipient and target device selections via speech commands.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said audio file is delivered from said EVM server to said target device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said recipient prior to delivering said audio file.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said delivery address is an e-mail address.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said target device is at least one of a group including PCs, Network PCs, and consumer Internet appliances.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said voice message recording step further comprises the steps of: converting analog voice signals into digital voice signals; compressing said digital voice signals; separating said compressed signals into at least one packet; and transmitting said at least one packet over the network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said recipient is notified of said voice message by an e-mail message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said audio file is streamed to said target device over said packet-switched network response to a request from said recipient.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said audio file is attached to said e-mail message and delivered to said target device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said client site, and sent as a MIME attachment to an e-mail message sent to said EVM server.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said client site, and sent as a EVM attachment to an e-mail message sent to a local EVM server for said recipient.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for communicating voice messages, comprising: means for receiving a recipient and target device selection at an EVM server over a packet-switched network; means for sending voice signals to an internet television device via a wireless input device; means for recording said voice signals to produce a voice message for delivery to said recipient; means for storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; means for notifying said recipient of said voice message; and means for delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
An apparatus for communicating voice messages, comprising: means for receiving a recipient and target device selection at an EVM server over a packet-switched network; means for sending voice signals to an internet television device via a wireless input device; means for recording said voice signals to produce a voice message for delivery to said recipient; means for storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; means for notifying said recipient of said voice message; and means for delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said recipient, available target devices for said recipient, and a delivery address for each of said available target devices for said recipient, are stored in a data dictionary at said EVM server.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a list of desired recipients and target devices are sent to a client site for display on a screen, and said EVM server receives recipient and target device selections from the client site, the selections being made using the input device with a wireless connection to an internet television device.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a list of desired recipients and target devices are sent to a client site for display on a screen, and said EVM server receives recipient and target device selections from the client site, the selections being made using the wireless input device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said audio file is delivered from said EVM server to said target device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said recipient prior to delivering said audio file.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said delivery address is an e-mail address.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said target device is at least one of a group including PCs, Network PCs, and consumer Internet appliances.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said recording means further comprises: means for converting analog voice signals into digital voice signals; means for compressing said digital voice signals; means for separating said compressed signals into at least one packet; and means for transmitting said at least one packet over said packet-switched network.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said recipient is notified of said voice message by an e-mail message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said audio file is streamed to said target device over said packet-switched network response to a request from said recipient.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein said audio file is attached to said e-mail message and delivered to said target device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said client site, and sent as a MIME attachment to an e-mail message sent to said EVM server.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said audio file is stored at a local EVM server for said client site, and sent as a MIME attachment to an e-mail message sent to a local EVM server for said recipient.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for communicating voice messages, comprising: a receiver for receiving a recipient and target device selection at an EVM server over a packet-switched network; a transmitter for sending voice signals to an internet television device via a wireless input device; a voice message recorder for recording said voice signals to produce a voice message for delivery to said recipient; memory for storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; message waiting indicator for notifying said recipient of said voice message; and file transfer protocol for delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus for communicating voice messages, comprising: a receiver for receiving a recipient and target device selection at an EVM server over a packet-switched network; a transmitter for sending voice signals to an internet television device via a wireless input device; a voice message recorder for recording said voice signals to produce a voice message for delivery to said recipient; memory for storing said voice message as an audio file at said EVM server; message waiting indicator for notifying said recipient of said voice message; and file transfer protocol for delivering said audio file to said target device over said packet-switched network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said voice message is recorded at a client site, and delivered to said EVM server over said packet-switched network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein said voice message is recorded at a client site, and delivered to said EVM server over said packet-switched network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said voice message is recorded at said EVM server.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said voice message is recorded at said EVM server.
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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) | 2004-10-15 | 2005-04-16 | 2005-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-15 | 2009-04-16 | 2009-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-15 | 2013-04-16 | 2013-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |