User interface for voice message access
DC
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:
- a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages,memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store a second plurality of messages,a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and
an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, whereinsaid interface is further adapted to control a process that plays said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically plays said messages stored in said at least one remote device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device, andsaid process that plays said messages stored in said at least one remote device automatically accesses and plays said messages when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session by means of said radio frequency link with said at least one remote device in order to access and play said messages stored on said at least one remote device.
5 Assignments
Litigations
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices, systems and processes for accessing and management of voice and other messages. Such devices, systems and processes employ an interface which allows the user to access and manage messages on his or her user device and, furthermore, automatically to access and manage messages on remote devices via radio frequency link. These interfaces may present users with intuitive and direct options for accessing and managing voice mail, such as, for instance, to push a designated forward button when the user desires to forward a voice mail. Such common interfaces promote more efficient and effective use and management of messaging resources because they among other things eliminate the requirement to be conversant in different interfaces, rules and protocols for the different platforms on which messages may be accessed and managed.
93 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages, memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store a second plurality of messages, a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that plays said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically plays said messages stored in said at least one remote device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device, and said process that plays said messages stored in said at least one remote device automatically accesses and plays said messages when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session by means of said radio frequency link with said at least one remote device in order to access and play said messages stored on said at least one remote device.
-
-
2. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages; memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store a second plurality of messages; a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that allows response to said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and said interface automatically allows the response to occur when said radio transceiver is on-line, and when said transceiver is not on-line, initiates a communications session with said at least one storage device to cause said response to occur.
-
-
3. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with at least one remote storage device adapted to store a first plurality of messages; memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store a second plurality of messages; a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that saves said messages in said at least one remote device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote device. - View Dependent Claims (4)
-
-
5. In a user voice mail access device comprising, a radio transceiver for communicating with at least one remote voice mail storage device, memory capacity for storing messages, a processor for controlling said transceiver and access to said memory capacity, and an interface coupled to said processor adapted to allow the user to control access to messages, a process comprising the steps of:
-
sensing actuation of said interface by said user; and responsive to said actuation, accessing at least one voice mail message stored in said memory capacity and automatically accessing at least one voice mail message stored in said at least one remote voice mail storage device, wherein said step of automatically accessing at least one voice mail message stored in said at least one remote devices comprises the steps of automatically accessing said at least one message when said user device is on-line with said at least one remote device and otherwise automatically initiating a communications session with said at least one remote device and as part of that session accessing said at least one message.
-
-
6. A process for accessing messages from a user radio frequency link access device that contains an interface for accessing and managing said voice messages, comprising the steps of:
-
sensing user input to said interface; and in response to said user input, accessing voice messages stored in said user device and automatically accessing voice messages, via radio frequency link, stored in at least one remote device, wherein said step of automatically accessing messages, via radio frequency link, stored in at least one remote device, comprises the steps of automatically accessing said messages when said user device is on-line with said at least one remote device, and when not, automatically initiating a communications session with said at least one remote device and as part of that session accessing said messages.
-
-
7. In a device having a memory for storing one or more messages and information pertaining to one or more messages, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device by means of a radio frequency link, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select a message and a function to be performed on the selected message, a method comprising the steps of:
-
reading from the memory information pertaining to a message selected by the user; receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected message; analyzing said information pertaining to said selected message to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and performing said function to be performed on said selected message if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of; determining whether the transceiver is currently communicating with the remote device; automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently communicating with the remote device; and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected message.
-
-
8. In a device having a memory for storing one or more messages and information pertaining to one or more messages, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device by means of a radio frequency link, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select a message and a function to be performed on the selected message, a method comprising the steps of:
-
reading from the memory information pertaining to a message selected by the user; receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected message; analyzing said information pertaining to said selected message to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and performing said function to be performed on said selected message if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of; determining whether the transceiver is currently communicating with the remote device; prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently communicating with the remote device; and establishing said connection with the remote device and transmitting information to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected message if the user indicates that said connection with the remote device should be established.
-
-
9. A user device, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; a memory for storing one or more messages; a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message; and a processor programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user selecting a message and selecting a function to be performed on said selected message, said procedure comprising the steps of; determining whether said radio transceiver is currently communicating with said remote storage device; automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device if it is determined that said radio transceiver is not currently communicating with said remote storage device; and transmitting information to said remote storage device so that said remote storage device can perform said function on said selected message. - View Dependent Claims (10)
-
-
11. A user device, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; a memory for storing one or more messages; a user interface for enabling a user of the user device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message; and a processor programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user selecting a message and selecting a function to be performed on said selected message, said procedure comprising the steps of; determining whether said radio transceiver is currently communicating with said remote storage device; prompting said user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with said remote storage device if it is determined that said radio transceiver is not currently communicating with said remote storage device; and establishing said connection with said remote storage device and transmitting information to said remote storage device so that said remote storage device can perform said function on said selected message if said user indicated that said connection with said remote storage device should be established. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
13. A user device, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; a memory for storing one or more messages; a user interface for enabling a user to input a command to reproduce a message stored in said memory or stored in said remote storage device; and a processor programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user inputting said command to reproduce a message, said procedure comprising the steps of; (a) determining if said message to be reproduced is stored in said memory; (b) reading said message from said memory if said message is stored therein; (c) automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device if a connection is not already established and if said message is not stored in said memory; (d) receiving said message from said remote storage device by means of said radio transceiver after performing step (c); and (e) reproducing said message for said user. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
-
-
16. A device for allowing a user to access messages stored in a plurality of locations using a single interface, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with at least one remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store one or more messages; a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access one or more messages in said memory capacity and in said at least one remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that reproduces at least one of said messages stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically reproduces at least one of said messages stored in said at least one remote storage device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device, and said process that reproduces said at least one message stored in said at least one remote storage device automatically accesses and reproduces said at least one message when said transceiver is on-line with said at least one remote storage device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session by means of said radio frequency link with said at least one remote storage device in order to access and reproduce said at least one message stored on said at least one remote device.
-
-
17. In a device having a memory for storing information and data pertaining to information, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device by means of a radio frequency link, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select information and a function to be performed on the selected information, a method comprising the steps of:
-
reading from the memory data pertaining to the information selected by the user; receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected information; analyzing said data pertaining to said selected information to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and performing said function to be performed on said selected information if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of; determining whether the transceiver is currently communicating with the remote device; automatically establishing a connection with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently communicating with the remote device; and transmitting data to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected information.
-
-
18. In a device having a memory for storing information and data pertaining to information, a transceiver for communicating with a remote device by means of a radio frequency link, and an interface that allows a user of the device to select information and a function to be performed on the selected information, a method comprising the steps of:
-
reading from the memory data pertaining to information selected by the user; receiving from the user an input specifying a function to be performed on said selected information; analyzing said data pertaining to said selected information to determine whether said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device; and performing said function to be performed on said selected information if it is determined that said function can be performed without communicating with the remote device, and if it is determined that said function cannot be performed without communicating with the remote device, then performing the steps of; determining whether the transceiver is currently communicating with the remote device, prompting the user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with the remote device if it is determined that the transceiver is not currently communicating with the remote device; and establishing said connection with the remote device and transmitting data to the remote device so that the remote device can perform said function on said selected information if the user indicates that said connection with the remote device should be established.
-
-
19. A communication system, comprising:
-
a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; and a user device, said user device comprising; a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with said remote storage device; a memory for storing one or more messages; a user interface for enabling a user of said user device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message; and a processor programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user selecting a message and selecting a function to be performed on said selected message, said procedure comprising the steps of; determining whether said radio transceiver is currently communicating with said remote storage device; automatically establishing a connection with said remote storage device if it is determined that said radio transceiver is not currently communicating with said remote storage device; and transmitting information to said remote storage device so that said remote storage device can perform said function on said selected message.
-
-
20. A communication system, comprising:
-
a remote storage device adapted to store one or more messages; and a user device said user device comprising; a radio transceiver for communicating, by means of a radio frequency link, with said remote storage device; a memory for storing one or more messages; a user interface for enabling a user of said user device to select a message and a function to be performed on said selected message; and a processor programmed to perform a procedure in response to said user selecting a message and selecting a function to be performed on said selected message, said procedure comprising the steps of; determining whether said radio transceiver is currently communicating with said remote storage device; prompting said user for an indication of whether a connection should be established with said remote storage device if it is determined that said radio transceiver is not currently communicating with said remote storage device; and establishing said connection with said remote storage device and transmitting information to said remote storage device so that said remote storage device can perform said function on said selected message if said user indicated that said connection with said remote storage device should be established.
-
-
21. A device for allowing a user to access information stored in a remote storage device, comprising:
-
a radio transceiver to communicate by means of a radio frequency link with the remote storage device; memory capacity coupled to said transceiver and adapted to store information; a processor coupled to said transceiver and said memory capacity, said processor adapted to control operation of said transceiver and said memory capacity; and an interface coupled to said processor, said interface adapted to be manipulated by said user and adapted to provide signals to said processor for causing said processor to access information in said memory capacity and in the remote storage device, wherein said interface is further adapted to control a process that reproduces said information stored in said memory capacity upon actuation of said interface by said user, and is further adapted to control a process that automatically reproduces said information stored in the remote storage device whether or not said transceiver is on-line with the remote storage device, and said process that reproduces said information stored in the remote storage device automatically accesses and reproduces said information when said transceiver is on-line with the remote storage device, and when not on-line, automatically initiates a session by means of said radio frequency link with the remote storage device in order to access and reproduce said information stored the remote storage device.
-
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
Litigation Data
-
Current AssigneeHelferich Patent Licensing LLC
-
Original AssigneeThompson Trust
-
InventorsHelferich, Richard J.
-
Primary Examiner(s)LE, THANH C
-
Application NumberUS08/989,874Time in Patent Office963 DaysField of Search455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/418, 455/575, 455/422, 455/550US Class Current455/412.1CPC Class CodesH04M 3/533 Voice mail systemsH04W 88/022 Selective call receiversH04W 88/023 with message or information...
