Electronic mail system having integrated voice messages
US5717742A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 7, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2213/13389
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a computer network having a plurality of interconnected terminals and a shared memory device for storing digital data, a message handling system for sending and retrieving both voice and text messages over the computer network. A voice message is input either through a phone associated with one of the computer terminals or via a remote phone. The voice message is converted into a digital voice file which is stored on the shared memory device corresponding to the intended recipient's mailbox. Thereby, one mailbox can contain both voice and text messages. The same message handling mechanism is used for handling both voice and text messages. A list of the messages currently stored for each mailbox can be pulled for display by their respective terminals. A selected voice message may be selected for playback over the phone. Likewise, a text message may be selected for display by the terminal. Call answering and remote playback functions are also provided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.