Systems and methods for providing rich multimedia messages to remote users using telephones and facsimile machines
US6784899B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N2201/0093
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system for receiving, sending and creating multimedia messages includes an audio communication device, a visual output device, a remote access system and a multimedia message system. The audio communication device is coupled to the remote access system to provide audio input and control signals, and also for receiving the audio portions of multimedia messages. The remote access system also couples the visual output device to the multimedia message system for accessing the visual portions of multimedia messages. The multimedia message system has the capability to generate an image of the message in response to a user request and send that image to the remote access system, and then to the visual output device to the user. The image is augmented to include indices that the user may input via the audio communication device to perform specified actions with the various portions of the message. This functionality is particularly advantageous because it extends the usefulness of the multimedia message system so that it may be used for full access to the system's capabilities with a conventional audio communication device such as a telephone.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.