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EP1113631A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and device for integrated multimedia messaging service

Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 2000-12-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2020-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract A multimedia messaging service is provided for use in a powerful, facilities-based, end-to-end Internet Protocol (IP) based network infrastructure that guarantees voice, data and video communication reliability and security to users for an integrated telephone, television and data network. The IP network multimedia messaging service provides an any-media messaging service to its users. The IP network user may send and receive mail messages in a variety of formats such as e-mail (text), voice mail (audio), or multimedia video mail (audio and video). A Graphical User Interface (GUI) is provided as one means for retrieving a user's stored mail messages. The GUI provides the user with a single means for identifying and accessing all the various types of mail messages which are stored and awaiting review; whether the mail message is in e-mail, voice-mail, or multimedia video mail format. Further, the system may provide the user control of the type of media by which the stored mail messages are to be retrieved and reviewed, regardless of the type of media used to create and store the message. For example, if a user has an e-mail message they can instruct the IP network multimedia message service to transform the text of the e-mail message into an audio message using voice synthesis. Similarly, if a user has an audio voice-mail message the system can transform the audio into a text (e-mail) message using voice recognition. The multimedia messaging service of the present invention may also enable a user to sort and/or prioritize mail messages based on a variety of user specified criteria such as the senders identity, subject matter, date sent, priority specified by the sender, etc. The multimedia messaging service may include a multimedia message forwarding feature which enables the user to specify a remote location to which message waiting notification will be automatically forward and from which the user may instantaneously review the message in whatever media the user selects. The multimedia messaging service may enable the user to store the messages on their own equipment, e.g., within a PC or a Broadband Residential Gateway (BRG), or to archive the message within the system for a fee. The multimedia messaging service may also be equipped with a simple user friendly message waiting indicator for each IP address and a one touch multimedia messaging service message retrieval feature activation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Fen-Chung Kung
  • 👤 Jesse Eugene Russell
  • 👤 Anish Sankalia
  • 👤 Hopeton Walker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 11:49
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/5307; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/56; H04L51/21; H04L51/224; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/36; H04M2201/40; H04M2201/42; H04M2201/60; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/30; H04M2203/301; H04M2203/45; H04M2203/4536; H04M2203/4545; H04M3/4228; H04M3/42289; H04M3/533; H04M3/53333; H04M3/5335; H04M3/537; H04M3/56; H04M3/567; H04M7/00; H04M7/006

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim 88 words
A method for providing multimedia messaging service in an integrated broadband communication system, comprising the steps of: receiving a message of any media type directed to a subscriber of said system; storing a message according to its media type being one of text, audio, and multimedia audio and video; and providing a message waiting notification to said subscriber at one or more predetermined locations, said message waiting notification identifying said type of said message waiting as one of said text, said audio, and said multimedia audio and video.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 1, characterised in that said step of providing a message waiting notification is directed to equipment located at said subscriber's premises.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 58 words
The method according to claim 2, characterised in that directing a message waiting notification to said customers premises equipment is provided by a multimedia server, said one of said customer premises is an intelligent transceiver, and said subscriber determines which equipment at said subscriber's premises is to provide alerting to said subscriber based on said message waiting notification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
The method according to claim 3, characterised in that said message received is created by a sending party and contains an indication of media type so that it may be stored according to said media type being one of text, audio, and multimedia audio and video.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method according to claim 4, characterised in that said message received is created in real time on a multimedia server by a calling party unable to reach said subscriber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of: displaying said message waiting notification on a display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 62 words
The method according to claim 6, characterised in that said display is: a display of said intelligent transceiver at said customer premises if said intelligent transceiver has an active display; a display of a personal computer at said customer premises if said personal computer is turned on; a display of a television at said customer premises if said television is turned on.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of: providing an audio message notification to a telephone if said telephone headset is off hook.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: requesting said subscriber's identification and password to give said subscriber a message log of said messages waiting.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 43 words
The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of: converting at least one of said messages waiting from a first media type to a second media type if said subscriber has designated a preferred media type for reviewing said messages waiting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method according to claim 10, characterised in that said message waiting is converted from text to multimedia audio and video using voice synthesis and animation so that the animated figure is synchronised to the to voice synthesised speech.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method according to claim 11, further comprising the steps of: archiving at least one of said messages waiting at a subscriber designated location if said subscriber has designated the message is to be archived.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method according to claim 1, characterised in that said step of providing a message waiting notification is directed to equipment located remote from said subscriber's premises and is predetermined by said subscriber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 44 words
The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: receiving a call from a calling party directed to said system subscriber; and prompting said calling party indicating that said message may be created and left for said subscriber using any media type.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 35 words
A method for providing multimedia messaging service in an integrated broadband communication system, comprising the steps of: converting at least one message from a first media type to a second media type for reviewing messages.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 62 words
The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: providing a graphical user interface so that said system user can preprogram said system to convert messages from said first media type to said second media type and to sort incoming messages in a message log so as to appear in a predetermined order according to at least one desired category.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 91 words
A system providing multimedia messaging service in an integrated broadband communication-system, including: a multimedia server providing storage of messages of all media types such as text, audio, and multimedia audio and video which are received for a system subscriber; and an intelligent transceiver located to said system subscriber's premises and operative to receive a message waiting notification from said multimedia server and alert said subscriber of a message awaiting their review, said alert including an indication of said media type of said message being text, audio, and multimedia audio and video.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 32 words
The system according to claim 17, characterised in that said alert is provided on a display of: a television coupled to said intelligent transceiver; a personal computer coupled to said intelligent transceiver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 31 words
The system according to claim 18, characterised in that said intelligent transceiver is a broadband residential gateway with at least one of: a display that provides said alert; an audible alert.

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