MXPA97010199A - System and method for recovering messages from a messaging system of - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and method of communications wherein the actuation of a function key, corresponding at least to a function associated with a voice messaging system located remotely, causes a command related to the function key triggered that is generated and sent to the voice messaging system. The default function keys correspond to functions of the voice messaging system, such as listening to a message, skipping a message, playing a message, deleting a message, playing a previous message and fast forwarding through a message.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING MESSAGES FROM A VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEM NTBCGDENES OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of telecommunications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for recovering voice messages, from a network voice message system. 2. Description of Related Art A conventional network voice mail system, or network voice messaging system, records messages in an installation connected to a telecommunications network for subscribers that are not available to answer a telephone call. A subscriber retrieves messages by calling a telephone number associated with the network voice message system to access the messaging system. The subscriber then provides the identification information and sends control commands to the system using the keys of a standard telephone keypad. As another approach to recovering the message and controlling a voice messaging service, US Pat. No. 4,954,156 issued to Blair, describes a cell phone that automatically initiates a connection to a network voice mail system, when the phone is activated. The cell phone automatically dials the telephone number of the REF: 26281 voice mail system and sends the user identification information when connecting to the messaging system. When verifying the identification information, the user conducts a conventional voice mail session to retrieve messages using the keys of a standard telephone keypad. Other techniques to provide voice mail type service also exist. For example, The U.S. Patent. No. Re. 34,976 issued to Helferich et al. Describes a cell phone that records voice messages in a memory in the cell phone when the telephone user is not available to answer a call. After a predetermined number of rings, the voice messaging circuits within the telephone are activated to digitally record a message in the cell phone memory, so that the user can retrieve the message at a later time. According to Helferich et al., A voice mail message can initially be stored in a network voice mail system, when the user of the telephone is not available to answer a call. The voice mail message is then transmitted to the cell phone memory at a later time using a high transmission speed, thus reducing the air transmission time. This approach requires that the cell phone have enough memory to record a useful amount of messages, thus making the cell phone more expensive for a user.

Additionally, a user types in an identification number using a standard telephone keypad, to listen to a message recorded in the memory. The conventional approach of retrieving messages and controlling remotely located voice message systems when using a standard telephone keypad is inconvenient because a user must interconnect with a network voice messaging system, using a standard telephone keypad, while who hears an audible message that provides a list of commands and / or system functions in a menu-like format. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a communication device having a convenient interface for controlling a voice messaging system located remotely. According to the invention, the communication device includes a keypad that has function keys to control the network voice messaging system. Function keys include keys to listen to a message, fast forward through a message, return to the beginning of a message, jump to a message, play a previous message, and delete a message, for example. A speed dial key with the present invention can be included to conveniently start access to the remote voice messaging system. In addition to providing a convenient interface to a network voice messaging system, the device of the present invention can also function as a conventional wireless telephone and / or voice radiolocation device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numbers indicate similar elements and where: Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of a device of communications in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a second embodiment of a communication device according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a communication device according to the present invention; DESCRIPTION PnT? COVER Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a communication device 10 such as a cellular telephone or a personal communication device having the features of the present invention. The communications device 10 is coupled to a base station 20 by a wireless link 21. The base station 20 is connected to the telecommunications network 22. A network voice messaging system 23 which is located remote from the communications device 10 also is connected to the network 22. While the communications device 10 is illustrated connected to the telecommunications network 22 using a wireless link 21, the communication device 10 can also be connected to the network 21 using a landline connection. The communication device 10 includes a processor or controller 11, an antenna 12, a transceiver 13, a standard keypad 14, a dedicated keypad 15, a VMS access key, a speaker 16, a microphone 17, and a memory 18 storing instructions for the processor 11. The processor 11 executes the instructions for controlling the operation of the communications device 10. The standard keypad 14 includes 12 tone selection keys, labeled with the numbers 1-9, 0, * and # and the alphabet. The function keypad 15 includes a plurality of keys wherein each key corresponds to at least one function for controlling a network voice messaging system. The VMS access key provides convenient fast dialing type access to the remote voice messaging system 23 in a well-known manner. The function keypad 15 of the communications device 10, illustrated in Figure 1, includes a plurality of dedicated keys, each of which corresponds to a function associated with a network voice messaging system, initiating a connection to the system network voice messaging or controlling the operation of the voice messaging system after a connection has been established. For example, the keypad 15 includes the key 15a to reproduce a previous message, the key 15b for rewiring or returning a message, the key 15c for listening to a message, the key 15d for fast forwarding through the message, the key 15e to release a message and the 15f key to delete a message. When the VMS access key is actuated, the processor 11 generates DTMF tones to dial the network voice messaging system and initiate access to the system in a well-known manner. Alternatively, one of the keys of keypad 14, such as key 1, can be operated for a pre-determined period of time to dial the network voice messaging system and initiate access to the system. The DTMF dial tones are transmitted in a manner well known by the antenna 12 and transceiver 13 on the wireless communication link 21 to the base station 20. The base station 20 connects the call to the network 22, which in turn directs the call to the network voice messaging system 23 in a well-known manner. Once access to the voice messaging system 23 has been initiated, the processor 11 generates the user identification information in DTMF tones for verification of user identification in the system. When the dedicated keys 15a-15f are actuated, the processor 11 generates corresponding commands in DTMF tones to control the functions of the voice messaging system.

When the key 15c is acted upon to listen to a message, the antenna 12 and the transceiver 13 receive the message in a well-known way on the wireless communication link 21.

The processor 11 then sends out the received message to the speaker 16 for listening by the user. The communications device 10 may also include a display coupled with the processor 11 that can be used to provide a visual indication that a user has a message waiting in the network voice messaging system. Similarly, the horn 16 can be used to provide an audible indication that a message waits. The voice messaging system sends a message waiting signal to the communications device 10 in a well-known manner which is received by the antenna 12 and the transceiver 13. The processor 11 stores the message waiting signal in the memory 18 and displays the indication in the display 19, or produces an audible indication using the horn 16. Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a second of a communication device 25 that can be configured as a cellular telephone or personal communications device. In this mode, the keys of the function keypad 15 are soft keys, which can be reconfigured by the processor 11 to correspond to different functions of the voice messaging system. The display 19 is physically arranged with respect to the function keypad 15, such that the specific function that a particular key corresponds can be displayed adjacent to the key. When the function keys 15g-15j are actuated, the processor 11 generates commands in DTMF tones corresponding to the function associated with each key to control the voice messaging system. Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of a third embodiment of a communications device 30 that can be configured as a voice radiolocation device. The communication device 30 is similar to the communication devices 10 and 25, except that the device 30 does not provide a keypad 14 and a microphone 17. The device 30 is not capable of placing a telephone call as the devices 10 and 25, due that the communications device 30 is used only to interact with a network voice messaging system. As a result, the communications device 30 is less expensive to produce because it is simpler, smaller and lighter. While the communications device 30 is illustrated with the dedicated function keys 15a-15f, soft keys can also be employed. While the present invention has been described in connection with the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and understood that modifications can be practiced without departing from the spirit and actual scope of the invention.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1.- A communication device, characterized in that it comprises: at least one function key corresponding to at least one function associated with a remotely located voice messaging system: and a controller that responds to the actuation of at least one function key when generating a command corresponding to the associated function.
2. 2. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller establishes a communication link with the voice messaging system.
3. 3. The communications device according to claim 2, characterized in that the communications link is established in a telecommunications network by the controller that dials a predetermined telephone number that is associated with the voice messaging system.
4. 4. The communication device according to claim 3, characterized in that the communication link is a wireless communication link and wherein the communication device further comprises a transceiver device coupled with the controller and transmitting the command.
5. 5. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the function key at least corresponds to at least one voice message system function selected from a group consisting of: listening to a message, skipping a message, play a message, delete a message, play a previous message, and fast forward through a message.
6. 6. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that the function key at least is a dedicated function key.
7. 7. The communication device according to claim 5, characterized in that the function key at least is a soft key.
8. 8. The compliance communications device according to claim 5, characterized in that it also comprises an access key to the voice messaging system, the controller responds to activation of the access key for the voice messaging system, by establishing a link to the voice messaging system. communications with the voice messaging system.
9. 9. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an audible output device coupled to the controller and that generates an audible output signal in response to receiving a message from the voice messaging system.
10. 10. The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication device is a cellular telephone.
11. 11. - The communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication device is a personal communication device.
12. 12. The communications device according to claim 1, characterized in that the communication device is a radiolocation device with voice.
13. 13. A method for controlling a network voice messaging system, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: generating a command in response to actuation of a function key corresponding to a function associated with the remotely located voice messaging system; and send the command to the voice messaging system located remotely.
14. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises the step of establishing a communication link with the voice messaging system before the step of sending the command.
15. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that it comprises the step of establishing the communication link includes the step of dialing a predetermined telephone number associated with the voice messaging system.
16. 16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that it comprises the step of dialing the predetermined telephone number is performed in response to activation of a key to access the voice messaging system.
17. 17. - The method according to claim 13, characterized in that the key of a function at least corresponds to a function of voice messaging system selected from the group of functions consisting of: listening to a message, skipping a message, playing a message , delete a message, play a previous message and fast forward through a message.
18. 18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises the function key is a dedicated function key.
19. 19. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises the function key is a soft key.
20. 20. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that it further comprises the step of generating an audible output signal in response to receiving to receive a message from the voice messaging system.