a2) United States Patent
`Vaananen
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`*May 15, 2007
`
`US007218919B2
`
`(75)
`
`(54) VOICEMAIL SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE
`METHOD AND MEANS AND A SUBSCRIBER
`SCRAAINAL,
`Inventor: Mikko Kalervo Vaaniinen, Helsinki
`(FD
`(73) Assignee: Suinno Oy, Helsinki (F1)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the termofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 208 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`10/444'005
`;
`Aug. 8, 2001
`PCT/F101/00701
`
`No.:
`
`Appl. N
`(21)
`Appl.
`tae
`Sa
`(22) PCT Filed:
`(86) PCT No.:
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`SERRA
`RERURERIRS
`1.
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,950,123 A
`9/1999 Schwelb et al.
`...... 369/29.02
`6.038.199 A *
`3/2000 Pawlowski et al.
`6,351,523 BL*
`2/2002 Detlef .........seeee 379/88.14
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`°
`108982 B
`4/2002
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Internet article https://xesife001.nokia.com/exchange/EXT-PWF.
`Patent-Agency/Inbox/FW:%20Suinn, 15 pages.
`
`FI
`
`(Continued)
`
`§ 371 (c)(1),
`(2), (4) Date:
`
`Jul. 28, 2003
`
`Primary Examiner—BinhK. Tieu
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Young & Thompson
`
`(87) PCT Pub. No.: WO02/17650
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`PCT Pub. Date: Feb. 28, 2002
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2004/0005877 Al
`Jan. 8, 2004
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`(FI)
`
`Aug. 21, 2000
`(51)
`Int. Cl.
`HO4M 11/00
`HO4M 11/10
`
`(3): US: Oh essen:
`
`seeeeeeee 20001838
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`455/412.1; 455/413; 455/466;
`379/88.13; 379/88.26
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 455/403,
`455/406, 412.2, 413, 414.4, 418; 379/88.13,
`379/88.24, 93.28; 709/201, 203, 206
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`A voicemail short messaging method (10, 20, 30) and unit
`and a subscriber terminal for instantaneous packet switched
`voicemail between Internet compatible computers, personal
`digital assistants, telephones and mobilestations. In particu-
`lar the subscriber terminal (500) concerns a hardware and a
`software setup that allows the combined use ofaudio and/or
`video devices (550) with both the normal cellular or fixed
`telephony network (520) and with an Internet connection
`(510). The subscriber terminal (500) allows the flexible use
`of both the Internet and telephony network with numerous
`advantages, one of which is the inventive voicemail short
`messaging method under study. The voicemail messaging
`method (10), comprising at least one subscriber terminal is
`characterized by server independence.
`
`23 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`i
`
`
`
`
`
`
`0001
`
`Facebook Ex. 1008
`Facebook Ex. 1008
`U.S. Pat. 8,243,723
`U.S. Pat. 8,243,723
`
`

`

`US 7,218,919 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`............. 379/88.13
`5/2002 Baxter, Jr
`6,385,306 Bl *
`6/2002 Isomursuet al.
`........... 455/466
`6,400,958 Bl *
`
`7/2004 McdZeal, Jr.
`....
`«+ 455/902
`6,763,226 BL*
`6,826,407 BI* 11/2004 Helferich .........ccceeee 455/466
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`WO 98/44709
`WO 99/66746
`WO 9966746
`WO00/02367
`WO 00/30374
`WO 0030374
`WO 00/38340
`
`10/1998
`* 12/1999
`12/1999
`1/2000
`5§/2000
`5/2000
`6/2000
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Internet article https://anten.fol.nl/nokia/nokia.html, Welcome to
`this NOKIA9000/9110 page, 5 pages.
`Index of /NOKIA/JINSTALL.1, pp. 1-9.
`Internet article http://press.nokia.com/PR/199906/776767__5.html,
`“Nokia introduces the world’s first high-speed data terminal for
`wireless networks”, NOKIA Connecting People, pp. 1-2.
`Internet
`article http://www.ducksbreath.com/ducks/warmup’tips.
`htm, Mr. Facility’s Guide To: How To Get Audio Over the Web,
`Version 1.2, Oct. 1, 1996, pp. 1-13.
`Nokia Moble Phones, User's Manual, No. 9357168, Issue 3 EN.
`1999.
`generation
`second
`its
`introduces
`“Nokia
`Press Releases
`communicator—The pocket-sized Nokia 9110 Communicator com-
`
`a
`
`superb phone”,
`
`office with
`ultimate mobile
`an
`bines
`Internet—http://press.nokia.com, 1998.
`Harry Newton, “Newton’s Telecom Dictionary”, New York, Mar.
`1998, pp. 526-529.
`Martin H. Weik, DSc., “Communications Standard Dictionary”,
`Second Edition, Dynamic Systems, Inc., Reston, Virginia, 1989, pp.
`768-769.
`
`Mikko Vaaninen, Memoregaring “International Application No.
`PCT/FI O1/00701", Helsinki, Finland, May 2002.
`C. Zhu, “RTP Payload Format for H.263 Video Streams”, Intel
`Corporation, Internet—fip://ftp.isi.edu, Sep. 1997.
`Jarkko Sevanto, “Multimedia Messaging Service for GPRS and
`UMTS”, NewOrleans, LA, vol. 3, 1999, pp. 1422-1426,
`Gruhlet al., “A demonstrator for real-time multimedia sessions over
`3M generation wireless networks”, New York, New York, vol. 2,
`2000, pp. 959-962.
`Chawea et al., “Transmission of streaming video over an EGPRS
`wireless network”, New York, NewYork, vol. 1, 2000, pp. 275-278.
`RealNetworks,
`Inc.,
`“Delivering
`REALAUDIO®
`or
`REALVIDEO® from a Web Server’, RealNetworks Technical
`Blueprint Series, Seattle, WA, 1998.
`for Real-Time
`Schulatinne et al... “RTP: A Transport Protocol
`Applications”, Audio-Video Transport Working Group; GMD
`Fokus; Precept Software, Inc.; Xerox Palo Alto Research Center;
`Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Internet—fip://ftp.isi.edu,
`Jan. 1996.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`0002
`0002
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`10
`~~
`
`,
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
`
`110
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`Directory
`lookup
`
`answer sender
`
`Choose message
`recipient
`
`record voice/video
`message in packet
`switched format
`
`write recording to data
`file
`
`transmit data file to
`Tecipient via telephone
`networkor Internet
`
`recipient plays
`data file
`
`0003
`0003
`
`

`

`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`Directory
`lookup
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`FIG 2.
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
`
`210
`
`Choose message
`recipient
`
`oo
`record voice/video
`message in packet
`switched format
`
`stream packets to the
`recipient via telephony
`network or internet
`
`answer sender
`
`recipient plays
`packet stream
`
`recipient plays
`data file
`
`recipient may
`
`0004
`0004
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`Directory
`lookup
`
`305
`
`310
`
`315
`
`320
`
`325
`
`Choose message
`recipient
`
`record voice/video
`message in packet
`switched format
`
`
`
`write recording to data
`file
`
`decomposedata file
`into [P-packets
`
`recipient may
`
`
`answer sender
`
`
`stream packets to the
`recipient via telephony
`networkor internet
`
`recipient plays packet
`stream directly and /or
`reassembles data file
`
`335
`
`330
`
`FIG 3.
`
`0005
`0005
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`420
`
`
`data file
`
`telephone number
`
`email-account
`
`
`
`packet stream /
`
`
`
`440
`
`FIG 4.
`
`0006
`0006
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May15, 2007
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`550
`
`Subscriber terminal
`
`audio/video devices
`
`connection
`
`
`
`|sadees|drivers audio/video|ein|
`
`TP network
`connection
`
`telenetwork
`
`310
`
`520
`
`500
`
`FIG 5.
`
`0007
`0007
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`600
`
`FIG 6.
`
`0008
`0008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May15, 2007
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`710
`
`730
`
`720
`
`740
`
`Soe
`
`FIG 8.
`
`0009
`0009
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 15, 2007
`
`Sheet 8 of 8
`
`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`
`
`0010
`0010
`
`

`

`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`1
`VOICEMAIL SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE
`METHOD AND MEANS AND A SUBSCRIBER
`TERMINAL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a voicemail short messaging
`method and means and a subscriber terminal. In particularit
`concerns a method and means for instantaneous voice mail
`between Internet compatible computers, personal digital
`assistants, telephones and mobile stations. In particular the
`inventive subscriber terminal concerns a hardware and a
`software setup that allows the combineduse ofaudio and/or
`video devices with both the normal cellular or fixed tele-
`
`phony network and with an Internet connection.
`Prior art packet switched voicemail
`features methods
`where the voicemail
`is delivered between GPRS and/or
`
`UMTSmobile stations. The voicemail messages are sent to
`an IP-address or an ISDN address. One prior art packet
`switched voicemail method is described in the WO
`00/02367 publication, which is taken here as reference.
`Prior art subscriber terminals typically do not allowthe
`seamless interplay of the same audio and/or video devices
`with both the Internet connectionand the telephony network
`connection. For example, WAP-compatible mobile phones
`lack the facility to use the telephony audio devices when
`browsing the Internet.
`The prior art has several disadvantages. Firstly the prior
`art methodis only applicable for sending voice mail between
`a limited numberofdevices,i.e. mobile stations. Second,the
`use of IP-address or ISDN-address is conceptually difficult.
`It is also technologically difficult, especially in cases where
`the receiver does not have a permanent IP-address, but rather
`a dynamic one. Thirdly, a specific voicemail central server
`is an essential requirement for the prior art method. This
`introduces unnecessary network hardware.
`Prior art mobile subscriber terminals do notallow the use
`ofaudio features with the Internet connection. This limits
`the facility to arrange IP conferences, make Internet calls,
`operate hyperlinks and send and reproduce packetized
`audio/video data, such as voicemail, seamlessly.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The purpose ofthe invention is to remove the aforemen-
`tioned disadvantages, The present inventive method allows
`voicemail to be sent directly to telephone numbers in a
`flexible manner from both software applications and mobile
`stations. The inventive method and means allows instanta-
`neous voicemail to be sent and received from and to any
`Internet compatible device on the basis of the telephone
`numberofthat device, or other directory informationofthat
`device. There will only be an optional need for a central
`server storing the messages.
`IP-conferences and Internet calls maybe arranged with the
`telephony audio devices in accordance with the inventive
`subscriber terminal. Likewise, voice hyperlinks are easy to
`operate with the same audio devices. The transmission,
`reception and reproduction of packet switched voice mail
`will also be seamless with the subscriber terminal in accor-
`dance with the invention.
`
`In addition, the purpose of the inventionis to introduce a
`favourable inventive user interface and method for exchang-
`ing voicemail seamlessly and instantaneously between IP-
`addresses, email-addresses,
`telephone numbers, and/or
`ISDN addresses.
`
`2
`Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the
`invention are preferably implemented with a special exem-
`plary embodimentof the invention, in which a recipient is
`chosen from the electronic phone book of a mobile station
`by pressinga button, The buttonis held down as the message
`is being dictated. The dictation is
`recorded in packet
`switched format to a data file on the mobile station or on a
`server in the network or on the Internet, in which case there
`will be a communications connection open to the server
`from the mobile station. Once the button is released the
`recording is finished and the data file will be sent to the
`recipient. Compression and cryptography methods may be
`employed with the data file and/or the packet stream. The
`data file may be sent either to the telephone numberofthe
`recipient directly, or to an IP-address of the recipient through
`the Internet by a variety of transmission protocols, such as
`TCP-, IP-, UDP-, H323-, HTTP- SMS-, MMS-or any other
`protocol or message delivery service. The IP-address ofthe
`recipient may be found froma central lookup server on the
`basis ofthe telephone numberofthe recipient, name or other
`information. Likewise, the telephone number may be found
`onthe basis of the IP-address or other informationrelated to
`the recipient by querying the lookup server.
`Once the data file has been received,
`it can be played
`immediately at the mobile station of the recipient by press-
`ing a button. The user may also reply to the voicemail
`immediately with another recording. If the recipient mobile
`station cannot be reached, the message may bestored on a
`central server in the network or on the Internet
`for an
`indefinite time. If the receiving terminal is unable to play the
`recorded format, it may also be adapted onthe central server
`to a suitable packet switched data format, oralternatively it
`can be played down the phoneline to the recipient through
`a voice or a data connection.
`
`In some preferable embodiments the voice message is
`streamed to the recipient through the Internet in real time,
`and the receiver may play it in real time. In some embodi-
`ments the subscriber terminal is a virtual software telephone
`in a PC. This software is preferably compatible to commu-
`nicate with the mobile stations directly. The communication
`with the messages outlined here is faster than with contem-
`porary SMS-messages, emails or telephone calls as the user
`neither has to write the messages with an often limited
`keyboard, nor has to wait for the recipient to answer on the
`other end. Very fast voicemail “ping-ball” is made possible
`by the outlined preferred embodiment of the invention.
`Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the
`invention are preferably implemented with a special exem-
`plary embodiment ofthe inventive subscriber terminal, in
`which the audio and video software of the subscriber ter-
`
`minal has the ability to control both the Internet and normal
`telephony network connections. This allows the arrange-
`ment of IP-conferences by a setup signal that is transmitted
`through the telephony network. This allows seamless trans-
`mission; reception and processing ofpacket switched voice-
`mail between both mobile stations, PCs and other terminals.
`The inventive software allows seamless ]P-conferences
`between PC’s and mobile stations. It also allows the eflicient
`deployment ofvoice hyperlinks from the subscriber termi-
`nal. In some preferable embodimentsit also allows least cost
`routing. Choices of whether to form IP-conferences or route
`through a normal telephony carrier can be made on the basis
`of economic and quality of service (QoS) criteria with this
`inventive subscriber terminal and related software, in some
`
`ha
`
`)
`
`30
`
`a5
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`preferable embodiments.
`0011
`0011
`
`

`

`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`wa
`
`4
`1 presents a method 10 in accordance with the
`FIG,
`invention as a flow diagram.
`FIG. 2 presents another method 20 in accordance with the
`invention as a flow diagram.
`FIG. 3 presents a further method 30 in accordance with
`the invention as a flow diagram.
`FIG. 4 presents a method of address allocation in accor-
`dance with the invention.
`FIG. 5 presents an arrangement 50 of the subscriber
`terminal in accordance with the invention.
`
`FIG. 6 presents an arrangement 60 of the user interface of
`the subscriber terminal in accordance withthe invention.
`FIG. 7 presents another arrangement 70 of the user
`interface of the subscriber terminal in accordance with the
`invention.
`FIG. 8 presents another embodiment 80 of the backup
`server in accordance with the invention.
`
`FIG. 9 presents another embodiment 90 of arranging the
`backup server in accordance with the invention in a distrib-
`uted and persistent fashion.
`
`ha
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`3
`A voicemail messaging method, comprising at least one
`subscriber terminal, characterised by the steps of,
`choosing at least one message recipient or a group,
`recording at least one voice/video message,
`writing at least one recording to at least one data file,
`transmitting at least one data file to at least one recipient
`via telephony network or the Internet,
`A voicemail messaging method, comprising at least one
`subscriber terminal, characterised by the steps of,
`choosing at least one message recipient or a group,
`recording at least one voice/video message,
`streaming data packets to at least one recipient via tele-
`phony network or the Internet,
`at least one recipient receives and/or reassembles packet
`stream,
`
`A voicemail messaging method, comprising at least one
`subscriber terminal, characterised by the steps of,
`choosing at least one message recipient,
`recording at least one voice/video message,
`writing at least one recording to at least one datafile,
`decomposing at least one data file into [P-packets,
`streaming packets to at least one recipient via telephony
`network or the Internet.
`A subscriber terminal, comprising a software, an Internet
`connection and/or a telephony network connectionin accor-
`dance with the invention is characterized in that,
`
`the software is arranged to transmit and receive data
`and/or record and/or play files using both the Internet
`and/or
`the telephony network connection simulta-
`neously or at separate times,
`the software is arranged to use someor all of the same
`audio and/or video devices with both of the connec-
`tions.
`
`Anetwork server comprising at least one media player, at
`least one dialer, at least one telephony connection and/or at
`least one data network connection in accordance with the
`invention is characterised in that,
`the network server is arranged to receive, store and
`forward undelivered messages or copies of messages in
`data file format,
`the network server is arranged to resend and/or reroute
`messages to directories, to at least one other server or
`voicemail box electronically in file format, and/or by
`playing the message down the phoneline withat least
`one media player to at
`least one recipient and/or
`voicemail box.
`A client terminal, comprising recipient contact informa-
`tion, at
`least one telephony and/or Internet connection
`means, media recorder, and a user interface, and audio
`and/or video recording and/or reproduction means, charac-
`terised in that,
`at
`least one dedicated action from the user interface
`indicates at least one message recipient or a group of
`recipients from the associated recipient contact infor-
`mation and arranges the media recorder to record an
`audio and/or a video signal from the audio and/or video
`recording and/or reproduction means to a data file,
`whichdatafile is further sent, played and/or reproduced
`to at least one indicated recipient using the said tele-
`phony and/or Internet connection.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In the following the invention will be described in greater
`detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accor-
`dance with the accompanying drawings, in which
`
`3¢
`
`a5
`
`40
`
`45
`
`In phase 110 of FIG. 1 the message recipient is chosen.
`The recipient may be chosen by labeling the recipient with
`a pointer from the “contacts”file of the terminal device, the
`recipient may be chosen by speech recognition, a dedicated
`keyboard accelerator, hot key, dedicated key or any combi-
`nations or permutations of these in some embodiments.
`Several recipients or a group may also be selected in some
`embodiments.
`In phase 120 the voice/video message is
`recorded in packet switched format, but other formats are
`also possible in some embodiments. In some embodiments
`the order of phases 110 and 120 may be reversed. Conse-
`quently, the recording is wrote to a data file, 130. During, in
`between or after any of these phases, directory lookup
`maybe executed in some preferable embodiments. The tele-
`phone numberofthe recipient is converted to an IP-address
`in one preferable embodiment. A priorart solution to direc-
`tory lookup and conversion is presented in my patent
`application “Telenetwork directory template”, FI19992774,
`whichis taken here as reference.
`In one alternative embodiment, the software in the sub-
`scriber terminal has the telephone numberof the software
`application stored. Both the telephone number and the
`current IP-address are given to a central server. Telephone
`numbers and IP-addresses can then be used interchangeably
`when contact is made between software applications. This
`results to the effect that
`information in packet switched
`format can be readily transmitted to telephone numbers,
`provided these telephone numbers have a corresponding
`IP-address. Directory lookup is here established as the
`interchange retrieval and/or comparison of any directory
`information such as email-, [P-address, URL, ISDN number,
`phone numberorthe like to another corresponding email-,
`IP-address, URL, ISDN number, phone numberor the like
`directory from the network, network server and/or terminal
`in order to deliver the message to a directory.
`In phase 140 thedata file is transmitted to the recipientvia
`telephony networkortheInternet. In some embodiments the
`subscriber terminal is a mobile station, and the messages are
`transmitted only on the condition that the radio field is
`adequate. In some embodiments attempts are made to send
`the message at various intervals, and if the attemptfails the
`message is postponed, typically for a further attempt. In
`many embodiments messages may be kept on standby for
`0012
`0012
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`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`5
`
`transmittal once favourable circumstances such as adequate
`network access, radio network access, radio signal strength,
`bandwidth, authentication or the like arise. Typically the
`transmission will be directed to an IP-address. Especially in
`cases where the IP-address ofthe recipient is a dynamic one,
`the directory lookup is an advantageous feature. In some
`embodiments wherethe recipient has a static IP address, the
`IP-address need not be looked up separately every time. In
`some preferable embodiments IP-addresses ofrecipients are
`stored on the subscriber terminal. In some embodiments
`only static [P-addresses of recipients are stored.
`In some embodiments the message is sent by SS7-, GSM-,.
`H323-, HTTP-, GSM-data, IP-RAN-, UMTS-, WAP-, Tel-
`desic-,
`Inmarsat-,
`Iridium-, GPRS-,
`CDMA-data-,
`WCDMA-data-, HTTP-, H323-, SMS-, MMS-, email-
`LAN-, TCP/IP-, imode-, Globalstar- and/or WLAN- con-
`nection. In some embodiments the message is recorded in a
`file, which is attached to an email, which email is then sent
`to the recipients.
`In some embodiments,
`the message is
`recorded to a data file, which is then encoded to text format.
`This text is then pasted/written to the email, which email is
`then sent to the recipients. In some embodiments the recipi-
`ents are capable ofplaying the message fromthe text format,
`for example by decoding the text format back to a data file,
`whichdata file can then be played with a media player,like
`WAV- or MP3-player. In some embodiments, messages may
`be sent to several recipients, a group or several groups or
`groups and individuals by sending several copies of the
`samefile/message or otherwise.
`In phase 150 the recipient plays the data file. In some
`embodiments the message is played automatically afterit is
`received, This feature is user configurable in some embodi-
`ments. The recipient may answer sender directly in phase
`160. This may be done by pressing a button after the data file
`has been played and dictating another data file, which will
`be sent to theinitial sender as a reply. In some embodiments
`it is also possible to forward messagesto other recipients or
`third parties. The data file is typically an MP3-, WAV- or
`RealSystem Secure data file in some preferable embodi-
`ments.
`
`wa
`
`ha
`
`3¢
`
`a5
`
`40
`
`6
`In some embodiments of the invention, a special prefix
`and postfix maybe stored on the network, the SIM or the
`mobile station memory, and is played prior to the recording
`in the data file. The prefix and/or postfix could play for
`instance: “Inthe following youwill hear a message from Mr.
`Jero Jarvenpaa.” MESSAGE “This completed the message
`ofJero Jarvenpaa.” The fact that the message was received
`could be detected in various ways in accordance with the
`invention. When the recipient or the voicemail box answers
`or hangs up, a DIMFtone may be transmitted and detected,
`which may be used to notify that the message was delivered.
`Alternatively the recipient could be asked to press a button
`or perform a dedicated action in order to signal that the
`message was indeed received and/or understood. If one or
`someofthe recipients are unavailable, the message may be
`kept
`in memory and several other attempts to send the
`message may be taken. In some embodiments it is possible
`to set expiration conditions for the message, such as time,
`demands on memory by other functions, or various other
`conditions. In some embodiments the SIM and the mobile
`station may execute the method together, by for example the
`SIM performing the recipient selection and commands for
`forming or dialing connection, and the mobile station by
`providing a media player. Many prior art terminals already
`feature a MP3 playeror the like.
`In the phase 210 of FIG. 2 the messagerecipient is chosen
`by entering a telephone numberor by choosing a name from
`an electronic phone book or the like. A recipient may be
`chosenon the basis ofother directory information as well,
`for example on the basis of an IP-address. Following this, a
`voice/video message is recorded typically, but not necessar-
`ily in packet switched format in phase 220. In some embodi-
`ments the order of phases 210 and 220 may be reversed.
`In phase 230 packets are streamed to the recipient via
`telephony network or the Internet. In some embodiments
`phases 230 and 210 maybe concurrent. The recipient may
`receive the packet stream and play it in real time in phase
`240. Alternatively, the recipient may also reassemble the
`packet streamto adata file in phase 240, which can be stored
`to the memory of the subscriber terminal and/or a server in
`the telephony networkor onthe Internet and played at a later
`time. Uponreception the recipient is given the opportunity
`to answer the sender in phase 260. In some embodiments,
`messages may be streamed to several recipients by sending
`several copies of the same packet stream.
`During, in between or alter any of the phases 210, 220,
`230, directory lookup maybe executed in some preferable
`embodiments.
`In the phase 305 of FIG. 3 the messagerecipient is chosen
`by entering a telephone numberor by choosing a name from
`an electronic phone book or the like. Following this, a
`voice/video message is recorded in packet switched format
`in phase 310. In some embodiments the order of phases 305
`and 310 may be reversed.
`The recording is written to a data file in phase 315.
`Following this, the data file is decomposed into IP-packets
`in phase 320, or packets of any other information transmis-
`sion protocol e.g. H323, HTTP. Packets are streamed to the
`recipient or multiple recipients or a group via telephony
`networkorthe Internet in phase 325. In many embodiments
`packet streams may be kept on standby, discontinued and
`then continued for transmittal once favourable circum-
`stances such as adequate network access, radio network
`access, radio signal strength, bandwidth, authentication or
`the like arise.
`During, in between orafter any of these phases, directory
`lookup maybe executed in some preferable embodiments.
`0013
`0013
`
`the inventive method is
`In one special embodiment
`arranged with a mobile station. In one embodiment the
`methodis realized with a computer programthat is arranged
`to run on the SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) of the
`mobile station. The SIM card typically has a CPU,
`EEPROM-, ROM- and RAM-memories. In one phase ofthis
`special embodiment the message recipient, several recipi-
`ents or a group may be chosen from the memory ofthe SIM
`card or from the memory of the mobile station, or it
`is
`inputted to the mobile station. When a dedicated action, such
`as pressing a button, is taken, a data file is recorded from the
`dictation, voice or video that is available. A media player/
`recorder located on the EEPROM and/or RAM ofthe SIM
`card or the memory of the mobile station typically does the s
`recording ofthe file. In some embodiments the message
`itself is recorded to the RAM memory of the SIM card
`and/or the mobile station. After this the mobile station
`transfers the file to the recipient, to a secondary address of
`the recipient, or dials the telephone numberofthe recipient
`and plays the message as playback to the recipient when the
`call
`is answered or to the voicemail box if the call
`is
`answered by the voicemail box. The dialing of a data or a
`voice call may be realized from the SIM card as well in some
`embodiments using the proactive SIM feature of the SAT
`SIM Application Toolkit, which is specified in the phase 2+
`of the GSM specification.
`
`45
`
`‘
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`60
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`

`US 7,218,919 B2
`
`7
`Recipient plays packet stream directly and/or reassembles
`the data file in phase 330. The recipient may receive the
`packet stream andplay it in real time. In some embodiments
`the packet stream is played automatically. Alternatively, the
`recipient may also reassemble the packetstream toa datafile
`in phase 330, which can be stored to the memory of the
`subscriber terminal and/or on a server in the telephony
`network or on the Internet and playedat a later time. Upon
`receptionthe recipient is given the opportunity to answer the
`sender in phase 335.
`is typically a mobile station
`The subscriber terminal
`equipped with an Internet connection and/or a telephony
`network connection. The mobile station typically abides to
`UMTS-. GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-.
`Inmarsat-,
`Iridium-,
`GPRS-, CDMA-, HTTP-, H323-, SMS-, MMS-, and/or
`WCDMA-standards in some preferable embodiments. The
`subscriber terminal used in the method may also be a PC,
`PDA, Palm Computer or an Apple Macintosh computer
`equipped with an Internet connection and/or a telephony
`network connection in some preferable embodiments. The
`subscriber terminal
`in accordance with the invention has
`
`typically an operating system like Windows-, Windows NT-.
`Epoc-, Windows CE-, Unix-, Linux-, OS/2, Symbian, Epoc,
`PalmOS, Pocket PC, GEOS, MS-Stinger and/or Sybase. The
`execution of methods 10, 20, 30 is typically realised with a
`separate software application operating underthe control of
`these operating systems. Alternatively,
`the execution of
`methods 10, 20, 30 may be realised with software that is
`integrated to any of the above operating systems. In some
`embodiments the execution of methods 10, 20, 30 and their
`favourable permutations and further embodiments may be
`realised by OEM software for mobile stations, modems,
`computers,
`radio, SIM cards and/or line cards. In some
`embodiments the execution of methods 10, 20, 30 may be
`realised with software that is integrated to any email client
`software, such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express or the
`like. In some embodiments the execution of methods 10, 20,
`30 may be realised with software that is developed using
`SAT(SIM Application Toolkit) or WTAI (Wireless Tele-
`phony Application Interface) of WAP (Wireless Application
`Protocol).
`The information transfer in accordance with the inventive
`
`method follows a harmonious informationtransfer protocol,
`whichis typically packet switched in some embodiments
`and compatible with the various hardware and software
`setups of the subscriber terminals. Typically different hard-
`ware setups of subscriber terminals have different client
`software programs, which are all
`intercompatible. For
`example in some preferable embodiments the data file is of
`MP3- or WAV-, Or RealSystem Secure-format which is
`understood by all software programs residing in subscriber
`terminals in accordance with the invention. Various other
`
`compression methods may also be employed to produce the
`data file.
`The subscriber terminals need also be compatible to
`handle the direct packet stream in accordance with the
`invention,
`in some preferable embodiments. This packet
`stream may be an IP—(Internet Protocol) multicasting,
`TCP—(Transmission Control Protocol) and/or UDP—(User
`Datagram Protocol) data stream. The data file may also be
`transmitted using these protocols or others in some prefer-
`able embodiments.
`Provided the receiving subscriber terminal is incompat-
`ible to receive the transmitted format, the format may be
`adapted to the data format of the recipient at a central server
`in the telephony network, cellular network and/or on the
`Internet. If the recipient is unable to receive the voicemail
`
`8
`the message may be stored on a central server for the time
`being. If the subscriber terminal is an analog phone, or
`otherwise unable to decipher and reproduce the data format
`of the voicemail, the voice mail can always be played down
`the phoneline fromthe server as a last resort. Forall cases
`where the recipient subscriber terminal cannot reproduce or
`store the message, a backup server may be designated in the
`transmission in some preferable embodiments. During,
`before, in between or after any of the phases of methods 10,
`20, 30 or their permutations or embodiments an address tag,
`giving the IP-address, telephone number, email address or
`any other directory informationof the backup server can be
`attached to the transmission. The backup server is found on
`the basis of this address tag in some preferable embodi-
`ments. In some embodiments the undeliverable message is
`routed to the voicemail box, email or some other directory
`of the recipient if the original delivery is unsuccessfull. In
`some embodiments this address tag is demanded as the
`prerequisite for backup delivery.
`in
`Voice recognition may be employed during, before,
`betweenor after any