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`U500662526132
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`(1(1) Patent N0.:
`US 6,625,261 B2
`
`Holtzberg
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Sep. 23, 2003
`
`(54) METI'K)“, SYSTEM AND ARTICLE 01“
`MANUFACTURE [tog BOOKMARKING
`VOICEMAIL MESSAGES
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Ann Hoitzherg, Cupertino, CA
`
`(73) Assignee: Southwestern Bell Communications
`Services, Inc" Pleasanltm,
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any cli‘SClaimcr, the term or lhiS
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 15403) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 091741327
`_
`Fwd:
`
`(22
`(65)
`
`"em 20! 2000
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2(HJZflJlE-‘fifll4 A1 Jun. 20, zoo:
`
`"(MM 1,154
`Int. Cl.7
`(51)
`379r74- 37988.25
`(52) U.S.Cl.
`
`379;67.1,r;8,76,
`(58) Field of Search
`379E88.04, 88.16, 88.22, 88.25, 88.26, 2:12;,
`.
`I
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`5,926,789 A "‘ W19?” Barbara elzli.
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`7104801
`379.3230
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`FOREIGN pA'I‘EN'r DOCUMEN'I‘S
`110246] A2 *
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`2001-1316334
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`8f2001
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`“114015.533
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`GfléFlIWSO
`
`"Unified messaging, fax server—Captaris (.‘allXpress product
`release histor)?‘ [onlirte]. Captaris. 1998 [retrieved on Feb.
`12, 2002]. Retrieved from lhe Internet: <URL:htlp:Wwww-
`.captaris.comXclglsolutions_and
`_producllealesl_pnod-
`uct_releases..-’producls—cx.htrnl>.‘
`CallXpress for Windows NT® User’s Guide Version 5.03,
`Applied Voice Technology, 19983“
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Exmuirter—Fan Tsang
`Assistant fibrrtmirter—Ovidio Escalante
`(74) Ammo: Ageni‘ 01' Finn—Brinks “of” Wm" &
`L10“
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A voicemail system includes a voicemail bookmarking
`procedure that permits users to bookmark voieemail mes—
`sages during message playback. Upon receiving a bookmark
`request from a user, the procedure generates a bookmark
`7043233
`pointer delining a starting point [or subsequent playback of
`. 37988.12
`lhe message. The bookmark pointer can be based, in part, on
`. 3mm!”
`a timing ofi‘sel value entered by lhe user while making the
`- 379588-25
`bookmark requesl. The timing offset value defines a user—
`.
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`selected playback starting point that occurs before [he mes-
`amtzm [figgcfif mad“ “1"
`379.3822
`‘
`‘
`704.5278
`Home
`
`18 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`References Cited
`,
`,
`, ,
`us PAIENT DOCUMEN rb
`5,031,213 A
`"H1991
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`.,
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`: ¥
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`..
`5,751,794 A
`5!]998 Kugell el :11.
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`7:10.09 Hanson
`
`..
`.
`
`
`
`(56)
`
`REL—x,
`
`
`
`
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`CALL ANSWERING-
`oEvteE / DTMF
`INTERFACE
`
`
`U5 E R
`INTERFACE
`8.1.? PROGRAM
`BOOK M A R K] Mfr
`PROCEDURE
`
`
`
`0001
`0001
`
`Facebook Ex. 1007
`Facebook EX. 1007
`U.S. Pat. 8,243,723
`US. Pat. 8,243,723
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VOJCE PLAYBACK
`So
`2
`3'
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`VOICE
`RECORDER
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`SPEECH
`RECOGNlTiON
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`(5‘4
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`VOJCEMNL
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`PROC ESSDR
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2003
`
`Sheet 1 0f4
`
`US 6,625,261 B2
`
`20
`
`22
`
`24
`
`USER CALLS lNTO
`VOICE—MAIL SYSTEM
`
`REQUEST
`MESSAGE PLAYBACK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SET VOICE MAIL
`BOOKMARK
`
`STORE BOOKMARK
`
`UPDATE MESSAGE
`INDICATOR
`
`
`
`26
`
`23
`
`30
`
`
`
`
`
`0002
`0002
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 23, 2003
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 6,625,261 B2
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`

`
`
`1
`METHOD, SYSTEM AND ARTICLE OF
`MANUFACTURE FOR BOOKMARKING
`VOICEMAII. MESSAGES
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention generally relates to audio recording
`devices, and in particular, to voicemail systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`ll]
`
`15
`
`Voicernail systems allow telephone callers to leave
`recorded messages for called parties when the called parties
`are unavailable. Most voicemail systems record messages if
`the called party's phone line is either in use or does not
`answer. In either case, the voicemail system answers the
`phone call and records the message. Typically, the message
`is digitized and stored on a computer hard disk for later
`playback by the called party.
`To play recorded messages, a mailbox owner calls the '3
`voicemail system and acceges stored voice messages using
`a sequence of touchtone or voice commands. In response to
`these commands, the voicemail system can perform various
`functions with respect to message playback. For example, a
`mailbox owner can fast forward, rewind, delete or skip a
`message during playback. In some voicemail systems, dur-
`ing a message playback. the listener can fast forward or
`rewind either to the end of the message or a specific amount
`of time. Using these voicemail systems to play back specific
`middle portions of messages. it is frequently the case that
`listeners must repeatedly enter fast-forward commands to
`get the systems to skip ahead to the desired places in the
`messages.
`
`so
`
`Although the playback functions of currentlywavailable
`voicemail systems are adequate in many situations, there is ‘
`room for improvement. For instance, some users may find it
`inconvenient and time consuming to select specific portions
`of messages for playback using conventional fast forward
`and rewind functions available with some voicemail sys-
`tems.
`
`40
`
`Accordingly, there is a need for an improved voicemail
`system that permits users to conveniently select portions of
`stored messages for playback,
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method of setting a voicemail
`bookmark in accordance with an embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system
`in accordance with another embodiment of the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an exemplary
`data structure associated with a voice mailbox provided by
`the voicemail system of FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart
`illustrating the operation of the
`voicemail system shown in FIG. 2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PRESENI‘LY PREFERRED EMBODIMEN'ITS)
`
`It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a
`voicemail system that permits users to bookmark messages
`during message playback. Bookmarks can be set by entering
`appropriate touch-tone or voice commands. A bookmark
`defines a starting point within the message at which subse-
`quent playbaeks of the message can begin. The ability to
`
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`0006
`0006
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`Technologies, Inc., configured and programmed to perform
`
`US 6,625,261 B2
`
`2
`bookmark messages significantly improves the convenience
`of playing back specific portions of stored voicemail mes-
`sages.
`
`Turning now to the drawings. and in particular to FIG. 1,
`there is illustrated a flow chart 20 illustrating a method of
`setting a voicemail bookmark in accordance with an
`embodiment of the present invention. In step 22, a user calls
`into a voicemail system. After connecting to the voicemail
`system, the user enters information conventionally associ-
`ated with accessing a voicemail box such as a user ID andt’or
`password. Provided that there are voicemail messages stored
`for the user, the user requests message playback (step 24).
`During playback of the message,
`the user can enter a
`command to set
`a voicemail bookmark (step 26). The
`command can be entered using one or more touch—tone
`digits or voice commands at
`the user’s telephone. The
`voicemail system responds to this command by setting a
`bookmark pointer corresponding to the message being
`played back.
`According to one aspect of the invention, one of the digits
`entered can specify a timing offset that causes the playback
`starting point to be set at a specified period oftirne before the
`point in the message at which the bookmark request is made.
`This permits a “warm-up” period to be added to the book-
`marked voicernail message.
`In step 28, the bookmark pointer is stored by the voice-
`mail system so that the user can subsequently access the
`message at the place indicated by the bookmark. The book-
`mark pointer can specify a computer memory location
`associated with a file containing the content of the stored
`voicemail message. In addition, the bookmark pointer can be
`based, in part, on the timing ofiset entered by the user.
`In step 30, a voice message indicator generated by the
`voicemail system is updated to indicate that the bookmarked
`message is no longer a new message, and has been book-
`marked by the user. 'l‘he voicemail system can be configured
`to cause the message indicator to be displayed at the user’s
`terminal unit using a standard protocol and display interface.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a telecommunication system
`60 in accordance with another embodiment of the present
`invention. The telecommunication system 60 includes a
`plurality of terminal units 64, a telecommunication switch
`66, and a voicemail system 68. The terminal units 64can be
`any suitable end-user device, such as a telephone, cellular
`phone, or the like, for permitting voice communication over
`a commercially-available telecommunications network 62.
`The switch 66 can be any suitable commercially-available
`telecommunication switch,
`Iocated at
`a private branch
`exchange (PBX) or central office, for allowing the terminal
`units 64 to access the voicemail services. of the voicemail
`system 68.
`The voicemail system 68 can be a voicemail server
`communicating with the switch 66 over a standard interface.
`The voicemail system 68 includes a processor 70, voicemail
`database {DB} 72, a memory 73, and interface port 76, a call
`answering devicefdual-tone of multi frequency (DTMF)
`interface 78, a voice playback subsystem 80. a voice
`recorder 82, and a speech recngnition subsystem 84. A
`memory 73 can store a user interface program 74 that is
`executable by the processor 70. The user interface program
`74 includes a bookmarking procedure 86 that permits the
`voicemail system 68 to provide the voicemail bookmarking
`feature.
`
`The voicemail system 68 can be implemented using a
`Compact Service Node, available from Lttcent
`
`

`

`
`
`US 6,625,261 B2
`
`3
`the functions disclosed herein. The switch 66 can be an
`advanced intelligent network (AIN) compatible switch, such
`as the 51385 switch. also available from Lucent
`Technologies, Inc.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a data structure 100 of an exemplary
`voice mailbox stored in the voicemail DB 72. Each voice
`mailbox in the database 72 has associated with it a user ID
`102. Associated with each user ID 102,
`is one or more
`message I05 104 for identifying voicemail messages stored
`in the DB 72 for the user. Also associated with each user ID
`102 is one or more bookmark [Us 106 for identifying
`voicemail bookmarks associated with the owner of the
`voicemail box.
`
`For each message ID 104, the DB 72 stores an associated
`voice message record 108. The voice message record 108
`can contain a sender ID 110 identifying the caller leaving the
`message, a time stamp 112 indicating the time at which the
`message was recorded and one or more system tlags 114 for
`configuring system parameters and functions relating to the
`message. The message record 108 also includes the message
`content 116, which can include the recorded voice message
`digitized into a format suitable for storage in the DB 72 and
`for playback by the voice playback subsystem 80. The
`message content 116 can be compressed andfor encrypted
`using standard speech processing algorithms.
`The bookmark [D 106 has associated with it a bookmark
`record 118 containing a message ID 120 and a bookmark
`pointer 122. The message ID 120 identities the bookmarked
`message. The bookmark pointer 122 can be a specific
`memory location indicating a playback starting point in the
`message content 116 at which the stored message is played
`back when the user subsequently selects the bookmark
`playback feature.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart 150 illustrating the operation of the
`voicemail system 68. In step 151, the voicemail system 68
`generates an audio user selection menu for a user that has
`called in. The menu can be generated by the user interface
`program 74, executing on the processor 70 to generate a
`synthesized interactive voice response interface using the
`voice playback subsystem 80. The menu can provide selec-
`tions conventionally associated with voicemail systems, as
`well as selections related to voicemail bookmarking, such as
`play back or deletion of bookmarked voicemail messages.
`In step 158, a user selects the message playback option
`from the menu. This causes the voicemail system to begin
`the playback of stored messages. During message playback,
`the user can enter a command that starts the bookmark set
`subroutine 152. In this subroutine, the system 68 receives a
`bookmark request from the user (step 160). The bookmark
`request can be a predefined sequence of one or more
`touch—tone entries. Alternatively, the bookmark request can
`be a voiced command by the user and processed by the
`speech recognition subsystem 84. The bookmark request
`causes the voicemail system 68 to record a memory address
`identifying the current location in the stored voice message
`being played back.
`The bookmark request can include a timing offset value
`that defines a wartn up period immediately preceding the
`point in time of the message playback at which the book—
`mark is requested. The timing offset causes the bookmarked
`message to be played back starting from the beginning of the
`warm up period. The timing offset can be entered as a
`touch-tone signal defining a period in seconds. For example,
`immediately after entering the touch-tone command for the
`bookmark request, a user could push the digit "7" to indicate
`a timing offset of seven seconds, so that upon subsequent
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`playback of the bookmarked message, the playback will
`begin seven seconds before the point at which the bookmark
`request occurred in the message. Likewise, other digits
`could be pushed to enter other timing ofiset values, e.g., “1"
`for a one second offset, “2” for a two second offset, and so
`on.
`
`a memory address corresponding to the
`In step 162,
`timing offset value is computed by the voicemail system 68.
`This can be accomplished by determining the number of
`bytes required to represent a unit time of recorded voice. The
`bytes per second value can then be multiplied by the timing
`offset value entered by the user to convert the user-entered
`offset value to a corresponding memory address offset value.
`This address offset value can then be combined with the
`memory address corresponding to the request to generate the
`bookmark pointer.
`The bookmark pointer is then stored in the bookmark
`record {step 164). In step 166, a user message indicator
`generated by the voicemail system 68 is updated to indicate
`that the bookmarked message is no longer a new message.
`The message indicator can be a visual indication, such as
`text, displayable on a user terminal unit.
`Other bookmark—related subroutines, specifically the
`bookmark delete and playback subroutines 154—156, can be
`initiated by the user through the menu. Concerning the
`delete subroutine 154, if upon presenting the user menu, the
`voicemail system 68 receives a request to delete a stored
`voice message or bookmark (step 168), the delete bookmark
`subroutine 154 is initiated. The delete request can be entered
`by a user using a touch-tone or a voice command, and can
`specify one or more bookmarks or messages to be deleted.
`Upon receiving the delete message command, any book—
`marks corresponding to the deleted message are likewise
`deleted (step 170) from the DB 72. Similarly, upon receiving
`a delete bookmark command, the corresponding bookmark
`is deleted.
`
`The bookmarked—message playback subroutine 156
`allows the voicemail system 68 to play back bookmarked
`voicemail messages stored in the DB 72. In step 172, the
`voicemail system 68 receives a bookmark playback request.
`The bookmark playback request can be either a touch-tone
`or voice command entered by the user to select a previously
`bookmarked message for playback. The request can specify
`a particular bookmark ID. Upon receiving the bookmark
`playback request,
`the voicemail system 68 retrieves the
`bookmarked message from the voicemail DB 72 and plays
`back the message starting from the position indicated by the
`bookmark pointer. To playback the stored message,
`the
`message content
`is provided to the voice playback sub-
`system 80, which generates an audio representation of the
`messages to the user terminal.
`While specific embodiments ofthe present invention have
`been shown and described,
`it will be apparent
`to those
`skilled in the art that the disclosed invention may be modi—
`fied in numerous ways and may assume many embodiments
`other than those specifically set out and described above.
`Accordingly, the scope of the invention is indicator] in the
`appended claims, and all changes that come within the
`meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be
`embraced therein.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A telecommunication system, comprising:
`a switch; and
`a service node in communication with the switch, the
`service node comprising:
`a processor for executing software programs;
`
`0007
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`

`

`
`
`US 6,625,261 B2
`
`5
`a memory, operatively coupled to the processor;
`a user interface program, stored in the memory and
`executable by the processor. for setting a bookmark
`pointer associated with a voicemail message in
`response to a bookmark request
`received during
`playback of the voicemail message; and
`a voice playback subsystem, operatively coupled to the
`processor, for playing back the voicemail message to
`a user at a specified period of time before a point in
`the voicemail message at which the bookmark
`request was received without receiving a rewind
`command from the user during the voicemail mes-
`sage playback; and wherein the bookmark request
`includes a timing ofiset value.
`2. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the
`service node further comprises:
`a voicemail database for storing the voicemaii message.
`3. The telecommunication system of claim 2, wherein the
`user interface program stores in the voicemail database a
`bookmark record comprising a message identifier and the
`bookmark pointer.
`4. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the
`user interface program includes a subroutine for permitting
`a user to enter a timing offset associated with the bookmark
`request.
`5. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the
`service node further comprises:
`a voice recorder, operatively coupled to the precessor, for
`recording an incoming voice message in a predeter—
`mined format for storage in a voicemail database.
`6. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the
`service node further comprises:
`a speech recognizer, operatively coupled to the processor,
`for responding to voice commands received by the
`voicemail system.
`7. The telecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the
`service node further comprises:
`a call ansWering device, operatively coupled to the
`pmceswr, for automatically answering incoming tele-
`phone calls to the voicemail system.
`8. A computer-usable medium storing a computer pro-
`gram product, comprising:
`means for receiving a bookmark request during playback
`of a voicemail message;
`means for setting a bookmark pointer associated with the
`voicemail message in response to the bookmark
`request;
`means for storing the bookmark pointer; and
`means for playing back the voicemail message starting at
`a specified period of time before a point in the voice-
`mail message at which the bookmark request was made
`without receiving a rewind command from the user
`during the voicemail message playback by the means
`for playing back; and wherein the bookmark request
`includes a timing offset value.
`9. The computer-usable medium of claim 8, further com-
`prising:
`means for receiving a request to delete one of a stored
`voicemail message and a voicemail bookmark; and
`means for deleting the voicemail bookmark in response to
`the request.
`
`it)
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`10. The computer-usable medium of claim 8. further
`comprising:
`means for updating a voicemail message indicator in
`response to receiving the bookmark request.
`11. The computer—usable medium of claim 8, wherein the
`computer-usable medium is part ofa service node.
`12. A method for bookmarking a voicemail message.
`comprising:
`(a) playing back a voicemail message stored in a voice-
`mail database;
`(b) receiving a bookmark request during the voicemail
`message playback;
`(c) receiving a request for playback of the voicemail
`message from a user; and
`((1) playing back the voicemail message starting at a
`specified period of time before a point in the voicemail
`message at which the bookmark request was made
`without receiving a rewind command from the user
`during the voicemail message playback of (d); and
`wherein the bookmark request includes a timing oflsct
`value.
`13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
`updating a voicemail message indicator in response to the
`bookmark request.
`14. The method of claim 12. further comprising:
`setting a bookmark pointer associated with the voicemail
`message in response to the bookmark request; and
`storing the bookmark pointer;
`wherein the timing offset value defines the specified
`period of time immediately preceding a playback start-
`ing point defined by the bookmark pointer.
`15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
`determining a memory location within the stored voice-
`mail message based on the timing offset value and the
`playback starting point.
`16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:
`setting a bookmark pointer associated with the voicemail
`message in response to the bookmark request; and
`storing the bookmark pointer.
`17. The method of claim 12, wherein the acts recited in
`claim 1 are performed by a service node.
`18. A system, comprising:
`a telecommunications switch for processing calls by sub—
`scriber units;
`a service node comprising:
`a voicemail server, operativer coupled to the leiccom-
`munications switch, including a user interface pro-
`gram for configuring the voicemail server to set a
`bookmark pointer associated with a stored voicemail
`message in response to a voicemail bookmark
`request from at least one of the subscriber units; and
`a voice playback subsystem for playing back the voice-
`mail message to a user at a specified period of time
`before a point in the voicemail message at which the
`bookmark request was received without receiving a
`rewind command from the user during the voicemail
`message playback; and wherein the bookmark
`request includes a timing ofiset value.
`sixteen:
`
`0008
`0008
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