(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII II IIIIII IIIII IIII I II Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll llll 1111111111111111111
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`28 February 2002 (28.02.2002)
`
`PCT
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 02/17650 Al
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 7:
`
`H04Q 7/00
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`(22) International Filing Date: 8 August 2001 (08.08.2001)
`
`CZ, DE, DK, DM, DZ, EC, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH,
`GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC,
`LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW,
`MX, MZ, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK,
`SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA,
`zw.
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`20001838
`
`21 August 2000 (21.08.2000)
`
`FI
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF,
`CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD,
`TG).
`
`(71) Applicant and
`(72) Inventor: VAANANEN, Mikko, Kalervo [FI/FI];
`Laivanvarustajankatu 7B 13, FIN-00140 Helsinki (FI).
`
`Published:
`with international search report
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AG, AL, AM, AT, AU,
`AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU,
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the "Guid(cid:173)
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations" appearing at the begin(cid:173)
`ning of each regular issue of the PCT Gazette.
`
`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
`
`(54) Title: VOICEMAIL SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE METHOD AND MEANS AND A SUBSCRIBER TERMINAL
`
`lQ
`
`110
`
`~ Choose message
`
`recipient
`
`120
`
`message in packet
`switched format
`
`~ record voice/video
`~ write recording to data
`
`130
`
`file
`
`(57) Abstract: The invention relates to a voicemail short messaging
`method (10, 20, 30) and means and a subscriber terminal (500).
`In
`particular it concerns a method and means for instantaneous packet
`switched voicemail between Internet compatible computers, personal
`In particular the
`digital assistants, telephones and mobile stations.
`inventive subscriber terminal (500) concerns a hardware and a software
`setup that allows the combined use of audio and/or video devices (550)
`with both the normal cellular or fixed telephony network (520) and with an
`Internet connection (510). The inventive 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 inventive voicemail messaging method (10),
`comprising at least one subscriber terminal is characterised by server
`independence.
`
`Directory
`lookup
`
`-
`
`----
`iiiiiiii -iiiiiiii -iiiiiiii
`
`!!!!!!!!
`
`!!!!!!!! -iiiiiiii
`iiiiiiii ----
`
`140
`
`~ transmit data file to
`
`recipient via telephone
`network or Internet
`
`150
`
`~ recipient plays
`
`data file
`
`160
`
`recipient may
`answer sender
`
`Page 1 of 36
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1008
`
`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`1
`
`Voicemail Short Message Service method and means and a subscriber terminal
`
`The invention relates to a voicemail short messaging method and means and a
`
`subscriber terminal. fu particular it concerns a method and means for instantaneous
`
`5
`
`voice mail between futemet compatible computers, personal digital assistants,
`
`telephones and mobile stations. fu particular the inventive subscriber terminal
`
`concerns a hardware and a software setup that allows the combined use of audio
`
`and/or video devices with both the normal cellular or fixed telephony network and
`
`with an futernet connection.
`
`10
`
`Prior art packet switche~ voiceinail features methods where the voicemail is
`
`delivered between GPRS and/or UMTS mobile 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
`
`15
`
`reference.
`
`Prior art subscriber terminals typically do not allow the seamless interplay of the same
`
`audio and/or video devices with both the futernet connection and the telephony
`
`network connection. For example, W AP- compatible mobile phones lack the facility
`
`20
`
`to use the telephony audio devices when browsing the futernet.
`
`The prior art has several disadvantages. Firstly the prior art method is only applicable
`
`for sending voiceniail betw~en a limited number of devices, i.e. mobile stations ..
`
`Second, the use of IP-address or ISDN-address is conceptually difficult. It is also
`
`25
`
`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.
`
`30
`
`Prior art mobile subscriber terminals do not allow the use of audio features with the
`
`futernet connection. This limits the facility to arrange IP conferences, make futernet
`
`Page 2 of 36
`
`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`2
`
`calls, operate hyperlinks and send and reproduce packetized audio/video data, such as
`
`voicemail, seamlessly.
`
`The purpose of the invention is to remove the aforementioned disadvantages.
`
`5
`
`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 instantaneous voicemail to be sent and
`
`received from and to any Internet compatible device on the basis of the telephone
`
`number of that device, or other directory information of that device. There will only
`
`10
`
`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
`
`15
`
`of packet switched voice mail will also be seamless with the subscriber terminal in
`
`accordance with the invention.
`
`fu addition, the purpose of the invention is to introduce a favourable inventive user
`
`interface and method for exchanging voicemail seamlessly and instantaneously
`
`20
`
`between IP-addresses, email-addresses, telephone numbers, and/or ISDN addresses.
`
`Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention are preferably
`
`implemented with a special exemplary embodiment of the invention, in which
`
`a recipient is chosen from the electronic phone book of a mobile station by pressing a
`
`25
`
`button. The button is 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
`
`30
`
`cryptography methods may be employed with the data file and/or the packet stream.
`
`The data file may be sent either to the telephone number of the recipient directly, or to
`
`an IP-address of the recipient through the Internet by a variety of transmission
`
`Page 3 of 36
`
`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`3
`
`protocols, such as TCP-, IP-, UDP-, H323-, HTTP- SMS-, MMS- or any other
`
`protocol or message delivery service. The IP-address of the recipient may be found
`
`from a central lookup server on the basis of the telephone number of the recipient,
`
`name or other information. Likewise, the telephone number may be found on the basis.
`
`5
`
`of the IP-address or other information related 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 pressing a button. The user may also reply to the voicemail
`
`10
`
`immediately with another recording. If the recipient mobile station cannot be reached,
`
`the message may be st().red on 'a central server in the network or on the futernet for an
`
`indefinite time. If the receiving terminal is unable to play the recorded format, it may
`
`also be adapted on the central server to a suitable packet switched data format, or
`
`alternatively it can be played down the phone line to the recipient through a voice or a
`
`15
`
`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 embodiments the subscriber terminal is a virtual software telephone in a PC.
`
`20
`
`This software is preferably compatible to communicate with the mobile stations
`
`directly. The communication with the messages outlined here is faster than with
`
`contemporary 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
`
`25
`
`outlined preferred embodiment of the invention.
`
`Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention are preferably
`
`implemented with a special exemplary embodiment of the inventive subscriber
`
`terminal, in which the audio and video software of the subscriber terminal has the
`
`30
`
`ability to control both the Internet and normal telephony network connections. This
`
`allows the arrangement of IP-conferences by a setup signal that is transmitted through
`
`the telephony network. This allows seamless transmission; reception and processing
`
`Page 4 of 36
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`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`4
`
`of packet switched voicemail between both mobile stations, PCs and other terminals.
`
`The inventive software allows seamless IP-conferences between PC's and mobile
`
`stations. It also allows the efficient deployment of voice hyperlinks from the
`
`subscriber terminal. In some preferable embodiments it also allows least cost routing.
`
`5 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 preferable
`
`embodiments.
`
`10 A voicemail messaging method, comprising at least one subscriber terminal,
`
`characterised by the ~teps 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,
`
`15
`
`transmitting at least one data file to at least one recipient via telephony network or
`
`the futernet,
`
`A voicemail messaging method, comprising at least one subscriber terminal,
`
`characterised by the steps of,
`
`20
`
`-
`
`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 telephony network or the
`
`Internet,
`
`at least one recipient receives and/or reassembles packet stream,
`
`25
`
`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,
`
`30
`
`writing at least one recording to at least one data file,
`
`decomposing at least one data file into IP- packets,
`
`streaming packets to at least one recipient via telephony network or the Internet.
`
`Page 5 of 36
`
`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`5
`
`A subscriber terminal, comprising a software, an Internet connection and/or a
`
`telephony network connection in accordance with the invention is characterized in
`
`that,
`
`5
`
`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
`
`simultaneously or at separate times,
`
`the software is arranged to use some or all of the same audio and/or video
`
`devices with both of the connections.
`
`10
`
`A network server compmsing 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
`
`15
`
`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 phone line with at least one media player to at least one
`
`recipient and/or voicemail box.
`
`20
`
`A client terminal, comprising recipient contact information, 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, characterised in that,
`
`at least one dedicated action from the user interface indicates at least one message
`
`25
`
`recipient or a group of recipients from the associated recipient contact information
`
`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, which data
`
`file is further sent, played and/or reproduced to at least one indicated recipient
`
`using the said telephony and/or Internet connection.
`
`30
`
`fu the following the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to
`
`exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which
`
`Page 6 of 36
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`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`6
`
`Figure 1 presents a method 10 in accordance with the invention as a flow diagram.
`
`Figure 2 presents another method 20 in accordance with the invention as a flow
`
`5
`
`diagram.
`
`Figu~e 3 presents a further method 30 in accordance with the invention as a flow
`
`diagram.
`
`10
`
`Figure 4 presents a method of address allocation in accordance with the invention .
`
`• ,-A,
`
`Figure 5 presents an arrangement 50 of the subscriber terminal in accordance with the
`
`invention.
`
`15
`
`Figure 6 presents an arrangement 60 of the user interface of the subscriber terminal in
`
`accordance with the invention.
`
`Figure 7 presents another arrangement 70 of the user interface of the subscriber
`
`terminal in accordance with the invention.
`
`20
`
`Figure 8 presents another embodiment 80 of the backup server in accordance with the
`
`invention.
`
`Figure 9 presents another embodiment 90 of arranging the backup server in
`
`25
`
`accordance with the invention in a distributed and persistent fashion.
`
`Some of the preferable embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
`
`fu phase 110 of figure 1 the message recipient is chosen. The recipient may be chosen
`
`30
`
`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 combinations or permutations of these in some
`
`Page 7 of 36
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`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`7
`
`embodiments. Several recipients or a group may also be selected in some
`
`embodiments. fu phase 120 the voice/video message is recorded in packet switched
`
`format, but other formats are also possible in some embodiments. fu some
`
`embodiments the order of phases 110 and 120 may be reversed. Consequently, the
`
`5
`
`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 telephone
`
`number of the recipient is converted to an IP-address in one preferable embodiment. A
`
`prior art solution to directory lookup and conversion is presented in my patent
`
`application "Telenetwork directory template", FI19992774, which is taken here as
`
`10
`
`reference.
`
`fu one alternative embodiment, the software in the subscriber terminal has the
`
`telephone number of the software application stored. Both the telephone number and
`
`the current IP-address are given to a central server. Telephone numbers and IP-
`
`15
`
`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-, IP- address,
`
`20 URL, ISDN number, phone number or the like to another corresponding email-, IP(cid:173)
`
`address, URL, ISDN number, phone number or the like directory from the network,
`
`network server and/or terminal in order to deliver the message to a directory.
`
`fu phase 140 the data file is transmitted to the recipient via telephony network or the
`
`25
`
`futernet. fu 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 attempt fails the message is postponed, typically for a further attempt. fu many
`
`embodiments messages may be kept on standby for transmittal once favourable
`
`30
`
`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 of the recipient is a
`
`Page 8 of 36
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`

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`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`8
`
`dynamic one, the directory lookup is an advantageous feature. In some embodiments
`
`where the 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 IP-addresses of
`
`5
`
`recipients are stored.
`
`In some embodiments the message is sent by SS7-, GSM-, H323-, HTTP-, GSM-data,
`
`IP-RAN-, UMTS-, W AP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-data-,
`
`WCDMA-data-, HTTP-, H323-, SMS-, MMS-, email- LAN-, TCP/IP-, imode-,
`
`10 Globalstar- and/or WLAN- connection. 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 recipients are capable of playing the message
`
`15
`
`from the text format, for example by decoding the text format back to a data file,
`
`which data file can then be played with a media player, like WA V- 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 same file/message
`
`or otherwise.
`
`20
`
`In phase 150 the recipient plays the data file. In some embodiments the message is
`
`played automatically after it is received. This feature is user configurable in some
`
`embodiments. 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
`
`25
`
`file, which will be sent to the initial sender as a reply. In some embodiments it is also
`
`possible to forward messages to other recipients or third parties. The data file is
`
`typically an MP3-, WA V- or RealSystem Secure data file in some preferable
`
`embodiments.
`
`30
`
`In one special embodiment the inventive method is arranged with a mobile station. In
`
`one embodiment the method is realized with a computer program that is arranged to
`
`run on the SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) of the mobile station. The SIM card
`
`Page 9 of 36
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`

`

`WO 02/17650
`
`. PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`9
`
`typically has a CPU, EEPROM-, ROM- and RAM- memories. fu one phase of this
`
`special embodiment the message recipient, several recipients or a group may be
`
`chosen from the memory of the 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,
`
`5
`
`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 of the SIM card or the
`
`memory of the mobile station typically does the recording of the file. fu 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
`
`10
`
`recipient, to a secondary address of the recipient, or dials the telephone number of the
`
`recipient and plays the ;m.essag6 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
`
`15
`
`specified in the phase 2+ of the GSM specification.
`
`fu some embodiments of the invention, a special prefix and postfix may be 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: "fu the
`
`20
`
`following you will hear a message from Mr. Jero Jarvenpaa."MESSAGE" This
`
`completed the message of J ero 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 DTMF tone may be transmitted
`
`and detected, which may be used to notify that the message was delivered.
`
`25 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 some of the recipients are unavailable, the message may be kept in memory and
`
`several other attempts to send the message may be taken. fu some embodiments it is
`
`possible to set expiration conditions for the message, such as time, demands on
`
`30 memory by other functions, or various other conditions. fu some embodiments the
`
`SJM 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,
`
`Page 10 of 36
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`

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`WO 02/17650
`
`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`10
`
`and the mobile station by providing a media player. Many prior art terminals already
`
`feature a MP3 player or the like.
`
`In the phase 210 of figure 2 the message recipient is chosen by entering a telephone
`
`5
`
`number or by choosing a name from an electronic phone book or the like. A recipient
`
`may be chosen on the basis of other directory information as well, for example on the
`
`basis of an IP-address. Following this, a voice/video message is recorded typically, but
`
`not necessarily in packet switched format in phase 220. In some embodiments the
`
`order of phases 210 and 220 may be reversed.
`
`10
`
`In phase 230 packets are streamed to the recipient via telephony network or the
`
`Internet. In some embodiments phases 230 and 210 may be 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 stream to a data file in phase 240, which can
`
`15
`
`be stored to the memory of the subscriber terminal and/or a server in·the telephony
`
`network or on the futemet and played at a later time. Upon reception 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.
`
`20
`
`During, in between or after any of the phases 210, 220, 230, directory lookup maybe
`
`executed in some preferable embodiments.
`
`In the phase 305 of figure 3 the message recipient is chosen by entering a telephone
`
`25
`
`number or 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 maybe reversed.
`
`The recording is written to a data file in phase 315. Following this, the data file is
`
`30
`
`decomposed into IP-packets in phase 320, or packets of any other information
`
`transmission protocol e.g. H323, HTTP. Packets are streamed to the recipient or
`
`multiple recipients or a group via telephony network or the futemet in phase 325. fu
`
`Page 11 of 36
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`PCT/FIOl/00701
`
`11
`
`many embodiments packet streams may be kept on standby, discontinued and then
`
`continued for transmittal once favourable circumstances such as adequate network
`
`access, radio network access, radio signal strength, bandwidth, authentication or the
`
`like arise.
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`5
`
`During, in between or after any of these phases, directory lookup maybe executed in
`
`some preferable embodiments.
`
`Recipient plays packet stream directly and/or reassembles the data file in phase 330.
`
`10
`
`The recipient may receive the packet stream and play it in real time. In some
`
`embodiments the packet stream is played automatically. Alternatively, the recipient
`
`may also reassemble the packet stream to a data file 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 played at a later time. Upon reception the recipient is given the
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`15
`
`opportunity to answer the sender in phase 335.
`
`The subscriber terminal is typically a mobile station equipped with an Internet
`
`connection and/or a telephony network connection. The mobile station typically
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`abides to UMTS-, GSM-, W AP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-,
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`20 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
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`25
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`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 under the control of these operating systems. Alternatively, the
`
`execution of methods 10, 20, 30 may be realised with software that is integrated to any
`
`30
`
`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
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`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,
`
`3 0 may be realised with software that is developed using SAT (SIM Application
`
`5
`
`Toolkit) or WT AI (Wireless Telephony Application Interface) of W AP (Wireless
`
`Application Protocol).
`
`The information transfer in accordance with the inventive method follows a
`
`harmonious information transfer protocol, which is typically packet switched in some
`
`10
`
`embodiments and compatible with the various hardware and software setups of the
`
`subscriber terminals. Twically different hardware 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 WA V-, Or RealSystem
`
`Secure- format which is understood by all software programs residing in subscriber
`
`15
`
`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
`
`20 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 preferable embodiments.
`
`Provided the receiving subscriber terminal is incompatible to receive the transmitted
`
`25
`
`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 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
`
`30 mail can always be played down the phone line from the server as a last resort.
`
`For all cases where the recipient subscriber terminal cannot reproduce or store the
`
`message, a backup server may be designated in the transmission in some preferable
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`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 information of the backup
`
`server can be attached to the transmission. The backup server is found on the basis of
`
`5
`
`this address tag in some preferable embodiments. 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.
`
`10 Voice recognition may be employed during, before, in between or after any of the
`phases of methods 10, io, 30. A Regret function may be employed during, before, in
`between or after any of the phases of methods 10, 20, 30 in order to destroy an
`
`unwanted intermittent or complete message. In some preferable embodiments, voice
`
`recognition is used to convert the dictation into a written email, SMS-, MMS-
`
`15 message or the like.
`
`In figure 4 the packet stream and/or data file maybe transmitted to the telephone
`
`number directly through the telephony network, for example using such protocols as
`
`887 and/or OTA (Over the Air) or as bursts or otherwise. In this case the recipient
`
`20
`
`typically has a modem receiving the transmission in data mode. If the message cannot
`
`be delivered to the telephone number, it maybe directed to the IP-address 430 of the
`
`recipient. The IP-address 430 may be looked up from a central server 450 in any phase
`
`of the process, before the transmission is began, after the failure of the receptioJ?. to the
`
`telephone number or during the transmission. If an IP-address is unavailable, the
`
`25
`
`voicemail may still be emailed to the email address of the recipient provided this is
`
`available. In some preferable embodiments the message may be directed to some other
`
`preferable electronic address, like the ISDN number, voicemail box, cellular
`
`voicemail box or another electronic address. All reroutings may be handled via at least
`
`one backup server in some embodiments.
`
`30
`
`The subscriber terminal 500 of figure 5 in accordance with the invention comprises
`
`audio and/or video devices 550, like a microphone, speakers, a video camera and/or a
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`digital camera. Audio/video devices 550 are controlled by software that typically
`
`incorporates or is able to use both the audio/video device drivers 540 and a media
`
`player 530. These software 540, 530 may transmit and receive data and/or record
`
`and/or play files using both the futernet and/or the telephony network connection
`
`5
`
`simultaneously or at separate times in so