(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`Agraharam et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Nov. 19, 2002
`
`USOO6483899B2
`
`(54) VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEM
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Sanjay Agraharam, Marlboro, NJ
`(US); Randy G. Goldberg, Princeton,
`NJ (US); Robert Edward Markowitz,
`Glen Rock, NJ (US); Kenneth H.
`Rose", Middletown, NJ(US)
`
`(
`
`(73) Assigflce. AT&T Corp New York NY(US)
`’
`’
`*
`-
`.
`-
`-
`-
`_
`) che‘
`3:11:10???IEZZEED‘SHOEICZCSEQEHZ‘; TEE;
`pp .
`.
`153(9): and 15 sublefn to the t"Vemy Year
`patent
`term prOVISIOHS 0f 35 USC-
`154(a)(2).
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. N0.: 09/100,607
`.
`Filed:
`
`Jun. 19, 1998
`
`(22)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`U‘S‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3/1997 Gordon ................. 379/100.08
`5,608,786 A
`5,689,550 A * 11/1997 Garson et a1.
`........... 379/8818
`5,712,903 A *
`1/1998 Bartholomew et al.
`..... 379/230
`5,742,905 A *
`4/1998 Pepe etal. .................. 455/461
`..... 455/413
`5,802,466 A *
`9/1998 Gallant et al.
`
`5,822,405 A * 10/1998 Astarabadi
`.. 379/8818
`
`5,825,854 A * 10/1998 Larson etal.
`............ 379/8814
`5,920,835 A *
`7/1999 Huzenlaub et al.
`......... 704/235
`5,987,100 A * 11/1999 Fortman etal.
`.. 379/8814
`
`............... 455/412
`6,023,700 A *
`2/2000 Owens etal.
`6,058,164 A *
`5/2000 lbnka et al.
`............... 379/671
`6,061,718 A *
`5/2000 Nelson ............. 709/206
`6,064,723 A *
`5/2000 c6116 et al.
`..
`.. 379/8814
`6,072,862 A *
`6/2000 Srinivasan
`379/10008
`6,075,844 A *
`6/2000 Goldberg et al.
`........ 379/8817
`6,085,231 A *
`7/2000 Agraharam et a].
`379/8822
`6,161,082 A * 12/2000 Goldberg et al.
`.............. 709/3
`6,173,259 B1 *
`1/2001 Bijletal.
`................... 704/235
`6,219,638 B1
`4/2001 Padmanabhan et al.
`..... 704/235
`
`
`
`* cited bv examiner
`'
`Primary Examiner—Fan Tsang
`Assistant Examiner—()vidio Escalante
`
`US 2002/0067808 A1 Jun. 6, 2002
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(52) US. Cl.
`
`Int. Cl.7 ......................... H041“ 11/00; G10L 15/26
`,
`................................ 379/8814; 378/8813;
`378/8822; 378/9324; 378/10013; 704/235§
`704/260; 704/270
`
`(58) Field Of Search ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 379/8813, 8814,
`379/10001, 67.1, 100.08, 88.18, 230, 100.13,
`88.22, 93.24; 704/235, 260, 270, 231, 251
`
`A network-based voice messaging system is provided. A
`voice message is received at a network. The network con-
`verts the voice message into a text message by utilizing
`speech recognition software. The text message is transmitted
`to the intended recipient as an electronic mail
`(e—mail)
`message or facsimile document and is received by the
`intended recipient on conventional text receiving equipment.
`
`13 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`(65)
`
`(51)
`
`30°
`
`205
`
`
`
`VJICE MESSAGE
`RECEIVED AT NEINORT<
`
`
`SENDER AND/OR RECIPIENT
`IETERMINE FORMA' FOR
`RECEIVED MESSAGE
`
`
`
`
`DETERRINE TEXTMESSAGE ADDRESS
`
`FJR RECIPIENT
`
`TRANSMIT
`
`
`TEXT
`
`
`MESSAGE
`
`
` R
`
`245
`A'IEMF‘T TO
`PROVIDE VOICE
`MESSAGE
`
`
`250
`
`VES
`
`
`
`/VOICEMAIIROX
`
`F111
`
`PROVIDE VOICE
`255
`MESSAGE TO
`
`FEEIPIENI
`
`
`
`
`215~
`
`225
`
`UTILIZE RESTRICTED
`DOMAIN S’EECH PROGRAM
`(IE REOUIREJ)
`
`
`
`
`
`920 >
`
`I
`CONVERT ORAL MESSAGE
`To TENT MESSAGE
`
`
`
`TEXT MESSAGE EOH
`2301 AIDIBLV P,AY CONVERTED
`SENDER
`
`T
`
`2351 TRANSNIT TEXT MESSAGE
`To RECIPIENT
`
`T
`
`DATABASE REIATED TO
`2401 STORE INFORMATION IV
`TEXT TRANSMISSION
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1014
`
`APPLE 1014
`
`1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 0f 2
`
`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`120
`
` NETWORK
`
`
`
`122
`dill-D
`
`124
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 19, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 0f 2
`
`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`I:CI13.
`
`E?
`
`VOICE MESSAGE
`RECEIVED AT NETVDRK
`
`SENDER AND/0R RECIPIENT
`DETERMINE FORMAT FOR
`RECEIVED MESSAGE
`
`30°
`
`205
`
`210
`
`
`ATTEMPT TO
`TRANSMIT
`NO
`PROVIDE VOICE
`TEXT
`
`MESSAGE MESSAGE
`
`
`245
`
`315
`
`
`
`
`VOICE
`DETERMINE TEXT
`
`MAILBOX
`MESSAGE ADDRESS
`FULL
`FOR RECIPIENT
`
`
`N0
`
`220
`
`225
`
`250
`
`UTILIZE RESTRICTED
`DOMAIN SPEECH PROGRAM
`(IF REQUIRED)
`
`CONVERT ORAL MESSAGE
`TO TEXT MESSAGE
`
`255
`
`PROVIDE VOICE
`MESSAGE To
`RECIPIENT
`
`230
`
`235
`
`240
`
`AUDIBLY PLAY CONVERTED
`TEXT MESSAGE FOR
`SENDER
`
`TRANSMIT TEXT MESSAGE
`TO RECIPIENT
`
`I
`
`STORE INFORMATION IN
`DATABASE RELATED TO
`TEXT TRANSMISSION
`
`3
`
`

`

`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`1
`VOICE MESSAGING SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a method and apparatus
`for processing and transmitting a voice message. More
`specifically, the invention provides for converting a voice
`message to a text message and transmitting the text message
`to the intended recipient. A service provider network
`receives the voice message transmitted by the sender and
`converts the message into a text format. The network then
`transmits the text message to the intended recipient.
`Currently, it is possible for a sender of a message to send
`text messages to an intended recipient. These messages can
`be electronic mail messages that are generated on the
`personal computer of the sender and transmitted over a
`network to the intended recipient’s personal computer.
`Alternatively, these text messages can be documents that are
`transmitted to the intended recipient by utilizing a facsimile
`machine. However, with both of these known methods for
`sending a text message to an intended recipient, the sender
`of the message must have access to transmission equipment
`that is capable of sending the text message, e.g., a personal
`computer or a facsimile machine.
`The sender of a message who wants to send a text
`message to an intended recipient may not always have
`access to conventional
`text
`transmission equipment. For
`example, a sending party that wants to send an e-mail
`message to an intended recipient could be at an airport and
`thus not have access to conventional e-mail transmission
`equipment. Therefore,
`it would be desirable to provide a
`capability where a person who desires to transmit a text
`message to an intended recipient could send the text mes-
`sage to the intended recipient without requiring the sender to
`have access to conventional transmission equipment for
`sending text messages.
`Currently, it is also possible for an intended recipient of
`a voice mail message to receive the voice mail message from
`the sending party. However, as with the situation above
`where the sender of a text message must have access to
`conventional transmission equipment, the intended recipient
`of a voice mail message must have access to a conventional
`telephone in order to receive the voice mail message. As
`such, it may not always be possible for the intended recipient
`of a voice mail message to receive the message at a time
`when desired. Therefore,
`it would also be desirable to
`provide a capability to receive a voice mail message where
`the person who desires to receive the voice mail message
`does not have access to a conventional telephone.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention overcomes the drawbacks in the
`above-described communication scenarios. In accordance
`
`with the present invention, a network-based voice messag-
`ing system is provided. The system provides the capability
`to convert a voice mail message to a text message.
`A voice message is received at a network. The network
`converts the voice message into a text message by utilizing
`known speech recognition software. The text message is
`transmitted to the intended recipient as an electronic mail
`(e-mail) message or facsimile document and is received by
`the intended recipient on conventional text receiving equip-
`ment. Thus, a sending party that desires to send a text
`message but who does not have access to conventional text
`transmission equipment could utilize a telephone connected
`to a network to provide a voice message for an intended
`
`5
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`2
`recipient. The network would convert the voice message into
`a text message and transmit the text message to the intended
`recipient. In the second situation where an intended recipient
`of a voice message desires to receive the message but does
`not have access to a conventional telephone, the intended
`recipient could have the network convert the voice message
`to a text message and transmit the text message to the
`personal computer or facsimile machine of the intended
`recipient.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment for the voice messaging
`system of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a process flow chart for the method steps
`in practicing an embodiment of the present invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a functional block diagram for one
`embodiment of the network-based voice messaging system
`of the present invention. Avoice message, or oral message,
`is input into network 120 by utilizing telephone 100. Tele-
`phone 100 is connected to network 120 through local
`exchange carrier switch 108. Upon receipt of the voice
`message at network 120, network 120 will convert the voice
`message into a text message by utilizing known speech
`recognition software 124, which is stored in network 120.
`After network 120 converts the voice message to a text
`message, network 120 transmits the text message to the
`intended recipient’s receiving apparatus 130, such as by
`connection through LEC switch 109, where the message is
`received by the intended recipient.
`Network 120 may be an integrated services provider
`network or a telephone network. As such, network 120
`provides interconnection between the sender’s telephone
`100 and the intended recipient’s receiving apparatus 130.
`Network 120 is capable of converting the voice message into
`a variety of different types of text messages by utilizing
`speech recognition software 124 and standardized text for-
`matting software. For example, network 120 is capable of
`converting the input voice message into either an electronic
`mail (e-mail) message or a text document to be transmitted
`as a facsimile document. Network 120 contains transmission
`equipment to transmit the converted text message to the
`intended recipient’s receiving apparatus 130.
`The intended recipient’s receiving apparatus 130 may be
`a variety of different types of equipment, e.g., a personal
`computer or a facsimile machine. All that is required is that
`the apparatus be capable of receiving the particular type of
`text-formatted message that is transmitted by network 120,
`for example, a personal computer for receiving electronic
`mail (e-mail) messages or a facsimile machine for receiving
`fax documents. For purposes of illustration,
`the present
`invention will be described in an embodiment where the
`
`voice message is converted into an electronic mail message
`and transmitted to the intended recipient’s personal com-
`puter 130.
`In continuing with the description of an embodiment of
`the present invention, the invention has utility for a person
`who desires to send an electronic mail message to an
`intended recipient but who does not have access to an
`electronic mail transmission device. In order to send an
`electronic mail message to an intended recipient
`in this
`circumstance,
`the sending party, who is a subscriber to
`network 120, dials into network 120 by utilizing telephone
`100. After dialing into network 120, network 120 will ask
`the calling party if they would like to place a voice phone
`
`4
`
`

`

`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`3
`call or would like to send an electronic mail message. If the
`calling party desires to place a voice phone call, the calling
`party will be prompted to dial the phone number of the
`desired party and network 120 will attempt to establish the
`phone connection. If the calling party desires to send an
`electronic mail message, the network will prompt the calling
`party for information in order to compose and transmit the
`e-mail message.
`When sending an electronic mail message to an intended
`recipient,
`the sending party must
`identify the intended
`recipient for the e-mail message so that the intended recipi-
`ent’s e-mail address can be determined. There are many
`possible ways for identifying who the intended recipient is.
`All that is required is that an electronic mail address for the
`recipient be ultimately determined. The easiest method for
`determining this information is for the sender to directly
`input the e-mail address for the recipient into the network
`when recording the voice message. Network 120 can prompt
`the calling party to input the intended recipient’s e-mail
`address. The calling party can input the e-mail address by
`speaking the e-mail address into network 120 and having
`speech recognition software 124 interpret the spoken e-mail
`address, or the sending party could enter the recipient’s
`e-mail address by utilizing the telephone’s keypad.
`Alternative methods for determining the e-mail address
`for the recipient could be for the sender to input other
`information identifying the recipient into the network. For
`example, the sender could speak the recipient’s name into
`the network. If this methodology was utilized, the network
`would utilize this information to access database 122 to
`
`correlate the name of the recipient to an e-mail address for
`the recipient.
`Database 122 contains identification information for
`potential recipients. This identification information could
`be, as previously mentioned, the name of the recipient. As
`such, the sender can enter any identification information for
`the intended recipient into the network and the network
`would utilize this information to obtain the correct e-mail
`
`address for the recipient by accessing database 122. The
`only requirement
`is that
`the identification information
`entered by the sender must also be stored in database 122 so
`that correlation of the identification information to an e—mail
`
`address can be accomplished.
`Information can be input to database 122 by either the
`calling party or by the network itself. The network can
`provide for entering information into database 122 by
`utilizing, for example, subscriber information provided to
`the network if the intended recipient is also a subscriber to
`the network or by having the network service provider enter
`information that is obtained from personal data lists that are
`commercially available. Additionally,
`information is also
`input to network database 122 through normal use of the
`present invention. For example, when a sender sends an
`c-mail document to an intended recipient, all information
`entered by the sender into network 120 when sending the
`message is automatically entered into the database. In this
`manner, information is input to database 122 through normal
`use of the system by the subscriber, and thus does not
`necessarily have to be input by a separate data input step that
`is specifically intended for inputting information into the
`database.
`In the situation where there is either no information
`
`contained in database 122 for an intended recipient or where
`there is information contained in the database for a particular
`intended recipient, e.g., the name of the intended recipient,
`but there is no e-mail address available for the intended
`
`10
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`
`4
`recipient, the sending party will be provided with the rec-
`ognized name of the intended recipient, as recognized by
`speech recognition software 124, and will be prompted to
`provide an e-mail address for the intended recipient.
`In order to compose an e-mail message for transmission
`to an intended recipient, the sender will orally speak the
`message to be delivered into network 120. As mentioned
`previously, network 120 contains speech recognition soft-
`ware 124. Speech recognition software 124 will convert the
`oral message into a text format by utilizing known speech-
`to-text conversion software. Once the oral message is con-
`verted into a text format, network 120 will format the
`text-formatted document into an e-mail message and trans-
`mit the e-mail message to the intended recipient by utilizing
`the intended recipient’s e-mail address, which has been
`determined through the process as described previously.
`Currently known speech recognition software has limita-
`tions with respect
`to the library of words that can be
`recognized. For example, not all voice recognition software
`programs will be able to recognize words that relate solely
`to a particular segment of the population. For example,
`words that are commonly used by medical personnel are not
`usually words that are commonly used in the general popu-
`lation. Therefore, most general purpose voice recognition
`systems will not contain these words in their database.
`However, there are voice recognition systems that are spe-
`cifically designed to be utilized with speech that is specific
`to a particular segment of the population. These voice
`recognition systems are generally known as restricted
`domain systems.
`Because a particular sending party may desire to send a
`message that contains words that may not be contained in a
`general purpose speech recognition software program, but
`that may only be contained in a “restricted domain” speech
`recognition program, network 120 contains restricted
`domain speech recognition programs. Network 120 will
`query the sending party as to whether they desire to utilize
`a restricted domain speech recognition program. If the
`sending party realizes that their message contains words that
`are not commonly used, the sending party would select from
`a menu of restricted domains that would be provided to the
`sending party by network 120. The sending party would then
`select the restricted domain appropriate to their message and
`network 120 would utilize this restricted domain voice
`recognition program to recognize the speech of the sending
`party.
`If the sending party does not select a restricted domain
`software program upon call initiation and the network is not
`able to recognize the spoken message of the sending party
`because it contains words that are not contained in the
`
`general purpose speech recognition software, the network
`will inform the sender that the speech cannot be recognized
`and will prompt the user to select a restricted domain for
`speech interpretation that may possibly contain the spoken
`words.
`
`After the network composes the electronic mail message
`by interpreting and converting the voice message, and
`before transmitting the e-mail message, network 120 will
`audibly provide the sending party with the name, e-mail
`address, and message content of the e-mail message as
`converted from the voice message of the sender. The name
`that network 120 provides to the sender for verification is the
`name that
`is recognized and interpreted by the speech
`recognition software as input by the sender. The e-mail
`address is that address either accessed from database 122 or
`
`input by the sender. The message content of the e-mail
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 6,483,899 B2
`
`5
`message is the converted voice message as input by the
`sender. By reviewing this information, the sending party is
`able to verify that the speech recognition software accurately
`recognized and converted the voice message as input by the
`sender.
`
`The sender can modify any incorrect information in the
`e-mail message before transmission of the e-mail message.
`The sending party can input corrected information for the
`intended recipient by speaking corrected information into
`network 120.
`When the text document is transmitted to the intended
`
`recipient, the e-mail address of the sending party is included
`in the e-mail message. This feature is desirable to enable the
`recipient to reply to the e-mail.
`In an alternative embodiment, when sending the e-mail
`message to the intended recipient, it is not required that
`network 120 convert
`the actual spoken message of the
`sending party into a text message for transmission as an
`electronic mail message. Network 120 could instead gener-
`ate an electronic mail message for the intended recipient and
`attach the actual subject matter of the message as a wave
`audio file (.wav) attachment to the e-mail message. In this
`manner, network 120 would convert and save the oral
`message as an electronic file, attach the file to the e-mail
`message that is generated by network 120, and transmit the
`e-mail message and attached file to the intended recipient.
`Thus, network 120 would not be required to convert the
`spoken message into a text message but rather would only be
`required to save the spoken message as an electronic file and
`attach this file to the e-mail message. This elimination of the
`requirement to interpret and convert the spoken message to
`a text message would reduce the capabilities required of the
`speech recognition software because the speech recognition
`software now would only be required to interpret
`the
`addressing information spoken by the sender and not the
`actual subject matter of the spoken message. If network 120
`also had access to other electronic files of the sender, e.g.,
`those saved on a web page of the sender, the sender could
`also attach these files to the e—mail message for transmission
`to the intended recipient as well.
`After the text message is transmitted, network 120 will
`notify the sender of the status of transmitting the message to
`the intended recipient while the sender is still connected to
`the network. The network will notify the sender as to
`whether the transmission was successful or not.
`
`As mentioned previously, the present invention also has
`utility for an intended recipient of a voice message who does
`not have access to a telephone for receiving the voice
`message. In order to receive a voice message as an electronic
`mail message instead, the receiving party, who is a sub-
`scriber to network 120, provides information to network 120
`that
`the recipient desires to receive voice messages as
`electronic mail messages. A voice messaging service is
`provided to the subscriber, i.e., the intended recipient, by
`network 120. The intended recipient’s desires for the format
`for receipt of voice messages can be stored in database 122.
`In operation, when a calling party attempts to place a call
`to the intended recipient and the intended recipient does not
`answer the call, network 120 provides the calling party with
`the opportunity to leave a message for the called party.
`Network 120 will query the calling party as to whether the
`calling party desires to leave a message for the called party.
`If the calling party does desire to leave a message for the
`called party, network 120 will check database 122 to deter-
`mine if the called party desires to receive messages as voice
`messages or as electronic mail messages. It is desired to
`
`6
`determine this in advance of the calling party actually
`leaving a message for the called party because if the called
`party desires electronic mail messages, network 120 may
`have to prompt the calling party for selection of a restricted
`domain for speech recognition software, as described pre-
`viously, This may be desirable in order for network 120 to
`be able to accurately interpret the voice message by utilizing
`speech recognition software 124.
`If the called party has not specifically designated that they
`desire to receive voice messages as e-mail messages, but
`upon checking the desires of the intended recipient the
`network determines that the voice mail box of the intended
`
`recipient is full, a default instruction could be provided to
`the network to transmit the message to the recipient as an
`e-mail message in this circumstance. In this manner, instead
`of the calling party not being able to leave any message [or
`the called party because the called party’s voice mail box is
`full,
`the calling party would still be able to transmit a
`message for the called party as an e-mail message.
`After transmission of a text message, either at the direc-
`tion of the sender or the intended recipient, network 120
`stores information related to the transmission of the text
`message in database 122. This information can be data that
`indicates the time of the transmission, the time required for
`transmitting the message, the sender of the document, the
`recipient, the cumulative number of documents transmitted
`by a particular sender or received by a particular recipient in
`any given time period, and the method of transmission, e.g.,
`e-mail message or fax document. Additional information can
`be stored depending upon the requirements of the sender, the
`recipient, and the network service provider. This information
`can be utilized for accounting purposes or for a variety of
`other purposes.
`There are a variety of methods available for billing
`subscribers for use of this network-based voice messaging
`system. The system could either charge for each message or
`could provide for an unlimited number of messages for a set
`billing amount. Alternatively, the service provided by the
`system can be provided as part of a larger service package
`and thus not be billed as a separate service.
`If the service is to be separately billed and if there is to be
`a charge for each message transmission, various methods are
`possible to account for, and thus bill for, each message
`transmission. The party that designates that a particular
`voice message be transmitted as a text document could be
`billed for the service. That is, if the intended recipient is tie
`network subscriber and the recipient desired that the voice
`message be transmitted to them as a text message, tie
`intended recipient could be billed for the service. If tie
`sender of the text message is the subscriber to the network
`and desired that the message be sent as a text message, tie
`sender could be charged for the service.
`if the service is
`Billing and payment for the service,
`separately billed, can be accomplished in a variety of ways.
`The subscriber could enter a credit card number into tie
`network at
`the time of each document
`transmission, tie
`charges could be separately billed to the account holder on
`a regular basis, or the charges could be included in tie
`account holder’s home or office phone bill.
`FIG. 2 provides the process steps for practicing an
`embodiment of the present invention. Step 200 indicates tie
`step where a voice message is received at a service provider
`network. As previously disclosed, the network may be, for
`example, a telephone network or an integrated services
`network. In step 205, the sender and/or the intended recipi-
`ent will determine the format required for the received
`
`
`
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`
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`US 6,483,899 B2
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`7
`message. Based on the desires of the sender and/or the
`intended recipient,
`the network will determine if a text
`message is to be transmitted to the intended recipient, step
`210. If a text message is to be transmitted to the intended
`recipient,
`the network will determine the text message
`address for the recipient, step 215, and convert
`the oral
`message into a text message by utilizing known speech to
`text conversion software, step 220. As previously disclosed,
`if the message contains words that may not be contained in
`a general purpose speech recognition software program, a
`restricted domain program may be utilized, step 225.
`After conversion of the voice message into a text mes-
`sage,
`the network will audibly play the converted text
`message for the sending party so that the sending party can
`perform error correction on the converted message, step 230,
`if required. In step 235, the network will transmit the text
`message to the intended recipient and in step 240 the
`network will store information related to the transmitted text
`document in a database.
`
`to be
`if a text message is not
`As stated previously,
`transmitted in response to step 210, the network will attempt
`to provide a voice message to the intended recipient, step
`245. The network will determine if the voice mail box of the
`recipient is full, step 250. If the voice mail box for the
`intended recipient is full, the network will provide a text
`message to the intended recipient in accordance with steps
`215—240. If the voice mail box is not full, a voice message
`will be provided to the intended recipient, step 255.
`Several variations on the disclosed embodiments are
`
`contemplated. In the disclosed embodiments, the network is
`disclosed as transmitting a text message to a single recipient;
`however, the network is capable of transmitting the message
`to multiple recipients, e.g., broadcasting the message. The
`sender could designate a single group identifier to identify
`all intended recipients. The network database would contain
`information that would identify each intended recipient that
`is included in the group identifier and information related to
`those individuals, e.g., the e-mail address for each recipient.
`The network would then send the message to each individual
`that is included in the group identifier.
`The present invention is also not limited to transmitting
`the text message as an electronic mail message. As men-
`tioned previously, the transmitted text message can also be
`a facsimile document. The speech recognition software
`would convert the spoken message to a text file. Known
`formatting software would convert the text file to a fax
`document. If the message is transmitted as a facsimile
`document, the recipient’s receiving apparatus 130 could be
`a personal computer that is capable of receiving fax docu-
`ments or could be a standardized facsimile machine. If the
`
`message is converted into a facsimile format, it would not be
`possible to attach wave files (.wav) or other files to the
`facsimile message, as can be done and as was described in
`the electronic mail context.
`
`Additionally, it is not required that a receiving party of a
`voice mail message pre—indicate, i.e., before receipt of the
`voice mail message, their desires for receiving the message
`to network 120, e.g., as an electronic mail message or a
`voice mail message. If a voice mail message is received for
`an intended recipient and no information is stored in data-
`base 122 with respect to the recipient’s desires for the format
`for the message, network 120 will deliver the voice mail
`message to the intended recipient’s voice mail box. If the
`intended recipient then desires to receive the message as a
`text document, e.g., as an e-mail message or a facsimile
`document, the recipient will communicate their desires to
`
`8
`network 120 and network 120 will convert and transmit the
`
`message to the intended recipient as a text document, as
`described previously.
`As described above, a network-based voice messaging
`system is provided. The disclosed embodiments are illus—
`trative of the various ways in which the present invention
`may be practiced. Other embodiments can be implemented
`by those skilled scope of the present invention.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A method for transmitting an oral message to an
`intended recipient comprising the steps of:
`
`receiving at a network an oral message for an intended
`recipient from a sending party; and
`determining whether the recipients voice mailbox is full
`and, if the voice mail box was full, performing the
`following:
`querying the sending party regarding the use of
`restricted domain speech recognition software and
`receiving a response;
`converting the oral message to a text message using
`speech recognition software, wherein restricted
`domain speech recognition software is used if the
`sending party’s response indicates that it should be
`used; and
`transmitting the text message to the intended recipient.
`2. The method of claim 1, wherein said querying the
`sending party includes permitting the sending party to select
`from a menu of restricted domains.
`
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein said text message is an
`electronic mail message.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein said text message is a
`facsimile document.
`
`5. The method of claim 1, further determining whether the
`database has an entry corresponding to the intended recipi-
`ent and, if not, creating an entry for the intended recipient in
`an intended recipient database based on the received voice
`message.
`6. A method for transmitting an oral message to an
`intended recipient comprising the steps of:
`receiving an oral message at a network for an intended
`recipient from a sending party;
`determining a required format for transmitting the oral
`message to the intended recipient by said network;
`converting the oral message to a text message;
`converting said text message to a second oral message and
`providing the second oral message to the sending party
`prior to transmitting the text message to the intended
`recipient;
`receiving oral correction information from the sending
`party prior to transmitting the text message to the
`intended recipient;
`modifying said text message based on the correction
`information prior to transmitting the text message to the
`intended recipient; and
`transmitting the oral message to the intended recipient in
`the required format.
`7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving an oral
`message includes receiving addressing data that was entered
`by the sender on a telephone keypad.
`8. The method of claim 6, wherein an intended recipient
`database has a record