Methods and apparatus for non-simultaneous transmittal and storage of voice message and digital text or image

A messaging system used by a recipient, that enables a caller to create a composite voice and data message in electronic format for storage in, and subsequent retrieval by the recipient from, a mailbox assigned to the recipient, wherein the mailbox comprises a data structure in an information storage system of the messaging system, and wherein the composite voice and data message includes a voice message portion and an image data portion, the messaging system comprising:

• means for recording a voice message in electronic format during a first call;
• means for receiving image data during a second call, distinct from the first call, and storing the image data in electronic format, wherein the second call occurs either prior to or subsequent to the first call;
• means for providing pre-programmed prompts to the caller during the earlier of the first and second calls that inquire whether the caller desires to create a composite voice and data message;
• means for creating a composite voice and data data structure responsive to a reply of the caller to the pre-programmed prompts;
• means for selecting and storing a message identification number associated with the mailbox and which is specific to either the voice message or the image data, whichever was received first by the messaging system;
• means for providing the message identification number to the caller during the earlier of the first and second calls;
• means for accepting from the caller during the later of the first and second calls the message identification number provided to the caller during the earlier of the first and second calls;
• and
• means employing the message identification number for associating the image data with the voice message to create a composite voice and data message and for storing the composite voice and data message in the recipient's mailbox, wherein the voice message forms the voice message portion of the composite voice and data message and the image data forms the image data portion of the composite voice and data message.

A messaging system, employed by a recipient, that allows a caller to non-simultaneously create a composite voice and data message in electronic format for storage in a mailbox assigned to the recipient, the mailbox comprising a data structure in an information storage system of the messaging system, and the composite voice and data message including a voice message portion and an image data portion, the messaging system comprising:

• means for receiving and storing the image data portion in electronic format;
• means for providing pre-programmed prompts to the caller, that inquire whether the caller desires to create a composite voice and data message;
• means for receiving, from the caller, responses to the pre-programmed prompts;
• means for selecting and storing a message identification number, wherein the message identification number is a next available message identification number assigned to the mailbox and is specific to the image data;
• means for creating in the mailbox a composite voice and data data structure responsive to the caller's responses to the preprogrammed prompts;
• means for providing the message identification number to the caller, responsive to the caller's responses to the preprogrammed prompts;
• means for prompting the caller to enter the message identification number before or after recording the voice message portion;
• means for recording the voice message portion in electronic format;
• and
• means employing the message identification number for associating the image data portion with the voice message portion to create the composite voice and data message.

A method by which a recipient's messaging system non-simultaneously receives a voice message and image data, and creates a composite voice and data message on an information storage system for subsequent retrieval by the recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

• accepting a first call from a first caller and establishing a first connection to the information storage system;
• receiving a voice message from the first caller, during the first call, for recording in electronic format on the information storage system;
• receiving from the first caller a priority level and assigning the priority level to the voice message, wherein the priority level corresponds to urgent priority or non-urgent priority;
• audibly providing to the first caller a message identification number;
• terminating the first connection and the first call;
• accepting a second call from a second caller and establishing a second connection to the information storage system;
• accepting, from the second caller, the message identification number;
• receiving image data from the second caller, during the second call, for storage to the information storage system;
• and
• receiving from the second caller a priority level and assigning the priority level to the image data, wherein the priority level corresponds to urgent priority or non-urgent priority;
• associating the image data with the voice message using the message identification number to create a composite voice and data message for storage within the mailbox of the recipient.

A messaging system that provides for the creation of a composite voice and data message in electronic format for storage in a mailbox assigned to a recipient, the mailbox comprising a data structure in an information storage system of the messaging system, and the composite message including a voice message portion created by a first caller during a first call into the messaging system and an image data portion created by a second caller during a subsequent call into the messaging system, the messaging system comprising:

• means for recording a voice message by the first caller in electronic format during the first call;
• means for providing pre-programmed prompts to the first caller that inquire whether the first caller desires to create a composite voice and data message;
• means for receiving a reply to the preprogrammed prompts from the first caller;
• means for creating a composite voice and data data structure responsive to the reply indicating that the first caller desires to create a composite voice and data message;
• means for generating and storing a message identification number, wherein the message identification number is specific to the voice message;
• means for audibly providing the message identification number to the first caller;
• means for prompting the second caller, during the subsequent call, to enter the message identification number and then begin transmitting image data to the messaging system;
• means for accepting, from the second caller, the message identification number;
• means for receiving and storing image data in electronic format during the subsequent call;
• and
• means employing the message identification number for associating the image data with the voice message to create the composite voice and data message within the recipient's mailbox, wherein the voice message forms the voice message portion of the composite voice and data message and the image data forms the image data portion of the composite voice and data message.

A method by which a messaging system non-simultaneously receives a voice message and image data, and creates a composite voice and data message on an information storage system in the messaging system for subsequent retrieval by a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

• accepting a first call from a first caller and establishing a first connection to the information storage system;
• providing pre-programmed prompts to the first caller that inquire whether the first caller desires to create a composite voice and data message;
• receiving, from the first caller, responses to the pre-programmed prompts;
• recording a voice message during the first call and storing the recorded voice message in the information storage system;
• audibly providing, to the first caller, a message identification number, responsive to the first caller's responses to the pre-programmed prompts;
• terminating the first call and the first connection;
• accepting a second call from a second caller and establishing a second connection to the information storage system;
• accepting, from the second caller, the message identification number;
• receiving image data during the second call and storing the received image data in the information storage system;
• and
• associating the voice message with the image data using the message identification number to create a composite voice and data message in the mailbox of the recipient.