US 6,366,651 B1Granted

Communication device having capability to convert between voice and text message

AssigneeAvaya Technology Corp.

InventorsGary L. Griffith, Wilfred E. Lehder

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Abstract

The communication device provides the capability to automatically convert between voice and text messages. This communication device enables the calling party to input a message in voice mode, then activate the communication device to automatically convert the message into a text message format for transmission to the called party. The communication device can display the content of the text message prior to transmission or can retrieve the message from its memory and play the message back to the calling party in an audio mode. The communication device automatically initiates the outgoing call and, since the message is transmitted in a text mode to the called party, the destination can be a computer system or output to a printer. This feature therefore enables hands free operation for E-Mail. The communication device also provides a data retrieval feature where the user can retrieve E-Mail or voice mail messages using the communication device and have the retrieved messages output in either text or audio format. The retrieved messages, since they are stored in memory in the communication device, can be forwarded to another destination once the user has reviewed their content.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A communication device, located in a communication system, for exchange of voice and text message communications with an identified destination, said communication device comprising:

means, responsive to receipt from a user of voice signals, comprising a message and associated command strings, for converting said message into text message format;
means for identifying said command strings contained in said voice signals, for activation of said communication device, comprising:
means for comparing said input voice signals with a predetermined set of command strings indicative of predefined communication functions;
means, responsive to said comparison indicating a match of said voice signals with a one of said predetermined set of command strings, for excerpting said command strings from said voice signals,
means for retrieving from a memory, contained in said communication device, a set of program instructions that, when executed, cause said communication device to perform a one of said predefined communication functions;
means for originating a telephone call from said communication device to a user identified destination, pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings;
and
means for transmitting a text message, comprising said message contained in said voice signals, to said user identified destination pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings.

5 more elements

A method of operating a communication device, located in a communication system, for exchange of voice and text message communications with an identified destination, comprising executing in said communication device the steps of:

converting, in response to receipt from a user of voice signals, comprising a message and associated commands, said message into text message format;
identifying said command strings contained in said voice signals for activation of said communication device, comprising:
comparing said input voice signals with a predetermined set of command strings indicative of predefined communication functions;
excerpting, in response to said comparison indicating a match of said voice signals with a one of said predetermined set of command strings said command strings from said voice signals,
retrieving, from a memory located in said communication device, a set of program instructions that, when executed, cause said communication device to perform a one of said predefined communication functions;
originating a telephone call from said communication device to a user identified destination, pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings;
and
transmitting a text message, comprising said message contained in said voice signals, to said user identified destination pursuant to said one of said predetermined set of command strings.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.