Voice message delivery method and system
AssigneeSoundbite Communications, Inc.
InventorGary A. Culliss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A voice message delivery method and system for delivering voice messages from a Sender to a Receiver, where neither the Sender nor the Receiver are required to be Subscribers to the system. The invention allows voice messages to be delivered to non-Subscribers and, if they are not how, to be recorded into the existing answering machine or voicemail system of the Recipient. Advertisements played during either the process of sending or receiving a message provide revenue for a company providing the service of the present invention without requiring users to become Subscribers.
Claims25
A method for delivering voice messages using a voice messaging system, comprising:
- (a) receiving an inbound call from a Sender, wherein the Sender lacks a voice mailbox within the voice messaging system and the Sender lacks an agreement to pay a provider of the voice messaging system for the use of the voice messaging system;
- (b) recording, free of charge to the Sender, an original audio message from the Sender intended for a Recipient;
- (c) receiving from the Sender a telephone number of the Recipient;
- (d) placing a first outbound call by calling the telephone number of the Recipient;
- and
- (e) playing, free of charge to the Sender, the original audio message for the Recipient.
A voice messaging system for delivering voice messages comprising a voice message server, wherein the voice message server operates to:
- (a) receive an inbound call from a Sender, wherein the Sender lacks a voice mailbox within the voice messaging system and the Sender lacks an agreement to pay a provider of the voice messaging system for the use of the voice messaging system;
- (b) record, free of charge to the Sender, a original audio message from the Sender intended for a Recipient;
- (c) receive from the Sender a telephone number of the Recipient;
- (d) place a first outbound call by calling the telephone number of the Recipient;
- and
- (e) play, free of charge to the Sender, the original audio message for the Recipient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.