Method for administering message attachments
AssigneeAvaya Technology Corp.
InventorDavid R. Rhee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for more effectively accessing message attachments that is particularly applicable in a telephone voicemail or e-mail system. The system provides users with the ability to selectively process attachments to a main or originating message and to designate messages as able to be forwarded only once and/or be reviewed only once. Among other benefits, the time required for handling attachments and/or for listening to attachments is reduced. Various embodiments of the invention include the use of telephone keypad input control, push-button, voice recognition and computer control.
Claims27
In a messaging system providing access for authorized users to pre-stored messages, wherein at least one of said pre-stored messages has multiple message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, a method for providing access to selected portions of said at least one of said pre-stored messages comprising the steps of:
- providing a signal to a user indicative of at least one of said pre-stored messages being available for access by said user;
- upon selection by said user of an available pre-stored message, having multiple message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, providing said user a different signal indicating that said selected pre-stored message includes both an initial audio message and one or more audio attachments;
- providing a user option for selecting one message portion from a selected pre-stored message which includes an initial audio message with one or more audio attachments;
- and
- upon selection by a user of said one message portion of said selected pre-stored message, causing only said selected portion to be provided to said user,
- wherein said pre-stored messages may be coded to restrict a forwarding of one or more portions of a message so coded to one or more identified users.
A messaging system for providing authorized users of said system with access to selected portions of pre-stored messages, wherein at least one of said pre-stored messages has a plurality of message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, said system comprising:
- a message available indicator operative to provide a signal to a user of at least one of said pre-stored messages being available for access by said user;
- an input device responsive to user input to select an available message for further processing by said system;
- a message attachments indicator operative to provide a signal to said user indicating that a selected available message, including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, includes both an initial audio message and one or more audio attachments;
- a selection interface operating in conjunction with said input device for providing said user an option to select a desired portion of a message that includes one or more audio attachments, and for accepting a signal from said user identifying said selected desired portion;
- an output device for providing said selected desired portion to said user;
- and
- a coding means operative to code said pre-stored messages to restrict a forwarding of one or more portions of a message to one or more identified users.
In a messaging system providing access for authorized users to pre-stored messages, wherein at least one of said pre-stored messages has multiple message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, a method for providing access to selected portions of said at least one of said pre-stored messages comprising the steps of:
- providing a signal to a user indicative of at least one of said pre-stored messages being available for access by said user;
- upon selection by said user of an available pre-stored message, having multiple message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, providing said user a different signal indicating that said selected pre-stored message includes both an initial audio message and one or more audio attachments;
- providing a user option for selecting one message portion from a selected pre-stored message which includes an initial audio message with one or more audio attachments;
- and
- upon selection by a user of said one message portion of said selected pre-stored message, causing only said selected portion to be provided to said user,
- wherein a pre-stored message, including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, is coded by the user and forwarded by the user to a further user, wherein the coding limits the ability of the further user to forward the initial audio message or one or more of the audio attachments.
A messaging system for providing authorized users of said system with access to selected portions of pre-stored messages, wherein at least one of said pre-stored messages has a plurality of message portions including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, said system comprising:
- a message available indicator operative to provide a signal to a user of at least one of said pre-stored messages being available for access by said user;
- an input device responsive to user input to select an available message for further processing by said system;
- a message attachments indicator operative to provide a signal to said user indicating that a selected available message, including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, includes both an initial audio message and one or more audio attachments;
- a selection interface operating in conjunction with said input device for providing said user an option to select a desired portion of a message that includes one or more audio attachments, and for accepting a signal from said user identifying said selected desired portion;
- an output device for providing said selected desired portion to said user;
- and
- a coding means, wherein a pre-stored message, including an initial audio message created by a first person and one or more audio attachments to said initial audio message created by a person or persons other than the first person, is coded by the user using said coding means and forwarded by the user to a further user, wherein the coding limits the ability of the further user to forward the initial audio message or one or more of the audio attachments.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.