Title of Invention

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VOICE SMS MESSAGING

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method and system for allowing voice short message service (SMS) messaging using methods of recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. A user creates a text SMS message and addresses the message to a recipient. The address of the recipient may be obtained from the address book stored locally on the user's mobile device. A client application intercepts the text SMS message and prompts whether the user wants to include a voice SMS message is recorded on a server. The text message along with a notification of the voice message is transmitted to the recipient. The recipient may use the information in the voice message notification to access and listen to the user's recorded voice message.

Full Text

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VOICE SMS MESSAGING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention in general relates to sending and receiving messages using mobile devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to voice SMS messaging using standard methods of recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. The existing methods of sending voice SMS messages require a sender to input a recipient's identification through a user input mechanism. The mobile station integrated services digital network (MSISDN) number of the recipient's mobile device is used to send the voice SMS. The current methods of text SMS messaging allows the use of addresses stored on the sender's mobile device. The addresses may be stored in the mobile device's built-in address book or on the subscriber identity module (SIM) cards in GSM mobile phones. However, the existing methods for voice SMS messaging do not allow the sender to use such locally stored addresses for selecting the recipients of the messages. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The method and system disclosed herein, allows voice SMS messaging using standard methods of recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. A user creates a text SMS message and addresses the message to a recipient. The address of the recipient may be obtained from the address book stored locally on the user's mobile device. A client application running on the user's mobile device intercepts the text SMS message and prompts whether the user wants to include a voice SMS message. If the user wants to include the voice SMS message, the user's voice message is recorded on a server. The text message along with a notification of the voice message is transmitted to the recipient. The recipient may use the voice message notification to listen to the user's recorded voice message. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 illustrates the method for integrating voice content with text content in a wireless text messaging service. FIGURE 2A illustrates the method for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of single recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. FIGURE 2B illustrates the method for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of multiple recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. FIGURE 3 illustrates the system for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of addressing as used by text SMS messaging. FIGURE 4A illustrates the system of a first embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a single recipient, using a client application. FIGURE 4B illustrates the system of a second embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a single recipient, using a client application. FIGURE 4C illustrates the system of a third embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a plurality of recipients, using a client application. FIGURE 4D illustrates the system of a fourth embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a plurality of recipients, using a client application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 illustrates the method for integrating voice content with text content in a wireless text messaging service. In the disclosed method, voice SMS messaging is combined with the standard methods of addressing as employed in text SMS messaging. A client application is provided on a user's mobile device. In one embodiment of the invention, the client application resides on an internal operating system present on the mobile device. Examples of operating systems include maybe Symbian® of Symbian Inc., Windows® of Microsoft Inc., etc., that may support a high level language interface such as Java® of Sun Microsystems Inc. The client application intercepts normal text SMS messaging operations such as addressing, composing the text message, sending the text message, etc. In another embodiment of the invention, the client application resides on the subscriber identity module (SIM) card of the GSM mobile device. The user creates a text message employing the user interface provided on the mobile device. The user then addresses the text message to specific recipients using the standard methods for addressing text message. The recipient addresses may be stored in a built-in address book on the mobile device. If the mobile device is a GSM device, the addresses may be stored the SIM card. The user sends the text message to the recipients. In order to associate the text message with voice content, the client application intercepts the text SMS message. The client application prompts the user as to whether a voice SMS message needs to be included. If the user prefers not include a voice SMS message, the client application sends the intercepted text SMS message to the recipient. If the user prefers to additionally add a voice SMS message, the client application connects the mobile device to a server. The user's voice message is recorded and stored on the server. A voice message notification is attached to the text SMS message and sent to the addressed recipients. The recipients on receiving the text SMS message may use the information in the voice message notification to access and listen to the user's voice message stored on the voice server. FIGURE 2A illustrates the method for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of single recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. In order to send a text message to a particular recipient, the user uses the addresses stored in a built-in address book or on a SIM card. In order to create a voice SMS message, the client application connects the user's mobile device to a server for recording the user's voice message. The server is further provided with information about the recipient to whom a voice message notification has to be sent. In one embodiment of the invention, if the text message body is blank, the recipient's information may be sent to the server by transmitting the dial string 6*MSISDN' to the server as part of the connection process. If the message body is not blank, it is advantageous to send the recipient information before or as a part of the connection process to the server. For example, the address information could be sent via out-of-band signaling (USSD) or as a background SMS message containing the address and text information. The method described above, additionally allows the user to create new voice SMS messages by employing user's call history. During voice SMS messaging, the methods of addressing, message creation, message sending, etc., ensures that the user experience remains unchanged from that of text SMS messaging. FIGURE 2B illustrates the method for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of multiple recipient addressing as used by text SMS messaging. The client application may allow the user to send a common voice SMS message to a plurality of recipients. The plurality of recipients may be addressed by common group messages enhanced with voice SMS messaging capability. In one embodiment of the disclosed method, a reply option may be provided to the recipient. Upon receiving a voice SMS message, the recipient may use voice SMS messaging to reply back to the user. In another embodiment, a reply-all option may be employed in group messages. Using the reply-all option a particular recipient may send a voice SMS message to all the other recipients including the user. When a voice SMS message is delivered to a plurality of recipients, the user will hear one or more of the following: optional TTS of the message, "Restaurant Choice may change"; any additional audio recorded with the message; recipients have the option of replying to the user or the entire group to which the message was sent. FIGURE 3 illustrates the system for combining voice SMS message with the standard methods of addressing as used by text SMS messaging. The system comprises a mobile device with an internal operating system such Symbian, Windows, etc. The internal operating system may support a high level language interface such as Java. A client application is provided on the mobile device for creating and sending a voice SMS message. The client application may be one of, but not restricted to a Java client, a binary runtime for wireless (BREW) client, or a SIM toolkit. The user creates and sends a text SMS message using a built-in application such as an SMS client. The text SMS message is intercepted by the client application. FIGURE 4A illustrates the system of a first embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message using a client application. In the example shown in FIGURE 4A, the operating system is Symbian and the client application is a native Symbian client. The user is prompted to answer whether a voice SMS message needs to be included or not. If the user chooses to include a voice SMS message, the user is connected to a server through the network interfaces provided as a part of the mobile device's hardware. The user employs built-in applications to record the voice message on the server. After the recording is complete, a voice notification is included in the text SMS message and transmitted to the recipients. The recipients may access the recorded voice message on the server through the information included in the voice message notification. FIGURE 4B illustrates the system of a second embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message using a client application. The second embodiment of the disclosed system is functionally similar as that of the first embodiment. However, the client application is implemented as a SIM toolkit application in the SIM toolkit environment. FIGURE 4C illustrates the system of a third embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a plurality of recipients, using a client application. Excmplarily, the client application is the native Symbian application residing in the native application environment. The third embodiment of the invention has the following characteristics: • Multiple recipients, optional text component • Send Message Information: Recipient(s), Message Body, Message Options - SMS Transport: Send SMS with information and a Direct Access (DA) link/number that will be used for voice call; Call DA link to record voice and the service sends message • DA links / numbers provisioned to application OTA (via SMS) during initialization phase - USSD Transport: Send information directly via USSD channel; receive DA link from service (no provisioning of application required); Call DA link to record voice, Service Sends message. FIGURE 4D illustrates the system of a fourth embodiment of the invention for sending a voice SMS message to a plurality of recipients, using a client application. In the fourth embodiment, the client application is the SIM toolkit application residing in the SIM toolkit environment. The fourth embodiment of the invention has the following characteristics: • Multiple recipients, optional text component • Send Message Information: Recipient(s); Message Body and Message Options SMS Transport: Send SMS with information and DA link/number that will be used for Voice Call; Call DA link to record voice and the service sends message • DA links / numbers provisioned to application OTA (via SMS) during initialization phase USSD Transport: Send information directly via USSD channel; receive DA link from service (no provisioning of application required); Call DA link to record voice and the service sends message. CLAIMS I/We claim: 1. A method for voice short message service messaging, comprising the steps of: providing a client application on a mobile device; creating a text message by a user on said mobile device; addressing said text message to recipients using addresses stored on said mobile device; integrating voice content to said text message using standard methods of recipient addressing as used by text short message service messaging, further comprising the steps of: intercepting said addressed text message by said client application; prompting said user to include a voice message with said addressed text message; and transmitting a voice message notification along with the addressed text message to said recipients. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said client application is implemented on the subscriber identity module of said mobile device. 3. A system for voice short message service messaging, comprising: a mobile device; a client application on said mobile device, wherein said client application integrates voice content to said text message using standard methods of recipient addressing as used by text short message service messaging; a memory storage means on said mobile device to store a list of addresses of recipients; a user interface on said mobile device for a user to input said voice and text messages; and a server to remotely store the voice messages of said user and for transmitting a voice message notification along with the addressed text message to said recipients. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said server further comprises: a first server for remotely storing said voice messages of said user; and a second server for transmitting a voice message notification along with the addressed text message to said recipients.

Documents:

0871-che-2007-abstract.pdf

0871-che-2007-claims.pdf

0871-che-2007-correspondnece-others.pdf

0871-che-2007-description(provisional).pdf

0871-che-2007-drawings.pdf

0871-che-2007-form 1.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 18-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 02-05-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED CLAIMS 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION 15-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 ASSIGNMENT 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 02-05-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 15-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS. 21-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 EXAMINATION REPORT REPLY RECEIVED 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 FORM-1 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 FORM-3 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 FORM-3 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 FORM-3 21-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 FORM-5 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 OTHER PATENT DOCUMENT 1 04-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 OTHERS 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 POWER OF ATTORNEY 18-01-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 18-04-2013.pdf

871-CHE-2007 CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 20-03-2013.pdf