Interactive voice and text message system
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a method for a user of a portable electronic device to respond to a received electronic message. Instructions for reply and message identification are appended to the electronic message to enable a response. The recipient replies by placing a telephone call to a server phone number. After authentication, a voice message is recorded, and, once approved by the sender, the message is converted to an archivable form. The recorded message is sent as an attachment to a text email message to the sender of the original electronic message.
1. A method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal of an enterprise, comprising:
receiving a call in an email server of the enterprise from the portable electronic device;
determining if the portable electronic device is registered in the email server of the enterprise;
obtaining, at the email server, a pre-assigned message identifier from the portable electronic device, the pre-assigned message identifier assigned by the e-mail server to an e-mail message provided to the portable electronic device from the email server, the pre-assigned message identifier corresponding to an author of the received email;
authenticating the pre-assigned message identifier at the email server of the enterprise;
requesting a recording of a voice message from the user of the portable electronic device as a reply to the email message;
recording the voice message at the email server; and
transmitting the voice message to the enterprise terminal.
2. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
converting the recorded voice message into a format adapted for attachment to an electronic message.
3. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
playing an error message and terminating communication with the e-mail server if the device is not registered in the email server.
4. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal by voice according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if the recorded message is acceptable; and
recording the message again if the previously recorded message is not acceptable.
5. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with a terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying a user of the portable electronic device by using a Caller ID service.
6. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with a an enterprise terminal according to claim 1 , further comprising:
prompting, if a Caller ID service is not operating, a user of the portable electronic device to enter a personal identification number (“PIN”); and
authenticating the PIN to determine whether the PIN is valid.
7. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 1 , wherein the pre-assigned message identifier allows transmission of the voice message to the enterprise terminal.
8. A method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal of an enterprise, comprising:
receiving a call in an email server of the enterprise from the portable electronic device;
determining if the portable electronic device is registered in the email server;
obtaining, at the email server, a pre-assigned message identifier from the portable electronic device, the pre-assigned message identifier assigned by the email server to an email message provided to the portable electronic device from the email server, the pre-assigned message identifier corresponding to an author of the received email;
authenticating the pre-assigned message identifier at the email server of the enterprise;
requesting a recording of a voice message from the user of the portable electronic device as a reply to the email message;
recording the voice message at the email server;
converting the recorded voice message into MP3 format; and
transmitting the converted voice message to the user of the enterprise terminal.
9. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8 , further comprising identifying a user of the device by using a Caller ID service.
10. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8 , further comprising:
prompting, if a Caller ID service is not operating, a user of the portable electronic device to enter a PIN; and
authenticating the PIN to determine whether the PIN is valid.
11. The method for enabling a portable electronic device to communicate with an enterprise terminal according to claim 8 , wherein the pre-assigned message identifier allows transmission of the voice message to the terminal.