Voice message intermediary
View Patent ↗A method and system is provided for receiving a voice message from a first access device, storing said message and subsequently forwarding the voice message to a second access device. The system has a plurality of access devices which are coupled to each other over a network such as the Internet. These access devices may include computers, workstations, and the like. An access device is configured to operate as an intermediary access computer in which it receives a voice message from one access device over the network and subsequently re-transmits it over the network to another access device.
1. A method for receiving and forwarding voice messages comprising:
receiving a voice message from a first access device over a first network by an intermediary access computer, wherein said voice message is stored by said first access device, said voice message comprising voice data and destination information;
storing said voice message by said intermediary access computer;
retrieving destination information from said voice message by said intermediary access computer;
selecting a second access device based on said destination information;
transmitting said voice message from said intermediary access computer to said second access device over a second network, wherein said voice message is stored by said second access device.
2. A system for receiving and forwarding voice messages comprising:
means for receiving a voice message from a first access device over a first network by an intermediary access computer, wherein said voice message is stored by said first access device, said voice message comprising voice data and destination information;
means for storing said voice message by said intermediary access computer;
means for retrieving destination information from said voice message by said intermediary access computer;
means for selecting a second access device based on said destination information;
means for transmitting said voice message from said intermediary access computer to said second access device over a second network, wherein said voice message is stored by said second access device.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first network and said second network are the Internet and said steps of receiving and transmitting utilize a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
recording said voice data by said first access device by storing a voice signal received from a telephone device coupled to said first access device through a communication medium.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
playing back said voice data by said second access device by sending a voice signal to a telephone device coupled to said second access device through a communication medium.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said destination information comprises a telephone number associated with a recipient of said voice message.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein said first network and said second network are the Internet.
8. The system of claim 2 further comprising:
means for recording said voice data by said first access device by storing a voice signal received from a telephone device coupled to said first access device through a communication medium.
9. The system of claim 2 further comprising:
means for playing back said voice data by said second access device by sending a voice signal to a telephone device coupled to said second access device through a communication medium.
10. The system of claim 2 wherein said destination information comprises a telephone number associated with a recipient of said voice message.
11. An intermediary access computer configured to receive and forward voice messages comprising:
an input interface coupled to a first network, wherein said first network is coupled to a first access device storing a voice message;
an output interface coupled to a second network, wherein said second network is coupled to a second access device;
a storage device;
a processing element; and
a memory element containing instructions for said processing element wherein said instructions configure said intermediary access computer to perform the steps of:
receiving said voice message from said first access device over said first network through said input interface, said voice message comprising voice data and destination information;
storing said voice message within said storage device;
retrieving destination information from said voice message;
selecting a second access device based on said destination information;
transmitting said voice message through said output interface to said second access device over said second network, wherein said voice message is stored by said second access device.
12. The intermediary access device of claim 11 wherein said first network and said second network are the Internet and said steps of receiving and transmitting utilize a TCP/IP-based communication protocol.
13. The intermediary access computer of claim 11 wherein said destination information comprises a telephone number associated with a recipient of said voice message.