IP Library Granted Patent US 8,737,975
Granted Patent B2
US 8,737,975 · App. 12/636,167 · Granted May 27, 2014

Audio-based text messaging

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,737,975
App. No.
12/636,167
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A device that enable users to send and receive a message in different formats may include a text message gateway, an audio message gateway, and a processor. The text message gateway may include a Short Message Service (SMS) gateway. The audio message gateway may include an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) unit and/or a client application interface that receives audio from a client application of a mobile communications device. The processor may be configured to convert text messages received at the text-message gateway into audio messages and then to send the audio messages via the audio message gateway. The processor may also be configured to convert audio messages received at the audio message gateway into text messages and then to send the text messages via the text message gateway.

Claims (35)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, via a client application interface, an audio message comprising an audio-version destination and an audio-version body from a first mobile communications device, wherein:

the client application interface communicates with a communications device without interaction with an interactive voice response system; and

the audio-version destination comprises an instant message user name;

converting the audio message into a Short Message Service (SMS) text message that contains a text-version body that is a translation of the audio-version body, wherein the text message is addressed to a destination that corresponds to the audio-version destination; and

sending the text message to the destination.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising establishing a chat session through the voicemail system for sending and receiving multiple messages with a second mobile communications device associated with the destination.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the audio message comprises receiving the audio message from a client application of the first mobile communications device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converting comprises a machine speech-to-text translating.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converting comprises looking-up in a contact list associated with the first mobile communications device a destination mobile telephone number of a contact whose name corresponds to a translation of the audio-version destination, and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the converting comprises converting the audio-version destination into a destination mobile telephone number and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

7. A device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

receiving, via a client application interface, an audio message comprising an audio-version destination and an audio-version body from a first mobile communications device, wherein:

the client application interface communicates with a communications device without interaction with an interactive voice response system; and

the audio-version destination comprises an instant message user name;

converting the audio message into a Short Message Service (SMS) text message that contains a text-version body that is a translation of the audio-version body, wherein the text message is addressed to a destination that corresponds to the audio-version destination; and

sending the text message to the destination.

8. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising establishing a chat session through the voicemail system for sending and receiving multiple messages with a second mobile communications device associated with the destination.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the converting comprises machine speech-to-text translating.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein receiving the audio message comprises receiving the audio message from a client application of the first mobile communications device.

11. The device of claim 7 , wherein the converting comprises converting the audio-version destination into a destination mobile telephone number and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

12. The device of claim 7 , the operations further comprising rerouting a destination address.

13. The device of claim 7 , wherein the converting comprises looking-up in a contact list associated with the first mobile communications device a destination mobile telephone number of a contact whose name corresponds to a translation of the audio-version destination, and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

14. A computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal, the computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuation operations comprising:

receiving, via a client application interface, an audio message comprising an audio-version destination and an audio-version body from a first mobile communications device, wherein:

the client application interface communicates with a communications device without interaction with an interactive voice response system;

the audio-version destination comprises an instant message user name;

converting the audio message into a Short Message Service (SMS) text message that contains a text-version body that is a translation of the audio-version body, wherein the text message is addressed to a destination that corresponds to the audio-version destination; and

sending the text message to the destination.

15. The computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal of claim 14 , wherein the converting comprises converting the audio-version destination into a destination mobile telephone number and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

16. The computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal of claim 14 , the operations further comprising establishing a chat session through the voicemail system for sending and receiving multiple messages with a second mobile communications device associated with the destination.

17. The computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal of claim 14 , wherein the converting comprises looking-up in a contact list associated with the first mobile communications device a destination mobile telephone number of a contact whose name corresponds to a translation of the audio-version destination, and populating the destination with the destination mobile telephone number.

18. The computer-readable storage medium that is not a propagating signal of claim 14 , wherein receiving the audio message comprises receiving the audio message from a client application of the first mobile communications device.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2023
From: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 065566/0013 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 26, 2017
From: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
To: NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 041494/0590 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2009
From: ENGELHART, ROBERT L., SR.
To: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 023693/0273 →