IP Library Granted Patent US 7,991,391
Granted Patent B2
US 7,991,391 · App. 12/104,677 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Pre-recorded voice responses for portable telecommunication devices

Assignee: Verizon Online LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,991,391
App. No.
12/104,677
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A portable communication device may be used so that, in place of speaking into the portable communication device during a telephone call, users may initiate playback of pre-recorded messages to the party with whom the user is communicating. In one implementation, a device may receive, during a telephone call between a first party and a second party, a command from the first party to transmit a pre-recorded message to the second party. The pre-recorded message may be an audible message that was pre-recorded by the first party. The device may transmit the pre-recorded message to the second party in response to the command.

Claims (25)

1. A method comprising:

switching a portable communication device into a pre-recorded message mode, where the portable communication device, while in the pre-recorded message mode

receives selections by a user of a pre-recorded message that is to be transmitted to a called party during a telephone conversation,

transmits the pre-recorded message to the called party; and

switching the portable communication device into a normal mode in which the user speaks into the portable communication device to communicate with the called party.

2. The method of claim 1 , where the portable communication device is switched to the pre-recorded message mode and the normal mode during the telephone conversation with the called party.

3. The method of claim 1 , where, when in the pre-recorded message mode, a microphone of the portable communication device is disabled.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the selections by the user of the pre-recorded message is performed via one or more pre-defined keypad buttons.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying, while in the pre-recorded message mode, a menu configured to present and allow selection of a pre-recorded message.

6. The method of claim 1 , where the pre-recorded messages are messages that were previously recorded by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

placing, in response to a command from the user while in the pre-recorded message mode, the called party into a voice mail system.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a command to place the portable communication device in a mode in which numbers entered via a keypad of the portable communication device are audibly conveyed to the called party.

9. A device comprising:

means for switching a portable communication device into a pre-recorded message mode, where the portable communication device, while in the pre-recorded message mode

receives selections, from a user, of a pre-recorded message that is to be transmitted to a called party during a telephone conversation,

transmits the pre-recorded message to the called party; and

means for switching the portable communication device into a normal mode in which the user speaks into the portable communication device to communicate with the called party.

10. The device of claim 9 , where, when in the pre-recorded message mode, a microphone of the portable communication device is disabled.

11. The device of claim 9 , further comprising:

means to place, in response to a command from the user while in the pre-recorded message mode, the called party into a voice mail system.

12. The device of claim 9 , further comprising:

means to receive a command to place the portable communication device in a mode in which numbers entered via a keypad of the portable communication device are audibly conveyed to the called party.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 28, 2011
From: GTE.NET LLC
To: VERIZON ONLINE LLC
Reel/Frame 026511/0442 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2008
From: SELBY, MICHAEL L.
To: GTE.NET LLC (D/B/A VERIZON INTERNET SOLUTIONS)
Reel/Frame 020818/0744 →
Continuity (1)
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