System and method for providing message-based communications via a centralized voice message server
A system and method for providing message-based communications via a centralized voice message server is provided. A plurality of communication devices are interfaced over a data network. A session is initiated upon receipt of a sign-in request from one of the communication devices. An identity of a user associated with that communication device is verified. The user is assigned to at least one discussion group, which includes one or more other signed-in users each associated with an other communication device located at a location removed from the communication device. A voice message is received on a message server from the user. The voice message is encrypted for each of the other signed-in users using keys unique to the other communication devices associated with the other signed-in users. The encrypted voice message is provided from the message server to the other signed-in users.
1. A computer-implemented system for providing message-based communications via a centralized voice message server, comprising:
a plurality of communication devices; and
a voice message server interfaced with the communication devices over a data network, comprising:
a control module initiating a session upon receipt of a sign-in request from one of the communication devices, verifying an identity of a user associated with that communication device, and assigning the user to at least one discussion group during the session, the discussion group comprising one or more other signed-in users each associated with an other communication device located at a location removed from the communication device;
a security module receiving a voice message from the user via the communication device and encrypting the voice message for each of the other signed-in users in the discussion group using keys unique to the other communication devices associated with the other signed-in users;
a voice processing module providing the encrypted voice message to the other signed-in users in the discussion group via the other communication devices; and
a processor to execute the modules.
2. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the session is terminated upon receipt of a sign-out request from the communication device.
3. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an identification module generating a group identification for the discussion group and assigning the group identification to the voice message upon receipt by the message server; and
a queue module providing the voice message to a queue based on the group identification.
4. A computer-implemented system according to claim 3 , wherein the voice message is transiently stored in the queue prior to transmission to the other communication devices.
5. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a selection module selecting a moderator for the discussion group and providing the voice message to the moderator;
an approval module receiving approval of the voice message from the moderator; and
a transmission module transmitting the voice message to the other communication devices in the discussion group based on the approval from the moderator.
6. A computer-implemented system according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a receipt module receiving annotations from the moderator; and
an annotation module applying the annotations to the voice message prior to transmission to the other communication devices.
7. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a list module maintaining a list of users for the discussion group;
a request module receiving a request from the user to join the discussion group; and
an entry module adding an entry for the user in the list of users.
8. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an identification module associating the voice message with at least one of a user identification, a discussion group identification, a message identification, and a time-stamp.
9. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a transformation module performing at least one of decompressing the voice message, decrypting the voice message, concatenating the voice message, and converting the voice message into an electrical signal.
10. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1 , wherein the other communication devices each perform at least one of playing the voice message, skipping the voice message, and replaying the voice message.
11. A computer-implemented method for providing message-based communications via a centralized voice message server, comprising:
interfacing a plurality of communication devices over a data network;
initiating a session upon receipt of a sign-in request from one of the communication devices and verifying an identity of a user associated with that communication device;
assigning the user to at least one discussion group during the session, the discussion group comprising one or more other signed-in users each associated with an other communication device located at a location removed from the communication device;
receiving on a message server, a voice message from the user via the communication device and encrypting the voice message for each of the other signed-in users in the discussion group using keys unique to the other communication devices associated with the other signed-in users; and
providing the encrypted voice message from the message server to the other signed-in users in the discussion group via the other communication devices.
12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
terminating the session upon receipt of a sign-out request from the communication device.
13. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
generating a group identification for the discussion group;
assigning the group identification to the voice message upon receipt; and
providing the voice message to a queue based on the group identification.
14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
transiently storing the voice message in the queue prior to transmission to the other communication devices.
15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
selecting a moderator for the discussion group and providing the voice message to the moderator;
receiving approval of the voice message from the moderator; and
transmitting the voice message to the other communication devices in the discussion group based on the approval from the moderator.
16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving annotations from the moderator; and
applying the annotations to the voice message prior to transmission to the other communication devices.
17. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
maintaining a list of users for the discussion group;
receiving a request from the user to join the discussion group; and
adding an entry for the user in the list of users.
18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising:
associating the voice message with at least one of a user identification, a discussion group identification, a message identification, and a time-stamp.
19. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one of:
decompressing the voice message;
decrypting the voice message;
concatenating the voice message; and
converting the voice message into an electronic signal.
20. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11 , wherein the other communication devices each perform at least one of:
playing the voice message;
skipping the voice message; and
replaying the voice message.