Method and apparatus for selecting and playing a voice mail message

Patent 5568540 Issued on October 22, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 14, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventors

Assignee

Active Voice Corporation

Application

No. 422700 filed on 04/14/1995

US Classes:

379/88.25, Message storage in centralized location (e.g., central office, PBX, etc.)379/88.11, Display of message related information379/88.14, Presentation format conversion379/88.23Controlled by subscriber or caller

Examiners

Primary: Zele, Krista M.
Assistant: Hunter, Daniel S.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Graybeal Jackson Haley & Johnson

Foreign Patent References

2577093 FR 08/12/1986
61-39756 JP 02/12/1986

International Class

H04M 001/64

Abstract

A graphical user interface for the display of voice mail message information and playing voice mail messages through a computer speaker. Using a mouse, the messages can be manipulated individually or in groups. Using the mouse or the keyboard, the sender of a message can add textual copy or addressing to a message. The display also includes, merged into a single list, e-mail messages and fax messages for the user. The interface includes a facility for exporting voice mail messages into multimedia documents and importing sound clips from multimedia documents into voice mail messages. If the sender of a message does not want the recipient to copy the message for further distribution to others, the sender may designate the message as "Private", and the system will not allow the message to be copied.

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