Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
  • H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
  • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
  • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
  • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
  • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/02—Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
  • G06F3/023—Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
  • G06F3/0233—Character input methods

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a messaging method and system for implementing the method.
• the invention relates to a method for sending text messages from a conventional telephone to a text receiving device and for sending text messages from a text messaging device to a standard telephone.
• Systems for implementing the method are also disclosed.
• Telephones including rotary diallers send signals to an exchange in the form of pulses as contacts are open and closed.
• More modern telephones include dual tone multi-frequency signal (DTMF) generators which produce dual tone multi-frequency signals upon actuation of a key.
• DTMF dual tone multi-frequency signal
• the standard arrangement of DTMF phones includes a 1 2 key keypad.
• a number of automatic response messaging systems have been developed which process calls based upon signals generated by such standard telephones. Such systems are used extensively in voice mail applications where a user is prompted to dial a number corresponding to a menu item.
• US5,339,358 discloses a system in which a conventional telephone may be used to send a text message from a standard telephone to a text messaging device.
• the method and system disclosed does not, however, provide a simple means for responding to a text message received from a standard telephone. Further, the method requires a laborious process to enter a text message, even if it is of a standard form.
• a method of sending a text message from a telecommunications device not having a dedicated key for each letter of the alphabet comprising the steps of:
• a method of sending a text message from a telecommunications device not having a specific key for each letter of the alphabet comprising the steps of:
• a method of sending a text message from a text messaging device to a telephone comprising the steps of:
• a telephony computer for implementing the aforesaid methods is also disclosed.
• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a system for implementing the method of the invention.
• Figure 2 shows a flow diagram for sending a text message from a standard telephone.
• a telecommunications device 1 is connected to a public telephone network 2.
• the telecommunications device is a standard DTMF 1 2 button telephone.
• Other telephones, such as rotary dial telephones may also be used.
• a telephony computer 3 is also connected to the public telephone network.
• Telephony computer 3 may be a mainframe, miniframe, server or personal computer which has a Network Interface Unit (NIU) to connect to a telephone network through the use of standard protocols such as ISDN, SS7 AND MF.
• NAU Network Interface Unit
• Telephony computer 3 is connected to at least one network provider. As shown in figure 1 telephony computer 3 is connected to network providers 4, 5, 6 and 7.
• Wireless connections are provided between the network providers and any wireless device capable of receiving text messages.
• network provider 4 is connected to cellphone 8, network provider 5 to PDA 9 and network provider 6 to pager 10.
• Connection between network provider 7 and computer 1 1 may be a wire or wireless connection.
• the text messaging devices 8 to 1 1 are shown merely by way of example and other devices such as WAP devices, facsimiles, radio telephones, televisions or telephones having displays may also be used.
• the wireless connections may be provided by a GSM network and the messages may be conveyed via a short message service (SMS).
• SMS short message service
• the method of the invention enables text messages to be sent from a standard telephone or similar telecommunications device to a text messaging device.
• the method " of the invention further enables a user of a text messaging device to easily establish communication with telecommunications device 1 .
• a user dials a phone number on telecommunications device 1 to establish a connection between telecommunications device 1 and telephony computer 3 via public telephone network 2.
• telephony computer 3 checks in step 1 2 to see whether the caller identification number (telephone number) may be displayed (CLIP) or if it is restricted (CLIR). If it is restricted processing proceeds to step 1 3.
• There telephony computer 3 sends a voice message to telephone 1 giving the user an option of pressing key " 1 " to enable the telephone number to be displayed or to press key "2" to keep the number restricted.
• steps 1 2 through 14 are preferred and are not mandatory to the operation of the messaging system and method, and may be absent in other embodiments.
• a sender may be prompted to enter their caller identification number via telecommunications device 1 .
• step 1 5 telephony computer 3 prompts a user to enter a recipient address.
• This address may be an IP address, email address, phone number, page number etc.
• email address For an email message this may be an email address, whereas for a telephone, cellphone or pager a telephone number may be entered.
• a telephone number is entered by a user via telecommunications device 1 .
• step 1 6 the number is preferably checked to ensure it is a valid telephone number. If it is invalid a voice message is sent from telephony computer 3 to telephone 1 to notify the user that it is an invalid number and processing returns to step 1 5. If the number is valid the call type is checked in step 1 8 and, depending on call type processing proceeds to step 1 9 or step 23. The determination of the call type is preferably based upon the telephone number dialled to access the service. If the call type indicates a free form message then telephony computer 3 sends a voice message to telephone 1 in step 1 9 asking the user to enter a message. Messages may be entered using a number of techniques. A standard 1 2 key telephone key pad has a number of letters printed adjacent the key number.
• key 2 has the letters "ABC”. According to one technique key 2 may be pressed once to return letter “A”, twice to return letter “B” and three times to return letter “C”. There is also known a two key letter in which the key containing a letter is pressed and then the number corresponding to the position of the letter is pressed. For example, “A” is “21 “, “B” is “22” and “C” is “23”. Using one of these or another method known to those skilled in the art letters may be entered.
• telephony computer 3 collects digits entered from the key pad of telephone 1 and processes them to return a letter in step 21 .
• a voice message is sent back to telephone 1 in step 22 confirming the letter.
• Processing continues in this manner until a signal is sent indicating the termination of the message.
• the hash key is pressed to indicate the end of a message.
• Other signals such as an on hook signal, may be used to indicate the end of entry of a message.
• processing then continues to step 24.
• steps 1 9 to 22 a user may be prompted to select one of a number of messages from a menu by dialling a corresponding number.
• step 1 8 If at step 1 8 it is detected that the call type indicates that a standard message should be sent then processing proceeds to step 23.
• users may dial different service identification numbers (telephone numbers) depending upon the type of message they wish to send. One number may enable them to enter a freeform text message in steps 1 9 to 22. Other telephone numbers may correspond to standard messages to be sent such as "please call me", “happy birthday”, “please call me at home”, “please call me at work”, etc.
• step 1 8 the call is determined to be to a telephone number associated with a standard message then processing proceeds to step 23.
• the standard message is set up in step 23 and processing proceeds to step 24.
• step 24 the text messages sent to a network provider 4, 5, 6 or 7 and relayed to the appropriate messaging device 8, 9, 1 0 or 1 1 .
• an additional message may be added to the text message sent.
• This additional message may contain an advertisement or user information. For example, a special calling rate offered by a network provider may be advertised.
• a recipient address may be entered before or after a message is entered. Further, the processing of CLI information may occur at any stage, if this step is included in a particular implementation.
• the telecommunications system consists of a public telephone network 2 (connected to telephone 1 ) and telephony computer 3. It will be appreciated that the telecommunications system may consist of only telephony computer 3 connected directly to telephone 1 where, for example, a large organisation wishes to provide this service for its staff.
• 9, 10 or 1 1 preferably includes the caller address (caller telephone number) a user of the text messaging device may easily respond to the text message.
• the caller telephone number may be selected and dialled. This enables a user of cellular telephone 8 to directly contact the sender of the text message at telephone 1 .
• an alternative method for responding may be provided.
• a recipient may instruct its device 1 1 to reply to the caller address.
• the caller address may be an email address or telephone number etc depending on the nature of the service. Where an email address is given it will incorporate a caller identification number to enable the message to be relayed to telecommunications device 1 .
• the caller address may include routing information to transfer the text message to telephony computer 3 along with the caller identification number (phone number).
• telephony computer 3 When telephony computer 3 receives such a text message it obtains the caller identification number and calls telecommunications device 1 via public telephone network 2. When the telephone is answered the text message is converted to a voice message and played to the recipient at telecommunications device 1 .
• An additional voice message may be added before or after the main message.
• the additional message may contain advertising, promotional or general information.
• a user may be required to follow a menu option to play a message. Further, a user may be required to enter a password before a message is played back.
• the invention thus provides a method of sending a text message from a standard telephone which provides an easy means of reply by the recipient of the message.
• the method also enables additional messages to be forwarded simultaneously.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19915412

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2000
  • 2000-10-20 WO PCT/NZ2000/000206 patent/WO2002033947A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2000-10-20 AU AU2001213129A patent/AU2001213129A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-10-20 EP EP00975021A patent/EP1329090A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-10-20 KR KR1020037005301A patent/KR100631259B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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