DTMF Voice Message Delivery to Multiple Recipients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephony systems lack the capability to efficiently send voice messages to multiple telephone numbers or network access identifiers, requiring substantial processing and being non-ubiquitous for voice stream transmission.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism using a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal to transmit contact numbers and voice messages through a voice call to a network service platform, which decodes and delivers the message to multiple recipients, enabling simultaneous voice message delivery across a telephone network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If e-mail is used to transmit voice messages to multiple recipients, then the message can be sent to multiple addresses simultaneously, but substantial processing is required at both sending and receiving ends and e-mail is not ubiquitous for voice stream transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network service platform as an intermediary that receives the voice message and contact information from the sender's telephone, then automatically distributes the message to multiple recipients. This mediator handles the complex processing and distribution logic centrally, rather than requiring complex processing at each endpoint device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex message distribution processing logic from the endpoint telephones and relocates it to the network service platform. This separates the simple function of message submission at the telephone from the complex function of message routing and distribution, reducing device complexity at the endpoints.
2Reliability
If conventional telephony systems are used to send voice messages, then voice transmission is reliable, but the systems lack capability to efficiently send messages to multiple telephone numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the telephony system multi-functional by enabling it to perform both traditional one-to-one voice calls and new one-to-many voice message distribution. The network service platform provides a universal interface that handles both conventional calling and group message distribution through the same infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the message distribution function into separate components: the sender's telephone submits the message and recipient list, the network service platform processes and routes the message to multiple recipients individually. This segmentation allows reliable individual voice transmissions while achieving multi-recipient delivery.
3Loss of information
If DTMF signals representing contact numbers are transmitted during the voice call, then the network service platform can receive and decode the contact numbers, but the user will hear the digits being dialed which causes distraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the DTMF dialing process from the user's auditory experience by routing it through the telephone's speaker system separately or masking it. The contact number information is extracted from the user interface and transmitted as DTMF signals during the call setup, while the user hears only the intended voice message or call audio.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a method and system that allows a telephone user to send voice messages to multiple recipients. According to an embodiment, DTMF signals along with a voice message may be sent over a voice call to a network service platform. The voice message may then be delivered to contacts identified in the DTMF signal.