Visual Voicemail Unique Number Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing visual voicemail systems face challenges such as requiring data services, complex provisioning, and slow data throughput on first-generation mobile handsets, which limits accessibility and user experience, especially when users are outside data coverage areas or using first-generation mobile devices.

Innovation Solution

A system that transcribes voicemail messages into text, assigns a unique telephone number to each audio message, and maps it with the text version, allowing users to access the original audio message directly via a link on their device without needing to navigate through the voicemail system or data menus, using SMS, MMS, IM, HTTP Push, or email for transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If visual voicemail is provided as a data service, then users can view voicemail transcripts, but service complexity increases and users without data plans are excluded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of visual voicemailVSAvoidservice provisioning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mapping system that connects voicemail messages to unique telephone numbers through a database. This mediator layer allows users to access voicemail via standard telephony without requiring data services, while the system handles the complexity of synchronization and message routing in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the voicemail access functionality into separate components: transcription service, unique number assignment, mapping database, and playback system. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently, reducing overall system complexity and enabling users to access specific functions without requiring full data service provisioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If data services are used for visual voicemail, then voicemail functionality is enhanced, but service fails when users are outside data coverage areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevoicemail service availabilityVSAvoidservice availability outside coverage areas

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the access parameter from data-based to telephony-based. By assigning unique telephone numbers to voicemail messages and allowing access through standard voice calls, the service becomes available in all coverage areas without relying on data network availability. The mapping database enables this parameter change while maintaining service reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If first generation mobile handsets are used with data services, then visual voicemail can be accessed, but data throughput is slow resulting in poor user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual voicemail accessibilityVSAvoiddata throughput speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the data-based mechanical system with a telephony-based system. Instead of transmitting voicemail data over slow data channels, the system uses the more reliable and faster voice call infrastructure for accessing voicemail messages. The unique telephone number assignment enables this substitution, allowing users to retrieve messages through voice calls rather than data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If two data stores are used for voicemail messages, then message management flexibility increases, but synchronization complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage management flexibilityVSAvoidsynchronization routine complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the mapping database is updated in real-time when voicemail messages are added, deleted, or modified. This feedback loop ensures synchronization between the two data stores without requiring complex manual synchronization routines, as the system automatically notifies and updates the mapping database whenever message changes occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8244221B2Visual voicemail messages and unique directory number assigned to each for accessing corresponding audio voicemail message

Publication Date: 2012.08.14 COX COMMUNICATIONS INC

AI summary

An improved visual voicemail system is provided. When a call is made to a wireless telephone device and a voicemail message is deposited for the called party, the voicemail message is transcribed to generate a text version of the deposited voicemail message. The transcribed voicemail message is sent to the called mobile telephone device to allow the user to read the text version of the voicemail message. Embedded with transcribed text voicemail message is a link that maps to a unique telephone number that is assigned to the original audio voicemail message from the text voicemail message was transcribed. If the called party selects the link, the called party's mobile telephone device or other receiving computing device places a call to the storage location of the original audio version of the voicemail message to listen to the audio version of the voicemail message.