Voice Message Relay System for Non-Subscribed Recipients
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voicemail systems do not allow calling parties to leave messages for called parties who do not subscribe to a voicemail service or when the calling party prefers not to use the called party's voicemail service.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus enabling a calling party to leave a voice message for a called party by receiving a command, obtaining message destination information, receiving the voice message, and generating an electronic message for transmission, independent of the called party's voicemail subscription status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a calling party uses an existing voicemail system to leave a message, then the message can be stored and retrieved, but the called party must subscribe to a voicemail service which may be undesirable or unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary messaging system that acts as a mediator between the calling party and the called party. Instead of directly using the called party's voicemail service, the system captures the voice message and relays it through an intermediate platform (such as email, SMS, or instant messaging) to the called party, thereby eliminating the requirement for the called party to have a voicemail subscription.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures and copies the voice message from the calling party and transmits it through alternative communication channels. The voice message is recorded and then delivered via intermediary platforms, creating a copy that can be accessed by the called party without requiring them to use traditional voicemail services.
2Reliability
If the system requires the called party to have a voicemail service, then messages can be stored reliably, but the system becomes less versatile and cannot serve called parties without voicemail subscriptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal messaging system that can deliver messages through multiple different channels including email, SMS, and instant messaging platforms. This multi-functional approach allows the system to serve any called party regardless of whether they have a voicemail subscription, thereby expanding service coverage while maintaining reliable message delivery through alternative trusted channels.
3Reliability
If the system uses traditional voicemail infrastructure, then message storage is established, but the system complexity increases and requires integration with multiple voicemail providers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the message storage and delivery function from the traditional voicemail infrastructure and relocates it to a separate intermediary platform. By taking out the dependency on called party's voicemail services and implementing an independent messaging system, the complexity of integrating with multiple voicemail providers is eliminated while message storage capability is maintained through the intermediary platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for allowing a calling party to leave a message for a called party. The method comprises: receiving a command provided by the calling party and indicative of a desire of the calling party to leave a message for the called party; obtaining message destination information associated with the called party; receiving a voice message provided by the calling party; generating an electronic message representative of the voice message; and causing transmission of the electronic message based on the message destination information. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided.