Abstract:
In one embodiment, a method for responding to a voice message includes accessing input from a first user at an endpoint indicating a desire to communicate to a second user a response to a voice message created by the second user and forwarded to the first user by a third user. The forward includes the voice message and at least one introduction to the voice message. The method also includes accessing the response, which includes a voice message created by the first user, automatically determining an address associated with the second user for communicating the response to the second user, and automatically communicating the response to the determined address without communicating to the determined address the introduction to the voice message forwarded to the first user.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates in general to voice messaging and more particularly to communicating a response to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Personnel in an organization often use voice messages to delegate work. A voice message facilitating the delegation of work often travels from one person to another until the voice message reaches a charge who should respond directly to the person who created the voice message. Each person who forwards the voice message usually tacks an introduction onto the voice message, and the voice message usually reaches the charge in a forward that includes the voice message and all the introductions tacked onto the voice message en route to its destination.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Particular embodiments of the present invention may reduce or eliminate problems and disadvantages previously associated with voice messaging.  
         [0004]     In one embodiment, a method for responding to a voice message includes accessing input from a first user at an endpoint indicating a desire to communicate to a second user a response to a voice message created by the second user and forwarded to the first user by a third user. The forward includes the voice message and at least one introduction to the voice message. The method also includes accessing the response, which includes a voice message created by the first user, automatically determining an address associated with the second user for communicating the response to the second user, and automatically communicating the response to the determined address without communicating to the determined address the introduction to the voice message forwarded to the first user.  
         [0005]     Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide one or more technical advantages. As an example, particular embodiments may facilitate responding directly to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another. As another example, particular embodiments may obviate a user having to look up and then enter an address (such as, for example, a telephone number extension) of a creator of a voice message to respond directly to the creator of the voice message. As another example, particular embodiments may facilitate withholding from the creator of a voice message information in one or more introductions tacked onto the voice message in one or more forwards of the voice message, some of which may not be intended for the creator of the voice message. Particular embodiments may provide all, some, or none of these technical advantages. Particular embodiments may provide one or more other technical advantages, one or more of which may be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the figures, descriptions, and claims herein.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention and features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system for communicating a response to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another; and  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary method for communicating a response to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system  10  for communicating a response to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another. System  10  includes endpoints  12  that communicate with each other via network  14 . In particular embodiments, network  14  is a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, or another network  14  or a combination of two or more such networks  14 . In particular embodiments, network  14  is an analog network. In particular embodiments, network  14  connects to one or more other networks, such as, for example, the Internet, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or both. The present invention contemplates any suitable network  14  for making voice or telephone-device calls. One or more links  16  couple an endpoint  12  to network  14 . In particular embodiments, one or more links  16  each include one or more wireline, wireless, or optical links  16 . In particular embodiments, one or more links  16  each include a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a MAN, a portion of the Internet, or another link  16  or a combination of two or more such links  16 . In particular embodiments, one or more links  16  are each analog links  16 . The present invention contemplates any suitable links  16  coupling endpoints  12  to network  14 .  
         [0010]     Endpoints  12  enable users at endpoints  12  to communicate with each other. As an example and not by way of limitation, an endpoint  12  may include a legacy telephone, a telephone having voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) capabilities, a mobile telephone (which may, but need not, have VoIP capabilities), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer system, or another endpoint  12  or a combination of two or more such endpoints  12 . A legacy telephone may be a landline telephone set that may generate dual-tone multifrequency (DTMF) signals in response to a user pressing keys on the telephone set. A telephone having VoIP capabilities may be a wireless or wireline Internet Protocol (IP) telephone that may generate data providing DTMF signals in response to a user pressing keys on the telephone or otherwise providing input to the telephone. A mobile telephone may be a wireless telephone capable of connecting to an 802.11 or other WLAN, a cellular telephone network, or both. A computer system may be a notebook computer system capable of connecting to an LAN, a WLAN, or both. To communicate with one or more other users, a user at a computer system coupled to network  14  may access a telephone application on the computer system, a voice-message client at the computer system, a web browser on the computer system capable of accessing a web page or website providing voice-message functionality, or an application on the computer system supporting e-mail (such as, for example, MICROSOFT OUTLOOK or a similar application) including a voice-message form. The present invention contemplates any suitable endpoints  12 .  
         [0011]     Network  14  includes a voice-message server  18 . In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  includes one or more voice-message servers  18 . In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  is a hardware, software, or embedded logic component or a combination of two or more such components residing at one or more servers in network  14 . In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  includes or has access to one or more databases, file systems, or storage devices capable of storing voice-message data  20 . Voice-message data  20  may include one or more inboxes that may each include one or more voice messages left for a user. A user may have access to one or more inboxes.  
         [0012]     Voice-message server  18  provides voice-message functionality to one or more endpoints  12 . As an example and not by way of limitation, a user at a wireline IP telephone coupled to network  18  my lift a handset on the telephone and provide input instructing the telephone to connect to voice-message server  18 . The telephone may connect to voice-message server  18 , and voice-message server  18  may prompt the user to enter a passcode to access an inbox of the user at voice-message server  18 . The inbox may include one or more voice messages left for the user. The user may enter the passcode at the telephone, and the telephone may communicate the passcode to voice-message server  18 . Voice-message server  18  may attempt to verify the passcode to authenticate the user and, if the passcode entered by the user is correct, provide the user access to the inbox. The user may then provide input at the telephone instructing voice-message server  18  to play one or more voice messages from the inbox, and voice-message server  18  may play the voice messages to the user. After each voice message, the user may provide input at the telephone specifying handling instructions to voice-message server  18  corresponding to the voice message. The handling instructions may direct voice-message server  18  to replay the voice message, delete the voice message, save the voice message, forward the voice message to one or more other users, or communicate a response (or reply) to the voice message, as described below. The present invention contemplates any suitable voice-message system.  
         [0013]     Personnel in an organization often use voice messages to delegate work. A voice message facilitating the delegation of work often travels from one person to another until the voice message reaches a charge who should respond directly to the person who created the voice message. Each person who forwards the voice message usually tacks an introduction onto the voice message, and the voice message usually reaches the charge in a forward that includes the voice message and all or some of the introductions tacked onto the voice message en route to its destination.  
         [0014]     As an example and not by way of limitation, a first user may create a voice message at a first endpoint  12  coupled to network  14  and leave the voice message at voice-message server  18  for a second user. The second user may subsequently listen to the voice message at a second endpoint  12  coupled to network  14  and then provide input instructing voice-message server  18  to forward the voice message to a third user. To forward the voice message to the third user, voice-message server  18  may request or even require the second user to create a first introduction (which may also be a voice message) to the voice message for the third user. The second user may create the first introduction, and voice-message server  18  may tack the first introduction onto the voice message created by the first user and communicate the voice message and the first introduction to the third user. In the forward to the third user, the first introduction may precede the voice message.  
         [0015]     The third user may subsequently listen to the forward at a third endpoint  12  coupled to network  14  and then provide input instructing voice-message server  18  to forward the voice message to a fourth user. To forward the voice message to the fourth user, voice-message server  18  may request or even require the third user to create a second introduction (which may also be a voice message) to the voice message for the fourth user. The third user may create the second introduction, and voice-message server  18  may tack the second introduction onto the voice message created by the first user and communicate the voice message and the first and second introductions to the fourth user. In the forward to the fourth user, the second introduction may precede the first introduction and the voice message. The above process may continue until the voice message reaches an nth user who should respond directly to the first user.  
         [0016]     In particular embodiments, to respond directly to the first user, the n th  user provides input instructing voice-message server  18  to respond directly to the first user. As an example and not by way of limitation, the n th  user may press a series of keys (such as, for example, *12 or 345) on a wireline IP telephone to instruct voice-message server  18  to respond directly to the first user. In response to the input from the n th  user, voice-message server  18  may automatically prompt the n th  user to create a response. Voice-message server  18  may then record the response. Voice-message server  18  may automatically determine an address of an inbox of the first user (such as, for example, a voice-message extension of the first user) and communicate the response to the inbox of the first user. As a result, the n th  user need not look up and then enter an address of the first user to respond directly to the first user.  
         [0017]     Voice-message server  18  may communicate the response to the inbox of the first user without communicating the first, second, or any other introductions tacked onto the voice message en route the n th  user. As a result, to respond directly to the first user, the n th  user need not divulge or otherwise disclose to the first user the first, second, or any other introductions, which may include information not intended for communication to the first user. In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  automatically removes the first, second, and all other introductions tacked onto the voice message en route the n th  user. The voice-message server  18  may, but need not, tack the response onto the voice message created by the first user and communicate both the response and the voice message to the inbox of the first user. In the reply to the first user, the response may precede the voice message. In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  enables the n th  user to choose between having only the response communicated to the inbox of the first user and having both the response and the voice message communicated to the inbox of the first user. In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  communicates only the response to the inbox of the first user and does not communicate the voice message created by the first user to the inbox of the first user. In particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  automatically prohibits communication of the voice message created by the first user to the inbox of the first user.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary method for communicating a response to the creator of a voice message forwarded by another. The method begins at step  100 , where a first user creates a voice message. At step  102 , per instructions from the first user, voice-message server  18  communicates the voice message to an inbox of a second user. At step  104 , the second user accesses and listens to the voice message. At step  106 , the second user creates a first introduction to the voice message. At step  108 , per instructions from the second user, voice-message server  18  communicates the first introduction and the voice message in a forward to an inbox of a third user. At step  110 , the third user accesses and listens to the first introduction and the voice message. At step  112 , the third user creates a second introduction to the voice message. At step  114 , per instructions from the third user, voice-message server  18  communicates the second introduction, the first introduction and the voice message in a forward to an inbox of a fourth user.  
         [0019]     At step  116 , the fourth user accesses and listens to the second introduction, the first introduction, and the voice message. At step  118 , the fourth user creates a response to the voice message. Per instructions from the fourth user, voice-message server  18  determines an address of an inbox of the first user at step  1   20  and communicates the response to an inbox of the first user without communicating the first or second introductions to the inbox of first user. As discussed above, in particular embodiments, voice-message server  18  communicates both the response created by the fourth user and the voice message created by the first user to the inbox of the first user. At step  124 , the first user accesses and listens to the response to the voice message, at which point the method ends. Although particular steps in the method illustrated in  FIG. 2  have been illustrated and described as occurring in a particular order, the present invention contemplates any suitable steps of the method illustrated in  FIG. 2  occurring in any suitable order. Although the method illustrated in  FIG. 2  involves four users and two introductions, the present invention contemplates any suitable number of users and suitable number of introductions.  
         [0020]     Particular embodiments have been used to describe the present invention, and a person having skill in the art may comprehend one or more changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, or modifications within the scope of the appended claims. The present invention encompasses all such changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications.