Patent Publication Number: US-2019199857-A1

Title: Method and system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the disclosure relate to the field of group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent times, mobile phones are being widely utilized for communication. Low cost feature phones that only support voice and text communication are mostly used for communicating with each other. A short message service (SMS) is utilized for the text communication in a feature phone. Also, the feature phone does not support access to internet. Consequently, a feature phone user is refrained from transmitting and receiving electronic mails. 
     Typically, an electronic mail user can send an electronic mail to users having suitable electronic devices. However, the feature phone user is unable to receive the electronic mail due to limited facilities of the feature phone. Further, the feature phone user is unable to communicate with a group of users simultaneously. 
     In the light of the foregoing discussion there is a need for a method and a system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. 
     SUMMARY 
     The above-mentioned needs are met by a method, a computer program product and a system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. 
     An example of a method of receiving electronic mails on a feature phone includes receiving a text message on the feature phone in response to a first electronic mail transmitted by an electronic mail user. The method also includes calling a telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to an audio clip of the first electronic mail. The method further includes providing a voice input as a response to the first electronic mail. 
     An example of a method includes calling a telephonic number using an electronic device. The method also includes providing a voice message as an input. The method further includes selecting one of a phone number and an electronic mail identifier of one or more users. The phone number corresponds to a feature phone user and the electronic mail identifier corresponds to an electronic mail user. Further, the method includes transmitting the voice message to the one or more users. 
     An example of a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that when executed by a processor, performs a method of receiving electronic mails on a feature phone includes receiving a text message on the feature phone in response to a first electronic mail transmitted by an electronic mail user. The method also includes calling a telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to an audio clip of the first electronic mail. The method further includes providing a voice input as a response to the first electronic mail. 
     An example of a system includes a feature phone that receives a plurality of electronic mails. The system also includes one or more electronic devices. The system further includes a communication interface in electronic communication with the feature phone and the one or more electronic devices. Further, the system includes a memory that stores instructions. Moreover, the system includes a processor responsive to the instructions to receive a text message in response to an electronic mail transmitted by an electronic mail user. 
    
    
     
       BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an environment, in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a feature phone for receiving electronic mails, in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving electronic mails on a feature phone, in accordance with one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting a voice message to one or more users, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The above-mentioned needs are met by a method, computer program product and system for group communication across electronic mail users and feature phone users. The following detailed description is intended to provide example implementations to one of ordinary skill in the art, and is not intended to limit the invention to the explicit disclosure, as one or ordinary skill in the art will understand that variations can be substituted that are within the scope of the invention as described. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an environment  100 , in accordance with which various embodiments can be implemented. 
     The environment  100  includes a feature phone  105 . The environment  100  further includes one or more electronic devices, for example an electronic device  115   a , an electronic device  115   b , and an electronic device  115   c , which can communicate with the feature phone  105  through a network  110 . Examples of the electronic devices include, but are not limited to, computers, mobile devices, laptops, palmtops, hand held devices, telecommunication devices and personal digital assistants (PDAs). The environment  100  also includes an electronic mail (email) server  120  and an interactive voice response (IVR) unit  125 , connected to the network  110 . The feature phone  105  is connected to the network  110  via the IVR unit  125 . 
     The email server  120  is in electronic communication with the electronic devices and the IVR unit  125  through the network  110 . The email server  120  can be located remotely with respect to the electronic devices. Examples of the network  110  include, but are not limited to, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), internet, and a Small Area Network (SAN). 
     In some embodiments, an electronic device, for example the electronic device  115   a , can perform functions of the email server  120 . 
     In one example, the email server  120  receives multiple emails transmitted by one or more email users. Transmission details are specified using a transfer protocol, for example a simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP). Further, the email server  120  stores and forwards the multiple emails to the IVR unit  125  or to other email users. 
     An email user, using the electronic device  105   a , can transmit an email to a feature phone user through the network  110 . The email is first received by the email server  120  and can be stored for subsequent transmission. The IVR unit  125 , coupled to the email server  120 , prompts transmission of a text message to the feature phone user. The IVR unit  125  then converts the email into an audio clip. The text message received by the feature phone user on a feature phone, for example the feature phone  105 , includes at least one of an identification of the email user, an email identifier associated with the email user, and a telephonic number. The feature phone user then calls the telephonic number to listen to the audio clip of the email. The feature phone user further provides a voice input as a response to the email. The email user then receives the voice input as an audio file embedded in another email. 
     The feature phone  105  including a plurality of elements is explained in detail in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the feature phone  105  for receiving electronic mails, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     The feature phone  105  includes a bus  205  or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor  210  coupled with the bus  205  for processing information. The feature phone  105  also includes a memory  215 , for example a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus  205  for storing information and instructions to be executed by the processor  210 . The memory  215  can be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor  210 . The feature phone  105  further includes a read only memory (ROM)  220  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  205  for storing static information and instructions for the processor  210 . A storage unit  225 , for example a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to the bus  205  for storing information, for example information associated with a text message. 
     The feature phone  105  can be coupled via the bus  205  to a display  230 , for example a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying the text message associated with an email. The input device  235 , including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus  205  for communicating information and command selections to the processor  210 . Another type of user input device is the cursor control  240 , for example a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to the processor  210  and for controlling cursor movement on the display  230 . 
     Various embodiments are related to the use of the feature phone  105  for implementing the techniques described herein. In some embodiments, the techniques are performed by the feature phone  105  in response to the processor  210  executing instructions included in the memory  215 . Such instructions can be read into the memory  215  from another machine-readable medium, for example the storage unit  225 . Execution of the instructions included in the memory  215  causes the processor  210  to perform the process steps described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the processor  210  can include one or more processing units for performing one or more functions of the processor  210 . The processing units are hardware circuitry used in place of or in combination with software instructions to perform specified functions. 
     The term “machine-readable medium” as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing data that causes a machine to perform a specific function. In an embodiment implemented using the feature phone  105 , various machine-readable media are involved, for example, in providing instructions to the processor  210  for execution. The machine-readable medium can be a storage medium, either volatile or non-volatile. A volatile medium includes, for example, dynamic memory, such as the memory  215 . A non-volatile medium includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, for example the storage unit  225 . All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine. 
     Common forms of machine-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic media, a CD-ROM, any other optical media, punchcards, papertape, any other physical media with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge. 
     In another embodiment, the machine-readable media can be transmission media including coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus  205 . Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-wave and infra-red data communications. Examples of machine-readable media may include, but are not limited to, a carrier wave as described hereinafter or any other media from which the feature phone  105  can read. For example, the instructions can initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the feature phone  105  can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitter to convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector can receive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriate circuitry can place the data on the bus  205 . The bus  205  carries the data to the memory  215 , from which the processor  210  retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by the memory  215  can optionally be stored on the storage unit  225  either before or after execution by the processor  210 . All such media must be tangible to enable the instructions carried by the media to be detected by a physical mechanism that reads the instructions into a machine. 
     The feature phone  105  also includes a communication interface  245  coupled to the bus  205 . The communication interface  245  provides a two-way data communication coupling to the network  110  via the IVR unit  125 . For example, the communication interface  245  can be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. As another example, the communication interface  245  can be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN. In any such implementation, the communication interface  245  sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information. 
     The processor  210  in the feature phone  105  receives a text message in response to an email transmitted by an email user. A feature phone user of the feature phone  105  calls a telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to an audio clip of the email, and further provides a voice input as a response. The email user receives the response as an audio file embedded in another electronic mail from the feature phone user. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a method of receiving electronic mails on a feature phone, for example the feature phone  105 , in accordance with one embodiment. 
     At step  305 , a text message is received on the feature phone in response to a first email transmitted by an email user. The email user can transmit the first email to multiple users including a feature phone user and an electronic device user. The first email transmitted by the email user can include one or more of text, image and an audio file. Transmitting of the first email is performed by adding a phone number associated with the feature phone in a recipient list of the first email, or by entering an email identifier (ID) of the electronic device user in the recipient list of the first email. The first email is received by an email server, for example the email server  120  and converted into the text message by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit, for example the IVR unit  125 . Conversion can be performed by configuring the IVR unit to generate the text message in response to the first email transmitted by the email user. 
     A telephonic number is embedded in the text message that enables the feature phone user to listen to the first email in form of an audio clip. The text message can also include an identification, for example a name and photo, of the email user and the email ID associated with the email user. The telephonic number can be similar for different feature phone users or different telephonic numbers can be provided for each of the different feature phone users. 
     At step  310 , the feature phone user calls the telephonic number embedded in the text message to listen to the audio clip of the first email. Text present in the first email is converted to the audio clip by the IVR unit. In one example, text-to-speech (TTS) conversion is performed for converting the text included in the first email into the audio clip. A mobile service provider associated with the feature phone can allot the IVR unit to the feature phone user. The IVR unit can also be deployed in a public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
     The phone number associated with the feature phone user can be identified using the telephonic number. In some embodiments, the feature phone user needs to be authenticated when calling the telephonic number. Authentication can be performed by providing a username and a password by the feature phone user. 
     In some embodiments, if number of characters included in the first email is below a predefined number, for example 140 characters, then the text message can include the first email. 
     In some embodiments, the text message is a multilingual text message to enable easy understanding of the audio clip by the feature phone user. The first email can be converted into the multilingual text message by the IVR unit. 
     The audio clip of the first email is played to the feature phone user. The feature phone user can listen to the audio clip for making further decisions. The feature phone user can also respond to the first email. 
     At step  315 , the feature phone user provides a voice input as a response to the first email. The voice input that is provided by the feature phone user is a response to a message present in the first email. The voice input is recorded by the IVR unit. Further, upon providing the voice input, the feature phone user adds the email ID of the email user. Adding the email ID can occur manually or automatically. The email user then receives the voice input as an audio file embedded in a second email by the feature phone user. The email user can listen to the audio file and take subsequent actions. 
     In some embodiments, the feature phone user can provide the response to a combination of one or more feature phone users and one or more email users simultaneously by adding respective phone numbers and email IDs. 
     In other embodiments, the feature phone user can provide the response as a reply to the multiple users that received the first email. 
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting a voice message to one or more users, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     At step  405 , an electronic device user calls a telephonic number using an electronic device, for example the electronic device  115   a . The telephonic number can be obtained from a mobile service provider associated with the electronic device. Upon calling, a phone number associated with the electronic device is identified and further the electronic device user can be asked for authentication. The authentication can be performed by providing a username and a password by the electronic device user. 
     At step  410 , the electronic device user provides the voice message as an input. The voice message provided by the electronic device user is recorded by an interactive voice response (IVR) unit. 
     At step  415 , the electronic device user selects one of a phone number and an email identifier (ID) of the users to indicate an address for routing the voice message. The phone number corresponds to a feature phone user and the email ID corresponds to an email user. 
     In some embodiments, the electronic device user can configure one or more shortcut keys for storing the email ID and the phone number of the users. 
     In one example, the shortcut keys can store phone numbers and email IDs associated with a group of users. In another example, the shortcut keys can indicate transmission of the voice message to each user included in the group of users. In yet another example, the shortcut keys can specify if the voice message can be sent to one user in the group of users or to each user included in the group of users. The shortcut keys also enable immediate transmission of the voice message to the users. 
     At step  420 , the voice message is transmitted to the users. If the users include email users then the transmission is performed using an electronic mail server, for example the electronic mail server  120 . The electronic mail server routes and delivers the voice message to the email users. The email user then receives the voice message as an audio file embedded in an email. The email user can then listen to the voice message for taking further decisions. 
     Further, if the users include the feature phone user then the feature phone user receives a text message on a feature phone, for example the feature phone  105 . The telephonic number is embedded in the text message that enables the feature phone user to receive the voice message. The feature phone user then calls the telephonic number to listen to the voice message. Upon listening to the voice message, the feature phone user can also provide a voice input as a response to the voice message received from the electronic device user. 
     In some embodiments, the response is transmitted to at least one of the electronic device user and the users. 
     The method specified in the present disclosure enables a feature phone user to receive emails on a feature phone by converting text included in an email to an audio clip. The method also enables communication across a group of people that use email over internet, and voice or text message over feature phones. The method enables acquiring of a higher number of email users, for example Yahoo!® email users, that are new to the internet. The method enhances current email offerings of an email organization, for example Yahoo!®. The method using the IVR capabilities can further be extended to other email organization products and services, for example Yahoo!® products and services. 
     It is to be understood that although various components are illustrated herein as separate entities, each illustrated component represents a collection of functionalities which can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of these. Where a component is implemented as software, it can be implemented as a standalone program, but can also be implemented in other ways, for example as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate programs, as a kernel loadable module, as one or more device drivers or as one or more statically or dynamically linked libraries. 
     As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division of the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms that implement the invention or its features may have different names, divisions and/or formats. 
     Furthermore, as will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art, the portions, modules, agents, managers, components, functions, procedures, actions, layers, features, attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the invention can be implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of the three. Of course, wherever a component of the present invention is implemented as software, the component can be implemented as a script, as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as a plurality of separate scripts and/or programs, as a statically or dynamically linked library, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or in every and any other way known now or in the future to those of skill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the present invention is in no way limited to implementation in any specific programming language, or for any specific operating system or environment. 
     Furthermore, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art that where the present invention is implemented in whole or in part in software, the software components thereof can be stored on computer readable media as computer program products. Any form of computer readable medium can be used in this context, such as magnetic or optical storage media. Additionally, software portions of the present invention can be instantiated (for example as object code or executable images) within the memory of any programmable computing device. 
     Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.