Abstract:
A method for answering an incoming call from a caller to a telephone, the method including the steps of: (a) identifying the caller; (b) selecting a voice message that is intended solely for the caller; and (c) transmitting the voice message to the caller. Preferably, the identifying is performed by a user and the selecting is performed by pressing a button on the telephone. Alternatively, the identifying and the selecting are performed by a processor in the telephone or by a processor in a messaging server operationally connected to the telephone through a telephone network. Preferably, the voice message is stored in the telephone or in memory operationally connected to the messaging server.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit from U.S. provisional application 60/575,947 filed on 30 May 2004 by the same inventor. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to telephone call answering systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for discreetly answering a telephone call and providing a previously recorded message based on the origin of the telephone call.  
         [0003]     Mobile telephones are commonly used in many regions by a vast majority of the population. In general, the use of mobile telephones has improved the quality of life allowing mobile telephone users to be accessible by telephone when they so desire. However, the prevalent use of mobile telephones is at times a nuisance. Mobile telephones often ring at undesired times, disturbing the telephone user or others in his/her vicinity. A mobile telephone phone rings occasionally, in a very important meeting, or in a hall during a concert.  
         [0004]     In order to avoid being disturbed by an incoming call, the user of a mobile telephone has several options. The simplest option is for the telephone user to switch off the telephone. Although switching off the telephone prevents disturbances, the telephone user is rendered completely inaccessible and he/she will not receive any urgent messages.  
         [0005]     Consequently, most telephones have an option to receive calls silently or to vibrate quietly to minimize the disturbance while allowing a telephone owner to answer his/her calls. For both silent and vibrating operation, if an incoming call is detected, the user will generally look at the screen to identify the caller. If the user decides to answer the call, he/she is required to excuse herself from the meeting, or leave the concert in the middle and rush out before the caller gives up and terminates the call.  
         [0006]     Another alternative for the mobile telephone user is to activate a voice mailbox with the mobile telephone either powered down or in silent mode. After activation, the voice mailbox answers incoming calls, either immediately or after a delay giving the mobile telephone user an option to receive the call before the call is diverted to the voice mailbox. Although activation of a voice mailbox is effective in avoiding disturbances, the initiator of the telephone call will not receive any feedback regarding his message until the mobile user takes the time to listen to the recorded messages and follows up with a return call. Oftentimes, the message itself is time critical and no longer relevant when the mobile user receives the message.  
         [0007]     Frequently, there are times when the mobile telephone user is in a place that he/she wishes not to receive phone calls nor disturb others but nevertheless he/she anticipates a time critical call from a specific person and wishes to convey a message to the specific person when he/she calls. There is thus a need for, and it would be highly advantageous to have, a system and method that discreetly answers a telephone call and provides a prerecorded message based on the origin of the telephone call.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     According to the present invention there is provided a method for answering an incoming call from a caller to a telephone, the method including the steps of: (a) identifying the caller; (b) selecting a voice message that is intended solely for the caller; and (c) transmitting the voice message to the caller. Preferably, the identifying is performed by a user and the selecting is performed by pressing a button on the telephone. Alternatively, the identifying and the selecting are performed by a processor in the telephone or by a processor in a messaging server operationally connected to the telephone through a telephone network. Preferably, the voice message is stored in the telephone or in memory operationally connected to the messaging server.  
         [0009]     According to the present invention there is provided a method for answering an incoming call from a caller to a telephone, the method including: (a) identifying the caller; (b) transmitting a previously recorded voice message to the caller; wherein the voice message is intended solely for the caller. Preferably, the identifying is performed by a user or by a processor in the telephone or by a processor in a messaging server operationally connected to the telephone through a telephone network. Preferably, the transmitting is performed by a processor in a messaging server operationally connected to the telephone through a telephone network. Preferably, the voice message is stored in the telephone or in a memory operationally connected to the messaging server.  
         [0010]     According to the present invention there is provided a telephone including a button programmed so that upon pressing the button in response to an incoming call from a caller, a voice message is transmitted to the caller. Preferably, the telephone includes a user interface for recording said voice message and further includes storage for the voice message.  
         [0011]     According to the present invention there is provided a messaging server in a mobile telephone network operationally connected to a mobile switching center, the messaging server including: (a) a processor for receiving telephone calls diverted from mobile stations, the telephone calls of two kinds: (i) receive-message telephone calls initiated by a caller including a voice message and a respective identifier of an intended recipient of the voice message; and (ii) transmit-message telephone calls from the intended recipient to the caller; and (b) memory; wherein upon receiving one of the receive-message telephone calls, the processor stores in the memory the voice message, a caller identifier of said caller that initiated the voice message and the recipient identifier of the intended recipient; and wherein upon receiving one of the transmit-message telephone calls from the intended recipient to the caller, the processor transmits the voice message to the intended recipient.  
         [0012]     According to the present invention there is provided a user interface installed in a telephone, the user interface including: (a) an input mechanism for storing identifiers of respective recipients; and (b) a memory for storing voice messages intended solely for the respective recipients. Preferably, the user interface further includes a button for transmitting voice messages, a processor operative to list voice messages, a microphone for recording voice messages, an erasing input mechanism (e.g., a keypad button) for erasing voice messages, a speaker for listening to voice messages, a display for verifying that voice messages have been received by the respective recipients and a canceling input mechanism (e.g., a keypad button) for canceling the transmitting of voice messages intended solely for the respective recipients.  
         [0013]     According to the present invention there is provided a method for directing messages in a mobile telephone network including the steps of: (a) receiving telephone calls diverted from mobile stations, the telephone calls of two types: (i) receive-message telephone calls initiated by a caller including a voice message and a respective identifier for an intended recipient of the voice message; and (ii) transmit-message telephone calls from the intended recipient to said caller; and (b) upon receiving one of the receive-message telephone calls, storing in memory the voice, message, a caller identifier of said caller that initiated the voice message and the respective identifier of the intended recipient; and (c) upon receiving one of the transmit-message telephone calls from the intended recipient to the caller, transmitting the voice message to the intended recipient. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic drawing of a system for directing messages. according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a simplified drawing showing a menu structure of a system for directed messaging according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of a method for creating new voice messages, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of a method for discreetly receiving a phone call, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a simplified schematic drawing of a system for directing messages. according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a method for directed voice messaging, according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart of a menu structure for verifying that a call has been received and answered, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]     The present invention is of a system and method for discreetly answering a telephone call and providing a prerecorded message based on the origin of the telephone call. Specifically, the present invention can be used to record messages in anticipation of receiving a time critical telephone call from a known party and using the recorded message to respond discreetly without disturbing others in the vicinity of the mobile telephone user.  
         [0023]     The principles and operation of a system and method for discreetly answering a telephone call and providing a prerecorded message based on the origin of the telephone call, according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.  
         [0024]     Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.  
         [0025]     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
         [0026]     By way of introduction, two principle intentions of the present invention are to: (1) provide the user of a mobile telephone with a method to record messages for responding to anticipated time critical telephone calls and (2) provide a method of using the recorded messages to respond to the time critical call discreetly without disturbing others in the vicinity of the mobile telephone user. It should be noted that while the discussion herein is directed to a public cellular mobile network, the principles of the present invention may be adapted for use in, and provide benefit for other types of wireless communications including private wireless networks, iDEN (MIRS), paging services, and satellite communications. The present invention may be adapted as well for wired telephone networks. Further the mechanism for storing voice messages may be of any such mechanisms known in the art, including analog media, and digital storage media including random access memory, flash memory, and EEPROM. The terms “storage” and “memory” are used herein interchangeably and refer to any such storage mechanisms.  
         [0027]     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a sub-system  10  for storing and listening to voice messages using a digital mobile telephone  101 . Mobile telephone  101  includes a microphone  102  for converting a voice to an electrical signal. Mobile telephone  101  further includes an analog to digital converter (A/D) operatively connected to microphone  102 . Intermediary stages for analog amplification and filtering found in mobile telephone  101  after microphone  102  are not shown in  FIG. 1 . Mobile telephone  101  further includes a digital signal processor (DSP)  105 , for compressing, encoding and further processing the digital data representing the audio signal as received in microphone  102 . Sub-system  10  for storing messages in mobile telephone  101  further includes an audio storage  111 . Mobile telephone  101  includes a digital to analog converter (D/A)  107  operatively connected to a speaker  109 . Intermediary stages found in mobile telephone  101  for amplification between D/A  107  and speaker  109  are not shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0028]     Mobile telephone  101  further includes a user interface  20  including a display  106 , an input mechanism, e.g a keypad  110 , a processor  104  and a memory  112  for storing software instructions to be run by processor  104 . Mobile telephone  101  further includes a button  108 , used for transmitting pre-recorded messages. The term “button” is defined herein to refer to any input mechanism to user interface  20  of mobile telephone  101 , including a physical button, or an icon on display  106 . The terms “button” and input mechanism are used herein interchangeably.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a menu structure  21  stored in memory  112  and operative by processor  104 , is shown for recording voice messages according to an embodiment of the present invention. The menu structure includes a main menu  201  with the usual sub-menus (not shown) included in prior art mobile telephones. Menu structure  21  further includes options to choose a new voice message  203 , enter an identifier of an intended recipient, e.g name or a telephone number for a new voice message  205 , record a new voice message  207  and save a new voice message  209  in audio storage  111 . Menu structure  21  further includes options to list voice messages  211  previously stored, for instance, in audio storage  111 ; erase previously stored voice messages  213  and to listen to voice messages  215  using speaker  109 . Referring now to  FIG. 3 , method  30  is shown for creating and storing a new voice message. The mobile user presses the appropriate button(s), for instance, on keypad  110  to enter (step  301 ) the voice message menu. Optionally, the user presses the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110  to open a text screen to enter an identifier (step  303 ), such as a name from the phone book stored in mobile telephone  101  or a telephone number. The identifier indicates for whom the message is intended. Then the user records (step  305 ) a new voice message by speaking into microphone  102  and saves (step  307 ) the newly recorded voice message in storage  111  by pressing the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110 .  
         [0030]     The operation of discreetly answering a telephone call and providing a prerecorded message based on the origin of the telephone call, according the present invention, is best understood with a real life example as follows:  
         [0031]     Sarah, a well known music critic, carries mobile telephone  101  equipped with sub-system  10  for recording messages and she is familiar with the new features shown in menu structure  21 . Sarah intends to attend a concert and meet her husband Joe and family for dinner after the concert is over. Since Sarah&#39;s mobile telephone  101  will be powered down during the concert, they arrange that Joe will call Sarah and leave a message for Sarah on her voice mail box indicating to which restaurant Sarah should go after the concert. Unfortunately, the intermission was too long, Sarah&#39;s plans changed and Sarah scheduled to meet the musicians after the concert. She would like to get a message to Joe and family to eat dinner without her and Joe should pick Sarah up at the front gate of the concert hall at 10:00 PM. Just before returning to the concert after intermission, Sarah places a call to Joe&#39;s mobile phone. Unfortunately, Joe does not answer. Sarah chooses not to leave a message on Joe&#39;s voice mailbox because Joe never checks his voice mail or alternatively, she wants to be sure Joe receives her message. Sarah then recalls the features of menu structure  21 . Referring also to  FIG. 4 , Sarah powers up (step  401 ) mobile telephone  101 . Sarah presses a button for entering (step  403 ) a silent mode or otherwise a discreet mode. Sarah then follows according to method  30  ( FIG. 3 ) for creating and storing a new voice message. Sarah then records the message (step  305 ), “Darling, I can&#39;t come for dinner but pick me up at ten o&#39;clock at the front gate”.  
         [0032]     Sarah sits down in her seat at the concert with mobile telephone  101  in hand to make sure she doesn&#39;t miss an incoming call. During the concert, Sarah notes (step  405 ) an mobile telephone  101  signaling an incoming call, by vibrating quietly, and identifies (step  407 ) the caller as Joe by viewing display  106 . Since the recorded message is intended for Joe (decision block  409 ), she presses button  108  to answer (step  411 ) the incoming call, transmitting her pre-recorded message to Joe and maintaining discretion in the concert hall.  
         [0033]     According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, during method  30  for creating a new voice message, Sarah presses a button (step  303 ) to enter a name for the new message. Sarah enters the name “Joe”. Alternatively, she enters Joe&#39;s mobile telephone number. Mobile telephone  101  is programmed to identify (step  407 ) the caller and automatically answer (step  411 ) with the recorded message intended for Joe.  
         [0034]     Another possible configuration  50  for the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  illustrates mobile telephone  101  in communication with a mobile switching center (MSC)  507  as part of, for instance, a public mobile telephone network. Mobile switching center (MSC)  507  is operatively connected, e.g. by a wireless or wired connection, to a directed messaging server (DMS)  503  including a processor  513  and an interface  511  with MSC  507 . Directed messaging server (DMS) is operatively connected to DMS data storage  509 . According to the operation of configuration  50 , directed messages are stored together with identifiers of both the initiator of the directed message and the recipient of the directed message, e.g. Sarah as the initiator and Joe as the recipient. The operation of configuration  50  is best described by returning to the example of Sarah and Joe. Referring back to method  30  of creating a new voice message, Sarah enters the name Joe (step  303 ), records (step  305 ) a new voice message intended only for Joe, and saves (step  307 ) the voice message.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIG. 6  showing the operation of configuration  50 , step  307  of saving the voice message causes mobile telephone  101  to call DMS  503 , mediated (step  609 ) by MSC  507 . Sarah&#39;s voice message is uploaded (step  611 ) with an identifier for Sarah, e.g Sarah&#39;s phone number and an identifier for Joe, e.g. Joe&#39;s phone number. Both identifiers, of caller Sarah and directed recipient Joe and the message are stored (step  613 ) in DMS storage  509 . DMS  503  requests (step  615 ) MSC  507  to divert any call from Joe to Sarah to DMS  503  for handling. When Joe calls Sarah, MSC  507  directs (step  609 ) the call to DMS  503 . DMS  503  identifies (step  617 ) Joe and Sarah in DMS storage  509  and plays (step  619 ) Sarah&#39;s message to Joe  619 .  
         [0036]     In some embodiments of directed messaging, such as the method shown in  FIG. 4 , the message is transmitted to the intended recipient manually, such as by pressing button  108  on mobile telephone  101 . In other embodiments such as that shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the message is transmitted to the intended recipient automatically. Returning to our example, Sarah doesn&#39;t know if Joe received her message. Therefore, a menu is required for determining if the directed message has been received. Referring now to  FIG. 7 , under main menu  201  there is a standard menu option  719  “received call register” for listing all received calls. Within menu option “received call register”  719 , is an additional option  721  for listing all calls answered with directed voice messaging. Directed voice messaging information is stored in mobile telephone  101 ; alternatively directed voice messaging information is stored in DMS  503  and is retrieved by mobile telephone  101  by placing a telephone call to DMS  503 . Additional menu options shown in  FIG. 7  include menu option  723  to erase entries of calls answered with directed voice messaging from the received call register  725  and menu option  725  to cancel directed voice messaging by placing a call to DMS  503  with a null message or otherwise canceling the feature within mobile telephone  101 .  
         [0037]     Getting back to Sarah, she presses the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110  to enter menu option  721  to list all calls answered with directed voice messaging. Sarah reads from the received call register and verifies by pressing the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110  that Joe placed a call at 9:35 PM that evening and was answered automatically with the directed voice message. Sarah then chooses menu option  723  and she erases Joe&#39;s call from the received call register by pressing the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110 . Since Sarah no longer requires directed voice messaging, she chooses a menu option  725  and presses the appropriate button(s) on keypad  110  to cancel directed voice messaging and she proceeds to the front entrance of the concert hall where Joe is waiting.  
         [0038]     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.  
         [0039]     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.  
         [0040]     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.