Patent ID: 7746989

Claim:
A system configured to record and attach an audio file to an electronic message generated by a portable client device, the system comprising: a gateway configured to receive audio content from the portable client device, to record the received audio content as the audio file, and to associate an identifier with the audio file; a server configured to receive the electronic messages generated by the portable client device including an electronic message indicating an intended recipient and having a dummy file attached thereto that represents the audio file, wherein the electronic message including the dummy file further indicates an association with the identifier that is also associated with the audio file; a server extension module in communication with the server configured to detect electronic messages received by the server from the portable client device having dummy files attached, wherein the server extension module is configured to detect such electronic messages prior to the electronic messages being forwarded to message recipients; and an attachment management module configured (i) to request from the gateway, responsive to detection by the server extension module of the electronic message having the dummy file attached thereto, the audio file associated with the identifier indicated in the detected electronic message as also being associated with the detected electronic message, (ii) to receive the audio file associated with the identifier in response to the request to the gateway, and (iii) to replace the dummy file with the received audio file in response to the reception of the audio file associated with the identifier, wherein the attachment management module is configured to request the audio file, receive the audio file, and replace the dummy file with the audio file prior to the electronic message being forwarded to the intended recipient.