Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer conferencing – Demand based messaging
Reexamination Certificate
1996-09-19
2001-09-25
Dinh, Dung C. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer conferencing
Demand based messaging
C379S088140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295552
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a gateway apparatus and, more particularly, to a gateway apparatus which converts voice mail into electronic mail so as to transfer the voice mail data to an electronic mail server distributing electronic mails to personal computers connected thereto. The present invention also relates to a gateway apparatus which converts a text file of electronic mail into voice mail so as to store the voice mail data in a voice mail apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, personal computers are being connected to a network so that users can communicate with each other by using electronic mail. Since a capability of personal computers and networks has been improved, multimedia oriented communications, such as communications of static image data, dynamic image data and voice data, have become more popular for the communications between personal computers as well as a mail exchange based on text file data.
Conventionally, as a technique for transmitting audio data via the electronic mail communications between personal computers, a technique disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 1-293063 is known. According to this technique, an audio file is produced by using an audio processing apparatus provided in a personal computer. The audio file is attached to an electronic mail file so that the audio file is transmitted through the personal computer via electronic mail.
In the above-mentioned conventional technique, the audio file can be accessed via each personal computer connected to the network such as a local area network. However, this technique requires a microphone as a voice inputting device and a soundboard as an interface between the voice inputting device and the personal computer. That is, the microphone and the soundboard must be attached to each personal computer.
Additionally, there is a system in which a personal computer is provided with a soundboard and voice data output from a telephone is received by a personal computer via the soundboard as electronic mail through an existing telephone line. In this system, the contents of the voice data stored in the personal computer cannot be accessed from a remote place. Additionally, a telephone line must be connected to each personal computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful gateway apparatus in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a gateway apparatus which is provided between a telephone network and a conventional computer network system so that voice mail can be transferred to a personal computer as electronic mail and the transferred voice mail can be accessed from a remote place by a simple operation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gateway apparatus which generates a voice mail message when a personal computer receives electronic mail and stores the message in a voice mail apparatus so that a user can receive the voice mail message via a telephone from a remote place.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gateway apparatus which converts text file data contained in electronic mail into voice mail data, and stores the voice mail data in a voice mail apparatus so that a user can access the contents of the electronic mail by telephone from a remote place.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, there is provided according to one aspect of the present invention a gateway apparatus connected between an electronic mail server and a public telephone network, the gateway apparatus communicating with a voice mail apparatus via a telephone line, the electronic mail server being connected to at least one personal computer, the gateway apparatus comprising:
voice mail retrieving means for retrieving voice mail addressed to a selected user from the voice mail apparatus;
voice mail converting means for converting the voice mail into electronic mail;
box number converting means for converting a voice mail box number corresponding to the retrieved voice mail into an electronic mail address which is assigned for the selected user; and
transferring means for transferring the electronic mail to the electronic mail server so that the electronic mail is distributed to the personal computer connected to the electronic mail server in accordance with the electronic mail address obtained by the box number converting means.
According to the above-mentioned invention, since voice mail is converted into electronic mail and the converted voice mail is distributed to a corresponding personal computer, a user can access both the voice mail and the electronic mail through the personal computer. The access to the voice mail can be made without providing a voice output device to the personal computer.
In one embodiment, a retrieval of the voice mail for each user is periodically performed at a predetermined time interval.
Additionally, the box number converting means may convert the voice mail box number into the electronic mail address in accordance with a predetermined address conversion table.
Further, the voice mail converting means may convert an analog voice signal corresponding to the voice mail into digital data conforming to electronic mail.
The above-mentioned gateway apparatus may further comprise:
unaccessed electronic mail searching means for searching unaccessed electronic mail which was received by the electronic mail server and has not been accessed by a particular user to whom the unaccessed electronic mail is addressed;
electronic mail address converting means for converting an electronic mail address corresponding to the unaccessed electronic mail into a voice mail box number which is assigned to the particular user; and
message outputting means for outputting to the voice mail apparatus a voice message announcing a presence of the unaccessed electronic mail so that the voice message is stored at a voice mail box number of the particular user.
According to this invention, a user can check whether electronic mail addressed to him or her has been received by his or her personal computer, through a voice mail system by telephone.
In one embodiment, the electronic mail address converting means may convert the electronic mail address into the voice mail box number in accordance with a predetermined address conversion table.
The voice message may be an analog voice signal conforming to voice mail.
The above-mentioned gateway apparatus may further comprise:
unaccessed electronic mail retrieving means for retrieving unaccessed electronic mail which was received by the electronic mail server and has not been accessed by a particular user to whom the unaccessed electronic mail is addressed;
text file converting means for converting a text file contained in the unaccessed electric mail into a voice signal;
electronic mail address converting means for converting an electronic mail address corresponding to the unaccessed electronic mail into a voice mail box number which is assigned to the particular user; and
voice signal outputting means for outputting the voice signal to the voice mail apparatus so that the voice signal is stored at a voice mail box number of the particular user.
According to this invention, a user can access the contents of the electronic mail addressed to him or her through a voice mail system by telephone. In this case, no interfacing device such as a modem is needed since the text file, which corresponds to the contents of the electronic mail, is converted into the form of voice mail. Thus, a user can access both the voice mail and the electronic mail by a single telephone call.
In one embodiment, the electronic mail address converting means may convert the electronic mail address into the voice mail box number in accordance with a predetermined address conversion table.
The voice signal may be an analog voice signal conforming to voice mail.
Additionally, there is provided according to another aspect of the presen
Dickstein , Shapiro, Morin & Oshinsky, LLP
Dinh Dung C.
Fields Kenneth W.
Ricoh & Company, Ltd.
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