U.S. patent application number 12/241738 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for data transmission system with enhancement data.
Invention is credited to John G. Posa, Barry H. Schwab.
Application Number | 20090024711 12/241738 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39828383 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090024711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schwab; Barry H. ; et
al. |
January 22, 2009 |
DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEM WITH ENHANCEMENT DATA
Abstract
A method of enhancing an electronic communication is disclosed,
be it in the form of a message, file, or other type of
transmission. The method includes the steps of transmitting and
receiving a message or file with a content and, along with the
message or file, transmitting and receiving enhancement information
enabling a recipient of the message or file to more fully
appreciate the content. In one embodiment, the enhancement
information enables the recipient to visualize the sender or listen
to the content of a message. For example, the enhancement
information may include phonemes enabling the recipient to listen
to the content of a message in a synthesized voice of the sender.
In all embodiments, the enhancement information may be stored at
the location of the recipient to limit the need for retransmission
thereof.
Inventors: |
Schwab; Barry H.; (West
Bloomfield, MI) ; Posa; John G.; (Ann Arbor,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, SPRINKLE,ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
39828383 |
Appl. No.: |
12/241738 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09877628 |
Jun 8, 2001 |
7437293 |
|
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12241738 |
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60210879 |
Jun 9, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
709/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/02 20130101;
G06Q 30/00 20130101; G10L 19/0018 20130101; G06Q 20/023 20130101;
G06Q 20/40 20130101; G06Q 20/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
709/206 |
International
Class: |
G06F 15/16 20060101
G06F015/16 |
Claims
1. A method of enhancing an electronic communication, comprising
the steps of: transmitting and receiving a message from a sender;
and storing, at the location of a recipient, enhancement
information enabling the recipient to construct a moving image in
which the sender would be shown speaking the words of the message
as they are played back.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted and
received through a local- or wide-area network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted and
received through a wireless communication system.
4. The method of claim 1, including the step of periodically
updating the enhancement information.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/877,628, filed Jun. 8, 2001, which claims
priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/210,879, filed Jun. 9, 2000, the entire content of both of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to personal computers and, more
particularly, to a system for conveying enhancement information as
part of a data file or communication.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many aspects of today's everyday life are influenced by
computer technology, resulting in a reliance on communications
media such as Electronic Mail, answering machines,
computer-simulated voices to effect automated call routing, etc.
However, these relatively impersonal techniques sometimes fail to
convey subtle information which affects the interpretation of their
message. In addition, the increased sophistication of these
electronic tools sometimes leads to unforeseen complications, which
may increase the complexity of functions which they are intended to
simplify.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] This invention resides in a method of enhancing an
electronic communication, whether in the form of a message, file,
or other type of transmission. The method includes the steps of
transmitting and receiving a message or file with a content and,
along with the message or file, transmitting and receiving
enhancement information enabling a recipient of the message or file
to more fully appreciate the content.
[0005] In one embodiment, the enhancement information enables the
recipient to visualize the sender or listen to the content of a
message. For example, the enhancement information may include
phonemes enabling the recipient to listen to the content of a
message in a synthesized voice of the sender.
[0006] In all embodiments, the enhancement information may be
stored at the location of the recipient to limit the need for
retransmission thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows an example of one possible implementation of
the invention
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In its broadest form, the invention envisions a data file
representing some information to be conveyed, as, for example, an
e-mail transmission. To this data file is added "helper
information", which enhances the value of the original file; in
practice, this helper information might include phonemes customized
to the sender, such that when the e-mail is received, the phonemes
will enable the recipient to listen to the e-mail in the voice of
the sender. As a further enhancement, the helper file could include
image information representative of the sender, providing the
ability for the recipient to construct a moving image in which the
sender would be shown speaking the words of the message as they are
played back. If the sender has knowledge that the intended
recipient already has the helper information, then it would be
possible to omit the retransmission of this information, thereby
minimizing the overall size of the data file to be transmitted.
Alternatively, the retransmission of this customized helper
information would enable the recipient to receive updated versions
of this information as technology for reproduction improves, or to
accurately portray the inevitable physical aging of the sender over
time. Other useful information, such as a program to perform the
reconstruction of the moving images, could also be distributed as
part of the helper information. In addition, the system would be
capable of learning useful information, such as the pronunciation
of particular words or technical terms. Each sender would be able
to maintain records of which words or other helper information
which previously had been transmitted to a particular
recipient.
[0009] An alternative implementation would include provisions for
an automatic response to an incoming message. Whether triggered by
a voice-mail message or an e-mail message, a response would be
returned to the source of the original message. This response could
take the form of an e-mail delivery receipt, a "read" receipt, or
an "out-of-office" notification. Routing of a response would be
directed by return information included in the incoming message,
such as a return address, Caller-ID information, or routing
information stored in an address-book-type data repository.
[0010] A third example would be the inclusion of helper information
in a document file. With current word processor programs, if a word
is unknown to the local computer or its custom dictionary, it may
be marked as misspelled. For a large document, one which has
sections with British spellings of words in addition to American
spellings, or one which contains many technical terms, there may be
so many words detected as misspelled that the system is overloaded,
and it will cease the marking of words that it does not recognize.
In this case, the spelling checker no longer will be functional.
However, the inclusion of helper information, in the form of custom
dictionary additions or special grammatical rules, would enable the
spell-checking feature to continue to be functional
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of one possible implementation of
the invention. A main file 2 is to be sent to an e-mail recipient.
Enhancement data 4 is to be included, providing additional
capabilities, such as phonemes to allow a voice reconstruction of
the message, and an implementation program to utilize these
phonemes to perform the speech synthesis. These elements (the
enhancement data including the speech synthesis implementation
program) are combined with the main file by processor 6, and
transmitted as 10 to the intended recipient.
[0012] Various types of enhancement data and implementation
programs preferably are stored in a local data storage unit 8,
although these types of data optionally may be stored on a local-
or wide-area network (not shown). In addition, the data storage
unit may include a database, which maintains records of which
e-mail recipients already have received the enhancement data and
implementation program, thereby avoiding unnecessary and redundant
transmissions to these recipients.
[0013] The e-mail message is received as 50 and passed to processor
unit 52, which splits the received data and extracts the original
main file as 54 and the enhancement data 56 (which will include the
original enhancement data, as well as any implementation program
that may be required). At this point, the user may choose to retain
the data elements received, in which case these elements will be
stored on the data storage unit 58, which also may maintain a
database of all elements that have been received. This data storage
unit, like that of the sender, alternatively may reside on a local-
or wide-area network.
[0014] In order to maximize the efficiency of the system, it will
be advantageous to provide some form of query-response capability,
so that a sender may interrogate the system of the intended
recipient, and thereby determine whether or not it is necessary to
transmit a particular enhancement data element. It is anticipated
that many implementation programs may become standardized and
universally available (such as the "Acrobat" reader produced by
Adobe Systems or the "Quicktime" software available for various
platforms), and these "plug-in" style programs eventually may be
supplied as part of personal computer operating systems or Mail
software. Another option would be for these elements to be
maintained in a central repository, where, for example, a database
of mail recipient system facilities could be utilized to determine
whether an element needed to be attached to an e-mail message
before forwarding it to that recipient or even allowing a recipient
to access this repository to selectively download various
personalized enhancement data, implementation programs, or other
data enhancement elements.
[0015] As an option, the receiving system, via processor unit 52,
may transmit an acknowledgment message 60, either automatically
upon receipt of the message, or in response to the user allowing
any data enhancement elements to be stored on the recipient's data
storage unit 58. This message is transmitted as 62, and received as
12 by the original sender; in an alternative embodiment, this
message may be "pre-addressed" by the sender as part of an overall
management system, in which case it may be directed to a
centralized facility organized to maintain these records. The
received message may be used a simple confirmation of delivery, or
it may be utilized to create a record 14 to be stored in the
database facilities of the data storage unit 8.
[0016] The various transmitter and receiver functions, as 10, 12,
50, and 62, may be implemented as local- or wide-area network
components (such as network interface cards or cable modems) or may
be part of a wireless interconnection system.
[0017] Various types of enhancement data and implementation
programs are possible, including those based on audio, video,
textural, or graphical data, and utilized for functionality such as
voice synthesis, animation, or configuration of the recipient
machine for audio, video, textural, graphical, or operating mode.
Many other alternative applications are possible within the scope
of the invention, all within the overall concept of inclusion of
helper information specific to the particular data file or a
collection of data files of a common type.
* * * * *