Edwin M Elrod

US Patent:

54558522, Oct 3, 1995

Filed:

Oct 7, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/133474

Inventors:

Edwin M. Elrod - Downingtown PA
Carl R. Faix - Cherry Hill NJ
John U. Daniel - West Chester PA

Assignee:

Unisys Corporation - Blue Bell PA

International Classification:

H04M 164

US Classification:

379 67

Abstract:

A Voice Messaging System (VMS) offers a voice store and forward service to a caller on an incomplete call. The caller records the voice message at a Message Delivery System (MDS) via an Intercept Processing Unit (IPU) during a recording session. Call related parameters are transferred from the IPU to the MDS utilizing a handshake protocol specific to the IPU. The VMS accommodates different types of IPUs having different call parameter transfer protocols. The system displays, on the administration terminal, protocol maintenance screens including a generic list of call parameters with fields for entering the order and field length of selected parameters so as to designate a protocol specification to the system. The fields also include information regarding the delimiters utilized to separate the parameters of a parameter string and to designate the end of a parameter string. The protocol specifications are stored in protocol tables keyed by CALLTYPE designating the type of IPU calling the MDS.

US Patent:

54936063, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

May 31, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/251863

Inventors:

Barbara E. Osder - Erdenheim PA
Edwin M. Elrod - Downingtown PA
Alex C. Freiman - New Britain PA
Timothy J. Hogan - Wellington, NZ

Assignee:

Unisys Corporation - Blue Bell PA

International Classification:

H04M 164

US Classification:

379 67

Abstract:

In combination with the Network Application Platform (NAP), a Speech Interface to NAP (SPIN) creates or modifies a SPIN application for each language in which the prompts of a Network Application deployed on NAP are to be spoken. A prompt is mapped into a sequence of static and dynamic elements. Each SPIN application owns the prompt mappings, elements and element voice for the prompts to be played. The Network Application issues a PEP command to a Prompt Expansion Processor (PEP) to play an identified prompt in a language identified by a SPIN application ID. The command supplies the dynamic data to be played at the positions of the dynamic elements in the prompt definition PEP expands the command into a sequence of NAP Message IDs to play the sequence of NAP voice messages corresponding to the static and dynamic elements of the prompt mapping. The dynamic data is categorized into dynamic element types. A Dynamic Element Table contains an ordered list of logically grouped elements to support the dynamic data of a SPIN application.

US Patent:

56339160, May 27, 1997

Filed:

Dec 30, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/367973

Inventors:

Bruce Goldhagen - Newtown Square PA
Frederick C. Kruesi - Exton PA
Gary P. Russell - King of Prussia PA
John Homan - Ephrata PA
Edwin M. Elrod - Downingtown PA

Assignee:

Unisys Corporation - Blue Bell PA

International Classification:

H04M 164

US Classification:

379 67

Abstract:

An integrated voice and data messaging system is disclosed. The system includes a Server comprising a first computer, a network applications platform (NAP) running on the first computer, and means for storing voice and data messages. In addition, the system includes a Client comprising a second computer with an associated display and means for transmitting analog voice messages and digital data messages to the Server, a Client/Server interface coupling the Client to the Server and providing a medium over which the Client and Server communicate; and a Universal Mailbox Application running on the Server, the Client, or both the Server and Client. The system is capable of visually indicating to a user, via the display device associated with the Client computer, that a message has been delivered for the user and is being held by the Server, wherein the message may be a voice, data or facsimile message. The system is particularly suited for exchanging messages among Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) users having access to one or more database services, including a voice-mail service. The SOHO users are typically not attached to a local area network (LAN) and gain access to a Server of the messaging system through a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a telephone and a personal computer (PC).