The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 1996
Filed:
Jan. 05, 1994
Thomas S Recht, Highland Park, IL (US);
James F Goedken, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Michael H Pittelkow, Grayslake, IL (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
A method for designating messages allows individual messages to be designated as 'read' if (i) the message has been played for a predetermined amount of time (150) or (ii) the replay of the message is completed (154). After a playback session, messages designated as 'read' can be designated as 'old' (102). Because of the queuing capability of the digital answering machine (142), stored messages can be replayed in any order, or a portion of a message can be conveniently replayed to determine whether the message should be replayed in full. As a result, new messages (i.e., messages which have not been designated as 'read') can be located anywhere in the sequence of recorded messages. Such a function of the present invention allows a user to preview messages to selectively listen to messages, while maintaining a designation as 'new' for any message in the sequence which has not been replayed in full or at least for a predetermined period of time. A user has the option of playing back all messages (92), or only those messages designated as 'new' (98).