Video-voicemail solution for wireless communication devices

Abstract

An enhanced communication and voicemail solution for mobile phones is described where still images and/or video clips are injected into the voice stream creating a “video-voice” call. When a receiving party is not available to take a video-voice call, this combined stream of voice and image information is stored at the mobile service provider in a manner similar to voice mail today. Then, stored video-voicemails may be retrieved at a later time by the receiving party. Also, realtime video-voice conversations may be recorded for later retrieval in order to document the conversation or because a party in the conversation is not able to view the images realtime. While the sending party may use a normal size mobile phone containing a miniature digital camera, the receiving party may view video-voicemail images on a variety of devices including a wireless mobile phone or PDA, or alternately a conventional PC connected to the World Wide Web.

1. A method for transferring video, voice, and still image information during a realtime conversation, wherein video clips and still images are captured by a calling party on a capturing device, said video clips and still images being interspersed in time and combined with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”) captured by a wireless communication device, and comprising the steps of:
 capturing, from time to time during a realtime conversation, video clips and still images utilizing a digital camera contained within or attached to said wireless communication device;  
 transmitting said video clips and still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream such that the initial position of each video clip and still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained;  
 receiving by a receiving party, on a receiving device having a display and at a remote location and in realtime, said voice stream combined with said video clips and still images, where the initial position in time of each video clip and still image relative to the voice stream is maintained; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 storing, at a mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time, said realtime conversation including the voice stream combined with said video clips and still images, while preserving the relationship in time between voice, video and still image information.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  where said realtime conversation, including video clips and still images combined with the voice stream, is optionally recorded at said mobile service provider for later retrieval in response to a decision indication, said decision indication to start said recording being supplied during said video-voice conversation by the receiving party or the calling party. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  where said realtime conversation, including video clips and still images combined with the voice stream, is automatically recorded at said mobile service provider for later retrieval, and where a decision indication causing the contents of said video-voice conversation to be saved is optionally supplied by the receiving party or the calling party during the course of said conversation. 
     
     
       4. A communication system, including a calling party and a receiving party communicating via a mobile service provider, including:
 at least one wireless communication device capable of bi-directional voice communication and containing a digital camera, said wireless communication device capable of capturing and transmitting from the calling party to said mobile service provider, video clips and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), said video clips and still images being interspersed in time and where the initial position of each video clip and high resolution still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained; and  
 at least one receiving device operable by said receiving party, said receiving device having a display and being capable of receiving synchronized voice, video clip, and high resolution still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web, and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed, is maintained relative to the voice stream; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the most recent still image or the last frame of the most recent video clip, whichever occurred most recently, continues to be displayed on the receiving device's display until a different image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 where a realtime conversation including voice, video clip and still image information transmitted by said wireless communication device is stored at said mobile service provider in response to decision indications supplied by both the calling parting and the receiving party during said conversation, said video clip and still image information being stored together with and synchronized with the voice stream.  
 
     
     
       5. A communication system for communicating between two parties via a mobile service provider, video clip and high resolution still image information together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), where video clips and high resolution still images are interspersed in time and where the initial position in time of each video clip and high resolution still image in the voice stream is maintained, including:
 at least one communication device capable of transmitting from a calling party to said mobile service provider, voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream; and  
 at least one receiving device having a display and capable of receiving at a receiving party, synchronized voice, video clip, and still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web; and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed is maintained relative to the voice stream and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 a storage system at said mobile service provider for storing said voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images while maintaining the initial position in time of said video clips and high resolution still images in the voice stream; and  
 where information communicated from a calling party is optionally recorded for retrieval at a later time if the receiving party decides, during a realtime conversation, that said information should be recorded.  
 
     
     
       6. A communication system for communicating between two parties via a mobile service provider, video clip and high resolution still image information together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), where video clips and high resolution still images are interspersed in time and where the initial position in time of each video clip and high resolution still image in the voice stream is maintained, including:
 at least one communication device capable of transmitting from a calling party to said mobile service provider, voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream; and  
 at least one receiving device having a display and capable of receiving at a receiving party, synchronized voice, video clip, and still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web; and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed is maintained relative to the voice stream; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 a storage system at said mobile service provider for storing said voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images while maintaining the initial position in time of said video clips and high resolution still images in the voice stream; and  
 where a receiving party may choose to have all incoming information recorded for retrieval at a later time, selectively deleting information for individual conversations at a later time.  
 
     
     
       7. A communication system for communicating between two parties via a mobile service provider, video clip and high resolution still image information together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), where video clips and high resolution still images are interspersed in time and where the initial position in time of each video clip and high resolution still image in the voice stream is maintained, including:
 at least one communication device capable of transmitting from a calling party to said mobile service provider, voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream; and  
 at least one receiving device having a display and capable of receiving at a receiving party, synchronized voice, video clip, and still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web; and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed is maintained relative to the voice stream; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 a storage system at said mobile service provider for storing said voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images while maintaining the initial position in time of said video clips and high resolution still images in the voice stream; and  
 where a receiving party may choose to have all incoming information from a particular calling party recorded for retrieval at a later time, selectively deleting information for individual conversations at a later time.  
 
     
     
       8. A communication system for communicating between two parties via a mobile service provider, video clip and high resolution still image information together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), where video clips and high resolution still images are interspersed in time and where the initial position in time of each video clip and high resolution still image in the voice stream is maintained, including:
 at least one communication device capable of transmitting from a calling party to said mobile service provider, voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream; and  
 at least one receiving device having a display and capable of receiving at a receiving party, synchronized voice, video clip, and still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web; and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed is maintained relative to the voice stream; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 a storage system at said mobile service provider for storing said voice information, video clips, and high resolution still images while maintaining the initial position in time of said video clips and high resolution still images in the voice stream; and  
 where a particular calling party and a particular receiving party may choose in advance to have all information, including voice, video clips and still images, exchanged between them during conversations recorded at said mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time.  
 
     
     
       9. A method for transferring video, voice, and still image information during a realtime conversation, wherein video clips and still images are captured by a calling party on a capturing device, said video clips and still images being interspersed in time and combined with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”) captured by a wireless communication device, and comprising the steps of:
 capturing, from time to time during a realtime conversation, video clips and still images utilizing a digital camera contained within or attached to said wireless communication device:  
 transmitting said video clips and still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream such that the initial position of each video clip and still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained;  
 receiving by a receiving party, on a receiving device having a display and at a remote location and in realtime, said voice stream combined with said video clips and still images, where the initial position in time of each video clip and still image relative to the voice stream is maintained; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the displayed image of each still image or the last frame of a video clip displayed on said receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 storing, at a mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time, said realtime conversation including the voice stream combined with said video clips and still images, while preserving the relationship in time between voice, video and still image information; and  
 where a particular calling party and a particular receiving party may choose in advance to have all information, including voice, video clips and still images, exchanged between them during conversations recorded at said mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time.  
 
     
     
       10. A method for transferring video, voice, and still image information during a realtime conversation, wherein video clips and still images are captured by a calling party on a capturing device, said video clips and still images being interspersed in time and combined with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”) captured by a wireless communication device, and comprising the steps of: capturing, from time to time during a realtime conversation, video clips and still images utilizing a digital camera contained within or attached to said wireless communication device; and
 transmitting said video clips and still images together with and synchronized with the voice stream such that the initial position of each video clip and still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained; and  
 receiving, by a receiving party, on a receiving device having a display and at a remote location, either in realtime or retrieved from a video-voicemail storage system at a mobile service provider, said voice stream combined with and synchronized with said video clips and still images, where the initial position in time of each video clip and still image relative to the voice stream is maintained; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the most recent still image or the last frame of the most recent video clip, whichever occurred most recently, continues to be displayed on the receiving device's display until a different image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 where a particular calling party and a particular receiving party may choose in advance to have all information, including voice, video clips and still images, exchanged between them during conversations recorded at said mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time.  
 
     
     
       11. A communication system, including a calling party and a receiving party communicating via a mobile service provider, including:
 at least one wireless communication device capable of bi-directional voice communication and containing a digital camera, said wireless communication device capable of capturing and transmitting from the calling party to said mobile service provider, video clips and high resolution still images together with and synchronized with a stream of voice information (hereinafter “the voice stream”), said video clips and still images being interspersed in time and where the initial position of each video clip and high resolution still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained; and  
 at least one receiving device operable by said receiving party, said receiving device having a display and being capable of receiving synchronized voice, video clip, and high resolution still image information from said mobile service provider, either through a wireless connection or through the World Wide Web, and where each video clip and still image is displayed on said receiving device such that the initial position in time of each video clip and still image when displayed, is maintained relative to the voice stream; and where video clips and still images are displayed alternately on the same display; and where the most recent still image or the last frame of the most recent video clip, whichever occurred most recently, continues to be displayed on the receiving device's display until a different image or video clip arrives in the voice stream, or until otherwise terminated; and  
 where a particular calling party and a particular receiving party may choose in advance to have all information, including voice, video clips and still images, exchanged between them during conversations recorded at said mobile service provider for retrieval at a later time.  
 
     
     
       12. A communication system, comprising:
   a communication device that transmits a voice stream, a video clip and a still image to a service provider, wherein the video clip and the still image are synchronized with the voice stream;        a receiving device that receives the video clip and the still image synchronized with the voice stream from the service provider and displays the video clip and the still image on a display screen such that an initial position in time of the video clip and the still image is maintained with respect to the voice stream, wherein the video clip and the still image are interspersed in time on the same display screen and wherein the still image or a last frame of the video clip persists on the display until a different still image or video clip is received, or until otherwise terminated; and        a storage system at the service provider that stores the voice stream, the video clip, and the still image while maintaining the initial position in time of said video clip and the still image in the voice stream, such that a receiving party is able to have incoming information recorded for retrieval at a later time.     
     
     
       13. A communication system, comprising:
   a communication device that transmits from a calling party to a service provider, a voice stream with a video clip and a still image, wherein the video clip and the still image are synchronized with the voice stream;        a receiving device that receives the video clip and the still image synchronized with the voice stream from the service provider and displays the video clip and the still image on the display interface of the receiving device, such that an initial position in time of the video clip and the still image when displayed is maintained with respect to the voice stream; and wherein the video clip and the still image are displayed interspersed in time on the same display; and wherein the still image or a last frame of the video clip displayed on the receiving device persists until a different still image or video clip is received, or until otherwise terminated; and        a storage system at the service provider that stores the voice stream, the video clip, and the still image while maintaining the initial position in time of the video clip and the still image in the voice stream; and        wherein a calling party on the communication device and a receiving party on the receiving device select in advance to record, at the service provider, for retrieval at a later time, the voice stream, the still image and the video clip exchanged between the calling party and the receiving party during a conversation.     
     
     
       14. A method for transferring video, voice and still image information, said method comprising:
   capturing, during a realtime conversation, a video clip and a still image utilizing a digital camera integrated with a wireless communication device;        transmitting the video clip and the still image together with and synchronized with a voice stream such that an initial position of the video clip and the still image in time relative to the voice stream is maintained; and        receiving, on a receiving device having a display, either in realtime or retrieved from a video - voicemail storage system at a service provider, said voice stream combined with and synchronized with said video clip and said still image, wherein the initial position in time of the video clip and the still image relative to the voice stream is maintained; and wherein the video clip and the still image are displayed interspersed in time on a same display; and wherein the still image or a last frame of the video clip, whichever occurred most recently, continues to be displayed until a different image or video clip is received, or until otherwise terminated;        wherein the video - voicemail storage system at the service provider stores the voice stream combined with and synchronized with the video clip and the still image for retrieval at a later time.