1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to web communications, and particularly to an email application that permits real-time creation and communication of audio/visual content.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is a need in this field to have an integrated web communications system includes the comprehensive capability to create audio/visual email content using a voice communications network and an Internet browser and the additional capability to distribute and manage the content from any existing email or contact management application including but not limited to Outlook™, Outlook Express™, Lotus Notes™, Yahoo! ™ or MSN™ (collectively the email and contact management applications are referred to as “Email Applications”). Therefore, a system in accordance with the invention and/or a preferred embodiment of the invention provides the ability to do the following:
First, it provides the ability to create audio streams directly from the Email Applications using the public switching telephone network (PSTN) or voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and synchronize those voice audio streams with any documents, videos, web URLs or other content (collectively referred to as “Content”). The voice audio stream recording with the synchronized Content is referred to hereinafter as “audio/visual content”. Second, it provides the ability to distribute links to said audio/visual content directly from the Email Applications. Third, it provides the ability to present all audio/visual content in a secure personal communications webpage. Fourth, it provides the ability to secure access to said audio/visual content solely to users on the recipient email. Fifth, it provides the ability to perform reporting and tracking of any or all access and viewing of said audio/visual list content directly from the Email Applications.
Features and components of preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to
Referring to
The four icons 101-104 that are shown in
By clicking the icon 102, a user will move to a window that appears within the email application providing the user the ability to upload electronic content from the user's desktop or network onto a personal communications web page (see
This system provides an advantageous communications service that allows an email user the ability to create real time audio/visual Content from within an email application via an integrated web communications menu (
The system further provides the ability to add real-time voice overlays to any content or series of content directly from an integrated service launched from within the email application. Upon completion of the voice overlay, the user has created audio/visual content and is returned directly back to the email application.
A personal communications web page is illustrated at
Each email application user is assigned his/her own integrated personal communications web page. From this web page, which can be customized by the user, any documents, audio/visual content, videos, web URLs or other electronic content is presented and shared in a secure and restricted manner with a viewer or email recipient.
This advantageous integration provides a communications service that provides email application users with an integrated Internet-based, web communications page for managing, presenting and organizing Content. Users of email applications can now deploy true content management from within their existing email application.
Referring to
This communications service allows the email user the ability to both access and send secure links to content from within an email application via an integrated web communications menu and associated communications web page. The user remains in control of the content at all times (versus the traditional email method of sending an attachment). This allows the user to delete, modify or restrict access to content even after sending out the email link to the information.
Automatic content management and control are thus further advantages of the system of the preferred embodiment. This communications service creates an automatic restriction on content without requiring the user to set up- groups or content management lists. Each piece of content on the personal communications web page has an associated and unique “access list”. Only recipients belonging to a specific access list can view or download the associated content. As a default, the system automatically adds email recipients (individuals or groups) that received a link to a piece of content to the access list for that content. Users can also manually add individuals or groups from within their email application directly to a specific access list without sending an email link. The user can thereby manage and control content without having to learn how to utilize a content management system that requires extensive knowledge and effort. The automatic content system of the preferred embodiment is an advantageous email application that provides this capability of content control to the user.
Referring to
Referring now to
The process of seamless communication preferably involves the following. For a one time installation of the ICWS, a user would first preferably provide his/her name and email address. Once the user chooses a name for the ICWS site, then a URL (i.e., web address) for that communications page is established (hereinafter the “URL”). The email address of the user is used as the unique User ID. A password is established by the user (collectively the User ID and password are the “ID”). The ICWS icon is installed on the user's email application and desktop. The icon contains a file that includes the URL and ID.
When a user selects one of the four communications services 101-104 from the ICWS icon (see
That toolbar preferably includes a recording studio, upload content and view email reports options. The recording studio offers a user the ability to record voice audio over content. The upload content option permits a user to post presentations or documents from their PC or network directly to their ICWS communications page. The view email reports option allows users to view, print and manipulate activity reports detailing all viewers of information on the ICWS communications page.
In the event the user selects “Send Secure Content Links” 104 from the menu 100, the same login process occurs. Once the ICWS communications page 200 is accessed, the appropriate file is retrieved (i.e. a file listing the name and encrypted links 210 for all available content on the ICWS communications page 200). That file is then presented to the email user via a window that can be viewed from within the email application. The user selects the appropriate content from the file window that is to be sent from the email application. The content link 300 (which contains the URL to the specific content on the ICWS communications page 200) is encrypted and made available in the text portion of the actual email.
On the backend of the system, an access list is preferably maintained for each element of content on the ICWS communications page 200. This access list contains a list of IDs for all viewers (i.e. email recipients) that are allowed to view or download the specific content. If the ID is not contained in the access list, the content cannot be viewed or downloaded. When a secure content link is sent from within the email application, the following preferably occurs. First, the email address of the email recipients for that specific content are written to a temporary “access” file along with the content link. At the option of the email user, the ICWS communications page 200 can be accessed automatically (i.e. after each email, at a set interval or manually) for update. At the time of update, the temporary “access” file is sent to the ICWS communications page 200 and the appropriate access list is updated. his process is referred to as automatic content management.
Functional elements of the proposed platform for the recording studio and upload content options within the ICWS communications page are preferably built upon a platform in accordance with a preferred embodiment, such as that of Accerra Corporation. A platform in accordance with a preferred embodiment is designed for maximum scalability and reliability. It is a multi-tiered server architecture built with distributed, standards-based software architecture. This architecture provides a comprehensive set of functionality for web-based interactive content creation, management and communication services.
The components comprising a preferred platform architecture are illustrated at
A database server 730, preferably a Microsoft SQL server, is used for data requirements of the application. Data stored on the database server 730 includes user information, site information, content organization information, and session data. A file server 740, preferably a Microsoft Windows 2000 server, is used for storing user content. Content is stored in the form of file system files, and can only be accessed internally or via the platform application. Internal access is for maintenance and backup, while the application access provides platform users with a secure mechanism of maintaining and distributing their content files.
Conference servers 750 are preferably Windows 2000 servers. The platform (Accerra) conference servers 750 preferably run as a Windows NT Service. The conference server 750 is controlled by the platform application, and is used to communicate event control and content information to event attendees. The TAPI servers 760 are preferably Windows 2000 workstations on which the platform TAPI server 760 runs as a Windows NT service. Each server 760 also preferably runs Windows Media Encoder, and contains a Dialogic multi-line device for receiving calls from a recording host. Multiple encoding sessions are possible this way, as each input line also serves as a wave input device from which recorded audio is captured.
The platform also preferably utilizes a Windows media server 770. When clients playback a recorded event, they do so by connecting to the Windows media server 770, which contacts either the TAPI Server 760 (live broadcast events) or obtains the media file (recordings) to obtain the media stream. The server 770 streams the media to the client for playback Interprocess communications between web servers 720, conference servers 750 and TAPI servers 760 are preferably accomplished using Simple Object Access Protocol or SOAP.
SOAP is advantageous in several ways. Communication via SOAP is very efficient and quick. The underlying communication layer is implemented using Windows Sockets, which is an efficient communication mechanism. The platform (Accerra) SOAP implementation includes back-pressure and failure notification, eliminating the possibility of a hung system when a service provider either cannot complete a request in an acceptable time or fails while carrying out the request. SOAP is platform independent. This enables 3rd party components not written on Windows platforms to be utilized without affecting the communications infrastructure already in place. Configuration of SOAP servers and clients is a much simpler process than the same with DCOM as the communications mechanism. As all servers communicate with each other within a protected environment, the stringent security rules implemented in DCOM are not necessary. This eliminates complicated implementation procedures, and potential communication failures after new implementations.
The present invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, those skilled in the art having read this disclosure will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention, as expressed in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 60/537,512, filed Jan. 20, 2004 and 60/539,477, filed Jan. 26, 2004.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60537512 | Jan 2004 | US | |
60539477 | Jan 2004 | US |