Call Pickup with Seemail

Abstract

Various embodiments provide real-time translation of a voicemail into a readable format as the voicemail is being recorded. In some cases, a system server records the voicemail by first answering a call from an originating device that goes unanswered by a destination device. Upon answering the call, the system server translates the recording, while it is being recorded, into a readable format. Alternately or additionally, the system server forwards portions of the readable format to the destination device. In turn, as the destination device receives portion(s) of the real-time translation, it can display the associated content, and/or update what is displayed as new portions are received. At times, the destination device provides additional call control that interrupts the voicemail while it is being recorded at the system server, and redirects the call to the destination device if the originating device is still connected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for communicating text translations of an audio recording over a Short Message Service (SMS) connection, the device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   one or more computer-readable storage memory devices comprising processor executable instructions which, responsive to execution by the at least one processor, are configured to enable the device to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether a connection associated with an originating call device initiating a call to a destination call device is connected to voicemail; 
 determining to communicate the text translations associated with the audio recording, being left in voicemail via the originating call device, to the destination call device via SMS text messaging; 
 selecting a pickup voicemail callback number from a pool of numbers; 
 creating an association between the pickup voicemail callback number and the destination call device; 
 sending the destination call device a first SMS text message indicating a start to the text translations, the first SMS text message comprising the pickup voicemail callback number; and 
 sending the destination call device one or more additional text translations via one or more additional SMS text messages in real-time relative to the audio recording, each SMS text message of the one or more additional SMS text messages comprising at least one text translation of the text translations. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first SMS text message includes a message type configured to indicate a start of call. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 sending a final SMS text message that includes a message type configured to indicate a call ended when the audio recording has completed. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 creating the association between the pickup callback number and the destination call device by creating metadata that includes the pickup callback number and information associated with the destination call device. 
 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the metadata further comprises information associated with the originating call device. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from the destination device, an incoming call directed to the pickup callback number; 
 determining to interrupt the audio recording; and 
 connecting the originating call device and the destination call device. 
 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 1  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 generating the text translations from the audio recording. 
 
     
     
         8 . A device for interrupting an originating call device that is recording an audio message to be used as voicemail for a destination call device, the device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   one or more computer-readable storage memory devices comprising processor executable instructions which, responsive to execution by the at least one processor, are configured to enable the device to perform operations comprising:
 sending the destination call device an Short Messaging Service (SMS) text message comprising a pickup voicemail callback number; 
 receiving an incoming call from the destination call device directed to the pickup voicemail callback number; 
 determining whether a number associated with the incoming call is in a pool of numbers associated with voicemail services; 
 responsive to determining the number is in the pool of numbers, determining whether an association exists between the number and the destination call device; 
 responsive to determining an association exists, retrieving data for the number and the associated audio message being recorded by the originating call device; 
 updating the data with information associated with the destination call device; and 
 connecting the destination call device and the originating call device, the connecting comprising interrupting the audio message before the originating call device terminates an associated connection. 
   
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein determining whether an association exists comprises analyzing metadata. 
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 8  further configured to perform operations comprising:
 sending the destination call device one or more text translations via one or more additional SMS text messages in real-time relative to the audio message being recorded. 
 
     
     
         11 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein sending the one or more text translations in real-time relative to the audio message being recorded further comprises:
 receiving a first portion of the audio message;   translating the first portion of the audio message into a textual representation; and   sending the textual representation of the first portion to the destination call device before receiving a second portion of the audio message.   
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the audio message is actively being recorded while the first portion is being translated. 
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein sending the textual representation of the first portion further comprises sending the textual representation of the first portion using an SMS text message. 
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the SMS text message is encoded with a tag indicating it is associated with voicemail transcription. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method for interrupting an active audio recording being left in voicemail by an originating call device and transferring the connection to a destination call device, the method comprising:
 determining whether a connection associated with the originating call device initiating a call to the destination call device is connected to voicemail leaving the active audio recording;   responsive to determining the originating call device is leaving the active audio recording, determining how to communicate text translations associated with the active audio recording to the destination call device;   sending the destination call device one or more text translations in real-time relative to the active audio recording;   receiving an incoming call from the destination call device;   determining whether the incoming call is associated with voicemail services; and   responsive to determining the incoming call is associated with voicemail services, connecting the destination call device and the originating call device, the connecting comprising interrupting the active audio recording before the originating call device terminates an associated connection.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein sending the destination call device one or more text translations further comprises sending the one or more text translations over Short Message Service (SMS) text messages. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein each SMS text message of SMS text messages is encoded with a tag configured to indicate the respective SMS text message is associated with a voicemail service. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the destination call device comprises a wireless mobile device. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein receiving the incoming call further comprises receiving the incoming call on a connection associated with a pickup voicemail callback number assigned to the destination call device by the computer. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein determining whether a connection associated with the originating call device initiating a call to the destination call device is connected to voicemail further comprises at least:
 querying a call state associated with the originating call device; or   querying a call state associated with the destination call device.