Multi-media integrated message arrangement

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Voice, facsimile, and electronic mail messaging is integrated in a system (FIG. 1) that converts e-mail messages into voice-and-fax messages. An e-mail message (400) is parsed into voiceable prose, segments (403) and non-voiceable,non-prose segments (404). Prose segments are converted into voice message segments (503) via text-to-speech facilities. Each non-prose segment is converted into a fax segment (504). Voice pointers (505) to fax segments are inserted into the voice message, in places corresponding to the non-prose segments in the e-mail message. The voice file (500) and fax file (510) are then stored for subsequent delivery of the message as an integrated voice-and-fax message. …