[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transmitting message in a wireless communication
environment. More particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a
method and a system for transmitting a message in a low bandwidth environment.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Rapid growth in the field of digital portable device has provided significant
motivation for development in digital messaging. Generally, users communicate by way of
publishing a post, making a comment, or sending a voice message/video message. Users use
various system which enable such communication of the user. Some voice messaging
services/systems enables a user to transmit/receive audio message which in turn reduces the
time and efforts made by user to type the text message.
[0003] Such voice messaging systems enable users to transmit the voice message by
recording their voice. The advantage using audio message over text message is that
recording a audio message is more convenient than typing a text message. However,
transmission of a audio message consumes more bandwidth as compared to a text message.
Therefore, in low bandwidth and high latency environment it is not possible to transmit
audio messages. Sometimes, the receiving device may not be able to receive the audio
message sent by a transmitting device and information may get lost in the middle.
[0004] Thus, there exists a need for the technology that can help in transmission of the audio
message in a low bandwidth and high latency environment without the loss of audio
message.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] One or more shortcomings discussed above are overcome, and additional advantages
are provided by the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized
3
through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the
disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the disclosure.
[0006] In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure a method of transmitting
messages in a low bandwidth environment is disclosed. The method comprises receiving an
audio message, from a first user device over a first communication channel, to be shared
with a second user device, comparing bandwidth of a second communication channel, on
which the audio message is to be shared with the second user device, with a pre-determined
threshold, extracting pertinent content from the audio message, if the bandwidth of the
second communication channel is below the pre-determined threshold, generating a sticker
from the extracted content and storing the generated sticker, comparing the bandwidth of
the second communication channel with the pre-determined threshold once again, and
transmitting the stored sticker to the second user device, if the bandwidth of the second
communication channel is still found less than the pre-determined threshold.
[0007] In one non-limiting embodiment, the method further comprises comparing a length
of the received audio message with a pre-defined length, converting the received audio
message in a textual format when the length of the received audio message is greater than
the pre-defined length.
[0008] In one non-limiting embodiment, the audio message is a message recorded by a user
of the first user equipment.
[0009] In one non-limiting embodiment, the bandwidth of the second communication
channel is continuously compared with the pre-determined threshold to check when the
bandwidth of the second communication channel is above the pre-determined threshold:
transmitting the audio message to the second user equipment directly when the bandwidth
of the communication channel is above the pre-determined threshold.
4
[0010] In yet another non-limiting embodiment, the sticker is selected from a list of stickers
stored in the memory based on the extracted content from the received audio message.
[0011] In another non-limiting embodiment, an apparatus for transmitting messages in low
bandwidth environment is provided. The apparatus comprises a transceiver configured to
receive an audio message, from a first user device over a first communication channel, to
be shared with a second user device, a memory, a processor coupled to the transceiver and
the memory and configured to compare bandwidth of a second communication channel, on
which the audio message is to be shared with the second user device, with a pre-determined
threshold, extract pertinent content from the audio message, if the bandwidth of the second
communication channel is below the pre-determined threshold, generate a sticker from the
extracted content and storing the generated sticker, compare the bandwidth of the second
communication channel with the pre-determined threshold once again; and transmit the
stored sticker to the second user device, if the bandwidth of the second communication
channel is still found less than the pre-determined threshold.
[0012] In yet another non-limiting embodiment, the processor is further configured to
compare a length of the received audio message with a pre-defined length; convert the
received audio message in a textual format when the length of the received audio message
is greater than the pre-defined length.
[0013] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way
limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above,
further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the
drawings and the following detailed description.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[0014] The main object of the present invention is to transmit a sticker or text representation
for the information stored in a voice message in a low bandwidth, high latency environment.
5
[0015] Another object of the present invention make voice message communication more
efficient and effective in a low bandwidth, high latency environment.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] Further aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily understood
from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Reference numerals have been used to refer to identical or functionally similar elements.
The figures together with a detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of
the specification, and serve to further illustrate the embodiments and explain various
principles and advantages, in accordance with the present disclosure wherein:
[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the present disclosure according to an aspect of
the present disclosure.
[0018] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment according to an aspect of the present
disclosure
[0019] Figure 3 shows a flow chart representing exemplary method transmitting messages
in low bandwidth environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein
represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present
subject matter. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, state
transition diagrams, pseudo code, and the like represent various processes which may be
substantially represented in computer readable medium and executed by a computer or
processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
6
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the
disclosure “systems and methods for voice message transmission using text and sticker
representation”. It is understood that the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications
and alternative forms; specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example
in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It will be appreciated as the description
proceeds that the disclosure may be realized in different embodiments.
[0022] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as
an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present
subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as
preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.
[0023] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms,
specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will
be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit
the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover
all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.
[0024] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended
to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that a setup, device that comprises a list of
components that does not include only those components but may include other components
not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements
in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints,
preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus
or device. It could be noted with respect to the present disclosure that the terms like “a
system for searching a voice message”, “The system” refers to the same system which is
used using the present disclosure.
7
[0025] According to an aspect, the present disclosure provides a technique to enable
transmission of a sticker or text representation for the information stored in voice message
in a low bandwidth, high latency environment. The technique includes extracting text (using
speech to text method) associated with the voice memos. The technique may also include
generating a sticker based on the extracted text. The technique stores the extracted text and
generated sticker in a database. The technique may provide one or more search results to
users based on the keywords and information used for searching a voice message. The
technique includes transmission of extracted text and/or sticker corresponding to a voice
memo in the low bandwidth, high latency environment. Therefore, the present disclosure
provides an effective and efficient technique to transmit the information of a voice message
even when the bandwidth is insufficient to transmit/receive the voice message.
[0026] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference
is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by
way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These
embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The
following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0027] Figure 1 shows an exemplary apparatus 100 for transmitting a sticker based on an
audio message. The apparatus 100 may be any computing device and may be configured as
a server. The apparatus 100 is configured to communicate with one or more user terminals
over one or more communication channels. The apparatus 100 may be connected with the
one or more communication terminals over the network.
[0028] As shown in figure 1, the apparatus 100 is in communication with a first user
terminal 102 over a first communication channel 104 and a second user terminal 106 over
8
the second communication channel 108. Also, the apparatus 100 may be in communication
with the first user terminal 102 and the second user terminal 106 over a network 110.
[0029] The first user terminal 102 and the second user terminal 106 may be in
communication with each other through the apparatus 100. In one embodiment, the first user
terminal 102 and the second user terminal 106 may communicate with each other for
messaging purposes. For example, a user of the first user terminal 102 may desire to
communicate with a user of the second user terminal 106 over a messaging platform. For
this, the user of the first user terminal sends a message intended for the user of the second
user terminal 106. The intended message may first be transmitted to the apparatus 100 which
may direct the message to the second user terminal 106. The message may be audio
message, textual message, graphical message, etc. The present disclosure is for addressing
the problems encountered by a user for transmitting the audio message to another user. In
another embodiment, the first user terminal 102 and the second user terminal 106 may
communicate with each other for purposes other than messaging.
[0030] For the message to be communicated between the first user terminal 102 and the
second user terminal 106, the bandwidth requirement of the first communication channel
104 and the second communication channel 108 must be checked continuously. The
bandwidth requirement ensures that bandwidth availability of the first communication
channel 104 and the second communication channel 108 remains above the pre-determined
threshold.
[0031] In embodiment, where the message is an audio message, the bandwidth requirement
of the first communication channel 104 and the second communication channel 108 is more
than the bandwidth requirement of the first and second communication channels 104, 108
when a textual message is to be transmitted. Hence, when the audio message is transmitted
from the first user terminal 102 for the second user terminal 106, the apparatus must
9
continuously check if the bandwidth requirement of the communication channels 104 and
108 are above the pre-determined threshold.
[0032] Referring to figure 1 again, the apparatus 100 includes a memory 150, a transceiver
152 and a processor 154 coupled to the memory 150 and the transceiver 152. The transceiver
152 is configured to transmit and receive one or more signals/messages. The message is
received from the first user terminal 102 and intended for the user of the second user
terminal 104.
[0033] The apparatus 100 receives the audio message from the first user terminal 102 when
the user of the first user terminal 102 sends an audio message for communicating with the
user of the second user terminal 104. The audio message may contain a message that the
user of the first user terminal 102 may intend to give to the user of the second user terminal
104. The audio message is recorded by the user of the first user terminal 102 using one or
more sensors present in the first user terminal.
[0034] Once the audio message has been recorded, the audio message is transmitted over
the first communication channel 102 to the apparatus 100. The transceiver 152 is configured
to receive the audio message transmitted from the first user terminal 102, where the audio
message is intended for a user of the second user terminal 106. The audio message is
received from the first user terminal 102 over the first communication channel 104.
[0035] After the apparatus 100 receives the audio message, the processor 154 is configured
to compare the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 with a pre-determined
threshold. Since the audio message is to be transmitted to the second user terminal 106 over
the second communication channel 108, the bandwidth requirement of the second
communication channel 108 is continuously monitored.
[0036] To monitor the bandwidth requirement of the second communication channel 108,
the processor 154 may measure the present bandwidth by downloading a very small file and
10
measuring the time taken. This is repeated over multiple intervals to measure bandwidth of
the second communication channel 108. The time taken may be compared with a predetermined time interval to check if it is taking more time to download the file. In one
embodiment, a bandwidth of the second communication channel may be calculated from
the measured time taken. The calculated bandwidth may be compared with the predetermined value. If the calculated bandwidth is lower than the pre-determined threshold, it
may be determined that the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 is low and
may not be suitable for transmitting audio message. In one embodiment, the pre-determined
bandwidth may be 5mbps.
[0037] Further, to measure the latency, a remote server is pinged with small packets and it
may be measured how long it takes for the packet to come back. In one embodiment, if the
time taken for the packet to return is more than 100ms, it may be determined that the
bandwidth requirement of the second communication channel 108 is low and may not be
suitable for transmitting audio message. The above two methods helps determine if the
bandwidth of the environment is low and if it would be possible to transmit the audio
message over the second communication channel 108.
[0038] When it is determined that the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108
is lower than the pre-determined threshold using the above methods, the processor 154 is
configured to extract pertinent content from the audio message. The pertinent content may
include relevant content of the audio message. In other words, the pertinent content may
mean the main topic about which the audio message relates to. For example, if the audio
message contains “let’s go out to play basketball”, the pertinent content may include play
basketball. Thus, the pertinent content may include meaningful content that can be extracted
from the audio message. To identify the pertinent content, the processor 154 may identify
one or more keywords in the audio message.
[0039] Now since the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 is less than the
pre-determined threshold is less than the pre-determined threshold, it may not be possible
11
to transmit the audio message since the audio message may be lost in between. Thus, to
communicate to the user of the second user terminal 106, what the user of the first user
terminal 102 desires to communicate, the apparatus 100 may communicate the extracted
pertinent content in some other way to the user of the second user terminal 106
[0040] In one such way, the apparatus 100 represents the audio message received from the
user of the first user terminal 102 in the form of sticker or textual content. The method for
doing the same is explained below.
[0041] When the apparatus 100 has option to represent the audio message in the form of
sticker or the text, the preference is always given to the sticker representation. A plurality
of stickers are pre-stored in the memory 152. The stickers may represent at least one content
and may be labelled such that it may become easier to recognize the content of the sticker.
[0042] The processor 154 may be configured to compare the extracted pertinent content
with the pre-stored stickers and identify a relevant sticker. Thus, a sticker representation
may be generated from the extracted pertinent content and the extracted sticker may be
stored in the memory 152.
[0043] The processor 154 is configured to compare the bandwidth of the second
communication channel 108 with the pre-determined threshold to identify if the bandwidth
of the second communication channel 108 is now suitable for transmitting the audio
message.
[0044] If the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 is above the predetermined threshold, the audio message is transmitted to the second user terminal 106.
However, if the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 is still less than the
pre-determined threshold, the generated sticker representation stored in the memory 152 is
transmitted to the second user terminal 106 over the second communication channel 108.
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[0045] Further, in one embodiment, there may not be sticker corresponding to the extracted
pertinent content in the memory 152. Also, in another embodiment, if a length of the audio
message is above a pre-determined threshold length, it may become difficult to identify one
pertinent content from the audio message. For example, if the user of the first user terminal
102 sends an audio message as “I went for a coffee but there was a long queue, and I could
not enter the coffee shop. From the coffee shop, I went to the tea shop, however, that place
was also very crowded”. Now since the sentence in the audio message is complex, it may
become difficult to identify one relevant content from the audio message to which the audio
message relates. Hence, in order to ensure that the content of the audio message reaches the
user of the second user terminal 106, the processor 154 is configured to apply one or more
speech to text conversion techniques. The speech to text conversion techniques converts the
speech into text. The converted text is then transmitted to the second user terminal 106.
[0046] The present invention may now be explained with a help of an example.
[0047] Referring to figure 2, the first user 202 sends an audio message 204 over the first
communication channel 104. The audio message 204 is intended for the second user 206.
The audio message 204 in this exemplary embodiment may contain “Lets go out for a
coffee”. The audio message 204 is recorded by the first user 202 through one or more sensors
available on the first user terminal 102. The audio message 204 is first transmitted to the
apparatus 100 which then sends the audio message 204 to the second user terminal 106
based on the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108.
[0048] As shown in figure 2, the processor 154 monitor the bandwidth of the second
communication channel 108. If the bandwidth of the second communication channel 108 is
less than the pre-determined threshold, the processor 154 extracts pertinent content from the
audio message 204. The pertinent content here may include “go” and “coffee”. After the
extraction of the pertinent content, the processor 154 monitors the bandwidth of the
communication channel 108 again. If it is determined that the bandwidth of the
13
communication channel 108 is again less than the pre-determined threshold, the processor
154 is configured to identify if there exists a sticker in the memory 152 which would relate
to the extracted keywords i.e., “go” and “coffee”.. Thus, the processor 154 generates a
sticker 208 relating to coffee and transmits the same to the second user terminal 106. Hence,
as can be seen in figure 2, the sticker generated by the processor 154 is a sticker of a coffee
mug which may hint that the user of the first user terminal is asking the user of the second
user terminal 106 to go out for a coffee.
[0049] Referring to figure 3 now, a method 300 for transmitting messages in low bandwidth
environment is provided. At step 302, the method comprising receiving an audio message,
from a first user device over a first communication channel, to be shared with a second user
device. At step 304, the method comprises comparing bandwidth of a second
communication channel, on which the audio message is to be shared with the second user
device, with a pre-determined threshold. At step 306, the method comprises extracting
pertinent content from the audio message if the bandwidth of the second communication
channel is below the pre-determined threshold. At step 308, the method comprises
generating a sticker from the extracted content and storing the generated sticker. At step
310, the method comprises comparing the bandwidth of the second communication channel
with the pre-determined threshold once again. At step 312, the method comprises
transmitting the stored sticker to the second user device if the bandwidth of the second
communication channel is still found less than the pre-determined threshold.
[0050] Accordingly, from the above disclosure, it may be worth noting that the present
disclosure provides an easy, convenient, and efficient technique to transmit information
using a voice memo via text and/or stickers.
[0051] The foregoing description of the various embodiments is provided to enable any
person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to
these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
14
principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the
spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the
embodiments shown herein, and instead the embodiments should be accorded the widest
scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Reference Numerals:
Reference Numerals Description
100 Apparatus
102 First user terminal
104 First communication channel
106 Second user terminal
108 Second communication channel
110 Network
150 Memory
152 Transceiver
154 Processor
202 First user
204 Audio message
206 Second user
208 Sticker representing audio message
300 Method
302-312 Method steps

WE CLAIM:

1. A method for transmitting messages in low bandwidth environment, the method
comprising:
receiving an audio message, from a first user device over a first
communication channel, to be shared with a second user device;
comparing bandwidth of a second communication channel, on which the
audio message is to be shared with the second user device, with a pre-determined
threshold;
extracting pertinent content from the audio message, if the bandwidth of the
second communication channel is below the pre-determined threshold;
generating a sticker from the extracted content and storing the generated
sticker;
comparing the bandwidth of the second communication channel with the predetermined threshold once again; and
transmitting the stored sticker to the second user device, if the bandwidth of
the second communication channel is still found less than the pre-determined
threshold.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
comparing a length of the received audio message with a pre-defined length;
converting the received audio message in a textual format when the length
of the received audio message is greater than the pre-defined length.
16
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the audio message is a message recorded
by a user of the first user equipment.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bandwidth of the second
communication channel is continuously compared with the pre-determined
threshold to check when the bandwidth of the second communication channel is
above the pre-determined threshold:
transmitting the audio message to the second user equipment directly when
the bandwidth of the communication channel is above the pre-determined threshold.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sticker is selected from a list of
stickers stored in the memory based on the extracted content from the received audio
message.
6. An apparatus for transmitting messages in low bandwidth environment, the
apparatus comprising:
a transceiver configured to receive an audio message, from a first user device
over a first communication channel, to be shared with a second user device;
a memory;
a processor coupled to the transceiver and the memory and configured to:
compare bandwidth of a second communication channel, on which the audio
message is to be shared with the second user device, with a pre-determined
threshold;
extract pertinent content from the audio message, if the bandwidth of the
second communication channel is below the pre-determined threshold;
17
generate a sticker from the extracted content and storing the generated
sticker;
compare the bandwidth of the second communication channel with the predetermined threshold once again; and
transmit the stored sticker to the second user device, if the bandwidth of the
second communication channel is still found less than the pre-determined threshold.
7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to:
compare a length of the received audio message with a pre-defined length;
convert the received audio message in a textual format when the length of
the received audio message is greater than the pre-defined length.
8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, , wherein the audio message is a message
recorded by a user of the first user equipment.
9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bandwidth of the second
communication channel is continuously compared with the pre-determined
threshold to check when the bandwidth of the second communication channel is
above the pre-determined threshold:
Wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the audio message
to the second user equipment directly when the bandwidth of the communication
channel is above the pre-determined threshold.
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10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sticker is selected from a list of
stickers stored in the memory based on the extracted content from the received audio
message.