Interruptible, contextually linked messaging system with audible contribution indicators

摘要

Systems and methods for providing a method of recording, delivering, reviewing and responding to messages such that the context of responses to the messages are recorded in the form of a message index to enable linking of messages and responses in a meaningful fashion for review by a user. The flow of conversation on a topic initiated in an original message is preserved in one or more conversation threads. Also incorporated is a method to indicate the party (user or entity) responsible for posting a response in the form of a brief audible icon overlaid on the original message and heard upon review, the icon also to be used to indicate affiliation with third parties at the option of the user or as a means to subsidize the cost of providing the messaging service.

主权项

1. A messaging system, comprising:
(i) a server; (ii) a messaging service application stored on said server, said messaging service application operative to control the storage and transmission of message data between a plurality of users over a digital network; (iii) a mass storage device for storing said message data; (iv) a database for storing metadata linked to said message data; (v) a user communication network comprising two or more users; (vi) at least two digital computing devices having a microprocessor and adapted for digital voice and data communication over the digital network, each user of the user communication network operating one of the digital computing devices of the at least two digital computing devices, the at least two digital computing devices having graphical display screens; and (vii) a client application stored in the onboard memory of each of the at least two digital computing devices, the client application having a user interface displayed on the graphical display screens of the digital computing devices, the client application being adapted to permit a first user of the user network to digitally record a primary message file on the first user's digital computing device and to relay the digital content of the primary message over the digital network to the digital computing devices operated by the two or more users within the user network via the messaging service application, the client application further adapted to permit each recipient user of the user network to playback the content of the primary message file users' digital computing devices, and to permit at least one recipient user within the user network to pause the playback of the primary message file for recording at least one response message file linked to the primary message file, wherein the client application creates a data structure comprising at least one metadata element storing a response message insertion point, the response message insertion point corresponding to the portion of the length of the primary message file played back when said primary message file was paused during playback by said at least one recipient user for recording the at least one response message file, and at least one identifier metadata element storing data for linking the response message insertion point to the corresponding at least one response message file and to the primary message file.