| 摘要 |
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates an audio signature for a data item based on a source identifier associated with the data item. The system operates by receiving a source identifier along with a data item. (This source identifier can include an electronic signature identifying a source of a data item, such as an email address.) The system maps the source identifier to the audio signature using a mapping function that allows a user to distinguish the audio signature from other audio signatures generated for other source identifiers, and wherein the mapping functions always maps the same source identifier to the same audio signature. Next, the system outputs the audio signature to a user. This enables the user to associate the audio signature with the source from which the data item originated. In one embodiment of the present invention, the data item can include, an electronic mail message, a pager signal, a telephone call, a data item in an instant messaging system, an indicator of an entry of a new participant into a conference call, an indicator of an entry of a new participant into a chat room, or an electronic cookie that identifies a client computer system to a web site. |
