Computer-implemented system and method for delivery of group messages

• US 10,212,287 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisist, Inc. dba Spoken Communications (Avaya Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intellisist, Inc. dba Spoken Communications (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Odinak, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US15/859,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20180124248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/187 combining circuit and packet-switched, e.g. GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for delivering group messages is provided. Users signed on to a discussion group that is associated with a discussion group ID are identified. One of the signed-on users is designated as a moderator. A voice message is received and the discussion group ID is extracted from the voice message. The voice message is provided to the moderator and further provided to the signed-on users in the discussion group upon acceptance of the voice message by the moderator.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for delivering group messages, comprising:

a database to store a discussion group ID for a discussion group;

a server comprising a central processing unit, memory, an input port to receive the discussion group ID, and an output port, wherein the central processing unit is configured to;

identify users signed on to the discussion group;

identify one of the signed-on users as a moderator of the discussion group;

receive a voice message and extract from the voice message the discussion group ID for the discussion group;

and

provide the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group upon acceptance of the voice message by the moderator.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit stores a copy of the voice message for later access by the users in the discussion group that are signed-off.

3. A system according to claim 2, further comprising:

providing the stored copy of the voice message to the users that are signed-off upon signing in to the discussion group.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit identifies a personal communication device associated with each of the signed-on users and delivers the voice message to the personal communication device of the signed-on users of the discussion group.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the central processing unit encrypts the voice message for the signed-on users using a key unique to each of the personal communication devices of the signed-on users.

6. A system according to claim 4, wherein the personal communication device for at least one of the signed-on users receives other voice messages from other discussion groups in which the user is signed-on.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit receives annotations from the moderator and applies the annotations to the voice message prior to providing the voice message to the signed-on users.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit performs at least one of playing the voice message, skipping the voice message, and replaying the voice message for one or more of the signed-on users.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a query from one of the signed-on users requesting a search of all users in the discussion group.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the central processing unit provides a further voice message received from a signed-on user to the moderator and discards the voice message when the voice message is rejected by the moderator.

11. A computer-implemented method for delivering group messages, comprising:

identifying users signed on to a discussion group associated with a discussion group ID;

identifying one of the signed-on users as a moderator of the discussion group;

receiving a voice message and extracting from the voice message the discussion group ID for the discussion group;

and

providing the voice message to the signed-on users in the discussion group upon acceptance of the voice message by the moderator.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

storing a copy of the voice message for later access by the users in the discussion group that are signed-off.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising:

providing the stored copy of the voice message to the users that are signed-off upon signing in to the discussion group.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

identifying a personal communication device associated with each of the signed-on users; and

delivering the voice message to the personal communication device of the signed-on users of the discussion group.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

encrypting the voice message for the signed-on users using a key unique to each of the personal communication devices of the signed-on users.

16. A method according to claim 14, further comprising:

receiving on the personal communication device of at least one signed-on user, other voice messages from other discussion groups in which the user is signed-on.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving annotations from the moderator; and

applying the annotations to the voice message prior to providing the voice message to the signed-on users.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

for one or more of the signed-on users performing at least one of playing the voice message, skipping the voice message, and replaying the voice message.

19. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a query from one of the signed-on users requesting a search of all users in the discussion group.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising:

providing a further voice message receiving from a signed-on user to the moderator; and

discarding the voice message when the voice message is rejected by the moderator.