Event driven multi-media communication management system

• US 20030059001A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Nebiker, Robert M., Meyerson, Robert F., Adams, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• 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 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The event driven multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space station is a modular device that includes a platform, a voice system for providing an audio user interface, and a docking bay for coupling with a subscriber device. The controller accesses a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the subscriber device, communicates content messages representing at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber station, receives control messages representing subscriber selection of a contact, and establishes a communication channel in accordance with the selected subscriber communication information.

Claims

1. A multi-media communication management system for operation with a plurality of subscriber stations, at least one of which serves a subscriber device, the multi-media communication management system comprising:

a network communication circuit for multi-media communication with said plurality of subscriber stations;

a session control circuit for establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber station through the network communication circuit, comprising;

means for accessing a subscriber contact directory associated with the subscriber device served by the subscriber station,

means for receiving data from the selected subscriber station indicative of a selected contact from the subscriber directory; and

a communication session gateway coupled to the network communication circuit for establishing a communication channel to a destination associated with the selected contact.

2. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station; and

means for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory.

3. The multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for identifying parameters of a display associated with the selected subscriber station; and

means for communicating display layout messages compatible with the parameters to the selected subscriber station.

4. The multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the communication of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber device and to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber directory by the subscriber device.

5. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for accessing subscriber contact files stored on the subscriber device;

means for updating the subscriber contact directory to include at least a portion of the subscriber contact files.

6. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the communication channel comprises:

a first communication channel between the communication session gateway and the selected subscriber station; and

a second communication channel between the communication session gateway and a second subscriber station that is identified by the destination.

7. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the communication channel comprises:

a first communication channel between the communication session gateway and the subscriber station and a second communication channel between the communication session gateway; and

a second subscriber station that is serving a second subscriber device that is associated the selected element of the subscriber communication information.

8. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a service provider interface for interconnecting the communication session gateway with a service provider communication medium; and

wherein the communication channel comprises;

a first communication channel between the communication session gateway and the subscriber station; and

a second communication channel over the service provider communication medium.

9. The multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the network communication circuit comprises:

at least one wireless transceiver for exchanging wireless signals with a compatible wireless transceiver in each subscriber station.

10. A method of managing multi-media communications associated with a subscriber station and at least one subscriber device served by the subscriber station, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber station over a network communication link;

accessing a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the subscriber device served by the subscriber station;

receiving an indication of a selected contact from the subscriber contact directory;

establishing a communication channel to a destination associated with the selected contact.

11. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber station; and

communicating control messages to the subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory.

12. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 11, further comprising:

identifying parameters of a display associated with the subscriber station; and

communicating display layout messages compatible with the parameters to the subscriber station.

13. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber station; and

communicating control messages to the subscriber station to effect the

communication of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber device and to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory by the subscriber device.

14. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, further comprising:

accessing subscriber contact files stored on the subscriber device;

updating the subscriber contact directory to include at least a portion of the subscriber contact files.

15. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, wherein the communication channel comprises:

a first communication channel between a communication session gateway and the subscriber station; and

a second communication channel between the communication session gateway and a second subscriber station comprising the destination.

16. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, wherein the communication channel comprises:

a first communication channel between a communication session gateway and the selected subscriber station; and

a second communication channel between the communication session gateway and a second subscriber station that is serving a second subscriber device comprising the destination.

17. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 10, wherein the communication channel comprises:

a first communication channel between a communication session gateway and the selected subscriber station; and

a second communication channel on a service provider communication medium.

18. A method of managing multi-media communications associated with a subscriber station and at least one subscriber device served by the subscriber station, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber station over a wireless communication link;

accessing a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the subscriber device served by the selected subscriber station;

receiving an indication of a selected contact from the subscriber contact directory;

establishing a first communication channel over the wireless communication link with the selected subscriber station;

establishing a second channel over at least one of the wireless communication link and a service provider communication medium to a destination associated with the selected contact.

19. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 18, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station over the wireless communication link; and

communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station over the wireless communication link to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory.

20. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 19, further comprising:

identifying parameters of a display associated with the selected subscriber station; and

communicating display layout messages over the wireless communication link that are compatible with the parameters to the selected subscriber station.

21. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 18, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station over the wireless communication link; and

communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station over the wireless communication link to effect the communication of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber device and to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory by the subscriber device.

22. The method of managing multi-media communications of claim 18, further comprising:

accessing subscriber contact files stored on the subscriber device over the wireless communication link;

updating the subscriber contact directory to include at least a portion of the subscriber contact files.