Modular multi-media communication management system

• US 20030059024A1
• Filed: 10/23/2001
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Lewis, Calvin E., Meyerson, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,054,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• 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 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 present multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of space station communication devices and with one or more communication medium service providers. The controller translates multi-media communications received from a multi-media service provider into the protocols required for use by the space station communication devices as well as any convention telephone stations that may be coupled to the controller. The communication and control signaling between the controller and the space station communication devices may be wireless in nature with the space station communication devices being powered by an internal battery and/or connection to a local source of conventional line voltage. Modular docking interfaces may be used to couple the space station communication device to portable subscriber devices and to enable integrated and coordinated communication through multiple communication medium service providers.

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 identifying the subscriber device served by the selected modular subscriber station; and

means for communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device to the selected subscriber station.

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

a service provider interface for interconnecting said network communication circuit with a service provider communication medium; and

a service provider control circuit for communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device from a remote messaging system to the session control circuit via the service provider interface

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

a subscriber communication state manager for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station for controlling communication functions of the selected subscriber station and the associated subscriber device.

4. The multi-media communication management system of claim 3, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the content messages on a display screen associated with the associated subscriber device.

5. The multi-media communication management system of claim 3, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate station control messages in accordance with subscriber interface input and to communicate such station control messages to the session control circuit.

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

a service provider interface for interconnecting said network communication circuit with a service provider communication medium; and

a service provider control circuit for communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device from the selected subscriber station to a remote messaging system via the service provider interface.

7. The multi-media communication management system of claim 6, wherein the session control circuit further includes:

a subscriber communication state manager for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station for controlling communication functions of the selected subscriber station and the associated subscriber device.

8. The multi-media communication management system of claim 7, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate content messages in accordance with subscriber input and to communicate such content messages to the session control circuit.

9. The multi-media communication management system of claim 7, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate content messages in accordance with data stored in the associated subscriber device and to communicate such content messages to the session control circuit.

10. The multi-media communication management system of claim 7, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate station control messages in accordance with subscriber interface input and to communicate such station control messages to the session control circuit.

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

a wireless transceiver for exchanging wireless signals with a compatible wireless transceiver in each modular subscriber station.

12. 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 the selected subscriber station over a network communication link;

identifying the subscriber device served by the selected subscriber station; and

communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device to the selected subscriber station via the network communication link.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

interconnecting said network communication link with a service provider communication medium; and

communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device from a remote messaging system to the communication session via a service provider communication medium.

14. The method of claim 13, further including the step of:

communicating subscriber communication state control messages to the selected subscriber station for controlling communication functions of the selected subscriber station and the associated subscriber device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the content messages on a display screen associated with the subscriber device.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate station control messages in accordance with subscriber interface input and to communicate such station control messages to the communication session via the network communication circuit.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

interconnecting said network communication link with a service provider communication medium; and

communicating content messages from the subscriber device to a remote messaging system via the service provider communication medium.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of:

communicating subscriber communication state control messages to the selected subscriber station for controlling communication functions of the selected subscriber station and the associated subscriber device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate content messages in accordance with subscriber input and to communicate such content messages to the communication session via the network communication circuit.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate content messages in accordance with data stored in the subscriber device and to communicate such content messages to the communication session via the network communication circuit.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the control messages provide for the selected subscriber station to generate station control messages in accordance with subscriber interface input and to communicate such station control messages to the communication session via the network communication circuit.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of establishing a communication session comprises:

exchanging wireless signals with a compatible wireless transceiver in each modular subscriber station.

23. 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 the subscriber station over a wireless communication link;

interconnecting said wireless communication link with a service provider communication medium;

identifying the subscriber device served by the subscriber station; and

communicating content messages associated with the subscriber device between the subscriber station and a remote messaging system via the wireless communication link.

24. The method of claim 23, further including the step of:

communicating subscriber communication state control messages to the subscriber station for controlling communication functions of the subscriber station and the subscriber device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the control messages provide for the subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the content messages on a display screen associated with the subscriber device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the control messages provide for the subscriber station to generate station control messages in accordance with subscriber interface input and to communicate such station control messages via the wireless communication link.