Communications gateway with messaging communications interface

• US 20030185232A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mumford, Gregory L., Gunasekar, Duraisamy, Moore, Richard G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,289,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• 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 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 : Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 : Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 : Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 : Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed which provide for a communications gateway to be operatively coupled to a messaging system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, communications are established via the gateway responsive at least to messaging communications involving the communications gateway.

Claims

1. An adapter device for facilitating communications among a first instant communications client and a communications gateway, the adapter device comprising:

a messaging interface through which the adapter device acts to establish communications involving the first instant communications client; and

a gateway control interface acting to communicably couple the adapter device to the communications gateway; and

a processor acting to effect establishment of communications through the communications gateway responsive at least to communications via the messaging interface.

2. The adapter device of claim 1 further comprising a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about the establishment of communications through the communications gateway.

3. The adapter device of claim 1 further comprising a billing function for determining billable usage related to establishment of communications through the communications gateway.

4. The adapter device of claim 3 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the establishing communications through the communications gateway is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

5. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said communications involving the first instant communications client comprises communications between the adapter device and the first instant communications client.

6. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said communications involving the first instant communications client comprises messaging communications between the adapter device and the first instant communications client.

7. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said messaging interface presents an interface to the first instant communications client wherein the adapter device appears to be a second instant communications client.

8. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the adapter device, via the messaging interface, acts to communicate with a messaging service associated with the first instant communications client.

9. The adapter device of claim 8 wherein said communications between the adapter device and the messaging system comprises instant messaging session initiation communications.

10. The adapter device of claim 8 wherein the adapter device coordinates with the messaging system in establishing communications with the first instant communications client.

11. The adapter device of claim 8 wherein the adapter device coordinates with the messaging system in establishing communications between the communications gateway and the first instant communications client.

12. The adapter device of claim 8 wherein said messaging interface presents an interface to the messaging system wherein the adapter device appears to be a second instant communications client.

13. The adapter device of claim 1 further comprising:

a control interface through which the adapter device acts to receive indication that communications are to be established through the communications gateway.

14. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to perform at least one of:

communicating via the messaging interface and communicating via the gateway control interface.

15. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to communicate via the messaging interface to effect communications involving the first instant communications client.

16. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to communicate via the gateway control interface to cause the communications gateway to establish communications involving the first instant communications client.

17. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the communications gateway is a packet telephony gateway and said communications between the communications gateway and the first instant communications client comprises a voice-over-packet session.

18. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the communications gateway is a packet telephony gateway and the adapter device acts to cause the communications gateway to establish a telephony connection in a telephone network responsive to said indication received via said control interface.

19. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the communications gateway is a packet telephony gateway and the adapter device acts to cause the communications gateway to establish communication with an intelligent media translator acting to perform at least one of:

receiving textual information from the first instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information audio information, and providing the corresponding audio information to the communications gateway; and

receiving audio information from the communications gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the first instant communications client.

20. The adapter device of claim 13 wherein the communications gateway is a packet telephony gateway and the adapter device acts to cause the communications gateway to establish communications between the first instant communications client and a telephone device.

21. A method of managing communications through a gateway comprising the steps of:

receiving an indication that communications are to be established through the gateway; and

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish a communications session with an instant communications client.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications with the instant communications client.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to the establishing communications with the instant communications client.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications with the instant communications client responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish communications between the instant communications client and a telephone connection.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the communications session with the instant communications client comprises voice-over-packet communications.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

communicating with a messaging server associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said communications with the messaging system effects the establishment of communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

29. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish communications with an intelligent media translator acting to perform at least one of;

receiving textual information from the instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing corresponding audio information to the gateway; and

receiving audio information from the gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent media translator.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the intelligent media translator.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the instant communications client and the intelligent media translator.

33. A method of managing communications through a gateway comprising the steps of:

conducting instant messaging communications between the gateway and at least one of an instant communications client and an instant messaging server; and

responsive at least to said instant messaging communications, affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to the affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the gateway is a packet telephony-gateway.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing at least one of a voice connection in a packet data network and a telephone connection in a telephone network.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing a voice connection in a packet data network and a telephone connection in a telephone network.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing new communications sessions through the gateway.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing new communications sessions between the gateway and at least one of the instant communications client and the instant messaging server.

42. A communications gateway acting to establish communications between a first party communicably coupled to a first network and a second party communicably coupled to a second network, the communications gateway comprising:

a first network interface means acting to communicably couple the gateway to the first network;

a second network interface means acting to communicably couple the gateway to the second network; and

a messaging interface means by which the gateway acts to conduct messaging communications, wherein the messaging communications affect an aspect by which the gateway establishes communications among the first party via the first network and the second party via the second network.

43. The communications gateway of claim 42 further comprising:

means for indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications through the gateway.

44. The communications gateway of claim 42 further comprising:

means for determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system pertaining to the establishing communications through the gateway.

45. The communications gateway of claim 44 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

means for selectively performing the establishing communications through the gateway responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

46. The communications gateway of claim 42 wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a packet data transport network.

47. The communications gateway of claim 42 wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a telephone network.

48. The communications gateway of claim 42 wherein the messaging communications involve an instant communications client in use by the first party.

49. The communications gateway of claim 42 further comprising a control interface means by which the gateway acts to receive an indication of whether the gateway is to establish communications between the first party and second party.

50. The communications gateway of claim 49 wherein the control interface is further acting to communicate an identifier specifying at least one of the first party and the second party to engage in communications through the gateway.

51. The communications gateway of claim 49 wherein the messaging communications is responsive at least to communications through the control interface.

52. The communications gateway of claim 49 wherein an aspect of the establishment of communications between the first party and the second party is affected by communications via the control interface.

53. A communications gateway device for establishing communications between a first party using an instant communications client coupled to a data transport network and a second party using a telephone connection, comprising:

a data network interface means acting to be coupled to the data transport network and to communicate media signals through the data transport network;

a telephone interface means acting to be coupled to the telephone connection;

a messaging service interface means acting to communicate with a messaging service associated with the instant communications client wherein the gateway device acts to interact with the messaging service to establish communications among the instant communications client and the telephone connection via the gateway device.

54. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method of managing communications through a gateway comprising:

receiving an indication that communications are to be established through the gateway; and

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish a communications session with an instant communications client.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing the communications session.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to the establishing the communications session.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing the communications session responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish communications between the instant communications client and a telephone connection.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the communications session with the instant communications client comprises voice-over-packet communications.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the method further comprises:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60 wherein said communications with the messaging system effects the establishment of communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 54 wherein the method further comprises:

responsive at least to the indication, causing the gateway to establish communications with an intelligent media translator acting to perform at least one of;

receiving textual information from the instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing corresponding audio information to the gateway; and

receiving audio information from the gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications with the intelligent media translator.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the method further comprises:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the intelligent media translator.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the method further comprises:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the instant communications client and the intelligent media translator.

66. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method of managing communications through a gateway comprising the steps of:

conducting instant messaging communications between the gateway and at least one of an instant communications client and an instant messaging server; and

responsive at least to said instant messaging communications, affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the gateway is a packet telephony gateway.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing at least one of a voice connection in a packet data network and a telephone connection in a telephone network.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing a voice connection in a packet data network and a telephone connection in a telephone network.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing new communications sessions through the gateway.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein said affecting an aspect of communications through the gateway comprises establishing new communications sessions between the gateway and at least one of the instant communications client and the instant messaging server.

75. A network element in a communications system comprising:

traffic-affecting means for affecting at least one of the transporting, routing and processing of communications traffic in the communications system; and

a messaging communications interface acting to perform messaging communications,

wherein an aspect of how the traffic-affecting means network acts upon communications traffic element is responsive to the messaging communications.

76. The network element of claim 75 further comprising a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about activity of the traffic-affecting means.

77. The network element of claim 75 wherein the network element is addressable as an instant communications client by an instant messaging system.

78. The network element of claim 75 wherein the network element acts as an instant communications client.

79. The network element of claim 75 wherein the messaging communications comprise instant messaging communications.

80. The network element of claim 75 wherein the messaging communications comprise communications with an instant communications client.

81. The network element of claim 75 wherein said action of the network element comprises establishing communications involving the instant communications client using a voice-over-packet.

82. The network element of claim 80 wherein said action of the network element comprises establishing communications involving the instant communications client and a intelligent media translator acting to perform at least one of:

receiving textual information from the instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing corresponding audio information to the network element; and

receiving audio information from the network element, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

83. The network element of claim 75 wherein the messaging communications comprise communications with an instant messaging service.

84. The network element of claim 75 wherein the network element acts upon non-messaging traffic in the communications system.

85. The network element of claim 75 wherein the network element is a gateway.

86. The network element of claim 75 wherein said action of the network element comprises establishing telephony communications in the communications network.

87. The network element of claim 75 wherein said action of the network element comprises establishing communications using a voice-over-packet.

88. The network element of claim 87 wherein said action of the network element further comprises establishing telephony communications in the communications network.