Systems and methods for receiving telephone calls via instant messaging

• US 20040161089A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Open Invention Network LLC
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: OʼBrien, Mark, Hanson, Joel, Kirchner, Mike, Fergus, Don, Maurer, Donald J., Galvin, Tom, Moey, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,274,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 : Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 : where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

A system establishes a telephone call between a calling party and a called party. The system receives a telephone call connection request, including identification of the called party, from the calling party and determines, based on the identification information, if the called party is currently connected to a data network. If the called party is currently connected to the data network, the system establishes the telephone call between the calling party and an instant messaging client of the called party.

Claims

1. A method for establishing communications between a calling party using a telephone connection and a called party using an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving a telephone call connection request from the calling party; and

establishing end-to-end voice communications between the telephone connection and the instant messaging client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging client processes voice signals between the calling party and the called party.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the called party participates by voice communication via the instant messaging client.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging client receives voice signals from the called party and sends the voice signals to the calling party via the telephone connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant messaging client receives voice signals from the calling party and provides the voice signals to the called party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone call connection request is directed to the instant messaging client.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications comprises using a profile associated with the called party.

7. A method for establishing communications between a calling party using a telephone connection and a called party using an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving a telephone call connection request from the calling party;

determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications; and

responsive to the determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications, establishing end-to-end voice communications between the telephone connection and the instant messaging client.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications comprises using a profile associated with the instant messaging client.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications comprises receiving an indication from the called party as to the called party'"'"'s ability and desire to receive voice communications via the instant messaging client.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the determining whether the instant messaging client is to receive voice communications comprises receiving an indication from the calling party as to the calling party'"'"'s desire to establish voice communications via the instant messaging client.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the end-to-end voice communications are established via a gateway.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the gateway interfaces between a telephone network coupled to the telephone connection and a packet-switched data network coupled to the instant messaging client.

14. A method for establishing communications between a calling party using a telephone connection and a called party using an instant messaging client, comprising:

receiving a telephone call connection request from the calling party; and

establishing end-to-end voice communications through a network gateway between the telephone connection and the instant messaging client.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the gateway interfaces between a telephone network coupled to the telephone connection and a packet-switched data network coupled to the instant messaging client.