Voice -over-IP enabled chat

• US 20050259638A1
• Filed: 07/26/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frederick Murray Burg
• Original Assignee: Frederick Murray Burg
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray
• Granted Patent: US 7,660,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• 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 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A network-based system and method for providing anonymous voice communications using the telephone network and data communications links under the direction of a Call Broker and associated network elements. A user (the call initiator) present in a text chat room session establishes a data connection to Call Broker and, after qualifying for access (e.g., using credit card information) and providing a callback number, receives voice session information and participant access codes for each desired participant in a voice call. The initiator causes session information and participant codes to be passed to one or more selected chat participants in the current text chat room. When a selected participant uses the received session information, and enters the received participant code and a callback number, the Call Broker in cooperation with a Network Adjunct Processor (NAP) completes voice links to the initiator and the selected participant(s). The need for each party to have a second subscriber line is advantageously avoided by having the Call Broker arrange to have one or more voice links completed through a VoIP link, and further reduces the need for second lines for participants by forwarding a Call Broker—placed call to a busy participant line to the participant'"'"'s Internet Service Provider (ISP), which then sends a message to the participant announcing one or more options for receiving the incoming call, including receiving the incoming call through a VoIP link.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a voice call between a plurality of text chat participants comprising:

receiving a message from a first text chat participant requesting the establishment of a voice call;

sending a response message to said first text chat participant providing voice call session information and at least one authorization code;

receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a second text chat participant requesting participation in said voice call; and

initiating establishment of said voice call between said first text chat participant and said second text chat participant.

2. The method of claim 45 further comprising

receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a third text chat participant requesting participation in said voice call, and

wherein said step of requesting a call setup means to set up voice call links comprises requesting said call setup means to set_up voice call links to each of said first, second and a third text chat participants, at least one of said voice call links being a voice over IP (VoIP) link.

3. The method of claim 45 wherein said step of requesting said call setup means to set_up voice links comprises requesting a VoIP gateway to set_up an IP link to at least one of said plurality of voice call participants.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said requesting a VoIP gateway comprises requesting said VoIP gateway to set_up an IP link to at said first or said second text chat participants.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said voice call session information and said authorization code included in said message from said second text chat participant is supplied to said second text chat participant in a message from said first text chat participant.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said message from said first text chat participant comprises information identifying a method of payment for said voice call.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said information identifying a method of payment includes billing authorization information.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said billing authorization information comprises calling card account and PIN information.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said billing authorization information comprises prepaid card account and PIN information.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said message from said first text chat participant comprises information identifying the maximum number of voice call participants.

11. The method of claim 45 wherein communication between said plurality of text chat participants further comprises is an Internet chat session to which at least said first and second text chat participants are connected through IP links originating at telephone subscriber lines, each of said IP links being identified by a current IP address.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said IP links through which said at least first and second text chat participants are connected are established through respective Internet Service Provider (ISP) access servers, said at least first and second text chat participants having provided account and access authorization information to said respective ISP access servers during a login message process.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein at least said first text chat participant additionally provides account and authorization information in a login message process with a VoIP gateway, said VoIP gateway maintaining information about the online status and current IP address of said at least said first text chat participant.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said call setup means requests that said VoIP gateway establish at least one of said voice call links.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said VoIP gateway establishes an IP link to a respective voice call participant.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein an IP link established to said first text chat participant uses said current IP address of said first text chat participant maintained at said VoIP gateway.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of said voice call links is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) link.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said PSTN link is unavailable, the method further comprising

determining if the subscriber line portion of said unavailable PSTN link is in current use in an Internet session through a respective ISP access server,

forwarding said call to a network node having access to said Internet session, and

sending a message from said network node to said Internet session indicating the arrival of an incoming voice call.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said network node is said respective ISP access server.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said network node is a VoIP gateway having current IP address information for the voice call participant whose subscriber line is in current use in said Internet session.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said determining step is performed by reference to online status information stored at a network database.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said network database is maintained at said VoIP gateway.

45. The method of claim 1 wherein said initiating establishment of said voice call further comprises requesting a call setup means to set up voice call links to at least said first and second text chat participants, at least one of said voice call links being a Voice over IP (VoIP) link.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein said initiating establishment of said voice call further comprises directing a bridging means to bridge said voice call links.

23. A system for establishing a voice call between a plurality of text chat participants comprising:

means for receiving a message from a first text chat participant requesting the establishment of a voice call;

means for sending a response message to said first text chat participant providing voice call session information and at least one authorization code;

means for receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a second text chat participant requesting participation in said voice call;

means for initiating establishment of said voice call between said first text chat participant and said second text chat participant.

24. The system of claim 47 further comprising

means for receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a third text chat participant requesting participation in said voice call, and

wherein said step of requesting a call setup means to set up voice call links comprises requesting said call setup means to set up voice call links to each of said first, second and third text chat participants, at least one of said voice call links being a voice over IP (VoIP) link.

25. The system of claim 47 wherein said means for requesting a call setup means to set up voice links comprises means for requesting a VoIP gateway to set up an IP link to at least one of said plurality of voice call participants.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said means for requesting a VoIP gateway comprises means for requesting said VoIP gateway to set up an IP link to at least one of said first or said second text chat participants.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein said voice call session information and said authorization code included in said message from said second text chat participant is supplied to said second text chat participant in a message from said first text chat participant.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein said message from said first text chat participant comprises information identifying a method of payment for said voice call.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said information identifying a method of payment includes billing authorization information.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said billing authorization information comprises calling card account and PIN information.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein said billing authorization information comprises prepaid card account and PIN information.

32. The system of claim 23 wherein said message from said first text chat participant comprises information identifying the maximum number of voice call participants.

33. The system of claim 47 wherein communication between said plurality of text chat participants further comprises an Internet chat session to which at least said first and second text chat participants are connected through IP links originating at telephone subscriber lines, each of said IP links being identified by a current IP address.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said IP links through which said at least first and second text chat participants are connected are established through respective Internet Service Provider (ISP) access servers, said at least first and second text chat participants having provided account and access authorization information to said respective ISP access servers during a login message process.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein at least said first text chat participant additionally provides account and authorization information in a login message process with a VoIP gateway, said VoIP gateway comprising means for maintaining information about the online status and current IP address of said at least said first text chat participant.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein said call setup means further comprises means for requesting that said VoIP gateway establish at least one of said voice call links.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said VoIP gateway further comprises means for establishing an IP link to a respective voice call participant.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein an IP link established to said first text chat participant uses said current IP address of said first text chat participant maintained at said VoIP gateway.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein at least one of said voice call links is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) link.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said PSTN link is unavailable, the system further comprising

means for determining if the subscriber line portion of said unavailable PSTN link is in current use in an Internet session through a respective ISP access server,

means for forwarding said call to a network node having access to said Internet session, and

means for sending a message from said network node to said Internet session indicating the arrival of an incoming voice call.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said network node is said respective ISP access server.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein said network node is a VoIP gateway having current IP address information for the voice call participant whose subscriber line is in current use in said Internet session.

43. The system of claim 40 wherein said means for determining further comprises means for referring to online status information stored at a network database.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein said network database is maintained at said VoIP gateway.

47. The system of claim 23 wherein said means for initiating establishment of said voice call further comprises requesting a call setup means to set up voice call links to at least said first and second text chat participants, at least one of said voice call links being a Voice over IP (VoIP) link.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said initiating establishment of said voice call further comprises means for directing a bridging means to bridge said voice call links.