Method and system for integrated communications with access control list, automatic notification and telephony services

• US 20060171380A1
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kevin Mei Kwang Chia
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mei Kwang Chia
• Inventors: Chia, Kevin Mei Kwang
• Application Number:
  US11/346,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20060171380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method that enable a variety of instant messaging client systems to interact each other either via internet-enabled devices or mobile WAP devices, governed by access control level. All the client systems connected to the instant messaging platform have mobile messaging services capability such as SMS and MMS to send out either text or multimedia message to another client via mobile network; coupled with the ability to initiate voice call using callback method. The present invention allows different client systems to have access to an integrated service combining various communication protocols ranging from wireless communications and automatic messaging to conventional wired communications. The integrated system of the present invention advantageously combines several servers for providing different databases for access by subscribers when logged into the integrated system. Various servers are further provided for implementing module specific tasks and services for supporting the various services delivered to the subscriber.

Claims

1. An integrated communication system enabling integrated interactivity among different networks including web or WAP infrastructure, mobile messaging network, and voice telephony system, the integrated communication system comprising:

at least one electronic device being able to perform at least one of the functions including email, message, on-line chat and phone;

an integrated network including a mobile network, an Internet network, and a conventional phone network;

wherein the integrated network provides integrated services to the at least one electronic device; and

a group of backend servers that handle specific functions with interfaces and databases that are required for the proper operations of the integrated network.

2. The integrated communication system of claim 1, wherein the at least one electronic device may be a WAP-enabled mobile phone, an online computer or laptop, or a conventional PSTN phone;

wherein each electronic device is identified by a unique User ID and contact numbers.

3. The integrated communication system of claim 1, wherein the mobile network interacts with the Internet network via a WAP gateway and a Messaging Gateway;

and wherein the conventional phone network interacts with mobile network via a circuit switching gateway.

4. The integrated communication system of claim 1, wherein the integrated services include email, messaging, on-line chat, and tele-conversation.

5. The integrated communication system of claim 1, wherein the group of the backend servers include Instant Messaging (IM) interfaces, an IM Buddy List Database, a User ID database, Mobile Messaging Interfaces, a Contact Number Database, an Access Control List Database, a Callback Server, an IM Server, a File Server, a Push Messaging Server, a Database Server, and Notification Interfaces.

6. The integrated communication system of claim 5, wherein the Instant Messaging interfaces handle various message formats and protocol conversions between Instant Messaging (hereby referred as “

IM”

) client and the IM server;

wherein the IM Server performs session management, population handling and management of the IM Buddy List Database belonging to a subscriber;

wherein the Buddy List Database is in turn managed in the User ID Database;

wherein the Database Server acts as the physical storage for storing persistent information about user profiles and transactions;

wherein the File server provides physical storage for storing user files;

wherein the Push Messaging server handles messaging engine processes and logs;

wherein the Mobile Messaging Interfaces handle conversions and message delivery management with multiple mobile messaging networks, including automatic email retrieval and notification;

wherein the Push Messaging Server will have direct connection with Push clients on mobile devices to deliver notification/alerts automatically when there are new emails;

wherein the Notification Interfaces serve as gateway for receiving and converting the information to be pushed out relevantly by push messaging server; and

wherein the Callback Server handles the circuit switching connection by providing method of calling both parties, one who requests the call and the other who receives the call, and then bridges the voice calls.

7. An integrated communication method for enabling a user to use integrated messaging services including emails, messaging, on-line chat, and tele-conversation, the integrated communication method comprising:

optionally registering for integrated messaging service by the user if the user is not a subscriber to an integrated communication system that affords the integrated messaging services;

optionally offering invitations by the user to other users to become a member of its buddy list of the other users are not subscribers to the integrated communication system;

optionally defining by the user and other users who have accepted the invitations an Access Control List (ACL) related to a specific contact group that may apply to a particular user;

wherein every time the users login into the integrated communication system, the system shall retrieve ACL lists from both subscribers and apply the parameters accordingly;

making choices of the type of communication from the integrated services afforded by the integrated communication system;

wherein the type of communication may be on-line chat, email, messaging, and/or tele-conversation.

8. The integrated communication method of claim 7, wherein the invitations can be in the form of email notification or Instant Messaging.

9. The integrated communication method of claim 7, wherein in the step of offering invitations, if the invitation is not accepted, the user will try to resend its invitation to the user or send its invitation to another use who may be interested in joining its buddy list.

10. The integrated communication method of claim 7, wherein in the step of making choices of the type of communication, the integrated communication system will first determine the presence or availability of Subscriber A to Subscriber B or vice versa;

if either party is not available, the other subscriber has the option to leave message for his/her contact;

if both parties are available for chat, the integrated communication system enables both parties to use other integrated services;

if other integrated services are desired, the integrated communication system will enquire of the user whether he/she wants to send a SMS/MMS;

if the user indicates that he/she has no interests in sending any message but desires to make a phone call, the integrated communication system will retrieve both users'"'"' contact numbers and make the voice call-back.

11. The integrated communication method of claim 10, wherein if the user desires to send a SMS/MMS, the integrated communication system will check whether the message is a text message (SMS) or multimedia message (MMS);

if an 1-click option is used, then the integrated communication system proceeds to feed back the predefined content to a messaging interface module;

if the 1-click option is not selected for sending a SMS message, the user has to compose his/her message and proceeds to send the composed message;

if the 1-click option is not selected for multimedia messaging, then the integrated communication system launches a multimedia composing tool so that a MMS can be composed and sent.

12. The integrated communication method of claim 10, wherein if the user desires to make a voice call-back, the integrated communication system will initiate the voice call-back only if the ACL for both parties are allowed;

when the voice call-back is being initiated, the integrated communication system first validates the contact numbers of both subscriber A and B;

if both of the contact numbers are invalid then the voice call-back process will be terminated;

if both of the contact numbers are valid, the integrated communication system will initiate the phone call to subscriber A as the requester;

then the integrated communication system will check whether the subscriber A answers the call;

if the subscriber A does not answer the call, the integrated communication system will retry until the maximum configured times;

if the subscriber A answers the call, the integrated system will then call the subscriber B, and check whether the subscriber B answers the call;

if the subscriber B fails to answer the call, the integrated system will retry within the configured retry times;

if the call attempt to subscriber B is successful, the integrated system will perform call switching to connect both parties and enable voice conversation to take place.