Integrating access to audio messages and instant messaging with VOIP

• US 20060256816A1
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tse, Takchun, Ashtekar, Ashish, Yarlagadda, Madhu
• Granted Patent: US 8,107,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards providing integrated access to call information to an end-user using any of a variety of client applications, including an Instant Messaging (IM), a web-browser, and/or a VOIP client. An end-user may employ any of the above client applications to establish a communication session and enable an integrated access display for use in managing such call information as audio messages, call histories, and instant messaging conversations. The integrated access display may be managed through an intelligent integration client that may reside on a client device, such as a personal computer, a mobile device, a VOIP phone, and the like. Through the intelligent integration client, the end-user may search, retrieve, and/or view the call information. For example, using the VOIP phone, the end-user may search for and access a stored audio message, such as a voice mail message, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for use in managing call information over a network, comprising:

sending a request for call information from a client device, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files;

receiving the requested call information;

displaying the requested call information in an integrated structure on the client device;

enabling a selection of at least one call file in the call information;

determining if the at least one selected call file is in a file format incompatible with a client application associated with the request, and if the at least one call file is in an incompatible format, transcoding the at least one call file to a compatible file format; and

forwarding the at least one call file to the client device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the requested call information further comprises displaying voice mail messages, IM messages, call history, call logs, and billing information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a sender of at least one item in the call information receives a personalized greeting.

5. The method of claim 1, where the display is integrated into Instant Messaging client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of call files further comprise at least one audio message call file, and at least one IM conversation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request further comprises:

receiving information associated with the client device indicating a file format that is compatible with the client application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the requested call information further comprises displaying the call information in a time ordered list.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling a selection of at least one call file further comprises performing at least one of a search, a sort, a delete, and a select on the call information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with the client device; and

employing the identifier to authenticate the request for the call information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein employing the identifier further comprises authenticating that the identifier is associated with an account.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifier is a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the client device a called line identifier (CLI) and an originating line identifier (OLI); and

if the CLI substantially equals the OLI, enabling access to the requested call information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the client application is at least one of an Instant Messaging (IM) client, a VOIP client, a SIP/RTP client, and a web browser client.

15. A server for use in managing call information over a network, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;

a processor in communication with the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor and for use in storing data and machine instructions that causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

receiving a request for call information from a client device, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files that includes at least one of an IM file, an audio file, and a call history;

retrieving the requested call information;

sending the requested call information to the client device, wherein the client device is enabled to display the requested call information in an integrated structure;

receiving a request for at least one call file in the call information;

if the at least one call file is in an incompatible format to a client application associated with the request, transcoding the at least one call file to a compatible file format; and

forwarding the at least one call file to the client device.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein receiving the request further comprises:

receiving information associated with the client device indicating a file format that is compatible with the client application.

18. The server of claim 15, wherein displaying the requested call information further comprises displaying the call information in a time ordered list.

19. The server of claim 15, wherein enabling the display of the requested call information further comprises performing at least one of a search, a sort, a delete, and a select on at least a portion of the call information.

20. A modulated data signal for managing call information over a network, the modulated data signal comprising instructions that enable a computing device to perform the actions of:

sending, to a server, a request for call information, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files;

sending, to a client device, the requested call information;

displaying, at the client device, the requested call information to enable integrated access to the requested call information;

enabling a selection of at least one call file in the call information;

if the selected at least one call file is in a file format incompatible with a client application associated with the request, transcoding the at least one call file to a compatible file format; and

forwarding the at least one call file to the client device.

21. The modulated data signal of claim 20, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

22. The modulated data signal of claim 21, wherein the audio message further comprises a voice mail message.

23. The modulated data signal of claim 20, wherein the client application further comprises at least one of an IM client, a VOIP client, and a web browser client.

24. In a computer device having a graphical user interface and a user selection interface mechanism, a method of managing call information, comprising the steps of:

providing a request for access to call information, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files including at least one of a voice mail message, an IM conversation, and a call history;

displaying the plurality of call files in an integrated display structure that enables at least one of an integrated sort, and an integrated search of the plurality of call files;

enabling a selection of at least one call file in the plurality of call files;

receiving the at least one selected call file, wherein if the selected at least one call file is in a file format incompatible with a client application associated with the computer device, receiving the at least one selected call file transcoded to a compatible file format.

25. The computer device of claim 24, wherein the computer device is a mobile device.

26. The computer device of claim 24, wherein displaying the plurality of call files is enabled employing an intelligent integration client residing on the computer device.

27. An apparatus for managing call information on a mobile device over a network, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to a computing device over the network;

a means for sending a request for call information, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files;

a means for retrieving the requested call information;

a means for enabling a display of the displaying the requested call information in an integrated structure;

a means for selecting at least one call file in the call information; and

a means for receiving the at least one call file, wherein if the at least one call file is in an incompatible format to a client application associated with the request, employing a means at a server to transcode the at least one call file to a compatible file format.