Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) management

• US 20070047533A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Criddle, Linda, Milstein, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Techniques are described herein which are operable to manage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining which of a plurality of profiles corresponds to an intended recipient of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication; and

managing the VoIP communication based on one or more settings specified in the determined profile before the VoIP communication is received by the intended recipient.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the profile specifies:

a contact list;

an amount of time that may be spent communicating with one or more contacts in the contact list; and

a time of day, during which, communication with one of more contacts in the contact list is permissible.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the determining includes;

finding an identifier of the intended recipient in at least one packet of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication; and

locating the determined profile which corresponds to the identifier; and

the managing includes managing each packet having the identifier according to the determined profile.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the intended recipient is available via a network address; and

the managing includes routing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication to a third-party verifier available via another network address that is different from the intended recipient'"'"'s network address.

5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the managing further includes routing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication as specified by the third-party verifier.

6. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the third-party verifier includes one or more security settings that are utilized to automatically manage the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication without user intervention.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the managing includes managing use of at least one other communication technique using the determined profile that is different from Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the determining and the managing are performed by an authentication service that is further configured to authenticate the intended recipient when attempting access to a plurality of service providers over a network.

9. A method comprising:

creating a profile that specifies security settings of a user when interacting with one or more of a plurality of other users; and

managing use of a plurality of communication techniques using the created profile, wherein at least one said communication technique involves Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

10. A method as described in claim 9, wherein one or more other said communication techniques include email and instant messaging.

11. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the managing includes authenticating the user when attempting access to a plurality of service providers over a network.

12. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the managing is performed before receipt of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication by the intended recipient.

13. A method as described in claim 9, wherein the managing is performed locally on a client;

and further comprising downloading the profile from over a network to the client.

14. A method as described in claim 9, wherein:

the user is available via a network address;

the managing includes routing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication to a third-party verifier available via another network address that is different from the network address; and

the third-party verifier includes one or more additional security settings that are utilized to automatically manage the VoIP communication without user intervention.

15. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

download a profile from over a network that specifies security settings of a user when interacting with one or more of a plurality of other users and when using at least one of a plurality of communication techniques, one of which includes Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication; and

manage communication of the one or more other users with the user using the downloaded profile.

16. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 15, wherein management of communication through execution of the computer-executable instructions includes routing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication to a third-party verifier available via a network address that is different from a network address, at which, the user is available.

17. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 16, wherein the computer-executable instructions further manage the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication by performing an action regarding the VoIP communication as specified by the third-party verifier.

18. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the management includes routing the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

19. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the management is performable automatically and without intervention by the user.

20. One or more computer readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the profile is downloaded from an authentication service that is configured to authenticate the user when accessing one or more of a plurality of service providers over the network.