Voice instant messaging between mobile and computing devices

• US 20070099637A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Durdle, Kevin, Mangla, Sanjay, Selbie, John, Gaglani, Alpesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,738,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64

Abstract

Voice instant messaging between mobile and computing devices is described. In an embodiment, a messaging service receives a recorded voice clip from a mobile communication-enabled device via a wireless communication link. The messaging service then processes the recorded voice clip for communication via a data network to a computing-based device that renders an audio message from the recorded voice clip. A virtual connection protocol manages and sequences transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events to provide reliable wireless transfer of recorded voice clip(s) via wireless communication link. The mobile communication-enabled device logs a first instant messaging contact into the messaging service, and the computing-based device logs a second instant messaging contact into the messaging service to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the first instant messaging contact and the second instant messaging contact at the respective devices.

Claims

1. A messaging system, comprising:

a wireless communication link configured to enable mobile device communication;

a messaging service configured to;

receive a recorded voice clip from a mobile communication-enabled device, the recorded voice clip being received via the wireless communication link; and

process the recorded voice clip for communication via a data network to a computing-based device that renders an audio message from the recorded voice clip.

2. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile communication-enabled device is configured to log a first instant messaging contact into the messaging service, and wherein the computing-based device is configured to log a second instant messaging contact into the messaging service to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the first instant messaging contact and the second instant messaging contact.

3. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the messaging service is further configured to process the recorded voice clip for point-to-point data network communication to the computing-based device.

4. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is managed by a virtual connection protocol configured to sequence one or more transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events to communicate the recorded voice clip to the messaging service.

5. A messaging system as recited in claim 4, wherein the recorded voice clip is a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) message that is separated into message units that include a text-based component and an independent binary component that are communicated via the one or more TCP connection events.

6. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication link is over a cellular network and the mobile communication-enabled device is a cellular phone, and wherein the messaging service is further configured to manage the wireless communication link with a virtual connection protocol that enables segmenting the recorded voice clip for communication via one or more transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events.

7. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the messaging service is further configured to:

receive a recorded reply voice clip from the computing-based device via the data network; and

process the recorded reply voice clip for wireless communication to the mobile communication-enabled device that renders a reply audio message from the recorded reply voice clip.

8. A messaging system as recited in claim 7, wherein the messaging service is further configured to initiate a virtual connection protocol to sequence one or more transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events to wirelessly communicate the recorded reply voice clip to the mobile communication-enabled device.

9. A messaging system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing-based device is an additional mobile communication-enabled device, and wherein the messaging service is an Internet-based system coupled via the data network, the messaging service being further configured to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the mobile communication-enable device and the additional mobile communication-enabled device.

10. A method, comprising:

managing a wireless communication link with a virtual connection protocol to sequence one or more transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events for wireless communication;

receiving a recorded voice clip from a mobile communication-enabled device via the wireless communication link;

processing the recorded voice clip for communication via a data network to a computing-based device that renders an audio message from the recorded voice clip.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

logging a first instant messaging contact at the computing-based device into a messaging service; and

logging a second instant messaging contact at the mobile communication-enabled device into the messaging service to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the first instant messaging contact and the second instant messaging contact.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein receiving the recorded voice clip includes receiving segmented message units corresponding to the recorded voice clip via the one or more TCP connection events for the wireless communication.

13. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising communicating the recorded voice clip to the computing-based device via a point-to-point data network.

14. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising communicating the recorded voice clip to the computing-based device that renders the audio message after receiving all data corresponding to the recorded voice clip.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a recorded reply voice clip from the computing-based device via the data network; and

processing the recorded reply voice clip for wireless communication to the mobile communication-enabled device that renders a reply audio message from the recorded reply voice clip.

16. One or more computer readable media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing-based messaging service to:

receive a recorded voice clip from a mobile communication-enabled device via a wireless communication link; and

process the recorded voice clip for communication via a data network to a computing-based device that renders an audio message from the recorded voice clip.

17. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing-based messaging service to manage the wireless communication link with a virtual connection protocol to sequence one or more transmission control protocol (TCP) connection events for wireless communication of the recorded voice clip.

18. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 17, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing-based messaging service to receive the recorded voice clip as segmented message units corresponding to the recorded voice clip via the one or more TCP connection events of the wireless communication link.

19. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing-based messaging service to:

log a first instant messaging contact at the computing-based device into the messaging service; and

log a second instant messaging contact at the mobile communication-enabled device into the messaging service to enable two-way voice instant messaging between the first instant messaging contact and the second instant messaging contact.

20. One or more computer readable media as recited in claim 16, further comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing-based messaging service to:

receive a recorded reply voice clip from the computing-based device via the data network; and

process the recorded reply voice clip for wireless communication to the mobile communication-enabled device that renders a reply audio message from the recorded reply voice clip.