Multi-mode voice instant messaging internet phone (VIMIP) handset device

• US 20070286171A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guan, Huapeng
• Original Assignee: Guan, Huapeng
• Inventors: Guan, Huapeng
• Application Number:
  US11/438,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A multi-mode Voice Instant Messaging Internet Phone (VIMIP) handset device that can effectuate a VoIP phone call to a standard phone or other IM client device (a personal computer with voice IM client software or another VIMIP handset device) with a telephone number associated therewith through an Instant Messaging system which supports VoIP phone call with a telephone number. The VIMIP handset device can also effectuate a VoIP conversation with other IM client device with voice capability using a buddy list through an Instant Messaging system with voice communication (voice chat) capability. In a first mode, the VIMIP handset device communicates in a wireless computer network connection mode and in second mode, in a wired computer network connection mode.

Claims

1. A multi-mode Voice Instant Messaging Internet Phone (VIMIP) handset device comprising:

a handset housing having a built-in speaker, microphone, a keypad, antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals and an computer network access connection for wired communications; and

,

processing unit housed in the handset housing and having program instructions which upon execution are operable to effectuate a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) phone call to another voice communications device to provide voice communications through a voice Instant Messaging (IM) system having voice communications capability via the antenna in a first mode of operation or via the wired computer network access connection in a second mode of operation.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the another voice communication device includes at least one of a personal computer with voice IM client software, another VIMIP handset device, or a standard telephone coupled to a public switch telephone network.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handset connects to the voice IM system in the first mode via Wi-Fi Wireless local area network connections.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handset connects to the voice IM system in the second mode via an Ethernet connection.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handset connects to the voice IM system in the second mode via a USB connection.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handset communicates voice communications without a user'"'"'s personal computer through the voice IM system.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display integrated in the handset housing which can display a buddy list with at least one buddy entry;

voice communication management module operable to start the VoIP phone call with another voice IM-enabled client device through the voice IM system upon selection of the at least one buddy entry on the display.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising:

a display integrated in the handset housing which can display a telephone number for placing a VoIP phone call to another voice communications device through the IM system.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further function to process a voice signal of the VoIP phone call using at least one of voice codecs with the capabilities to handle echo cancellation, delay, jitter, and lost packet compensation.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further provide a plurality of network interface protocols including Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), a medium access control layer and an address resolution protocol (MAC/ARP), and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11 drivers.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) configuration utility for connecting to Wi-Fi WLAN networks.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, further provide account management, buddy list management and conversation management.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the handset device has assigned thereto a telephone number associated with a user account of the voice IM system.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the program instructions, upon execution, provide an IM protocol interface operable to select one IM protocol of a plurality of IM protocols for communicating with the IM system.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of IM protocols include AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Microsoft MSN (.Net) Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, QQ, and Google Talk.

16. A multi-mode Voice Instant Messaging Internet Phone (VIMIP) handset device comprising:

means for housing and integrating together in a handheld structure a built-in speaker, microphone, a keypad, antenna for receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals and a computer network access connection for wired communications; and

,

means, housed in the housing means, for processing a voice call to effectuate a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) phone call to another voice communication device to provide voice communications through a voice Instant Messaging (IM) system having voice communications capability via the antenna in a first mode of operation or via the wired computer network access connection in a second mode of operation.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the another voice communication device includes at least one of a personal computer with voice IM client software, another VIMIP handset device, or a standard telephone coupled to a public switch telephone network.

18. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means connects to the voice IM system in the first mode via Wi-Fi Wireless local area network connections.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means connects to the voice IM system in the second mode via an Ethernet connection.

20. The device according to claim 16, wherein the device communicates voice communications without a user'"'"'s personal computer through the voice IM system.

21. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for displaying, integrated in the housing means, a buddy list with at least one buddy entry;

means for managing the voice communications and for starting the VoIP phone call with another voice IM-enabled client device through the IM system upon selection of the at least one buddy entry on the displaying means.

22. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for displaying, integrated in the housing means, a telephone number for placing the VoIP phone call to another voice communications device through the IM system.

23. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means comprises means for processing a voice signal of the VoIP phone call using at least one of voice codec with the capabilities to handle echo cancellation, delay, jitter, and lost packet compensation.

24. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means comprises means for providing a plurality of network interface protocols including Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Internet Protocol (IP), a medium access control layer and an address resolution protocol (MAC/ARP), and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standard 802.11 drivers.

25. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means comprises means for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) configuration utility for connecting to Wi-Fi WLAN networks.

26. The device according to claim 16, wherein the processing means comprises means for providing account management, buddy list management and conversation management.

27. The device according to claim 16, wherein the handset device has assigned thereto a telephone number associated with a user account of the voice IM system.

28. The device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for selecting one IM protocol of a plurality of IM protocols for communicating with the IM system.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein the plurality of IM protocols include AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Microsoft MSN (.Net) Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, QQ, and Google Talk.

30. A method for Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) voice communications via a voice Instant Messaging (IM) system with voice communications capability comprising the steps of:

processing a voice call via a Voice Instant Messaging Internet Phone (VIMIP) handset device to effectuate a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) phone call to another voice communication device to provide voice communications through the voice IM system via radio frequency communication link in a first mode of operation; and

,

processing the voice call via the VIMIP handset device to effectuate the Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) phone call to the another voice communication device to provide voice communications through the voice IM system via a wired computer network access connection in a second mode of operation when the radio frequency communication link is not available.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the another voice communication device includes at least one of a personal computer with voice IM client software, another VIMIP handset device, or a standard telephone coupled to a public switch telephone network.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the processing step includes the step of:

connecting to the voice IM system in the first mode via Wi-Fi Wireless local area network connections.

33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the processing step includes the step of:

connecting to the voice IM system in the second mode via an Ethernet connection.

34. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on the handset device a buddy list with at least one buddy entry;

managing the voice communications and for starting the VoIP phone call with another voice IM-enabled client device through the IM system upon selection of the at least one buddy entry.

35. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the steps of:

displaying on the handset device a telephone number for placing the VoIP phone call to another voice communications device through the IM system.

36. The method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

selecting by an IM protocol interface a respective one IM protocol of a plurality of IM protocols for communicating with the IM system.

37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the plurality of IM protocols include AOL Instant Messenger, ICQ, Microsoft MSN (.Net) Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, QQ, and Google Talk.