Transmitting packet-based data items

• US 20080002667A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Criddle, Linda, Milstein, David, Chou, Philip A., Smith, Leonard, Malueg, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,971,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/263 Rate modification at the source after receiving feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/35 by embedding flow control information in regular packets, e.g. piggybacking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are directed at sending a data item from a sending client to a receiving client. In accordance with one embodiment, a method provides controls for generating an audio-based command to send a data item from a sending client to a receiving client. More specifically, the method includes receiving an audio stream at the sending client from a sending party. As the audio stream is being received, a determination is made regarding whether a command to send a data item to the receiving client was received. If a command to send a data item is included in the audio stream, the method identifies the data item that is the object of the command and then transmits the data item to the receiving client over the network.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium containing computer-readable instructions which, when executed in an IP telephony environment that includes a sending client and a receiving client performs a method of identifying an audio-based command to send a data item from the sending client to the receiving client, the method comprising:

in response to receiving an audio stream at the sending client;

determining whether the audio stream contains a command to send a data item to the receiving client; and

if a command to send a data item is included in the audio stream;

identifying the data item that is the object of the command; and

transmitting the data item to the receiving client over the IP telephony environment.

2. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the audio stream contains a command to send a data item to the receiving client includes using a voice recognition engine to convert the audio stream into text.

3. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 2, wherein the voice recognition engine is located on an intervening client that identifies when a command is received.

4. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the audio stream contains a command to send a data item to the receiving client includes differentiating between data in the audio stream that is directed at generating a command and data that is content.

5. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the audio stream contains a command to send a data item to the receiving client includes performing a comparison between words identified by a voice recognition engine with a set of keywords defined in interchangeable command grammars.

6. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 1, wherein determining whether the audio stream contains a command to send a data item to the receiving client includes determining whether parameters associated with a command have been satisfied.

7. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 6, further comprising allowing a sending party to provide input by satisfying a parameter to differentiate between a command and content.

8. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 6, wherein a parameter is the identity of the data item that will be transmitted to the receiving client.

9. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 6, wherein different modes of operation are provided that define different sets of parameters for generating the command.

10. The computer readable-medium as recited in claim 6, wherein satisfying the command to send the data item to the receiving client includes passing event data to a software module that is configured to send the data item to the receiving client.

11. In an IP telephony environment that includes a sending client and a receiving client, a method of sending a data item over a communication channel from the sending client to the receiving client, the method comprising:

providing a control for generating a command to send the data item to the receiving client; and

in response to the control being activated;

obtaining event data that identifies the data item; and

causing the data item to be included in a data stream that is transmitted to the receiving client.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

identifying preferences for making the data item available on the receiving client; and

presenting the data item on the receiving client in accordance with the identified preferences.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the command is generated in response to the activation of a hardware-based control.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the control is an audio-based control that is activated when a keyword is identified in an incoming audio stream.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the data item includes a remote procedure call configured to access functionality exposed by a programming interface on the receiving client.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein causing the data item to be included in an audio stream includes allowing a sending party to identify a data item that is stored on a remote device for transmission to the receiving client.

17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein causing the data item to be included in a data stream that is transmitted to the receiving client includes:

determining whether a restriction exists in presenting the data item on the receiving client; and

if a restriction exists, storing the data item on an intervening client.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein causing the data item to be included in a data stream includes using a device associated with the sending client that maintains sufficient resources to determine whether an audio-based command was received.

19. A device for transmitting a data item over an IP telephony environment, comprising:

a hardware component with controls for generating a command to send the data item to a receiving client;

a software component for collecting event data in response to a control provided by the hardware component being activated; and

a network interface component configured to transmit packets to a receiving client; and

wherein the packets transmitted to the receiving client include the data item.

20. The device as recited in claim 19, wherein the software component provides a navigable menu where the data item may be selected.