Peer-to-peer broadcasting in a VoIP system

• US 20080037723A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• 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, Forbes, Scott C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,817,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0042 where the data service is a text-based messaging service H04M7/0054 takes precedence
• 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

A method and system provides the ability to use VoIP devices to generate and/or propagate a broadcast message to other devices. A device transmits a broadcast message to a recipient device over a peer-to-peer communication channel. Such a device can be an originator or a propagator designated by a third party. Upon receipt of a request to broadcast a message, or upon detecting any triggering event to broadcast, the device processes the request or the triggering event to compose content of the message. Subsequently, a group of recipient devices are identified and located. The device may transmit the broadcast message over existing communications channels without disturbing a conversation with the recipient device. Further, a peer-to-peer communication channel may be established to transmit the broadcast message. Alternatively, the device may request the recipient device to broadcast the message to devices outside of its current peer-to-peer communication connections.

Claims

1. A method for broadcasting a message from a device to recipient devices over a digital voice communication channel;

comprising;

composing the content of a broadcast message;

identifying a first group of recipient devices based on the content, the recipient devices being communicatively connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol;

formatting at least one broadcast message in accordance with profile information of a recipient device from the first group;

transmitting the formatted broadcast message to a recipient device from the first group; and

receiving a response to the transmitted broadcast message from the recipient device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying and locating a second group of recipient devices which have indicated a peer-to-peer communication channel is permitted, the second group of recipient devices not yet being connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol;

establishing a peer-to-peer communication channel with a recipient device from the second group;

formatting at least one broadcast message in accordance with profile information of the recipient device from the second group; and

transmitting the formatted broadcast message to the recipient device from the second group over the established peer-to-peer communication channel.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the response from the recipient device indicates a failed delivery of the broadcast message, retransmitting the broadcast message to the recipient device.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the response from the recipient device indicates a successful delivery of the broadcast message, determining a next broadcast message and transmitting the next broadcast message to the recipient device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein composing the content of a broadcast message includes receiving a request from an authorized party to broadcast a message in conjunction with broadcast information relating to the message, processing the request, and determining content for the broadcast message based on the processed request.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the broadcast information includes information necessary to format, schedule, and/or transmit the message.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining the profile information about the recipient device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the response from the recipient device is a request to stop the broadcast message, updating the profile information about the recipient client accordingly.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein if the profile information about the recipient device is not available, default profile information is utilized, and wherein the default profile information is predefined.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein composing the content of a broadcast message includes retrieving a request to broadcast a message, processing the request, and determining the content based on the processed request.

3. The method of claim 3, wherein the second group of recipient devices is identified based on geographic locations of each recipient device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second group of recipient devices is identified based on a predefined set of rules.

13. A method for permitting a sending device to transmit a message over an existing peer-to-peer communication channel without interrupting a digital voice conversation, comprising:

receiving a message from the sending device;

upon receipt of the message, processing the message;

identifying a set of contextual information corresponding to the message, embedding the message in the set of contextual information, and determining a destination of the message based on the processed message; and

transmitting the set of contextual information to the destination.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a response from the destination;

determining an appropriate action based on the response; and

performing the determined appropriate action.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein performing the determined appropriate action includes forwarding the response to the sending device.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

upon receipt of the message, forwarding the message to the destination without processing the message.

17. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for broadcasting a message over a digital voice conversation between two or more devices in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:

a processing component for detecting a request to broadcast;

a generating component for identifying a recipient device upon detecting the request to broadcast and for formatting a first broadcast message suitable for the recipient device; and

a broadcasting component for transmitting the first broadcast message to the recipient device over a digital voice conversation according to a peer-to-peer protocol.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the broadcasting component receives a response from the recipient device about the first broadcast message and based on the response, the processing component performs an appropriate action.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the request to broadcast is triggered by an authorized party.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the request to broadcast is triggered by a predefined event.