INITIATION AND SUPPORT OF VIDEO CONFERENCING USING INSTANT MESSAGING

• US 20100066807A1
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RADVISION Limited (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eisenberg, Alfred
• Granted Patent: US 7,908,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

Claims

1-54. -54. (canceled)

55. A system for initiating video conferences between a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a processor that is configured to;

detect an instant message request, from a first node to a second node, for a video conference;

in response to detecting the request, extract conference information for the first node and the second node from the request, wherein the extracted conference information includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiate the video conference by transmitting the determined conference information to a conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicate to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and the second node using the communication mode.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an internet protocol (IP) network, an Ethernet network, cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

57. The system of claim 55, further comprising a database for storing information related to the first node and the second node, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

58. The system of claim 55, further comprising providing presence information of the first node and the second node, wherein the presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list.

59. The system of claim 58, further comprising providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.

60. The system of claim 58, wherein the presence information further comprises the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node used to set up the video conference.

61. A method for initiating video conferences, the method comprising:

detecting an instant message request, from a first node to a second node, for a video conference;

in response to detecting the request, extracting conference information for the first node and the second node from the request, wherein the extracted conference information includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiating the video conference by transmitting the determined conference information to a conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicating to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and the second node using the communication mode.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an internet protocol (IP) network, an Ethernet network, cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

63. The method of claim 61, further comprising storing information related to the first node and the second node in a database, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

64. The method of claim 61, further comprising providing presence information of the first node and the second node, wherein the presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the presence information further comprises the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node used to set up the video conference.

67. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for initiating video conference, the method comprising:

detecting an instant message request, from a first node to a second node, for a video conference;

in response to detecting the request, extracting conference information for the first node and the second node from the request, wherein the extracted conference information includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiating the video conference by transmitting the determined conference information to a conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicating to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and the second node using the communication mode.

68. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

69. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the method further comprises storing information related to the first node and the second node in a database, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

70. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 67, wherein the method further comprises providing presence information of the first node and the second node, wherein the presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list.

71. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein the method further comprises providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.

72. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 70, wherein the presence information further comprises the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node used to set up the video conference.