Voice-Over-IP Enabled Chat

• US 20100135283A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• 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: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A network-based system and method for providing anonymous voice communications using the telephone network and data communications links under the direction of a Call Broker and associated network elements. A user (the call initiator) present in a text chat room session establishes a data connection to Call Broker and, after qualifying for access (e.g., using credit card information) and providing a callback number, receives voice session information and participant access codes for each desired participant in a voice call. The initiator causes session information and participant codes to be passed to one or more selected chat participants in the current text chat room. When a selected participant uses the received session information, and enters the received participant code and a callback number, the Call Broker in cooperation with a Network Adjunct Processor (NAP) completes voice links to the initiator and the selected participant(s). The need for each party to have a second subscriber line is advantageously avoided by having the Call Broker arrange to have one or more voice links completed through a VoIP link, and further reduces the need for second lines for participants by forwarding a Call Broker—placed call to a busy participant line to the participant'"'"'s Internet Service Provider (ISP), which then sends a message to the participant announcing one or more options for receiving the incoming call, including receiving the incoming call through a VoIP link.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A method for establishing a voice call between a plurality of chat participants comprising:

receiving a message from a first chat participant requesting the establishment of a voice call;

sending a response message to said first chat participant providing voice call session information and at least one authorization code;

receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a second chat participant requesting participation in said voice call;

setting up a first voice link to the first chat participant;

setting up a second voice link to the second chat participant; and

bridging the first voice link and second voice link so as to establish the voice call between said first chat participant and said second chat participant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein setting up at least one of the first voice link and the second voice link comprises setting up a Voice over IP (VoIP) link.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

receiving a message comprising said voice call session information and an authorization code from a third chat participant requesting participation in said voice call;

setting up a third voice link to the third chat participant; and

bridging the third voice link, first voice link and second voice link, so as to establish the voice call between said first, second and third chat participant.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein setting up at least one of the first voice link and second voice link comprises requesting a VoIP gateway to set up an IP link to at least one of said plurality of voice call participants.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said requesting a VoIP gateway comprises requesting said VoIP gateway to set up an IP link to said first or said second chat participants.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said voice call session information and said authorization code included in said message from said second chat participant is supplied to said second chat participant in a message from said first chat participant.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said message from said first chat participant comprises information identifying the maximum number of voice call participants.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein communication between said plurality of chat participants further comprises an Internet chat session to which at least said first and second chat participants are connected through IP links originating at telephone subscriber lines, each of said IP links being identified by a current IP address.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said IP links through which said at least first and second chat participants are connected are established through respective Internet Service Provider (ISP) access servers, said at least first and second chat participants having provided account and access authorization information to said respective ISP access servers during a login message process.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein at least said first chat participant additionally provides account and authorization information in a login message process with a VoIP gateway, said VoIP gateway maintaining information about the online status and current IP address of said at least said first chat participant.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein setting up at least one of the first and second voice links comprises requesting that said VoIP gateway establish at least one of said first and second voice call links.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said VoIP gateway establishes an IP link to a respective voice call participant.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein an IP link established to said first chat participant uses said current IP address of said first chat participant maintained at said VoIP gateway.

36. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one of said voice call links is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) link.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said PSTN link is unavailable, the method further comprising:

determining if the subscriber line portion of said unavailable PSTN link is in current use in an Internet session through a respective ISP access server;

forwarding said call to a network node having access to said Internet session; and

sending a message from said network node to said Internet session indicating the arrival of an incoming voice call.