Computer telephony integration system and operation method therein

• US 6,522,645 B1
• Filed: 08/06/1998
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Min Jeong, Lee, Huen Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thien D
• Application Number:
  US09/129,887
• Time in Patent Office: 1,657 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 709/227, 709/228
• 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: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• 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 computer telephony integration (CTI) system is capable of supporting one-to-one and multiparty communications. An operating method in the CTI system includes a first step for receiving a session opening request from a first user through a voice server thereof; a second step for detecting whether a session is held, in response to the session opening request, and generating, through the voice server thereof, a sub-server for the sake of a new session according to its detecting result; a third step for determining a group address for a multiparty communication in the generated sub-server and informing the first user of the group address; a fourth step for assigning the group address to a voice data port by the first user according to the informed group address; a fifth step for providing a user list when the first user requests the user list so as to select users to be participated in the session and transmitting inviting messages to the users in case that the session participating users are selected; and a sixth step for assigning the group address to the voice data port of a user client system through users who want the telephone conversation, among the users receiving the inviting message through a watchdog of the client system, and making the users participate in the multiparty session.

Claims

1. A computer telephony integration (CTI) system having a local area network (LAN) whose network range is limited spatially and which has a restricted user and a gateway connected with the LAN and a public switched telephone network, said system comprising:

a log-in server connected to said LAN, for managing information of a user who wants a communicative service;

a sub-server for determining a group address of a multiparty session and informing said user of the group address;

a voice server for generating and managing said sub-server according to a request of said user; and

a client system connected to the LAN, for performing the multiparty session by using the generated group address, wherein said client system comprises,

first to nth buffers for storing compressed voice information of numerous users temporarily, respectively,

a decompressor for releasing said stored voice information from a compression,

a mixer for properly mixing first to nth voice information released from the compression in response to time information, and

a reproducer for reproducing the mixed voice.

2. The CTI system of claim 1, wherein said client system further comprises:

a sound recorder for recording voice of the user;

a compressor for compressing the recorded voice information; and

a watchdog for checking on a connection request of other users.

3. An operating method through a use of a CTI system comprising:

a first step of receiving a session opening request provided from a first user via a voice server thereof;

a second step of detecting whether a session is held, in response to the session opening request, and generating, through said voice server, a sub-server for the sake of a new session according to its detecting result;

a third step of determining a group address for a multiparty communication in the generated sub-server and informing the first user of the group address;

a fourth step of making the first user assign the group address to a voice data port according to the informed group address;

a fifth step of providing a user list when the first user requests the user list so as to select users to be participated in the session and transmitting inviting messages to the users in case that the session participating users are selected; and

a sixth step of assigning the group address to the voice data port of a user client system by users who want a telephone conversation, among the users receiving the inviting message through a watchdog of the client system, and making the users participate in a multiparty session.

4. The operating method of claim 3, wherein said second step comprises the steps of:

checking whether or not the session can be opened, in the voice server which received the session opening request from the first user;

detecting whether there is a re-request from the first user in case that the session is not opened as the checking result, and again detecting whether the session is held or not if there is the re-request; and

generating a sub-server in case the new session is held as the result in the checking step.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said fifth step further comprises the steps of:

providing the first user with the user list through a log-in server thereof;

making the first user select users to be participated in the session; and

transferring the session invitation messages to selected users.

6. An operating method through a use of a CTI system comprising:

(a) receiving a request for a user list from a first user through a log-in server thereof;

(b) understanding an internet protocol (IP) address of a second user represented on the user list and requesting a voice server to perform a call connection with the second user using the IP address;

(c) informing the second user of the call connection by recognizing the call connection through a system watchdog of the second user;

(d) connecting the first user and the second user with each other so that they may converse mutually, if the second user wants to converse with the first user;

wherein step (b) further comprises,

transferring the user list to the first user through the log-in server, and

detecting, on the user list, the IP address of the second user who wants a telephone conversation.