Voice chat service on telephone networks

• US 6,931,114 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Dannie E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US09/742,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 379/152, 379/121.01, 37920201-20701, 379/88.74, 379/93.21, 379/114.19, 379/88.04, 709/227, 709/204, 709/205, 709/229, 709/206, 370/352, 370/261, 348/14.11, 348/14.01, 455/412.1, 455/413, 705/39, 345/753, 345/738, 704/269, 725/110
• US Class Current: 379/203.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/569 using the instant speaker's algorithm speech detection per se G10L25/78

Abstract

The present invention is system and method for holding voice chat over a telephone network. An embodiment for implementing the invention can comprise the following steps. First, a caller accesses the chat service by dialing a telephone number that is associated with the service of the present invention. Second, the caller is routed to a conference bridge circuit. Third, the subscriber enters a public chat room. Fourth, the subscriber participates in the public chat room that he or she had entered. While in the public chat room, the subscriber hears the voices of other chatters in the public chat room, and those chatters hear the subscriber'"'"'s voice when the subscriber speaks. Fifth, at anytime, the subscriber may leave the public chat room by pressing an appropriate key on the keypad. In the preferred embodiment, two or more chatters may request to be placed in a private chat room for a private discussion that is not heard by other chatters of the public chat room.

Claims

1. A method for providing a voice chat room service over one or more telephone networks, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller;

verifying whether the caller is a subscriber of the voice chat room service;

providing the caller with a menu comprising two or more public voice chat rooms that are predetermined by the service; and

routing the caller to a public voice chat room selected by the caller if the caller is a subscriber;

moderating the public voice chat room by a representative;

leading at least the caller and one other participant in the public voice chat room selected by the caller to a private voice chat room; and

charging the caller and the one other participant with additional fees for the private voice chat room.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of inviting the caller to be a subscriber if the caller is not a subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of supplying the caller with a trial membership.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the caller with a user ID number.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of routing the caller to a private voice chat room when the user ID number is received from the caller.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of retrieving information associated with the caller.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information can be retrieved from one or more of a home location register, a visitor location register, and a service control point.

8. A method for providing a voice chat room service over one or more telephone networks, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller;

retrieving information associated with the caller;

verifying whether the caller is a subscriber of the voice chat room service;

inviting the caller to be a subscriber if the caller is not a subscriber;

supplying the caller with a menu comprising two or more voice chat rooms that are predetermined by the service and wherein one or more of the chat rooms is moderated by a representative;

routing the caller to a voice chat room selected by the caller;

moderating the one or more voice chat rooms using rules associated with the voice chat room service;

leading at least the caller and one other participant in the public voice chat room selected by the caller to a private voice chat room; and

charging the caller and the one other participant with fees for the private voice chat room.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information can be retrieved from one or more of a home location register, a visitor location register, and a service control point.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of charging the caller for the voice chat room service a fee separate from the fee for the private voice chat room.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the charging step is based on time spent by the caller in the one or more chat rooms.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the charging step comprises collecting a fixed fee from the caller regardless of time spent by the caller in the one or more chat rooms.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of prompting the caller for a password.

14. A method for providing a voice chat room service over one or more telephone networks, the method comprising:

providing a menu of multiple public voice chat rooms;

facilitating a conversation in a public voice chat room comprising a plurality of chatters that have selected the public voice chat room from the menu;

moderating the conversation in the public voice chat room by a representative;

leading at least two chatters of the plurality of chatters in the public voice chat room to a private voice chat room when user ID numbers associated with the at least two chatters are received, and

charging one or more of the at least two chatters with additional fees for the private voice chat room;

wherein the user ID numbers can be received from one or more of the at least two chatters,

wherein the user ID numbers comprises a temporary ID number that is given by the voice chat room service.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of retrieving one or more of the user ID numbers if the at least two chatters do not remember the one or more of the user ID numbers.

16. A system for providing a voice chat room service over one or more telephone networks, the system comprising:

a plurality of chat rooms;

means for verifying whether a caller is a subscriber of the voice chat room service;

means for providing a menu comprising two or more public voice chat rooms that are predetermined by the service; and

means for routing the caller to one of the plurality of chat rooms selected by the caller;

means for moderating conversation in one or more of the plurality of chat rooms by a representative; and

means for leading at least two callers to a private voice chat room and charging the at least two callers additional fees for the private voice chat room.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of chat rooms is associated with a conference bridge circuit.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for transferring a caller from a first chat room to a second chat room among the plurality of chat rooms.