Event driven multi-media communication management system

• US 7,177,403 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teleware Incorporated
• Inventors: Nebiker, Robert M., Meyerson, Robert F., Adams, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELAHEE, MD S
• Application Number:
  US10/008,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/76, 379/88.17, 379/88.18, 379/70, 379/72, 379/88.03, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/221.01, 379/130, 709/206, 709/230, 709/203, 709/246, 709/228, 709/204, 709/205, 370/352, 455/462, 455/550.1
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4038 with floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• 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 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/066 Telephone sets adapted for data transmision
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/147 Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals selecting H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The event driven multi-media communication management system comprises a controller that interfaces with a plurality of communication space stations and with one or more communication medium service providers. The communication space station is a modular device that includes a platform, a voice system for providing an audio user interface, and a docking bay for coupling with a subscriber device. The controller accesses a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the subscriber device, communicates content messages representing at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the subscriber station, receives control messages representing subscriber selection of a contact, and establishes a communication channel in accordance with the selected subscriber communication information.

Claims

1. A subscriber multi-media communication management system for operation with a plurality of subscriber stations, at least a one of the plurality of subscriber stations being a selected subscriber station which includes a docking bay for operatively coupling a one of a plurality of subscriber devices to the selected subscriber station, the multi-media communication management system comprising:

a network communication circuit for multi-media communication with said plurality of subscriber stations;

a session control circuit for establishing a communication session with the selected subscriber station through the network communication circuit, comprising;

means for receiving a message from the selected subscriber station indicating that the one of the plurality of subscriber devices has been operatively coupled thereto;

means for accessing a subscriber contact directory associated with the one of the plurality of subscriber devices operatively coupled to the selected subscriber station,

means for receiving data from the selected subscriber station indicating subscriber selection of a selected contact from the subscriber contact directory; and

means for communicating a control message to the selected subscriber station which provides for the selected subscriber station to establish an audio session channel to a packet voice gateway and for the packet voice gateway to establish an audio session channel to a destination associated with the selected contact.

2. The subscriber multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station; and

means for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory.

3. The subscriber multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for identifying parameters of a display associated with the selected subscriber station; and

means for communicating display layout messages compatible with the parameters to the selected subscriber station.

4. The subscriber multi-media communication management system of claim 2, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the communication of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the one of a plurality of subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station and to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber directory by the one of a plurality of subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station.

5. The subscriber multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the session control circuit further comprises:

means for accessing subscriber contact files stored on the one of a plurality of subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station; and

means for updating the subscriber contact directory to include at least a portion of the subscriber contact files.

6. The subscriber multi-media communication management system of claim 1, wherein the network communication circuit comprises:

at least one wireless transceiver for exchanging wireless signals with a compatible wireless transceiver in each subscriber station.

7. A method of operating a subscriber multi-media communication management system, the subscriber multi-media communication management system for operation with a plurality of subscriber stations, at least one of the plurality of subscriber stations being a selected subscriber station which includes a docking bay for operatively coupling a one of a plurality subscriber devices to the selected subscriber station, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication session with a selected subscriber station over a network communication link;

receiving a message from the selected subscriber station indicating that the one of the plurality of subscriber devices has been operatively coupled thereto;

accessing a subscriber contact directory that is associated with the one of the plurality of subscriber devices operatively coupled to the selected subscriber station;

receiving an indication of subscriber selection of a selected contact from the subscriber contact directory; and

communicating a control message to the selected subscriber station which provides for the selected subscriber station to establish an audio session channel to a packet voice gateway and for the packet voice gateway to establish an audio session channel to a destination associated with the selected contact.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station; and

communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

identifying parameters of a display associated with the selected subscriber station; and

communicating display layout messages compatible with the parameters to the selected subscriber station.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

communicating at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the selected subscriber station; and

communicating control messages to the selected subscriber station to effect the

communication of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory to the one of the plurality subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station and to effect the display of at least a portion of the subscriber contact directory by the one of a plurality of subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

accessing subscriber contact files stored on the one of a plurality of subscriber devices coupled to the selected subscriber station; and

updating the subscriber contact directory to include at least a portion of the subscriber contact files.