Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) management

• US 7,889,715 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Criddle, Linda, Milstein, David
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/216,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20070047533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,994 Days
• Field of Search: 370/353, 370/352, 455/411, 455/418, 455/410, 379/142.05
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/14 Delay circuits; Timers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• 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

Techniques are described herein which are operable to manage Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

creating a user profile based on security settings providing safety measures;

receiving a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication specified for an intended recipient available via a network address;

determining that the user profile corresponds to the intended recipient of the VoIP communication; and

managing the VoIP communication based on the security settings specified in the user profile, wherein the managing further comprises;

routing the VoIP communication to a third-party verifier available via another network address that is different from the network address of the intended recipient; and

routing the VoIP communication as specified by the third-party verifier.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the security settings specify:

a plurality of contacts in a contact list who are permitted to communicate with the intended recipient;

an amount of time that the intended recipient is permitted to spend communicating with one or more contacts in the contact list; and

a time of day, during which, communication with one or more contacts in the contact list is permissible.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein:

the determining further comprises;

finding an identifier of the intended recipient in at least one packet of the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication; and

locating the user profile which corresponds to the identifier; and

the managing further comprises managing each packet having the identifier according to the user profile.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the third-party verifier includes one or more additional security settings that are utilized to automatically manage the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the security settings independently address a plurality of communication techniques.

12. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the user profile is configured to manage, via a logon identifier authenticated by an authentication service, the intended recipient across a plurality of different service providers.

13. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the security settings are provided by someone other than the intended recipient.

5. A method comprising:

creating a profile that specifies security settings for a user when interacting with one or more of a plurality of other users;

receiving a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication;

identifying a sender of the VoIP communication;

determining whether the sender is specified in one of a plurality of profiles;

in an event, the sender is specified in a determined profile;

managing the received VoIP communication using the determined profile;

in an event, the sender is not specified in a determined profile;

routing the VoIP communication to a third-party verifier; and

utilizing the third-party verifier to perform an action based on one or more additional security settings.

6. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the action comprises passing the VoIP communication to a different communication technique, wherein the different communication technique includes email or instant messaging.

7. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the managing includes authenticating the sender when attempting access to one of a plurality of service providers over a network, the authenticating permitting the sender to roam between the plurality of service providers and a plurality of client devices without resubmitting sign-in credentials.

9. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the security settings specify:

a plurality of contacts in a contact list who are permitted to communicate with the user;

an amount of time that the user is permitted to spend communicating with one or more contacts in the contact list; and

a time of day, during which, communication with one or more contacts in the contact list is permissible.

14. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the security settings independently address a plurality of communication techniques.

15. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the profile specifying the sender is configured to manage, via a logon identifier authenticated by an authentication service, the sender across a plurality of different service providers.

16. A method as described in claim 5, wherein the security settings are provided by someone other than the sender.

8. One or more computer readable storage media comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

download a profile over a network, the profile specifying security settings indicating safety measures for a user when communicating with one or more of a plurality of other users, the security settings being provided by someone other than the user and the plurality of other users;

receive a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication from the user; and

manage the VoIP communication using the profile specifying the security settings, wherein management of the VoIP communication through execution of the computer-executable instructions further includes;

routing the VoIP communication to a third-party verifier available via a network address that is different from another network address, at which, the user is available; and

performing an action regarding the VoIP communication as specified by the third-party verifier.

10. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 8, wherein the security settings specify:

a plurality of contacts in a contact list who are permitted to communicate with the user;

an amount of time that the user is permitted to spend communicating with one or more contacts in the contact list; and

a time of day, during which, communication with one or more contacts in the contact list is permissible.