Method and apparatus for allowing communication within a group

• US 7,940,702 B1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Donley, Christopher J., Shipley, Torbert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US11/233,759
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 379/158, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 370/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1818 Conference organisation arrangements, e.g. handling schedules, setting up parameters needed by nodes to attend a conference, booking network resources, notifying involved parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1093 by adding participants; by removing participants
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4053 without floor control

Abstract

A method and apparatus exchange information within a predefined group of telecommunication terminals with each of the group being utilized by a user by forming a voice message by one of the group; communicating the voice message to the remainder of the group via instant message communication; and converting the instant message communication to a voice conferencing communication that includes all members of the group that remained part of the instant message communication.

Claims

1. A method for exchanging information within a predefined group of telecommunication terminals with each of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals being utilized by a user, comprising:

forming voice information into a first SIP invite message by a first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals wherein the predefined group of telecommunication terminals comprises more than two telecommunication terminals;

communicating by first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals the first SIP invite message to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

presenting the voice information in the first SIP invite message by each one of the other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals upon reception of the first invite message;

forming other voice information into a second SIP invite message by a second one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

communicating by a second one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals the second SIP invite message to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

presenting the other voice information in the second SIP invite message by each one of the other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals upon reception of the second SIP invite message;

transmitting a SIP re-invite message by the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals to establish a RTP stream in response to the user of the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals requesting that the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals establish a voice conference call with other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals ; and

establishing a RTP stream by ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals in response to transmission of the SIP re-invite message resulting in ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals becoming part of a voice conference call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises refusing to join the predefined group of telecommunication terminals via SIP invite message communication by another one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals if the other one of the group is in a state that does not allow convenient communication of the voice message to the user of the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the refusing is performed upon the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals being engaged in a telecommunication call.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the refusing is controlled by presence rules entered into a presence server.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the refusing is controlled by rules predefined by the user to the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium for exchanging information within a predefined group of telecommunication terminals with each of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals being utilized by a user, comprising non-transitory computer executable instructions configured for:

forming voice information into a first SIP invite message by a first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals wherein the predefined group of telecommunication terminals comprises more than two telecommunication terminals;

communicating by first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals the first SIP invite message to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

presenting the voice information in the first SIP invite message by each one of the other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals upon reception of the first invite message;

forming other voice information into a second SIP invite message by a second one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

communicating by a second one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals the second SIP invite message to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals;

presenting the other voice information in the second SIP invite message by each one of the other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals upon reception of the second SIP invite message;

transmitting a SIP re-invite message by the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals to other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals to establish a RTP stream in response to the user of the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals requesting that the first one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals establish a voice conference call with other ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals; and

establishing a RTP stream by ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals in response to transmission of the SIP re-invite message resulting in ones of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals becoming part of a voice conference call.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 6 further comprises non-transitory computer executable instructions for refusing to join the predefined group of telecommunication terminals via SIP invite message communication by another one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals if the other one of the group is in a state that does not allow convenient communication of the voice message to the user of the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the non-transitory computer executable instructions for refusing are performed upon the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals being engaged in a telecommunication call.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7 wherein the non-transitory computer executable instructions for refusing are controlled by presence rules entered into a presence server.

10. The non-transitory computer processor-readable medium of claim 7 wherein the non-transitory computer executable instructions for refusing are controlled by rules predefined by the user to the other one of the predefined group of telecommunication terminals.