Integrating access to audio messages and instant messaging with VOIP

• US 8,107,495 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yarlagadda, Madhu, Ashtekar, Ashish, Tse, Takchun
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe, Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAILE, AWET A
• Application Number:
  US11/129,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,454 Days
• Field of Search: 370/467, 370/481, 370/475, 370/338, 370/466, 370/401, 370/469, 709/204, 709/206, 707/3, 707/205, 379/265.01, 717/136, 715/229
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]

Abstract

A system, method, and apparatus are directed towards providing integrated access to call information to an end-user using any of a variety of client applications, including an Instant Messaging (IM), a web-browser, and/or a VOIP client. An end-user may employ any of the above client applications to establish a communication session and enable an integrated access display for use in managing such call information as audio messages, call histories, and instant messaging conversations. The integrated access display may be managed through an intelligent integration client that may reside on a client device, such as a personal computer, a mobile device, a VOIP phone, and the like. Through the intelligent integration client, the end-user may search, retrieve, and/or view the call information. For example, using the VOIP phone, the end-user may search for and access a stored audio message, such as a voice mail message, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for use in managing call information over a network, comprising:

sending a request for call information from a first client application for a client device, the first client application is operative as one of a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone application based at least on a SIP protocol, a browser application, or a message application, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files from different sources and different types;

receiving the requested call information;

displaying the requested call information in an integrated structure on the client device, wherein displaying the requested call information in the integrated structure comprises displaying the plurality of call files from different sources within the requested call information in the integrated structure within the first client application with a first compatible audio file format on the client device;

enabling a selection of at least one audio call file in the call information;

determining if the at least one selected audio call file is in a file format incompatible with the first integrated client application associated with the request, and if the at least one audio call file is in an incompatible format, transcoding the at least one audio call file to the first compatible audio file format;

forwarding the at least one transcoded audio call file to the client device for playback, and

displaying the plurality of call files from different sources within the requested call information in the integrated structure within a second client application, wherein the second client application employs a second compatible audio file format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the plurality of call files from different sources within the requested call information in the integrated structure within the first client application and the second client application further comprises displaying voice mail messages, IM messages, call history, call logs, and billing information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a sender of at least one item in the call information, receiving a personalized greeting.

5. The method of claim 1, where the display is integrated into an Instant Messaging client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of call files further comprise at least one audio message call file, and at least one IM conversation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the request further comprises:

receiving information associated with the client device indicating a file format that is compatible with the first client application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the requested call information further comprises displaying the call information in a time ordered list.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein enabling the selection of at least one call file further comprises performing at least one of a search, a sort, a delete, and a select on the call information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identifier associated with the client device; and

employing the identifier to authenticate the request for the call information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein employing the identifier further comprises authenticating that the identifier is associated with an account.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the identifier is a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the client device a called line identifier (CLI) and an originating line identifier (OLI); and

if the CLI substantially equals the OLI, enabling access to the requested call information.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client application is at least one of an Instant Messaging (IM) client, a VOIP client, a SIP/RTP client, and a web browser client.

15. A server for use in managing call information over a network, comprising:

a transceiver for receiving and sending information to another computing device;

a processor in communication with the transceiver; and

a memory in communication with the processor and for use in storing data and machine instructions that causes the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

receiving a request for call information from a first client application for a client device, the first client application is operative as one of a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone application based at least on a SIP protocol, a browser application, or a message application, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files that includes at least one of an IM file, an audio file, and a call history;

retrieving the requested call information;

sending the requested call information to the client device, wherein the client device is enabled to display the plurality of call files within the requested call information in an integrated structure within the first client application with a first compatible audio file format on the client device, and wherein the plurality of call files within the requested call information in the integrated structure is enabled to be displayed within a second client application with a second compatible audio file format;

receiving a request for at least one call file in the call information;

if the at least one call file is in an incompatible audio format to the first client application associated with the request, transcoding the at least one call file to the first compatible audio file format;

forwarding the at least one transcoded audio call file to the client device for playback.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein receiving the request further comprises:

receiving information associated with the client device indicating an audio file format that is compatible with the first client application.

18. The server of claim 15, wherein displaying the requested call information further comprises displaying the call information in a time ordered list.

19. The server of claim 15, wherein enabling the display of the requested call information further comprises performing at least one of a search, a sort, a delete, and a selection of at least a portion of the call information.

20. A computer readable non-transitory storage medium for managing call information over a network by enabling actions, the computer readable non-transitory storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a computing device, enable the computing device to perform the actions, including:

sending, to a server, a request for call information from a first client application for a client device, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of different varieties of call files;

sending, to the first client application for the client device, the requested call information, the first client application is operative as one of a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone application based on a SIP protocol, a browser application, or a message application;

displaying, within the first client application at the client device, the different varieties of plurality of call files within the requested call information to enable integrated access to the requested call information, wherein the first client application is compatible with a first audio file format;

enabling a selection of at least one audio call file in the call information;

if the selected at least one audio call file is in a file format incompatible with the first client application associated with the request, transcoding the at least one audio call file to the compatible first audio file format;

forwarding the at least one transcoded audio call file to the client device for playback; and

displaying, within a second client application, the different varieties of the plurality of call files within the requested call information to enable integrated access to the requested call information within the second client application, wherein the second client application is compatible with a second audio file format.

21. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the call information further comprises at least one call file associated with at least one of an audio message, an IM conversation, and a call history.

22. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 21, wherein the audio message further comprises a voice mail message.

23. The computer readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 20, wherein the first client application further comprises at least one of an IM client, a VOIP client, and a web browser client.

24. In a computer device having a graphical user interface and a user selection interface mechanism, a method of managing call information, comprising the steps of:

providing a request for access to call information, wherein the call information comprises a plurality of call files including at least two of a voice mail message, an IM conversation, and a call history;

displaying the plurality of call files in an integrated display structure that enables at least one of an integrated sort, and an integrated search of the plurality of call files, wherein displaying the plurality of call files in the integrated display structure comprises displaying the at least two of the plurality of call files in the integrated display structure within a first client application compatible with a first audio file format on the computer device, and wherein the at least two of the plurality of call files in the integrated display structure is enabled to be displayed within a second client application compatible with a second audio file format, the first client application is operative as one of a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone application based at least on a SIP protocol, a browser application, or a message application;

enabling a selection of at least one audio call file in the plurality of call files;

receiving the at least one selected audio call file, wherein if the selected at least one audio call file is in a file format incompatible with the first client application associated with the computer device, receiving the at least one selected audio call file transcoded to the compatible first audio file format for playback.

25. The computer device of claim 24, wherein the computer device is a mobile device.

26. The computer device of claim 24, wherein displaying the plurality of call files is enabled employing an intelligent integration client residing on the computer device.