Handling an audio conference related to a text-based message

• US 8,161,105 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2011
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Mousseau, Gary Philip, Ng, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/047,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20110165867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/204, 455/412
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/102 Gateways arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways, H04L12/66
• 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 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4015 where at least one of the additional parallel sessions is real time or time sensitive, e.g. white board sharing, collaboration or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4046 with distributed floor control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/4061 Push-to services, e.g. push-to-talk or push-to-video
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• 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: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast

Abstract

A client for a text-based messaging application for a dual-mode mobile communication device may initiate an audio conference based on a text-based message. Contents of fields of the text-based message may be extracted and utilized to construct an audio conference request message that is subsequently transmitted to an audio conference gateway. Where the text-based messaging application is an instant messaging (IM) client application, it may be configured to recognize a voice connection as being related to an ongoing Data Mode IM conversation. As a consequence of the recognition, the IM client application may maintain the user interface for facilitating participation in the Voice Mode IM conversation. Updates related to the status of the Voice Mode IM conversation may be received at the dual-mode mobile communication device over the voice connection and reflected in changes to the user interface.

Claims

1. At a mobile communication device, a method of managing a voice connection for an audio conference related to a text-based message received over a data network, said method comprising:

presenting a user interface on a display of the mobile communication device, said user interface presenting at least a portion of said text-based message received over said data network;

receiving a voice connection request from an audio conference gateway, said audio conference gateway being capable of establishing voice connections between said audio conference gateway and devices associated with telephone destination numbers and of bridging said voice connections;

responsive to said receiving, establishing a voice connection with said audio conference gateway;

receiving status information from said audio conference gateway in-band over said voice connection;

updating said user interface based on said status information;

receiving calling line identification associated with said voice connection request;

comparing said received calling line identification to a stored calling line identification associated with a known audio conference gateway; and

where said received calling line identification and said stored calling line identification are equivalent, maintaining said user interface while said voice connection with said audio conference gateway is established.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said status information comprises an indication of a predetermined group, where said predetermined group includes a plurality of potential audio conference participants.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining that said predetermined group is associated with a Data Mode instant messaging conversation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said updating comprises altering a mode associated on said display with said group from Data Mode to Voice Mode.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said status information comprises an indication that a voice connection has been established with a potential instant messaging conversation participant among said plurality of potential instant messaging conversation participants.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said voice connection is a public switched telephone network (PSTN) connection.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said receiving said status information comprises receiving Dual Tone Multiple Frequency (DTMF) signaling.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying a user of said mobile communication device of said receipt of said voice connection request; and

receiving an indication from said user, of a desire to establish said voice connection.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, where said text-based message has been received over a previously established data connection, responsive to said establishing said voice connection, suspending said data connection.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, where said text-based message has been received over a previously established data connection, receiving status information from said audio conference gateway over said data connection.

11. A mobile communication device adapted to:

present a user interface on a display of a mobile communication device, said user interface presenting at least a portion of a text-based message received over a data network;

receive a voice connection request from an audio conference gateway, said audio conference gateway being capable of establishing voice connections between said audio conference gateway and devices associated with telephone destination numbers and of bridging said voice connections;

establish a voice connection with said audio conference gateway;

receive status information from said audio conference gateway in-band over said voice connection;

update said user interface based on said status information;

receive calling line identification associated with said voice connection request;

compare said received calling line identification to a stored calling line identification associated with a known audio conference gateway; and

where said received calling line identification and said stored calling line identification are equivalent, maintaining said user interface while said voice connection with said audio conference gateway is established.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when performed by a processor in a mobile communication device, cause said processor to:

present a user interface on a display of the mobile communication device, said user interface presenting at least a portion of a text-based message received over a data network;

receive a voice connection request from an audio conference gateway, said audio conference gateway being capable of establishing voice connections between said audio conference gateway and devices associated with telephone destination numbers and of bridging said voice connections;

establish a voice connection with said audio conference gateway;

receive status information from said audio conference gateway in-band over said voice connection;

update said user interface based on said status information;

receive calling line identification associated with said voice connection request;

compare said received calling line identification to a stored calling line identification associated with a known audio conference gateway; and

where said received calling line identification and said stored calling line identification are equivalent, maintaining said user interface while said voice connection with said audio conference gateway is established.

13. A method of initiating an audio conference at a mobile communications device, said method comprising:

receiving a text-based message over a data network;

extracting contents of at least two fields of said text-based message;

utilizing said contents in constructing an audio conference request message;

transmitting said audio conference request message over said data network to an audio conference gateway, said audio conference gateway being capable of establishing voice channels between said audio conference gateway and devices associated with telephone destination numbers and of bridging said voice channels;

establishing a voice connection with said audio conference gateway subsequent to said transmitting;

receiving status information from said audio conference gateway in-band over said voice connection;

wherein said extracting contents of at least two fields of said text-based message includes;

determining an identity of an originator associated with said text-based message, and

determining an identity of a primary receiver associated with said text-based message; and

wherein utilizing said contents to construct said audio conference request message includes;

determining, based on said identity of said originator, a telephone destination number (DN) for an originator device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with said originator device,

determining, based on said identity of said primary receiver, a telephone DN for a primary receiver device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with said primary receiver device, and

configuring said audio conference request message to initiate an audio conference, said audio conference request message including said telephone DN for said originator device and said telephone DN for said primary receiver device.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining an identity of a secondary receiver associated with said text-based message;

determining, based on said identity of said secondary receiver, a telephone DN for a secondary receiver device, where said audio conference gateway is capable of establishing a voice channel with said secondary receiver device; and

configuring said audio conference request message to initiate an audio conference, said audio conference request message including said telephone DN for said originator device and said telephone DN for said primary receiver device and said telephone DN for said secondary receiver device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said extracting contents of at least two fields comprises extracting contents of a “

FROM”

field of said text-based message.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said extracting contents of at least two fields comprises extracting contents of at least one of a “

TO”

field and a “

CC”

field of said text-based message.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said determining, based on said identity of said primary receiver, a telephone DN for a primary receiver device, comprises using said identifier of said primary receiver as a key into a database of contact information.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said determining, based on said identity of said secondary receiver, a telephone DN for a secondary receiver device, comprises using said identifier of said secondary receiver as a key into a database of contact information.