Selectively buffering voice data at a server during a voice communication session

• US 8,185,143 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Micro Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Othmer, Konstantin
• Primary Examiner(s): Sing, Simon
• Application Number:
  US11/781,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,765 Days
• Field of Search: 455517-519, 455/426.1, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form

Abstract

Systems and methods for selectively replaying voice data. Voice data received in a communication session is both buffered by a server such that the buffered data can be played by a recipient device. When input is received from a recipient, the voice data currently being received is no longer played and buffered voice data is replayed to the recipient. While the buffered voice data is replayed, the server continues to buffer any voice data ensure that the recipient device can play all of the voice data in the communication session. By only storing voice data in the buffer, replaying the buffered voice data can catch the real-time voice data. At this point, the recipient device reverts to playing voice data being received while the server continues to buffer the voice data.

Claims

1. In a server that operates in a communication network in which communication sessions are established between devices, a method for buffering voice data such that the voice data can be selectively replayed on a device, the method comprising:

during a communication session of a connectionless protocol, simultaneously transmitting packets of voice data via the communications network from a sender device to a recipient device and buffering the packets of the voice data at the server such that the buffered packets can be resent upon receipt of an appropriate request;

receiving a request for missing packets from the recipient device, the request having been sent from the recipient device in response to the recipient device determining that at least some of the packets are missing and receiving input from a recipient requesting the voice data to be replayed at the recipient device; and

in response to the request for the missing packets, sending the missing packets to the recipient device such that the recipient device can;

combine the missing packets with already received packets and replay the voice data including both the missing packets and the already received packets;

replay the voice data associated with the missing packets until the voice data associated with the missing packets catches up to voice data being received at the device in real time; and

resuming playing the voice data being received at the device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the server comprises one of a network server and an application server.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the recipient device replays the voice data by accessing packets from a local buffer and adding thereto the missing packets received from the server.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein buffering the packets of the voice data comprises:

buffering packets of voice data of a first sender in the buffer; and

buffering packets of voice data of one or more subsequent senders in the buffer, wherein a silence between the first sender and the one or more subsequent senders is not stored in the buffer.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising accessing the buffer based on a pre-determined time period in response to receiving a request, such that the missing packets can then be sent to the recipient device.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising accessing the buffer based on a particular sender in response to receiving a request, such that the missing packets can then be sent to the recipient device.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the missing packets to the recipient device such that the recipient device can replay the voice data is performed such that the recipient device can replay a portion of the voice data from a point in the buffer that corresponds to a beginning of a voice data segment of a particular sender.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the missing packets to the recipient device such that the recipient device can replay the voice data is performed such that the recipient device can replay a portion of the voice data from a point in the buffer that corresponds to a time period.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the missing packets to the recipient device such that the recipient device can replay the voice data is performed such that the recipient device can:

stop the voice data in the buffer from being played; and

resume playing voice data being received at the recipient device.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein sending the missing packets to the recipient device such that the recipient device can replay the voice data is performed such that the recipient device can access the voice data in the buffer at a different location to replay another selected portion of the buffered voice data.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising continuing to buffer voice data that is received at the server while receiving input from the recipient device.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising deleting the voice data in the buffer when the communication session terminates.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising deleting the voice data in the buffer a pre-determined period of time after the communication session terminates.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one device participating in the communication session is associated with a circuit-switched network.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one device participating in the communication session is associated with a packet data network.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one device participating in the communication session is associated with RF communication techniques.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the communication session is associated with a network-based instant connect call established over a packet data network.

18. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the network-based instant connect call has been missed by the recipient device when the network-based instant connect call was initially transmitted; and

sending the missing packets to the recipient device is performed such that the recipient device can access the missed network-based instant connect call.