Voice instant messaging

• US 8,429,231 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2011
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wu, Shuwu, Crawford, James
• Primary Examiner(s): LAZARO, DAVID R
• Application Number:
  US13/228,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20110320553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-207, 709227-238, 709245-246, 715/744, 715/751, 715/578, 715/759
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2236 Quality of speech transmission monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/305 testing of physical copper line parameters, e.g. capacitance or resistance locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network

Abstract

Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data include enabling instant messaging communication between a sender an at least one recipient through an instant messaging host. In addition, voice communication is enabled between the sender and the recipient through the instant messaging host.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

enabling presentation of a first communication graphical user interface to a sender, the first communication graphical user interface comprising one or more communication options including a voice communication option;

enabling presentation of a second communication graphical user interface to a recipient;

determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient;

receiving, at a server, an indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option; and

establishing, based on the determined voice communication capabilities of the recipient and based on the indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option, a voice communication between the sender and the recipient using more than one channel including at least a generic signaling interface channel.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a list of users associated with the sender, wherein the list comprises indications of the voice communication capabilities of the users associated with the sender.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled a hardware device for voice communication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled software for voice communication.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling voice communication between the sender, the recipient, and a third identity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reporting the voice communication capabilities of the recipient to the sender.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication graphical user interface comprises a display of a second voice communication option.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second voice communication option indicates that the sender has voice communication capabilities.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the more than one channel further comprises a different communications channel than a control channel associated with instant message communications between the sender and the recipient.

10. A computer-based system comprising:

at least one processor; and

a storage device storing a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions being executable by the at least one processor for;

enabling presentation of a first communication graphical user interface to a sender, the first communication graphical user interface comprising one or more communication options including a voice communication;

enabling presentation of a second communication graphical user interface to a recipient;

determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient;

receiving an indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option; and

establishing, based on the determined voice communication capabilities of the recipient and based on the indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option, a voice communication between the sender and the recipient using more than one channel including at least a generic signaling interface channel.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for providing a list of users associated with the sender, wherein the list comprises indications of the voice communication capabilities of the users associated with the sender.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled a hardware device for voice communication.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled software for voice communication.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for enabling voice communication between the sender, the recipient, and a third identity.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for reporting the voice communication capabilities of the recipient to the sender.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the second communication graphical user interface comprises a display of a second voice communication icon.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second voice communication icon indicates that the sender has voice communication capabilities.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the more than one channel further comprises a different communications channel than a control channel associated with an instant message communications between the sender and the recipient.