Peer-to-peer broadcasting in a VoIP system
First Claim
1. A method for broadcasting a message from a device to recipient devices over a digital voice communication channel, comprising:
- composing a content of a broadcast message;
identifying a first group of recipient devices based on the content, the recipient devices being communicatively connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol that is used to transmit messages as part of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conversation;
wherein at least a portion of the recipient devices are connected through a communication channel that is used to transmit and receive contextual data packets and conversational data packets between the at least the portion of the recipient devices;
wherein the conversational data packets are for conversation data and the contextual data packets are for data other then the conversation data;
formatting at least one broadcast message in accordance with profile information of a recipient device from the first group;
transmitting the formatted broadcast message to a recipient device from the first group;
in response to receiving the broadcast message, the recipient device, automatically sends the broadcast message to another recipient devices from the first group connected according to the peer-to-peer protocol; and
receiving a response to the transmitted broadcast message from the recipient device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system provides the ability to use VoIP devices to generate and/or propagate a broadcast message to other devices. A device transmits a broadcast message to a recipient device over a peer-to-peer communication channel. Such a device can be an originator or a propagator designated by a third party. Upon receipt of a request to broadcast a message, or upon detecting any triggering event to broadcast, the device processes the request or the triggering event to compose content of the message. Subsequently, a group of recipient devices are identified and located. The device may transmit the broadcast message over existing communications channels without disturbing a conversation with the recipient device. Further, a peer-to-peer communication channel may be established to transmit the broadcast message. Alternatively, the device may request the recipient device to broadcast the message to devices outside of its current peer-to-peer communication connections.
83 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for broadcasting a message from a device to recipient devices over a digital voice communication channel, comprising:
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composing a content of a broadcast message; identifying a first group of recipient devices based on the content, the recipient devices being communicatively connected according to a peer-to-peer protocol that is used to transmit messages as part of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conversation;
wherein at least a portion of the recipient devices are connected through a communication channel that is used to transmit and receive contextual data packets and conversational data packets between the at least the portion of the recipient devices;
wherein the conversational data packets are for conversation data and the contextual data packets are for data other then the conversation data;formatting at least one broadcast message in accordance with profile information of a recipient device from the first group; transmitting the formatted broadcast message to a recipient device from the first group;
in response to receiving the broadcast message, the recipient device, automatically sends the broadcast message to another recipient devices from the first group connected according to the peer-to-peer protocol; andreceiving a response to the transmitted broadcast message from the recipient device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for permitting a sending device to transmit a message over an existing peer to peer communication channel without interrupting a digital voice conversation, comprising:
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establishing a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) conversation channel between the sending device and a receiving device, wherein the VoIP conversation channel is used to transmit and receive contextual data packets and conversational data packets;
wherein the conversational data packets are for conversation data and the contextual data packets are for data other than the conversation data;receiving a message from the sending device over the established conversation channel; upon receipt of the message, the receiving device, identifying a set of contextual information corresponding to the message, embedding the message in the set of contextual information, and determining another recipients devices of the message based on the processed message; and automatically transmitting the set of contextual information to the another recipients devices over an established peer-to-peer communication channel without interrupting the digital voice conversation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for broadcasting a message over a digital voice conversation between two or more devices in a peer-to-peer network, comprising:
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a processing component for detecting a request to broadcast; a generating component for identifying a recipient device upon detecting the request to broadcast and for formatting a first broadcast message suitable for the recipient device; and a broadcasting component for transmitting the first broadcast message to the recipient device;
in response to receiving the broadcast message, sends the broadcast message to another recipients devices over a digital voice conversation according to a peer-to-peer protocol that is used to transmit messages as part of the digital voice conversation without interrupting the digital voice conversation;
wherein the digital voice conversation occurs over a communication channel that is used to transmit and receive contextual data packets and conversational data packets;
wherein the conversational data packets are for conversation data and the contextual data packets are for data other then the conversation data. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification