Messaging response system

• US 8,856,236 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2003
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Richard G., Mumford, Gregory L., Gunasekar, Duraisamy
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Jungwon
• Application Number:
  US10/636,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,080 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/205, 704/3, 704/260, 379/88.17, 379/211, 379/202.01, 379/88.14, 379/201.01, 705/39, 370/352, 455/406, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• 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 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/42 : Least cost routing, i.e. provision for selecting the lowest cost tariff
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1265 : where the session control protocols comprise H.323 and SS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/129 : Details of providing call progress tones or announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling

Abstract

A messaging response system is disclosed wherein a service providing system provides services to users via messaging communications. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, multiple respondents servicing users through messaging communications may appear to simultaneously use a common “screen name” identifier.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service to a first party using an instant communications client, the method comprising:

receiving indication from the first party that the first party desires to establish instant communications with a messaging response system, the messaging response system providing a service related to establishing communications;

receiving information from the first party relating to how charges for the service will be paid, wherein an account of the first party is identified by both a screen name of the first party and a service provider identifier associated with a service provider of the first party, and wherein the service provider is one of a plurality of service providers that can be used to access the messaging response system;

receiving from the first party an identifier which identifies, to the message response system, a second party;

receiving a request from the first party to have communications established involving the first party and the second party;

providing communications among the first party and the second party; and

receiving from the first party textual information to be converted into corresponding audio information to be provided to the second party;

wherein an aspect of how the textual information is converted into corresponding audio information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client and the aspect relates to a voice characteristic imparted to synthesized speech in the audio information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending to the first party information pertaining to establishing communications with the second party.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying the first party as to whether the second party is accessible for communications.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying the first party as to whether the second party is accessible via telephone.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request from the first party to have communications established involving at least one of the first party or the second party.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

notifying the first party that the requested communications will be established.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

receiving indication from the first party as to a preferred mode of communication.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the preferred mode of communications is at least one of using audio information and using textual information.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

notifying the first party as to a mode of communication preferred by the second party.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the preferred mode of communication is at least one of using audio information and using textual information.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

notifying the first party as to whether the second party accepts the communications requested by the first party.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving from the first party an identifier to be used to identify the first party to the second party.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the second party communicates without having to compose discrete messages.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating to the first party a language indicator specifying a language of communication to be used in communicating with the second party.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the language indicator is responsive to a profile associated with the second party.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the language indicator is an icon presented in the instant communications client.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the preference information from the first party.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the aspect relates to a language-related preference associated with the first party.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the aspect relates to a language-related preference associated with the second party.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio information selectively comprises a sound based upon the occurrence of a pattern of symbols provided in the textual information, the pattern of symbols being associated with the sound.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein an aspect of the association between the pattern of symbols in the textual information and the corresponding sound in the audio information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing to the first party textual information corresponding to audio information from the second party.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein an aspect of providing the textual information corresponding to the audio information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving the preference information from the first party.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the aspect relates to a language-related preference associated with the first party.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the aspect relates to a language-related preference associated with the second party.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the aspect relates to spelling of words used in the textual information.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the textual information comprises rich text and an attribute of the rich text is varied in response to a characteristic of the audio information.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the characteristic of the audio information includes at least one of:

pitch, loudness, emphatic speech signals or soft-spoken speech signals.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein the textual information comprises a pattern of symbols responsive to a characteristic of the audio information.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the characteristic of the audio information includes at least one of:

pitch, loudness, emphatic speech signals or soft-spoken speech signals.

33. A method of providing service to first party via a telephony connection, the method comprising the steps of:

providing indication that a second party using an instant communications client desires to communicate with the first party using a messaging response system;

providing communications among the first party and the second party, wherein the first party engages in communication using audio information via the telephony connection;

receiving information from the first party relating to how charges associated with the use of the service are to be billed, wherein an account of the first party is identified by both a screen name of the first party and a service provider identifier associated with a service provider of the first party, and wherein the service provider is one of a plurality of service providers that can be used to access the messaging response system; and

providing to the first party audio information corresponding to textual information from the second party,

wherein an aspect of providing the audio information corresponding to the textual information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client and the aspect relates to a voice characteristic imparted to synthesized speech in the audio information.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

providing to the first party an identifier which identifies the second party to the first party.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving an indication from the first party as to whether the first party desires to communicate with the second party.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

providing to the first party an indication of a mode of communication available to be used for communicating with the second party.

37. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving from the first party an indication that a mode of communication is acceptable to the first party.

38. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving the preference information from the first party.

39. The method of claim 33 wherein the aspect relates to a language preference associated with the first party.

40. The method of claim 33 wherein the aspect relates to a language used by the second party.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein the audio information selectively comprises a sound based upon the occurrence of a pattern of symbols provided in the textual information.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein an aspect of associating the sound in the audio information to the corresponding pattern of symbols in the textual information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client.

43. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

receiving from the first party audio information to be converted into corresponding textual information to be provided to the second party.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein an aspect of how the audio information is to be converted into corresponding textual information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client.

45. The method of claim 44 further comprising:

receiving the preference information from the first party.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein the aspect relates to a language preference associated with the first party.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein the aspect relates to a language used by the second party.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the aspect relates to an identifier to be presented in the textual information to the second party as a screen name identity representing the first party.

49. The method of claim 43 wherein the audio information comprises a sound to cause a pattern of symbols to selectively be provided in the textual information.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein an aspect of associating the sound in the audio information with the corresponding pattern of symbols in the textual information is affected by preference information pertaining to at least one of the first party, the second party and the instant communications client.

51. A method comprising:

receiving indication from a first party that the first party desires to establish instant communications with a messaging response system, the messaging response system providing a service related to establishing communications;

receiving information from the first party relating to how charges for the service will be paid, wherein an account of the first party is identified by both a screen name of the first party and a service provider identifier associated with a service provider of the first party, and wherein the service provider is one of a plurality of service providers that can be used to access the messaging response system;

receiving from the first party an identifier which identifies, to the message response system, a second party;

receiving a request from the first party to have communications established involving the first party and the second party; and

providing to the first party textual information corresponding to audio information from the second party,

wherein the textual information comprises rich text and an attribute of the rich text is varied in response to a characteristic of the audio information.

52. A method comprising:

receiving indication from a first party that the first party desires to establish instant communications with a messaging response system, the messaging response system providing a service related to establishing communications;

receiving information from the first party relating to how charges for the service will be paid, wherein an account of the first party is identified by both a screen name of the first party and a service provider identifier associated with a service provider of the first party, and wherein the service provider is one of a plurality of service providers that can be used to access the messaging response system;

receiving from the first party an identifier which identifies, to the message response system, a second party; and

receiving a request from the first party to have communications established involving the first party and the second party;

providing to the first party textual information corresponding to audio information from the second party,

wherein the textual information comprises a pattern of symbols responsive to a characteristic of the audio information,

wherein the characteristic of the audio information includes at least one of;

pitch, loudness, emphatic speech signals or soft-spoken speech signals.