Voice-over-IP enabled chat

• US 8,891,410 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burg, Frederick Murray
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Application Number:
  US13/687,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20130156024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/352, 379/900
• US Class Current: 370/260
• 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 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A network-based system and method for providing anonymous voice communications using the telephone network and data communications links under the direction of a Call Broker and associated network elements. A user (the call initiator) present in a text chat room session establishes a data connection to Call Broker and, after qualifying for access (e.g., using credit card information) and providing a callback number, receives voice session information and participant access codes for each desired participant in a voice call. The initiator causes session information and participant codes to be passed to one or more selected chat participants in the current text chat room. When a selected participant uses the received session information, and enters the received participant code and a callback number, the Call Broker in cooperation with a Network Adjunct Processor (NAP) completes voice links to the initiator and the selected participant(s).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a call broker, via a data connection, a request from a first participant requesting establishment of a voice call, wherein the request comprises a callback number of the first participant and account information;

receiving, by the call broker, validation of the account information;

sending, by the call broker, voice call session information and an authorization code to the first participant in response to the request;

receiving, by the call broker, from a second participant requesting participation in the voice call, a callback number of the second participant, the voice call session information and the authorization code, wherein the first participant and the second participant are engaged in a chat session and wherein the first participant passed the voice call session information and the authorization code as a private message in the chat session to the second participant;

establishing, by the call broker, a first voice link to the first participant using the callback number of the first participant;

determining, by the call broker, an internet protocol address associated with the second participant using the callback number of the second participant when a public switched telephone network link of the second participant is unavailable due to the public switched telephone network link of the second participant being in use in an internet session through a respective internet service provider access server;

establishing, by the call broker, a second voice link, via a voice over internet protocol gateway, to the second participant using the internet protocol address associated with the second participant; and

bridging, by the call broker, the first voice link and the second voice link so as to establish the voice call between the first chat participant and the second chat participant.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from a third participant requesting participation in the voice call, a message comprising the voice call session information and the authorization code;

establishing a third link to the third participant; and

bridging the third link, the first voice link and the second voice link, so as to establish the voice call between the first participant, the second participant and the third participant.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a callback number from the third participant prior to the establishing a third link to the third participant.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the public switched telephone network link of the second participant comprises a first public switched telephone network link and wherein the third link comprises a second public switched telephone network link.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the account information further comprises payment information, the method further comprising:

receiving the payment information from the first participant prior to the establishing a first voice link to the first participant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second voice link comprises a voice over internet protocol link.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the voice over internet protocol link is established using the internet protocol address.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request further comprises information identifying a maximum number of participants.