Real-time messaging method and apparatus

• US 9,178,916 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voxer IP LLC (Voxer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Voxer IP LLC (Voxer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Katis, Thomas E., Panttaja, James T., Panttaja, Mary G., Ranney, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): WINDER, PATRICE L
• Application Number:
  US12/857,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/37 E-mail addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/34 Source routing
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

A system and method for the late-biding of time-based media in real-time With late binding, the sender may create time-based media before or at the same time an active delivery route to the recipient is discovered. As soon as the route becomes available, the media is transmitted. The existing DNS and email infrastructure is possibly used for route discovery, while any real-time transmission protocol may be used for the actual delivery of the media. “Progressive” emails may also be used for the real-time delivery of time-based media.

Claims

1. Computer executable code embedded in a non-transitory computer readable medium and intended to be executed on a communication device connected to a communication network, the code comprising:

a message module configured to create a message having a message header and a message body, the message module configured to;

(i) insert an identifier into the message header when an intended recipient of the message is defined; and

(ii) dynamically add voice media to the message body as the voice media associated with the message is generated; and

a transmission module configured to progressively transmit the message, wherein the progressive transmission occurs without requiring generation of a request for permission to transmit the voice message and without requiring receipt of a permission grant signal over the network for granting permission to transmit the voice message, the transmission module transmitting the message by;

(iii) transmitting the message header over the communication network, as soon as the identifier is defined and inserted into the message header, so that a delivery route to the recipient over the communication network can be discovered using the identifier; and

(iv) progressively transmit the message body, as the voice media is created and dynamically added to the message body, the transmission occurring over the communication network as the delivery route for delivering the voice media of the message to the recipient over the communication network is discovered using the identifier.

2. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message module is configured to define the identifier in response to one of the following:

(i) the selection of the recipient from a list of contacts;

(ii) the manual entry of the identifier of the recipient;

(iii) the receipt of a previous message from the recipient;

or

(iv) a selection of a conversation in which the recipient is a participant.

3. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the transmission module is further configured to progressively transmit the voice media of the message to the recipient using a transmission protocol capable of supporting near real-time communication.

4. The computer executable code of claim 1, further comprising a storage module configured to progressively store the message on the communication device as the voice media is created, dynamically added to the message body, and progressively transmitted.

5. The computer executable code of claim 1, further comprising:

a receive module configured to progressively receive voice media of an incoming message received over the communication network; and

a storage module configured to progressively store the voice media of the incoming message as the voice media is progressively received.

6. The computer executable code of claim 5, further comprising a render module configured to selectively control the rendering of the received voice media of the incoming message:

(i) in a time-shifted mode by rendering out of storage; and

(ii) in a near real-time mode as the voice media is progressively received over the communication network.

7. The computer executable code of claim 6, wherein the render module provides one or more of the following rendering options:

(i) play;

(ii) play faster;

(iii) play slower;

(iv) jump forward;

(v) jump backward;

(vi) jump to the most current media; and

(vii) pause; and

(viii) catch up to live.

8. The computer executable code of claim 5, further configured to engage in half-duplex communication when the message is transmitted and the incoming message is received at discrete times with respect to one another.

9. The computer executable code of claim 5, further configured to engage in full-duplex communication when the message is transmitted and the incoming message is received at approximately the same time with respect to one another.

10. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the transmission module is further configured to transmit the message for the duration of the voice media associated with the message.

11. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message module is further configured to create the message in response to a command entered through a touch screen of the communication device.

12. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message module is further configured to create the message in response to a command entered by an input device associated with the communication device, wherein the input device comprises one of the following:

(i) a mouse;

(ii) a stylus;

(iii) pointer;

or

(iv) keyboard.

13. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message module is further configured to associate a start time when the message is created.

14. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message module is further configured to associate an end time when the message is complete.

15. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message is a PTT transmission.

16. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a non-email address identifier.

17. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the identifier is an email address identifier.

18. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the identifier identifies the recipient within a domain.

19. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message body of the message created by the message module is dynamic and has a duration defined by the time period during which voice media associated with the message is created.

20. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message is a transmission by a Push-To-Talk (PTT) capable device.

21. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the message is delivered to multiple communication devices associated with the recipient.

22. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the transmission module is further configured to transmit the message out of storage on the communication device when:

(i) the communication device was disconnected and/or unable to transmit when the voice media of the message was created; and

(ii) the communication device reconnects and/or is able to transmit the message over the communication network.

23. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the messaging module supports asynchronous communication.

24. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the code further comprises a conversation module configured to associate incoming and outgoing messages sharing a common attribute into a conversation.

25. The computer executable code of claim 24, wherein the common attribute comprises one of the following:

(i) a name of a participant of the conversation;

(ii) a name associated with a group of participants of the conversation;

or

(iii) a topic of the conversation.

26. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the transmission module is further configured to start the progressive transmission of the message before a complete delivery route over the communication network to the recipient is known.

27. The computer executable code of claim 1, wherein the transmission module is further configured to start the progressive transmission of the message before a network connection or circuit is established with a remote communication device associated with the recipient.