Computer-implemented system and method for providing messages to users in a discussion group

• US 9,237,237 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2015
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellisist, Inc. dba Spoken Communications (Avaya Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Intellisist, Inc. dba Spoken Communications (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Odinak, Gilad
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US14/589,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20150119001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/413, 455/514, 455/518, 455/519, 455/521, 379/68, 379/88.16, 379/88.17, 379/88.09, 379/88.1, 379/88.25, 379/88.22, 380/270
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/187 combining circuit and packet-switched, e.g. GPRS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for providing messages to users in a discussion group are provided. Discussion groups are monitored and each discussion group is associated with a list of signed-on users. A request is received from a user to join one of the discussion groups. An identity of the user is verified. The user is then added to the requested discussion group as a signed-on user by adding an entry for the user on the list of the requested discussion group upon verification of the user identity. Messages received from one or more of the signed-on users in the requested discussion group are transmitted to at least one of the other signed-on users in the requested discussion group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for providing messages to users in a discussion group, comprising:

a message server to monitor discussion groups, each discussion group associated with a list of signed-on users;

a request module to receive a request from a user to join one of the discussion groups;

a verification module to verify an identity of the user;

a control module to add the user to the requested discussion group as a signed-on user by adding an entry for the user on the list of the requested discussion group upon verification of the user identity;

a delivery module to transmit messages received from one or more of the signed-on users in the requested discussion group to at least one of the other signed-on users in the requested discussion group;

a database to store copies of the transmitted messages; and

a playback module to access one or more of the stored copies for playback to one of the signed-on users.

2. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sign-off module to receive a sign-off request from one or more of the signed-on users in the discussion group and to remove the signed-on users of the sign-off request from the list associated with the discussion group.

3. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a further request module to receive a request from one of the signed-on users in the discussion group to join another discussion group; and

a further control module to add the signed-on user to the other requested discussion group as a signed-on user for that group by adding an entry for the signed-on user on the list of the other requested discussion group.

4. A computer-implemented system according to claim 3, wherein the delivery module transmits messages to the signed-on user from other signed-on users in the discussion group and the other discussion group.

5. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an assignment module to assign to each transmitted message, a discussion group ID and a user ID for one of the signed-in users requesting transmission of the message.

6. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an encryption module to encrypt one or more of the transmitted messages.

7. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a queue module to place the transmitted messages in a queue prior to transmission.

8. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted messages each comprise a voice message.

9. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, wherein one such transmitted message is delivered to one of an identified signed-on user in the discussion group and all the other signed-on users in the discussion group.

10. A computer-implemented method for providing messages to users in a discussion group, comprising:

monitoring discussion groups, each discussion group associated with a list of signed-on users;

receiving a request from a user to join one of the discussion groups;

verifying an identity of the user;

adding the user to the requested discussion group as a signed-on user by adding an entry for the user on the list of the requested discussion group upon verification of the user identity;

transmitting messages received from one or more of the signed-on users in the requested discussion group to at least one of the other signed-on users in the requested discussion group;

storing copies of the transmitted messages; and

accessing one or more of the stored copies for playback to one of the signed-on users.

11. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a sign-off request from one or more of the signed-on users in the discussion group; and

removing the signed-on users of the sign-off request from the list associated with the discussion group.

12. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a request from one of the signed-on users in the discussion group to join another discussion group; and

adding the signed-on user to the other requested discussion group as a signed-on user for that group by adding an entry for the signed-on user on the list of the other requested discussion group.

13. A computer-implemented method according to claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting messages to the signed-on user from other signed-on users in the discussion group and the other discussion group.

14. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:

assigning to each transmitted message, a discussion group ID and a user ID for one of the signed-in users requesting transmission of the message.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:

encrypting one or more of the transmitted messages.

16. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, further comprising:

placing the transmitted messages in a queue prior to transmission.

17. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, wherein the transmitted messages each comprise a voice message.

18. A computer-implemented method according to claim 10, wherein one such transmitted message is delivered to one of an identified signed-on user in the discussion group and all the other signed-on users in the discussion group.