System and method for random voice communications through a social network

• US 9,239,999 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Johnny D.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEATON, SHERROD L
• Application Number:
  US12/103,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,835 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715/706, 715/747
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1053 IP private branch exchange [PBX] functionality entities or arrangements circuit switched PBXs H04M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• 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: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for establishing voice connections between users of a social network. User access is granted to a social network through a VoIP phone. The social network is navigated based on user input. The user is directly connected to a second user randomly for voice communications based on an authorization.

Claims

1. A method for establishing voice connections between users of a social network, the method comprising:

authenticating a first user and a second user to access the social network;

establishing, in response to authenticating the first and second users, a secure connection to a communications management system over a communications network, wherein the secure connection prevents caller identification information from being exchanged with other users on the social network;

granting the first and second users access to the social network, via the communications management system, wherein the first and second users access the social network through their respective VoIP phones, wherein the social network includes a plurality of users connected to the communications management system, and wherein the first and second users each establish a respective user profile on the social network, wherein the respective user profile includes at least one criterion for establishing random one-on-one voice communications;

receiving, via the communications management system, authorization to engage in random one-on-one voice communications from the first and second users;

receiving a request to engage in random one-on-one voice communications from at least one of the first and second users;

masking the voice of the first or the second user in response to user input received from the first or the second user;

directly connecting, in response to receiving the request at the communications management system, the first user to the second user randomly for one-on-one voice communications, wherein;

the first user is randomly matched, by the communications management system, to the second user based on their respective user profiles,

the first user does not select the second user, and

the communications management system is removed from the routing path between the respective VoIP phones of the first and second users and a direct connection is established over the communications network; and

withholding caller identification information of the first user from the second user while directly connected.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

linking the first user to one of a plurality of connection rooms based on user input, the connection room including one or more users simultaneously carrying on voice communications; and

displaying a graphical representation of the connection room to the VoIP phone including an avatar for the one or more users carrying on a voice communication in the connection room.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the linking is performed in response to the user profile of the first user.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

highlighting the avatars of the one or more users when the one or more users is speaking.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first user is directly connected to the second user in response to the second user accepting an invitation from the first user.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the connection room is established utilizing a call bridge.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising:

preventing caller identification information from being viewed in the connection.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the respective user profiles further specify at least one of preferred connection rooms, interests, user information, topic of conversation, region, and language.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

integrating the connection rooms with an existing social network.

10. A system for managing voice communications through a social network, the system comprising:

a communications network;

a first VoIP phone associated with a first user, the first VoIP phone connected to the communications network;

a second VoIP phone associated with a second user, the second VoIP phone connected to the communications network;

a communications management system accessible over the communications network, the communications management system comprising;

a processor for executing a set of instructions;

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions include instructions to;

authenticate the first and second users to access the social network;

establish, in response to the authentication, a secure connection to the first and second VoIP phones, wherein the secure connection prevents caller identification information from being exchanged with other users on the social network;

grant the first and second users access to the social network, wherein the first and second users access the social network through the first and second VoIP phones respectively, wherein the social network includes a plurality of users, and wherein the first and second users each establish a respective user profile on the social network, wherein the respective user profile includes at least one criterion for establishing random one-on-one voice communications;

receive, from the first and second users, authorization to engage in random one-on-one voice communications;

receive a request to engage in random one-on-one voice communications from at least one of the first and second users;

mask the voice of the first or the second user in response to user input received from the first or the second user;

directly connect, in response to receiving the request, the first user to the second user randomly for one-on-one voice communications, wherein;

the first user is randomly matched to the second user based on their respective user profiles,

the first user does not select the second user, and

the communications management system is removed from the routing path between the first and second VoIP phones and a direct connection is established over the communications network between the first and second VoIP phones; and

withhold caller identification information of the first user from the second user while the first and second users are directly connected.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the set of instructions further includes instructions to link the first user to one of a plurality of connection rooms based on the first user'"'"'s respective user profile.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one criterion includes one or more of a topic of conversation, interests, region, language, or user information.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the set of instructions further includes instructions to prevent caller identification information from being viewed in the connection room.

14. An apparatus for managing voice communications comprising:

a processor for executing a set of instructions; and

a memory for storing the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions includes instructions to;

authenticate, over a communications network, a first user and a second user to access a social network;

establish, in response to the authentication, a secure connection to a first VoIP phone associated with the first user and a second VoIP phone associated with the second user over the communications network, wherein the secure connection prevents caller identification information from being exchanged with other users on the social network;

grant the first and second users access to the social network, wherein the first and second users access the social network through the first and second VoIP phones respectively, wherein the social network includes a plurality of users, and wherein the first and second users each establish a respective user profile on the social network, wherein the respective user profile includes at least one criterion for establishing random one-on-one voice communications;

receive, from the first and second users, authorization to engage in random one-on-one voice communications;

receive a request to engage in random one-on-one voice communications from at least one of the first and second users;

mask the voice of the first or the second user in response to user input received from the first or the second user;

directly connect, in response to receiving the request, the first user to the second user randomly for one-on-one voice communications, wherein;

the first user is randomly matched to the second user based on their respective user profiles,

the first user does not select the second user, and

the secure connection to the first and second VoIP phones is removed and from the routing path and a direct connection is established over the communications network between the first and second VoIP phones; and

withhold caller identification information of the first user form the second user while the first and second users are directly connected.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one criterion includes one or more of a topic of conversation, interests, region, language, or user information.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the set of instructions further includes instructions to link the first user to one of a plurality of connection rooms based on the first user'"'"'s respective user profile and prevent caller identification information from being viewed in the connection room.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first user is directly connected to the second user only when the second user accepts an invitation for random one-on-one voice communications with the first user.