Computer-implemented system and method for distributing messages by discussion group

• US 9,426,298 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• 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:
  US14/993,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20160127558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 455/515.1, 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
• 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 distributing messages by discussion group is provided. Discussion groups are monitored. An identity of a participant in each of two or more of the discussion groups is verified. Voice signals are received from the participant and speech from the participant is distinguished from ambient noise and third-party conversations in the voice signals. One of the discussion groups, specified by the participant to be associated with the voice stream, is identified. The speech is transmitted as a voice message to other participants in the identified discussion group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for distributing messages by discussion group, comprising:

a monitor module to monitor discussion groups;

a verification module to verify an identity of a participant in each of two or more of the discussion groups;

a receipt module to receive voice signals from the participant;

a speech module to distinguish speech of the participant from ambient noise and third-party conversations in the voice signals;

an identification module to identify one of the discussion groups specified by the participant to be associated with the voice stream; and

a delivery module to transmit the speech as a voice message to other participants in the identified discussion group.

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

a personal communication device associated with the participant to transmit the voice signals.

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

an instruction module to receive instructions from the participant to perform at least one of listening to voice messages, forwarding voice messages, editing voice messages, and resending voice messages via the personal communication device.

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

a message module to receive voice messages via the personal communication device from at least one of the other participants in the identified discussion group.

5. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, wherein the participant'"'"'s identity is verified by receiving authentication information from the participant and comparing the authentication information against personal information stored for the participant.

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

a speech processing module to process the speech by performing at least one of decompressing, decrypting, and concatenating the speech; and

a speech conversion module to convert the processed speech into an electrical signal for playback to the other participants.

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

a group formation module to add the participant to one of the discussion groups, comprising;

a login module to receive sign-on information for a participant;

a message receipt module to receive a control message comprising a request from the participant to join the discussion group; and

an entry module to add an entry for the participant to the user list associated with that discussion group.

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

a request module to receive a request for removal of the participant from one such discussion group.

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

an assignment module to assign the participant as a moderator of one of the discussion groups, wherein the moderator performs at least one of accepting and rejecting each voice message received by the other participants in that discussion group.

10. A computer-implemented system according to claim 1, wherein each discussion group comprises a list of user IDs for the participants in that group.

11. A computer-implemented method for distributing messages by discussion group, comprising:

monitoring discussion groups;

verifying an identity of a participant in each of two or more of the discussion groups;

receiving voice signals from the participant;

distinguishing speech of the participant from ambient noise and third-party conversations in the voice signals;

identifying one of the discussion groups specified by the participant to be associated with the voice stream; and

transmitting the speech as a voice message to other participants in the identified discussion group.

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

transmitting the voice signals from a personal communication device associated with the participant.

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

receiving instructions from the participant to perform at least one of listening to voice messages, forwarding voice messages, editing voice messages, and resending voice messages via the personal communication device.

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

receiving voice messages via the personal communication device from at least one of the other participants in the identified discussion group.

15. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein the participant'"'"'s identity is verified, comprising:

receiving authentication information from the participant; and

comparing the authentication information against personal information stored for the participant.

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

processing the speech by performing at least one of decompressing, decrypting, and concatenating the speech; and

converting the processed speech into an electrical signal for playback to the other participants.

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

adding the participant to one of the discussion groups, comprising;

receiving sign-on information for the participant;

receiving a control message comprising a request from the participant to join the discussion group; and

adding an entry for the participant to a user list associated with that discussion group.

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

receiving a request for removal of the participant from one such discussion group.

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

assigning the participant as a moderator of one of the discussion groups, wherein the moderator performs at least one of accepting and rejecting each voice message received by the other participants in that discussion group.

20. A computer-implemented method according to claim 11, wherein each discussion group comprises a list of user IDs for the participants in that group.