System and method for selectively interfacing different types of network communications

• US 7,903,639 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Foo, Ian, Current, Armin, Durazzo, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/388,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20070223444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,810 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/466, 455/415, 455/424, 455/425, 455/426, 719/311, 709/202, 709/203, 709/219, 709/230, 709/245, 709/246, 709/231, 709/236, 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/349, 370/401, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/464, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/471, 370/474
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

A system for interfacing different types of network communications. In one embodiment, the system includes one or more gateways capable of converting messages from messages that are adapted for a first type of network and/or destination device to messages that are adapted for a second type of network and/or destination device. The second type of network and/or destination device includes a first Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) communications device. A message-analysis module is adapted to employ an address associated with the message to selectively forward the message to one or more of the one or more gateways and/or to a destination device. In a more specific embodiment, the first type of network includes a packet-switched network in communication with the first VOIP phone. The destination device includes a mobile phone in communication with a cellular network. In the specific embodiment, the first type of destination device includes a user option to selectively transition a text-based communications session to a voice-based communications session.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing different types of network communications, the system comprising:

one or more gateways capable of converting messages from messages that are adapted for a first type of network and/or device to messages that are adapted for a second type of network and/or device, wherein the second type of network and/or device includes an Internet Protocol (IP) phone;

a message-analysis module that is adapted to employ an address associated with the message to selectively forward the message to the IP phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone being configured to display an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication;

a messaging module in the IP phone, the messaging module being adapted to automatically extract phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with a communications device in the first type of network and/or device; and

an automatic-dialing module in the IP phone, the automatic-dialing module being adapted to automatically initiate a voice-only call to the communications device with which the IP phone is in communication in the text-based communication mode using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode such that the user communicates via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the text-based communication mode includes a Short Message Services (SMS) protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second type of network includes a cellular network.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the message-analysis module is implemented via a call manager.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more gateways includes a Short Message Service (SMS) to eXtensible Markup Language (XML) gateway.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more gateways includes an SMS-to-email gateway.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more gateways includes an SMS-to-IM gateway.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the message in the text-based communication mode comprises a multicast message.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) application is used for the automatic extraction of the phone number from the message in the text-based communication mode.

10. A system for interfacing different types of network communications, the system comprising:

means for intercepting a communication message, wherein the communication message is characterized by a first message type and/or format and a message destination;

means for selectively converting the message from the first message type and/or format to a second message type and/or format as needed based on the message destination and forwarding a second message in response thereto to the message destination, wherein the first and second message types and/or formats are adapted for use with an Internet Protocol (IP) phone, the IP phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone being configured to display an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication;

means for automatically extracting phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with a sending device; and

means for automatically calling to initiate a voice-only call, the sending device of the message with which the IP phone is in communication in the text-based communication mode using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode such that the user communicates via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion.

11. An apparatus for facilitating interfacing different types of network communications, the apparatus comprising:

a call manager in selective communication with an Internet Protocol (IP) phone via a packet-switched network;

one or more gateways capable of converting messages from messages that are adapted for a first type of network and/or destination device to messages that are adapted for a second type of network and/or destination device, wherein the IP phone comprises a messaging module adapted to automatically extract phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with a communications device in the first type of network and/or device; and

a message-analysis module in the call manager, wherein the message analysis module is adapted to employ an address associated with a message to selectively forward the message to the IP phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone being configured to display an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode using an automatic-dialing module in the IP phone to initiate a voice-only call using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion.

12. An apparatus for facilitating messaging between communications devices, the apparatus comprising:

a messaging application running on a first communications device, wherein the messaging application is adapted to output a first type of message based on user input; and

a message-interfacing application in communication with the messaging application, wherein the message-interfacing application is adapted to selectively convert the first type of message to a second type of message that is compatible with a second communications device, wherein the second communications device includes;

an Internet Protocol (IP) phone, the IP phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone being configured to display an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication;

a messaging module in the IP phone, the messaging module being adapted to automatically extract phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with the first communications device;

an automatic-dialing module in the IP phone, the automatic-dialing module being adapted to automatically initiate a voice-only call to the first communications device with which the IP phone is in communication in the text-based communication mode using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode such that the user communicates via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion; and

a routing module capable of forwarding the second type of message to the second communications device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message-interfacing application includes a call manager in communication with one or more gateways.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more gateways includes a Short Message Service (SMS) to eXtensible Markup Language (XML) gateway.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more gateways includes an SMS-to-email gateway.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more gateways includes an SMS-to-IM gateway.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first type of message is characterized by a first protocol.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first type of message is characterized by a first format.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first protocol includes Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first format includes eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second type of message is characterized by a second protocol.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second type of message is characterized by a second format.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second format includes Short Message Service (SMS) and/or Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message format.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message-interfacing application includes a voice gateway.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the message-interfacing application includes one or more routines for enabling reception and transmission of one or more SMS messages.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the voice gateway is adapted to communicate with one or more Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phones via an XML application.

27. Previously Presented) The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the XML application is adapted to translate messages between SMS and XML formats.

28. A method for interfacing different types of network communications, the method comprising:

intercepting a communication message, wherein the communication message is characterized by a first message type and/or format and a message destination;

selectively converting the message from the first message type and/or format to a second message type and/or format as needed based on the message destination and forwarding a second message in response thereto to an Internet Protocol (IP) phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone displaying an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication;

automatically extracting phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with a sending device; and

automatically calling to initiate a voice-only call, the sending device of the message with which the IP phone is in communication in the text-based communication mode using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode such that the user communicates via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by a computer processor for:

intercepting a communication message, wherein the communication message is characterized by a first message type and/or format and a message destination;

selectively converting the message from the first message type and/or format to a second message type and/or format as needed based on the message destination and forwarding a second message in response thereto to an Internet Protocol (IP) phone using a text-based communication mode, wherein the text-based communication mode does not permit voice communication, the IP phone displaying an option on the IP phone to allow a user to move from the text-based communication mode to a voice-based communication mode, wherein the voice-based communication mode permits voice communication;

automatically extracting phone number information from the message while the IP phone is in the text-based communication mode with a sending device; and

automatically calling to initiate a voice-only call, the sending device of the message with which the IP phone is in communication in the text-based communication mode using the automatically extracted phone number information, and in response to the user option selection of moving to the voice-based communication mode such that the user communicates via the initiated voice-only call without text conversion.