Initiation and support of video conferencing using instant messaging

• US 7,908,322 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RADVISION Limited (Avaya Incorporated)
• Inventors: Eisenberg, Alfred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Divecha; Kamal B
• Application Number:
  US12/581,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/152 Multipoint control units therefor

Abstract

A system and method for initiating and supporting network video conferences are disclosed. In accordance with the invention, one or more instant messaging enabled clients can initiate a video conference. At least a pair of client nodes communicate with each other via an instant messaging utility. An instant messaging server supports instant messages between the two client nodes. A second server, e.g., a video conferencing server, supports video conferences between video conference participants, a video conference being initiated between video conference participants in response to an instant message transmitted between the at least two client nodes.

Claims

1. A system for initiating video conferences between a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:

a processor, including a memory, that initiates a video conference from an instant message request, wherein an instant messaging server supports instant messaging between the plurality of nodes, wherein a conference server supports video conferencing between the plurality of nodes, and wherein the processor is configured to;

receive, from the instant messaging server, the instant message request created by an instant messaging utility on a first node, wherein the instant message request invites a second node, to the video conference;

in response to detecting the instant message request, extract presence information for the first node and the second node from the instant message request, wherein the extracted presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list and includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiate the video conference by transmitting the extracted presence information to the conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicate, using the instant messaging server, to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and at least the second node through the conference server using the communication mode.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an internet protocol (IP) network, an Ethernet network, cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database for storing information related to the first node and the second node, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.

5. A method for initiating video conferences between a plurality of nodes, wherein an instant messaging server supports instant messaging between the plurality of nodes and a conference server for supporting video conferencing between the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

initiating a video conference on the conference server between a plurality of client nodes using an instant message request transmitted over the instant messaging server, wherein the initiating further comprises;

receiving, from the instant messaging server, the instant message request created by an instant messaging utility on a first node, wherein the instant message request invites a second node, to the video conference;

in response to detecting the instant message request, extracting presence information for the first node and the second node from the instant message request, wherein the extracted presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list and includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiating the video conference by transmitting extracted presence information to the conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicating, using the instant messaging server, to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and at least the second node through the conference server using the communication mode.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), an internet protocol (IP) network, an Ethernet network, cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing information related to the first node and the second node in a database, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for initiating video conference, the method comprising:

initiating a video conference on a conference server between a plurality of client nodes using an instant message request transmitted over an instant messaging server, wherein the instant messaging server supports instant messaging between the plurality of nodes and the conference server for supporting video conferencing between the plurality of nodes, and wherein the initiating further comprises;

receiving, from the instant messaging server, the instant message request created by an instant messaging utility on a first node, wherein the instant message request invites from a first node to a second node to the video conference;

in response to detecting the instant message request, extracting presence information for the first node and the second node from the instant message request, wherein the extracted presence information identifies a capability to receive instant messages in an instant messaging list and includes a communication mode associated with each of the first node and the second node;

initiating the video conference by transmitting the extracted presence information to the conference server that supports the video conference; and

communicating, using the instant messaging server, to the second node an instant message to join the video conference, wherein the communication mode is embedded in the instant message such that the video conference is set up between the first node and at least the second node through the conference server using the communication mode.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the first node and the second node participate in the video conference via at least one of:

a public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular communication, a computer, a network gateway, a video conferencing standard protocol, an ISDN standard protocol, and an ATM standard protocol.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises storing information related to the first node and the second node in a database, wherein the information stored in the database is related to the communication mode of each of the first node and the second node participating in the video conference.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises providing a presence indicator for the video conference in the instant messaging list.