System and method for instant VoIP messaging

• US 8,243,723 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Ayalogic Incorporated
• Inventors: Rojas, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US12/398,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20090161664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 709/206
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

There is provided an instant voice messaging system (and method) for delivering instant messages over a packet-switched network, the system comprising: a client connected to the network, the client selecting one or more recipients, generating an instant voice message therefor, and transmitting the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor over the network; and a server connected to the network, the server receiving the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor, and delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients over the network, the selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant voice message.

Claims

1. A method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switched network, the method comprising:

monitoring a connectivity status of nodes within the packet-switched network, said connectivity status being available and unavailable;

recording the connectivity status for each of the nodes;

associating a sub-set of the nodes with a client;

transmitting a signal to a client including a list of the recorded connectivity status for each of the nodes in the sub-set corresponding to the client;

receiving an instant voice message having one or more recipients;

delivering the instant voice message to the one or more recipients over a packet-switched network;

temporarily storing the instant voice message if a recipient is unavailable; and

delivering the stored instant voice message to the recipient once the recipient becomes available.

2. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 1, wherein the instant voice message includes one or more files attached to an audio file.

3. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

controlling a method of generating the instant voice message based upon the connectivity status of said one or more recipient.

4. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 3, wherein said method of generating said instant voice message is selected from a group comprising a record mode and an intercom mode.

5. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 4, wherein said record mode is selected as a default when at least one recipients are unavailable.

6. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 4, wherein said intercom mode is selected as a default when at least one recipients are available.

7. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 5, wherein said record mode comprises the steps of:

recording the instant voice message;

receiving a stop indicator; and

transmitting the recorded instant voice message after the receipt of said stop indicator.

8. The method for instant voice messaging over a packet-switch network according to claim 6, wherein said intercom mode comprises the steps of:

buffering each of a plurality of successive portions of the instant voice as the instant message is recorded;

transmitting from each successive buffered portion; and

delivering each successive portion to the recipients wherein the recipients audibly playing each successive portion as it is delivered.