Communications gateway with messaging communications interface

• US 8,289,951 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Richard G., Mumsford, Gregory L., Gunasekar, Duraisamy
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUNKULH, BOB A
• Application Number:
  US10/404,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185232A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,485 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• 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 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 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• 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 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 : Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 : Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 : Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 : Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed which provide for a communications gateway to be operatively coupled to a messaging system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, communications are established via the gateway responsive at least to messaging communications involving the communications gateway.

Claims

1. An adapter device for facilitating communications, the adapter device comprising:

a messaging interface through which the adapter device acts to establish communications involving an instant communications client;

a gateway control interface acting to communicably couple the adapter device to a packet telephony gateway;

a processor acting to effect establishment of communications through the gateway responsive at least to communications via the messaging interface; and

a control interface through which the adapter device acts to receive indication that communications are to be established through the gateway,

wherein the adapter device acts to cause the gateway to establish communication with a media translator acting to perform at least one of;

receiving textual information from the first instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing the corresponding audio information to the gateway;

or

receiving audio information from the gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

2. The adapter device of claim 1 further comprising a billing system interface for communicating, with a billing system, information about the establishment of communications through the gateway.

3. The adapter device of claim 2 wherein the information about the establishment of communications through the gateway comprises at least one of:

an identifier associated with the instant communications client, an identifier associated with a party who is communicating via the instant communications client, an identifier associated with a instant messaging service through which the instant communications client is communicating, an identifier used in communications involving the instant communications client.

4. The adapter device of claim 1 further comprising a billing function for determining billable usage related to establishment of communications through the gateway.

5. The adapter device of claim 4 further comprising:

means for determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage, wherein the establishing communications through the gateway is selectively performed responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

6. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said communications involving the instant communications client comprises communications between the adapter device and the instant communications client.

7. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said communications involving the instant communications client comprises messaging communications between the adapter device and the instant communications client.

8. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein said messaging interface presents an interface to the instant communications client wherein the adapter device appears to be another instant communications client.

9. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the adapter device, via the messaging interface, acts to communicate with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client.

10. The adapter device of claim 9 wherein said communications between the adapter device and the messaging system comprises instant messaging session initiation communications.

11. The adapter device of claim 9 wherein the adapter device coordinates with the messaging system in establishing communications with the instant communications client.

12. The adapter device of claim 9 wherein the adapter device coordinates with the messaging system in establishing communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

13. The adapter device of claim 9 wherein said messaging interface presents an interface to the messaging system wherein the adapter device appears to be another instant communications client.

14. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to perform at least one of:

communicating via the messaging interface and communicating via the gateway control interface.

15. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to communicate via the messaging interface to effect communications involving the instant communications client.

16. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the adapter device, responsive at least to indication received via the control interface, acts to communicate via the gateway control interface to cause the gateway to establish communications involving the instant communications client.

17. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the gateway is a packet telephony gateway and said communications between the gateway and the instant communications client comprises a voice-over-packet session.

18. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the gateway is a packet telephony gateway and the adapter device acts to cause the gateway to establish a telephony connection in a telephone network responsive to said indication received via said control interface.

19. The adapter device of claim 1 wherein the instant communications client communicates with an operator service system that assists with establishment of communications with a telephone device.

20. The adapter device of claim 19 wherein the operator service system provides one of chat directory assistance service for determining an instant communications identifier, information retrieval service, or interactive web browsing assistance service.

21. A method for facilitating communications, the method comprising:

establishing communications involving an instant communication client via a messaging interface;

communicably coupling, via a gateway control interface, an adapter device to a packet telephony gateway;

establishing communications through the gateway in response at least to communications via the messaging interface; and

receiving an indication, via a control interface, that communications are to be established through the gateway;

wherein the gateway is caused to establish communication with a media translator acting to perform at least one of;

receiving textual information from the first instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing the corresponding audio information to the gateway;

or

receiving audio information from the gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications with the instant communications client.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to the establishing communications with the instant communications client.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications with the instant communications client responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein a communications session with the instant communications client comprises voice-over-packet communications.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

communicating with a messaging server associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said communications with the messaging server effects the establishment of communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

28. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

communicating to a billing function at least one of;

an identifier associated with the instant communications client, an identifier associated with a party who is communicating via the instant communications client, an identifier associated with a instant messaging service through which the instant communications client is communicating, an identifier used in communications involving the instant communications client.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the instant communications client communicates with an operator service system that assists with establishment of communications with a telephone device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the operator service system provides one of chat directory assistance service for determining an instant communications identifier, information retrieval service, or interactive web browsing assistance service.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method of managing communications through a gateway comprising:

establishing communications involving an instant communication client via a messaging interface;

communicably coupling, via a gateway control interface, an adapter device to a packet telephony gateway;

establishing communications through the gateway in response at least to communications via the messaging interface;

receiving an indication, via a control interface, that communications, initiated by an instant communications client to a telephone device coupled to a circuit-switched telephone network, are to be established through the gateway; and

responsive at least to the indication, selectively causing the gateway to establish communication with a media translator configured to perform at least one of;

receiving textual information from the first instant communications client, translating the textual information into corresponding audio information, and providing the corresponding audio information to the gateway;

or

receiving audio information from the gateway, translating the audio information into corresponding textual information, and providing the corresponding textual information to the instant communications client.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to establishing a communications session.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to establishing a communications session.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing establishing a communications session responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein communications with the instant communications client comprises voice-over-packet communications.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein the method further comprises:

communicating with a messaging system associated with the instant communications client wherein the communicating with the messaging server affects an aspect of the communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein said communications with the messaging system effects the establishment of communications between the gateway and the instant communications client.