System and method for instant VoIP messaging

• US 8,995,433 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Empire IP LLC
• Inventors: Rojas, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US14/224,125
• Publication Number:
  US 20140204935A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 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

Methods, systems and programs for instant voice messaging over a packet-switched network are provided. A method for instant voice messaging may comprise 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.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an instant voice messaging application including a client platform system for generating an instant voice message and a messaging system for transmitting the instant voice message over a packet-switched network via a network interface;

wherein the instant voice messaging application displays a list of one or more potential recipients for the instant voice message;

wherein the instant voice messaging application includes a message database storing the instant voice message, wherein the instant voice message is represented by a database record including a unique identifier; and

wherein the instant voice messaging application includes a file manager system performing at least one of storing, deleting and retrieving the instant voice messages from the message database in response to a user request.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the message database includes a plurality of instant voice messages received over the packet-switched network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays at least one of the plurality of instant voice messages stored in the message database.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instant voice messaging application includes an audio file creation system creating an audio file for the instant voice message based on input received via an audio input device.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instant voice messaging application includes an encryption/decryption system for encrypting the instant voice messages to be transmitted over the packet-switched network and decrypting the instant voices messages received over the packet-switched network.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays an indicia for each of the one or more potential recipients indicating whether the potential recipient is currently available to receive an instant voice message.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the instant voice message application generates an audible or visual effect indicating receipt of an instant voice message.

6. A system comprising:

an instant voice messaging application including a client platform system for generating an instant voice message and a messaging system for transmitting the instant voice message over a packet-switched network via a network interface;

wherein the instant voice messaging application displays a list of one or more potential recipients for the instant voice message;

wherein the instant voice messaging application includes a file manager system performing at least one of storing, deleting and retrieving the instant voice messages from a message database in response to a user request; and

wherein the instant voice messaging application includes a compression/decompression system for compressing the instant voice messages to be transmitted over the packet-switched network and decompressing the instant voice messages received over the packet-switched network.

9. A system, comprising:

an instant voice messaging application comprising;

a client platform system for generating an instant voice message;

a messaging system for transmitting the instant voice message over a packet-switched network, and

wherein the instant voice message application attaches one or more files to the instant voice message.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the packet-switched network comprises a WiFi network.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays one or more controls for audibly playing the instant voice message.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application encrypts the instant voice message.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays a selectable control for generating an instant voice message using an intercom mode based on a connectivity status of an intended recipient of the instant voice message.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application invokes a document handler to create a link between the instant voice message and the one or more files.

15. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays the attachment.

16. The system according to claim 9, wherein the instant voice messaging application displays one or more controls for performing at least one of reviewing, re-recording or deleting the instant voice message.

17. The system according to claim 9 further comprising an instant voice messaging server receiving the instant voice message and an indication of one or more intended recipients of the instant voice message.

18. The system according to claim 17 further comprising one or more buffers, wherein the client platform system buffers each of a plurality of successive portions of the instant voice message into the one or more buffers, and wherein the client platform system transmits each successive buffered portion to the instant voice messaging server for delivery to the one or more intended recipients.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the instant voice messaging server transmits each successive buffered portion to an instant voice messaging application.

20. The system according to claim 18, wherein the instant voice messaging server transmits each successive buffered portion to a legacy telephone.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the client platform system automatically transmits the content of a first buffer to the instant voice messaging server for delivery to the one or more intended recipients, and wherein the client platform system writes to a second buffer the next successive portion of the instant voice message.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the content of a buffer is encrypted.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the instant voice messaging server transmits a ring signal to an intended recipient.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the instant voice messaging server establishes a connection between the instant voice messaging application and the intended recipient upon detecting an off-hook event.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the instant voice messaging server determines availability of the one or more intended recipients for receipt of the instant voice message.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the instant voice messaging server:

delivers the instant voice message to the one or more intended recipients who are determined to be currently available;

stores the instant voice message for the one or more intended recipients who are not currently available; and

delivers the instant voice message to the one or more intended recipients who are not currently available when the instant voice messaging server determines that the not currently available one or more intended recipients become available.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the instant voice messaging server deletes the instant voice message from the instant voice messaging server after delivery to the one or more intended recipients.