US007535890B2
`
`O
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`Rojas
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`May 19, 2009
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOIP
`MESSAGING
`
`2007/0112925 A1* 5/2007 Malik ....................... .. 709/206
`2007/0174403 Al *
`7/2007 Barry ....................... .. 709/207
`
`(75) Inventor: Michael J. Rojas, North Canton, OH
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Ayalogic, Inc., Akron, OH (US)
`
`( * ) Notice;
`
`Subject to any disclaimer’ the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 799 days.
`
`_
`(21) Appl' NO" 10/740’030
`.
`_
`(22) Flled'
`
`(65)
`
`Dec‘ 18’ 2003
`_
`_
`_
`Pnor Pubhcatlon Data
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/cc/pd/nemnsw/callmn/prodlit/
`cm33ids.htm; “Data Sheet Cisco CallManager Version 3.3”, Nov.
`22, 2002.
`http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/switches/ps1925/
`productsidataisheeti09l86a00800a3c3d.html; “Data Sheet Cisco
`8000 gin?” (datiVunknlQYlI/g
`3100 VZIP “T 1_ h
`MOONZIP”, 2003'
`http://www.linuXdevicescom/aIticlesAT51999475 l9.html;
`“Device Pro?le: snom 100 VoIP phone”, May 15, 2002.
`http://www.pingtel.com/pr Xpressa.j sp; No limits with the advanced
`industry standard SIP phone; Dec. 8, 2003.
`AudioCoded Enabling Technology Products, TPM-l 100 VoP Media
`Gateway Modules, copyright 2003.
`
`I WWW. S e 1ann.co eng 1S
`
`. Zone:
`
`-
`
`e 1p one
`
`US 2005/0135333 A1
`
`Jun. 23, 2005
`
`* Cited by examiner
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04L 12/66
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................................... .. 370/352; 709/206
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search ............... .. 370/354,
`370/352
`
`See a lication ?le for com lete search histo .
`pp
`P
`W
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U'S' PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,763,226 B 1 *
`7/2oo4 Mczeal, Jr, ______________ __ 45 5/901
`2003/0087632 A1* 5/2003 Sagi et al. ..... ..
`.. 455/414
`2003/0126207 Al* 7/2003 Creamer et al. ........... .. 709/204
`
`Primary ExamineriCreighton Smith
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiScully, Scott, Murphy &
`Presser, RC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`_
`_
`_
`_
`_
`There 15 prov1ded an 1nstant vo1ce messaglng 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 transmit
`ting the selected recipients and the instant voice message
`therefor over the network; and a server connected to the
`
`i
`*
`*
`*
`
`Schultes et al. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
`(Bloodrtnan ett all' "
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`network’ the Server receiving the Selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor, and delivering the instant
`vo1ce message to the selected rec1p1ents over the network, the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`
`'
`
`'
`
`'
`
`2005/0105697 A1* 5/2005 Hollowell et al. ...... .. 379/8813
`
`vo1ce message
`
`2006/0167883 Al *
`
`7/2006 BoukobZa . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . .. 707/l0
`
`2006/0268750 Al * 11/2006 Weiner ..................... .. 370/260
`
`70 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`LOCAL
`IVM
`SERVER
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`Apple 1001
`U.S. Pat. 7,535,890
`
`0001
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`May 19, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of9
`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`104
`
`VoIP
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`FIG. 1.
`(PRIOR ART)
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`0002
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`US. Patent
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`May 19, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of9
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`US 7,535,890 B2
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`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOIP
`MESSAGING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally relates to Internet tele
`phony (IP telephony). More particularly, the present inven
`tion is directed to a system and method for enabling local and
`global instant VoIP messaging over an IP network, such as the
`Internet, with PSTN support.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Traditional telephony is based on a public switched tele
`phone network (i.e., “PSTN”). In the PSTN, a telephone
`terminal is electrically connected to a conventional or legacy
`switch. The telephone terminal and the legacy switch com
`municate via a proprietary protocol, which may be different
`depending on the vendor of the legacy switch. Circuit switch
`ing provides a communicationpath (i.e., dedicated circuit) for
`a telephone call from the telephone terminal to another device
`over the PSTN, including another telephone terminal. During
`the telephone call, voice communication takes place over that
`communication path.
`An alternative to the PSTN is Voice over Internet Protocol
`(i.e., “VoIP”), also known as IP telephony or Internet tele
`phony. In the IP telephony, a VoIP terminal device is con
`nected to a packet-switched network (e. g., Internet) and voice
`communication from the VoIP terminal device is digitiZed,
`packetiZed and transmitted over the packet-switched network
`to a destination VoIP terminal device, which reconstructs the
`packets and audibly plays, stores or otherwise processes the
`transmission. The VoIP terminal device may be a VoIP tele
`phone or a general-purpose personal computer (PC) enabled
`for IP telephony. More speci?cally, the PC is programmed
`with the software and equipped with audio input/ output
`devices (e.g., a combination of microphone and speaker or a
`headset) to serve as aVoIP terminal device. The PC so enabled
`and equipped will herein be referred to as a VoIP terminal
`device or a VoIP softphone.
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of a prior art IP telephony
`system 100. The IP telephony system 100 comprises a packet
`switched IP network 102, such as the Internet, which trans
`mits VoIP tra?ic from and to a plurality of terminal devices
`104, 106 and 110. Terminal device 104 is a VoIP softphone
`that is enabled for IP telephony over the network 102. Termi
`nal device 106 is aVoIP telephone, which is connected to the
`network 102 via a softswitch 108. The VoIP softswitch 108 is
`disposed on the packet-switched network (e.g., Internet) 102
`between an origination terminal device (such as VoIP soft
`phone 104) and a destination terminal device (such as VoIP
`telephone 106), and routes packets over the packet-switched
`IP network 102. The softswitch 108 may also manage and
`perform administrative functions for the terminal device or
`devices (e.g., VoIP telephone 106) to which it is connected.
`Whether the terminal device is aVoIP softphone 104 or aVoIP
`telephone 106, the terminal device is connected to the IP
`network 102 via a networking standard such as Ethernet,
`Bluetooth, IEEE 1394 (also known as “Firewire”), IEEE
`802.11 (also known as “WiFi”), or networking over serial
`communication channels such as the Universal Serial Bus
`(i.e., “USB”). Data communication over the network then
`takes place using a connection protocol, e. g., transfer control
`protocol/Internet protocol (i.e., “TCP/IP”).
`Further regarding FIG. 1, terminal device 110 is a legacy
`telephone that is connected to a legacy switch 112 for (circuit
`switched) voice communications over the PSTN 116 with
`other terminal devices. A media gateway 114 may be pro
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`vided between the legacy switch 112 and the packet-switched
`network 102 to enable IP telephony between the legacy tele
`phone 110 and a VoIP terminal device, such as a VoIP soft
`phone 104 or VoIP telephone 106. More speci?cally, the
`media gateway 114 converts the audio signal carried over
`PSTN to packets carried over the packet-switched IP network
`102. In addition, a media gateway 118 may be disposed over
`the PSTN 116 and connected to a softswitch 120 to convert
`the audio signal from the legacy telephone 110 to packets
`routed over the IP network 102 via the softswitch 120.
`Voice messaging in both the VoIP and PSTN is known.
`More speci?cally, the foregoing systems may be provided
`with a facility to allow users to leave voice messages for
`recipients, which is a feature that is familiar to anyone who
`uses a telephone. Conventionally, leaving a voice message
`involves dialing the recipient’s telephone number (often
`without knowing whether the recipient will answer), waiting
`for the connection to be established, speaking to an operator
`or navigating through a menu of options, listening to a greet
`ing message, and recording the message for later pickup by
`the recipient. In that message, the user must typically identify
`himself or herself in order for the recipient to return the call.
`Instant text messaging is likewise known. More speci?
`cally, a user is provided with a client terminal, which is
`typically a general-purpose PC programmed with instant text
`messaging software and in data communication over an IP
`network with an instant text-messaging server. The instant
`text-messaging server presents the user, via the client termi
`nal, with a list of persons who are currently “online” and
`ready to receive text messages on their own client terminals.
`The user then uses the client terminal to select one or more
`persons to whom the message will be sent and types in a text
`message. The text message is sent immediately via the text
`messaging server to the selected one or more persons and is
`displayed on their respective client terminals.
`However, notwithstanding the foregoing advances in the
`VoIP/PSTN voice communication and voice/text messaging,
`there is still a need in the art for providing a system and
`method for providing instant VoIP messaging over an IP
`network. More particularly, there is a need in the art for
`providing local and global instant voice messaging over VoIP
`with PSTN support.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for enabling local and global instant VoIP messaging over an
`IP network, such as the Internet.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv
`ering 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 recipi
`ents 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.
`According to another embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv
`ering instant messages over a packet-switched network
`enabling public switched telephone network (PSTN) support,
`the system comprising: a PSTN telephone connected to the
`network for providing input audio; a client connected to the
`network, the client selecting one or more recipients, generat
`
`0011
`
`

`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`3
`ing an instant voice message therefor using the input audio
`provided by the PSTN telephone, and transmitting the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`over the network; 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 recipi
`ents being enabled to audibly play the instant voice message.
`According to a further embodiment of the present inven
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`delivering instant messages over a packet-switched network,
`the system comprising: a voice-over-internet-protocol (VolP)
`telephone connected to the network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the network, the client selecting one or
`more recipients, generating an instant voice message therefor
`using the input audio provided by the VoIP telephone, and
`transmitting the selected recipients and the instant voice mes
`sage therefor over the network; 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.
`According to still another embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet
`switched networks, the system comprising: a client con
`nected to a local network, the client selecting one or more
`external recipients connected to an external network outside
`the local network, generating an instant voice message there
`for, and transmitting the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter
`nal network; and a server connected to the external network,
`the server receiving the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor, and delivering the instant voice mes
`sage to the selected recipients over the external network, the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`According to yet another embodiment of the present inven
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet
`switched networks enabling public switched telephone net
`work (PSTN) support, the system comprising: a PSTN tele
`phone connected to a local network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the local network, the client selecting
`one or more external recipients connected to an external
`network outside the local network, generating an instant
`voice message therefor using the input audio provided by the
`PSTN telephone, and transmitting the selected recipients and
`the instant voice message therefor over the local network and
`the external network; a server connected to the external net
`work, the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor, and delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected recipients over the external
`network, the selected recipients being enabled to audibly play
`the instant voice message.
`According to yet a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet
`switched networks, the system comprising: a voice-over-in
`ternet-protocol (VolP) telephone connected to a local
`network for providing input audio; a client connected to the
`local network, the client selecting one or more external recipi
`ents connected to an external network outside the local net
`work, generating an instant voice message therefor using the
`input audio provided by the VoIP telephone, and transmitting
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
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`over the local network and the external network; an server
`connected to the external network, the external server receiv
`ing the selected recipients and the instant voice message
`therefor, and delivering the instant voice message to the
`selected recipients over the external network, the selected
`recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant voice
`message.
`According to still a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet
`switched networks, the system comprising: a client con
`nected to an external network, the client selecting one or more
`recipients connected to a local network, generating an instant
`voice message therefor, and transmitting the selected recipi
`ents and the instant voice mes sage therefor over the external
`network; an external server system connected to the external
`network, the external server system receiving the selected
`recipients and the instant voice message, and routing the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message over the
`external network and the local network; a local server con
`nected to the local network, the local server receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor, and
`delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients
`over the local network, the selected recipients being enabled
`to audibly play the instant voice message.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet-switched network, the method comprising: selecting
`one or more recipients for instant voice messaging at a client;
`generating an instant voice message for the selected recipi
`ents at the client; transmitting the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor over the network from the
`client to a server; receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`According to another embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet- switched network enabling public switched telephone
`network (PSTN) support, the method comprising: providing
`input audio via a PSTN telephone connected over the net
`work; selecting one or more recipients for instant voice mes
`saging at a client; generating an instant voice message using
`the input audio from the PSTN telephone for the selected
`recipients at the client; transmitting the selected recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor over the network from
`the client to a server; receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`According to a further embodiment of the present inven
`tion, there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`over a packet- switched network, the method comprising: pro
`viding input audio via a voice-over-intemet-protocol (VolP)
`telephone connected over the network; selecting one or more
`recipients for instant voice messaging at a client; generating
`an instant voice message using the input audio from the VoIP
`telephone for the selected recipients at the client; transmitting
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`over the network from the client to a server; receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor at
`the server; delivering the instant voice message from the
`server to the selected recipients over the network; and audibly
`playing the instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`
`0012
`
`

`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`5
`According to still another embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a method for instant voice mes
`saging over a plurality of packet-switched networks, the
`method comprising: selecting one or more external recipients
`for instant voice messaging at a client connected to a local
`network, the one or more external recipients connected to an
`external network outside the local network; generating an
`instant voice message for the selected external recipients at
`the client; transmitting the selected external recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor over the local network and the
`external network; receiving the selected external recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor at an external server
`connected to the external network; delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected external recipients over the
`external network; and audibly playing the instant voice mes
`sage at the selected external recipients.
`According to yet another embodiment of the present inven
`tion, there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`system over a plurality of packet- switched networks enabling
`public switched telephone network (PSTN) support, the
`method comprising: providing input audio via a PSTN tele
`phone connected to a local network; selecting one or more
`external recipients for instant voice messaging at a client, the
`one or more external recipients connected to an external
`network outside the local network; generating an instant
`voice message for the one or more external recipients using
`the input audio provided by the PSTN telephone; transmitting
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`over the local network and the external network; receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor at a
`server connected to the external network; delivering the
`instant voice message to the selected recipients from the
`server over the external network; and audibly playing the
`instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`According to still a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a method for instant voice mes
`saging system over a plurality of packet-switched networks,
`the method comprising: providing input audio via a voice
`over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephone connected to a local
`network; selecting one or more external recipients for instant
`voice messaging at a client, the one or more external recipi
`ents connected to an external network outside the local net
`work; generating an instant voice message for the one or more
`external recipients using the input audio provided by the VoIP
`telephone; transmitting the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter
`nal network; receiving the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor at a server connected to the external
`network; delivering the instant voice message to the selected
`recipients from the server over the external network; and
`audibly playing the instant voice message at the selected
`recipients.
`According to yet a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a method for instant voice mes
`saging over a plurality of a plurality of packet-switched net
`works, the method comprising: selecting one or more recipi
`ents connected to a local network at a client connected to an
`external network; generating an instant voice message for the
`selected recipients at the client; transmitting the selected
`recipients and the instant voice message therefor over the
`external network from the client to an external server system;
`receiving the selected recipients and the instant voice mes
`sage at the external server system; routing the selected recipi
`ents and the instant voice message over the external network
`and the local network; receiving the selected recipients and
`the instant voice message therefor at a local server connected
`to the local network; delivering the instant voice message to
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`the selected recipients over the local network; audibly playing
`the instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The objects, features and advantages of the present inven
`tion will become apparent to one skilled in the art, in view of
`the following detailed description taken in combination with
`the attached drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art IP telephony
`system;
`FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary local IVM system for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary IVM client of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary IVM server of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary global IVM system com
`prising a local IVM system and global IVM clients, according
`to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary global IVM server system
`depicted in FIG. 5, according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary transport server depicted in
`FIG. 6, according to the present invention;
`FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary directory server depicted in
`FIG. 6, according to the present invention; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary global IVM system com
`prising a plurality of local IVM systems and global IVM
`clients, according to the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for enabling local and global instant VoIP messaging over an
`IP network with PSTN support.
`FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration of a local instant voice
`messaging (IVM) system 200 according to the present inven
`tion. The instant voice messaging system 200 comprises a
`local IVM server 202 that provides the core functionality for
`enabling instant voice messaging with PSTN support accord
`ing to the present invention. The architecture of the local IVM
`server 202 will be described in detail hereinbelow with ref
`erence to FIG. 4. According to the exemplary IVM system
`200, the local IVM server 202 is enabled to provide instant
`voice messaging to one or more IVM clients 206 and 208, as
`well support instant voice messaging for PSTN legacy tele
`phones 110. It is noted that although FIG. 2 depicts one of
`each IVM client 206, 208 and legacy telephone 110 for clarity
`and brevity, the local IVM server 202 is enabled to support a
`plurality of each of the foregoing IVM clients 206, 208 and
`legacy telephone 110. The local packet-switched IP network
`204 interconnects the IVM clients 206, 208 and the legacy
`telephone 110 to the local IVM server 202 as well as inter
`connecting the local IVM server 202 to the local IP network
`204. The network 204 may be a local area network (LAN), a
`wide area network (WAN), or the like, which supports both
`wired and wireless devices. The exemplary IVM client 208 is
`a VoIP softphone, the architecture of which will be described
`in detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3. A microphone
`212 is connected to the IVM client 208 and enables the
`recording of an instant voice message according to the present
`invention into an audio ?le 210 for transmission to the local
`IVM server 202 over the network 204. An input device 218
`
`0013
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`

`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`7
`(e. g., a keyboard) is connected to the IVM client 208 to select
`one or more recipients that are to receive the recorded instant
`voice message. Although not depicted in FIG. 2, the input
`device 218 may include a trackball, digitizing pad or mouse,
`or the like. A display device 216 is connected to the IVM
`client 208 to display instant voice messages recorded and/or
`received by a user of the IVM client 208.An audio device 214,
`such as external speaker, is connected to the IVM client 208
`to play received instant voice messages. It is noted that the
`microphone 212, audio device 214, display device 216 and
`input device 218 may form integral parts of the IVM client
`208.
`Further With reference to FIG. 2, IVM client 206 is inter
`connected via the netWork 204 to the local IVM server 202.
`An exemplary IVM client 206 is a VoIP telephone, Which
`comprises a screen display (not shoWn) capable of displaying
`instant voice messages recorded and/or received by a user of
`the IVM client 206 according to the present invention. The
`VoIP telephone 206 further comprises a handset and/or
`speakerphone for recording instant voice messages and lis
`tening to instant voice messages received at the VoIP tele
`phone 206 according to the present invention. The VoIP tele
`phones Which may be implemented to provide instant voice
`messaging functionality according to the present invention
`are commercially available from many vendors, including
`AlcatelTM, LucentTM, NECTM and CiscoTM, to name just a feW.
`In addition to the foregoing IVM clients 206, 208, the IVM
`system 200 supports a legacy telephone 110 for instant voice
`messaging according to the present invention. The legacy
`telephone 110 is connected to a legacy sWitch 112. The legacy
`sWitch 112 is further connected to a media gateWay 114. Both
`the legacy sWitch 112 and the media gateway 114 intercon
`nect the legacy telephone 110 via the netWork 204 to the local
`IVM server 202, thereby facilitating instant voice messaging
`according to the present invention. The media gateWay 114
`may be a gateWay that supports trunk pack netWork control
`(i.e., “TPNCP”) protocol, media gateWay control protocol
`(i.e., “MGCP”), or a media gateWay control H.428 protocol
`(i.e., “MEGACO”) . As previously mentioned, the media gate
`Way 114 converts the audio signal carried over PSTN to
`packets to be transmitted over a packet-sWitched IP netWork,
`such as the local netWork 204.
`The implementation of the instant voice messaging for
`IVM client 208 Will be described ?rst and Will be folloWed by
`the implementations for IVM client 206 and legacy telephone
`110, With reference to the local IVM system 200 depicted in
`FIG. 2. These implementations implement a “record mode”
`of the instant voice messaging according to the present inven
`tion. There Will further be described an “intercom mode” of
`the instant voice messaging according to the present inven
`tion. Therefore, in operation of the IVM client 208 according
`to FIG. 2, the IVM client (IVM softphone) 208 is connected
`over the netWork 204 to the IVM server 202, Which as afore
`mentioned enables instant voice messaging functionality
`over the netWork 204. The IVM client 208 displays a list of
`one or more IVM recipients on its display 216, provided and
`stored by the local IVM server 202, as Will be particularly
`described hereinbeloW With reference to FIG. 4. The user
`operates the IVM client 208 by using the input device 218 to
`indicate a selection of one or more IVM recipients from the
`list. The user selection is transmitted to the IVM server 202.
`The user selection also generates a start signal to the IVM
`client 208 that the user is ready to begin instant voice mes
`saging according to the present invention. In response to the
`start signal, the IVM client (softphone) 208 listens to the input
`audio device 212 and records the user’s speech into a digi
`tiZed audio ?le 210 (i.e., instant voice message) stored on the
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`IVM client 208. The audio ?le 210 at the IVM client 208 is
`?naliZed via a stop signal, Which is generated by the user via
`the input device 218 or a preset time period Without speech
`input via the input audio device 212 on the IVM client 208.
`Once the recording of the user’s speech is ?naliZed, IVM
`client 208 generates a send signal indicating that the digitiZed
`audio ?le 210 (instant voice message) is ready to be sent to the
`selected recipients. The user generates the send signal When
`the user operates the IVM client 208 via the input device 218,
`e.g., pressing a key on a keyboard or clicking a button on a
`mouse. The IVM client 208 transmits the digitiZed audio ?le
`210 and the send signal to the local IVM server 202. In
`response to the send signal indicating that the instant voice
`message is