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`
`S 2[)[)2(}146()97A1
`
`(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Plll)llCflti0Il
`Vuori
`
`(54) SHORT VOICE MESSAGE (SVM) SERVICE
`Ml*‘.TH()l), APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Petri Vuori, Salo (Fl)
`
`Correspondence Addnzssz
`WARE l<‘IlESS(')l./\ VAN DER SLUYS &
`ADOLPHSON’ L”,
`BR/\l)F()Rl) GREEN BUIl.l)IN(} 5
`
`MONROE’ CT 06468 (US)
`~«-ma
`ogjrgluns
`
`an
`(2') Appl_ No‘:
`
`(33)
`
`1;i1c(|;
`
`J1“. 23’ 2001
`
`[{¢|;.|;cd U_s_ App|igmign Data
`
`(60)
`
`Provisional application No. 6[l,=’28l,942, filed on Apr.
`5, 2001.
`
`(10) Pub. No.: US 2002/0146097 Al
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`I'uI1|iL:ation Classificatiunn
`
`Int. Cl.7 .................................................... .. H04M H64
`(SI)
`
`(53) U-S- CL
`379183-22
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(57)
`.
`.
`Tlrcsomc entry olinumcrous lcllcrs of tho alphabet Into‘ a
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`(SVM). The SVM is rcoorclcd in tho sending, terminal and
`::::.‘;°r:::;:‘:L:::3':::i::;:‘ra?:;:“;:r1a:::‘:.:’¥;‘:§r“;:a
`awail acccplance before sendingil. The 5r:con(J lcrrninal may
`then commence a bidirectional communication so that an
`
`inslanl voice: mos-wage session can lie cslahlishcd. Alterna-
`tively.
`the problem can bc overcome by convcrting,
`the
`spoken SVM [0 tcxl in the user terminal lay means ofvoicc
`recognition software and sending the convened tux! lo the
`rccipicnl by means. of [he lradilional SMS infraslruclurn: for
`display as la.-xl or for playback as lcxl converted 10 Voice.
`
`Sending Short Voice Message - Usage
`
`2
`
`:> 3
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`
`AFTER DICTATING
`MESSAGE. USER
`SELECTS THE
`RECIPIENT-
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`REWENT
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`av PRESSING LOAD.
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`NETWORK AND
`p}_AYE|3_
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`1
`
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`
`USER INITIATES AN
`svm av PRESS1NG
`MENU KEY FOR 3
`SECONDS. A BEEP
`souno TELLS WHEN
`ro SPEAK.
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`
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`
`Apple 1009
`Apple 1009
`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
`U.S. Pat. 8,995,433
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 2002/0146097 A1
`
`SENDER USER EQUIPMENT RECEIVES SIGNAL FROM SENDING
`
`—L IN?
`
`PRINCIPAL THAT SVNI IS TO BE ENUNCIATED
`
`SENDER USER EQUIPMENT PREPARES TO RECEIVE SVM
`
`SENDER USER EQUIPMENT PROVIDES SIGNAL TO SENDING
`
`18
`
`PRINCIPAL TO BEGIN ENUNCIATING SVM
`
`SENDER USER EQUIPMENT RECEIVES AND STORES SVM DURING
`ENUNCIATION
`
`22
`
`SVM CONCLUDED
`
`RECIPIENT SELECTED BY SENDING PRINCIPAL
`
`SVM SENT TO IM/SMS SERVICE BY SENDER EQUIPMENT AND
`FROM THERE TO INSTANT INBOX OF RECIPIENT
`
`23
`
`RECIPIENT RECEIVES A NOTIFICATION VIA INBOX UA
`
`RECIPIENT DECIDES TO RECEIVE SVM AND SIGNALS REQUEST
`
`34
`
`FOR DELIVERYIPLAYBACK
`
`IIWSMS SERVICE OR INBOX PROVIDES DELIVERYIPLAYBACK OF
`SVM TO RECIPIENT
`
`35
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`
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`Patent Application Publication Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 7 of 10
`
`Us 2002/0145097 A1
`
`243
`
`SVM PRESENCE SERVICE
`
`250
`
`252
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`

`
`Patent Application Publication Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 8 of 10
`
`Us 2002/0145097 A1
`
`SVM PRESENCE INFORMATION
`
`290
`
`SVM PRESENCE TUPLE
`
`393
`
`STATUS
`
`295
`
`COMMUNICATION
`ADDRESS
`
`302
`
`SVM SERVICE
`
`31”
`
`SVM ENBOX ADDRESS
`
`314
`
`OTHER MARKUP
`
`305
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`FIG. 10
`
`294
`
`STATUS
`
`300
`
`COMMUNICATION
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`
`304
`
`SVM SERVICE
`
`319
`
`SVM INBOX ADDRESS
`
`315
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`OTHER MARKUP
`
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`SVM PRESENCE TUPLE
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`Oct. 10, 2002 Sheet 10 of 10
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`US 2002/0146097 A]
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`
`US 2002/0146097 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`SHORT VOICE MESSAGE ISVM) SERVICE
`Ml'l'I'HOI), APPARATUS AND SYSTEM
`
`[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provi-
`sional Application No. 6{Ji’28-1,942 filed Apr. 5, 2001.
`
`BACKGROUND 01’ THE INVENIION
`
`[0002]
`
`1. Technical Field
`
`[0003] The present invention relates to a new way to send
`messages and, more particularly, voice—type short messages.
`2. Discussion of Related Art
`
`[0004]
`
`[0005] The short message service (SMS) has been realized
`point-to-point (PP) and for cell broadcast services (CBS) in
`the Global System [or Mobile communications (GSM). See
`the IETSI GSM Technical Specification GSM 03.40 Version
`5.3.0 July [996 and GSM 07.05 Version 5.5.0 January I998.
`For a short tutorial on SMS, see "The Global System for
`Mobile Communications Short Message Service" by G.
`Pecrsman and S. Cvetkovic, IEEE Personal Co.utmtmt'cn—
`tions, June 20-00. A problem with entering messages for
`transmittal via the SMS is that it often takes too long to
`create the message. The user has to use a keyboard wherein
`each key has the capability of entering one of several
`possible letters of the alphabet which are individually
`selected by multiple depressions. This can take a long time
`because it is possible to send more than a hundred characters
`even without concatenation. With concatenation, a message
`can be increased much longer
`to tens of thousands of
`characters. Such can become tiresome and impractical if
`extended too long even if using a full keyboard on a personal
`computer {PC} or personal digital assistant (PDA).
`
`DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
`
`[0006] An object of the present invention is to facilitate
`the sending of short messages.
`
`[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention,
`a method is provided for use in a
`telecommunications
`network for providing messages between users. The method
`comprises the steps of receiving a voice message from a first
`terminal spoken by a first user for a second user at a second
`terminal, checking availability of the second terminal, and
`immediately sending the received voice message to the
`second terminal if available. Similarly, according to a sec-
`ond aspect of the present invention, apparatus for use in such
`a telecommunications network comprises means for receiv-
`ing a voice message from a first terminal spoken by a firs!
`user for a second user at a second terminal. means for
`checking availability of the second terminal, and means for
`immediately sending the received voice message to the
`second terminal, if available.
`
`In accordance with both the first and second
`[0008]
`aspects of the present invention, the voice message can be
`stored until the second terminal is determined to be avail-
`able. The second user can be notified at the second terminal
`of the received voice message from the first user prior to
`sending the voice message to the second terminal. In that
`case, the voice message is sent only after the second user
`signals acceptance.
`
`In still further accord with the first and second
`[0009]
`aspects of the present invention, a communication session,
`Le, a bidirectional communication can be established after
`
`receipt of a first message from the first terminal to the second
`tenninal by receiving a voice message from the second
`terminal spoken by the second user and sending the received
`voice message to the first terminal. Such an interchange can
`be
`continued with numerous voice messages being
`exchanged between the first and second terminals. Before
`establishing the session, the availability of the first terminal
`can be established before sending the voice message from
`the second user to the first terminal.
`
`[0010] Still further in accord with the first and second
`aspects of the present invention, the voice message received
`in either the first or second terminal may be stored therein
`for use by the receiving user at
`the convenience of the
`receiving user. Such could be stored on a SIM card,
`for
`instance.
`
`[0011] According to a third aspect of the present inven-
`tion, a voice message service center in a voice message
`system including a plurality of terminals comprises means
`for receiving a voice message from a first user terminal.
`means for storing the receive voice message from the first
`terminal, means for checking availability of an intended
`second user at a second terrninal, and means for sending the
`stored received message from the first terminal to the second
`terminal if the second terminal is available.
`
`In further accord with the third aspect of the
`[0012]
`present invention, the service center may further comprise
`means for notifying the second terminal of the voice mes-
`sage received from the first terminal wherein the received
`voice message from the first tennina] is sent to the second
`terminal upon receiving an acceptance signal
`[mm the
`second terminal in response to the notification.
`[0013]
`In still further accord with the third aspect of the
`present invention, one or more of the plurality of terminals
`comprises means for receiving the voice message at the first
`user terminal spoken by a first user for providing the voice
`message from the first user terminal
`to the means for
`receiving the voice message at the service center, means for
`storing voice messages including the voice message spoken
`by the first user. means for receiving a designation signal
`from the tirst user designating a second user as an intended
`recipient, means for retrieving the stored voice message in
`response to the designation signal for providing the voice
`message retrieved from storage and the designation signal,
`and means for sending the voice message retrieved from
`storage and the designation signal to the second user of the
`voice message system as an outgoing voice message. The
`one or more of the plurality of terminals may further
`comprise means for receiving an incoming voice message
`from the second user for storage in the means for storing
`SVMs and means for playback of the incoming voice
`mcmage to the first user after retrieval from the means for
`storing voice messages by the means for retrieving stored
`voice messages. The one or more of the plurality of termi-
`nals may further comprise means for receiving notification
`of the incoming voice message from the second user for
`display or notification thereof to the first user, and means
`responsive to an acceptance indication input signal from the
`first user for sending the acceptance indication input signal
`for use in the voice message system in deciding whether to
`send the incoming voice message from the second user to the
`first user.
`
`[0014] Still further in accord with the third aspect of the
`present invention, the means for receiving the voice message
`
`012
`012
`
`

`
`US 2002/0146097 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`spoken by the first user includes voice recognition means for
`recognizing the voice message spoken by the first user for
`providing the voice message as a text message for storage in
`and retrieval from the means for storing voice messages as
`a text message for transmission as an outgoing text voice
`message via a short message service center. The means [or
`receiving an incoming voice message from the second user
`may include means for receiving an incoming text voice
`message for storage in the means for storing voice messages
`as a text message and wherein the means for playback of the
`incoming text voice message is for displaying the incoming
`text message on a display of the user equipment. On the
`other hand, the means for retrieving the stored voice mes-
`sage may also be for convening the retrieved voice message
`to a voice signal for playback on a means for playback as an
`enunciated voice message, such as an artificial voice.
`
`[0015] According to a fourth aspect of the present inven-
`tion, user equipment for use in a voice message system
`comprises means for receiving a short voice message spoken
`by a first user, means for storing S\/Ms including the SVM
`spoken by the first user, means for receiving a designation
`signal from the first user designating a second user as an
`intended recipient, means for retrieving the stored SVM in
`response to the designation signal for providing the SVM
`retrieved from storage and the designation signal, and means
`for sending the SVM retrieved from storage and the desig-
`nation signal to the second user of the voice message system
`as an outgoing SVM.
`
`In further accord with the fourth aspect of the
`[0016]
`invention,
`the user equipment
`further comprises
`present
`means for receiving an incoming SVM from the second user
`for storage and the means for storing S\/Ms. and means for
`playback ofthe incoming SVM to the first user after retrieval
`from the means for storing S\/Ms by the means for retriev-
`ing stored SVMs. Such user equipment may further corn-
`prise means for receiving notilication of the incoming SVM
`from the second user for display or notification thereof by
`the user equipment, and means responsive to an acceptance
`indication input signal from the first user for sending the
`acceptance indication input signal
`for use in the voice
`message system in deciding whether to send the incoming
`SVM from the second user to the user equipment of the first
`user.
`
`In still further accord with the fourth aspect of the
`[0017]
`present invention, the means for receiving the SVM spoken
`by the first user may include voice recognition means for
`recognizing the short voice message spoken by the first user
`for providing the SVM as a text message for storage in and
`retrieval from the means for storing SVM.-s as a text message
`for transmission as an outgoing text SVM via a short
`message service center. Similarly, the means for receiving an
`incoming SVM from the second user may include means for
`receiving an incoming text SVM for storage in the mea ns for
`storing SVMs as a text message and wherein the means for
`playback of the incoming text SVM is for display on a
`display of the user equipment. Conversion software may
`also be provided for converting the incoming text SVM from
`the second user to voice for enunciation for instance as an
`artificial voice.
`
`[0018] These and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will become more apparent in light of
`the following detailed description of a best mode embodi-
`ment thereof. as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[0019] FIG. 1 shows a short voice message (SVM) service
`method, according to the present invention.
`
`[0020] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 in showing a SVM
`service method, according to the present invention.
`
`[0021] FIG. 3 shows the SVM service method of the
`present invention applied to GSM network subsystems.
`
`[0022] FIG. 4 shows the SVM service method of the
`present invention applied to a GPRS system.
`
`[0023] FIG. 5 shows the SVM service method of the
`present invention applied to a UMTS system.
`
`IS shows the SVM service method of the
`[0024] FIG.
`present invention applied to an instant messaging infrastruc-
`ture proposed by a third party operator of a proprietary
`instant messaging service.
`
`[0025] FIG. 7 shows the SVM service method of the
`present invention applied to a presence service as proposed
`to the IETF.
`
`[0026] FIG. 8 shows details ofalternative watchers for the
`watcher of FIG. 7.
`
`[0027] FIG. 9 shows the SVM service method of the
`present
`invention applied to an instant messaging service
`proposed to the IE'l'I’.
`
`[0028] FIG. 10 shows the SVM service method of the
`present
`invention applied to create presence inl'on'nation
`according to a proposal to the IE’l‘F.
`
`[0029] FIG. 11 shows details of a SVM service center,
`according to the present invention as shown interfaced to a
`pair of terminals via one of many possible alternative
`networks.
`
`[0030] FIG. 12 shows details of a user equipment, accord-
`ing to the present invention, as shown interfaced to one of
`many possible networks.
`
`BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE
`INVENTION
`
`invention dis-
`the present
`[0031] As mentioned above,
`closes a short voice message (SVM) service or voice mes-
`sage service (VMS) which is a completely new way to send
`short messages, i.e., as voice-type short messages. Accord-
`ing to the present invention, short voice messages (SVM.-3)
`are sent as SMS messages, SMS-like messages, or as instant
`messages. The user or sending principal simply records a
`shon voice message and sends it over the network for
`playback at the terminal otone or more intended recipients
`or receiving principals.
`
`[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a user 10 initiates a short voice
`message (SVM), e.g., by pressing a menu key on a user
`equipment 14 that is associated with the short voice message
`feature for a period of time, for instance, several seconds. As
`shown in a step 12 ofFlG. 2, the user equipment .14 receives
`a signal on account of depression of the menu key by the
`user that a short voice message is to be spoken. As indicated
`in a step 16, the user equipment 14 prepares to receive a
`shon voice message and for instance emits a beep Sound to
`tell the user that he may commence speaking as indicated in
`a step 18. The user 10 then speaks into the user equipment
`
`013
`013
`
`

`
`US 20i32/0146097 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`DJ
`
`14 as indicated in panel 1 at a baloon 20 in FIG. 1. The user
`equipment 14 then receives and stores the SVM during
`enu nciation of the spoken message, as indicated in a step 22
`of FIG. 2. The SVM may he concluded in any number of
`ways such as by the user 10 depressing a same or dilIerent
`menu key for a brief period of time,
`for instance, an
`instantaneous depression. Or, the user equipment could end
`the message recordation by signaling the user that
`the
`maximum message length has been reached.
`
`[0033] The user 10 then uses the menu key to select one
`or more intc nded recipients as indicated both in a step 26 in
`FIG. 2 and in a second panel
`labeled with a reference
`numeral 2 in FIG. 1. After selecting a recipient, the user may
`depress a menu key to initiate the transfer such as a key
`associated with the “OK” display of panel 2 of FIG. 1. It
`Sl'lDltlCl be realized that the step 26 could instead be executed
`at a dill'erent stage of the process shown in FIG. 2. For
`instance, it could be executed before or after the step 12.
`
`[0034] The SVM is then sent to an SVM service center.
`This could he a short message service (SMS) service center
`which determines the availability of the one or more
`intended recipients. The service center may then send the
`SVM immediately to those intended recipients who are
`available and continue attempting to send to those not then
`available until
`they become available or until a time out
`occurs. On the other hand,
`instead of sending the SVM
`immediately upon determining availability, the service cen-
`ter may instead notify the available recipient or recipients
`that an SVM message has been received and which may
`identify the sender on a display of each available recipient’s
`user equipment 30 as shown in panel 3 of FIG. 1. A transfer
`of the SVM message to the SVM service center is indicated
`in a step 28 as well as the sending of a notification, if
`applicable. The reception of the notification is indicated in a
`step 30.
`
`[0035] After that, if applicable the recipient 32 (as shown
`in panels 3 & 4 of FIG. I) decides as indicated in a step 34
`of FIG. 2 to decline (“forget") or accept (“load”) the SVM
`received from the sender and depresses a corresponding key
`or otherwise signals (e.g. voice) acceptance or not. Assum-
`ing the recipient 32 decides to accept the SVM, a step 36 is
`executed in which the short voice message service center
`provides delivery of the SVM to the recipient for playback
`as shown in the replicated baloon 20 in panel 4. It will be
`realized as indicated above that instead of sending a notifi-
`cation as indicated in the step 30, the SVM service could
`instead send the SVM directly to the intended recipient
`without giving the recipient any discretion as to whether to
`accept or not. This might be the case for instance in a
`conventional SMS or instant messaging (IM) context where
`the sender first determines whether the intended recipient is
`available by means of a presence service and the intended
`recipient has eiiectively acquiesced to availability by pre-
`viouslyjoining a "buddy list" or otherwise subscribing to the
`service.
`In that case,
`the voice message spoken by the
`initiating user is immediately sent to the user equipment of
`the intended recipient where it can be annunciated without
`further intervention or recorded on the reeipient’s SIM card
`for playback at the recipient’:-:. discretion.
`
`the process shown in
`It should be realized that
`[0036]
`FIGS. 1 and 2 can be reversed for messaging from user 32
`to user 10 so that an interchange of cornmunications
`between the two users may take place.
`
`[0037] The short voice message service may be carried out
`in a GSM network as shown in FIG. 3. A short voice
`message (SVM) service center 50 is shown along with an
`interworking MSC 52 connected by a line 54 to a GSM
`Network Subsystem 56. A gateway 58 is for interworking
`between the SVMSC 50 and a mobile switching center
`(MSC) 58 of another GSM network 59 including an MSC
`60,
`23 BSC 62, and a BTS 64. The lirst-mentioned GSM
`Network Subsystem 56 also includes an MSC 66 is con-
`nected to a base station subsystem (BS3) 68 as well other
`base station subsystems 70 for communication with a plu-
`rality of mobile stations, the figure showing only one mobile
`station 72 for convenience. The BSS 68 includes one or
`more base transceiver stations (BTS) 74 as well as a base
`station controller 76 which is in turn connected to the MSC‘
`66. The MSC is also connected to a public switched tele-
`phone network [PSTN) andlor ISDN network 78 for allow-
`ing mobile stations to communicate with wired telephone
`sets in a circuit-switched manner. The MSC 66 is also
`connected to a plurality of databases including a VLR 80,
`HLR 82, EIR 84, and Au? 86 which may be connected to the
`MSC directly or via a data network 80 and operation and
`maintenance center 82. An interworking function (not
`shown) may be needed between the data network 80 and the
`MSC 58.
`
`[0038] The SVMSC 50' of FIG. 3 may utilize the protocol
`layer for the existing SMS point-to-point service with the
`capability to transfer short messages e.g. of 140 octets of
`data in each packet data unit (PDU). According to an SMS
`feature that is particularly advantageous for purposes of the
`present invention, the SMS service provides the capability
`of concatenating messages ofa length that can be increased
`to eg. 38,760 or 113,830 depending on the character coding
`scheme used. These concatenated l’DUs can be strung
`together to form a short voice message, according to the
`present
`invention,
`in any combination of from 1 to 255
`PDUS of 140 octets each. In this way, short voice messages
`such as illustrated in FIGS. I and 2 can be transmitted
`between a mobile station 72 in one GSM network subsystem
`56 and another mobile station 90 associated with another
`GSM network subsystem 59. The sequence of steps shown
`in FIG. 2 from an initiating user 10 to a receiving user 32
`can be reversed in direction so that the user 32 sends a reply
`to the user 10. In the case shown in FlG.3, this interchange
`would take place entirely between GSM network sub-
`systems 56, 59.
`[0039]
`In addition to carrying out the present invention on
`the GSM network subsystems 56, 59 of FIG. 3, it should be
`realized that other approaches are possible, especially con-
`sidering the development of GSM networks into a packet-
`based infrastructure via the General Packet Radio Service
`(GPRS) and subsequently the Universal Mobile Telecom-
`mu nications System (UMTS). As shown in FIG. 4, n GPRS
`infrastructure 90 is capable of being connected to various
`data networks including for instance the Internet 92 or an
`x.25 network 94. At the subscriber side, a user equipment
`(UE) 96 communicates via a radio link (Urn) to a Base
`Transceiver Station 98 which is connected to a Base Station
`Controller 100 in turn connected to the GPRS infrastructure
`90. GPRS is a data service for GSM. It is a packet—switched
`mobile datacom service that is the next step in the evolution
`of GSM.
`It enables relatively high-speed mobile datacom
`usage and is very useful for "bursty" data applications such
`as mobile Internet browsing, email and push technologies
`
`014
`014
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`

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`US 2002/0146097 A1
`
`Oct. 10, 2002
`
`and it can be applied to the SVM service of the present
`invention. It has heen demonstrated at speeds as fast as 150
`khps. The GPRS infrastructure includes a serving GPRS
`support node (SGSN) 102 connected to the BSC 100 as well
`as a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) 104 that can be
`connected to the packet data networks 92, 94. The SGSN
`102 and GUSM 104 may be interconnected by a GI-‘RS
`backbone (IP based) 106. The SGSN 102 may be connected
`to an III.R 108 similar to the HI.R 74 of FIG. 3. It may also
`be connected to an SVM Service 110 similar to the SVM
`Service Center 50 of FIG. 3, according to the present
`invention for connection to a GSM Network Subsystem. to
`another GPRS infrastructure, or similar.
`
`[0040] The present invention may also be implemented on
`a UMTS packet network architecture such as shown in FIG.
`5. A universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS)
`infrastructure 120 is shown in FIG. 5 connected to a data
`network 122 such as the Internet. At the subscriber side, a
`user equipment 124 is connected by one or more radio links
`(Uu) to one or more corresponding Node Bs 126 which are
`in turn connected (Ittb) to corresponding radio network
`controllers [RNCs) 128. The RNC:; 128 may be intercon-
`nected (Iur) as shown for purposes of improving the radio
`links and facilitating handover. The RNCS 128 are connected
`to the UMTS infrastructure 120 via Iu interfaces to a third
`generation-serving GPRS support node (3G-SGSN) 140.
`This may be also connected to an I-II.R 142 similar to the
`HLR 108 of FIG. 4 and the HLR 74 of FIG. 3. The
`3G—SGSN 140 may be connected to a 3G—gateway GPRS
`support node (3G-GGSN) 142 by means of a IP-based
`UMTS backbone 144. It may also be connected to an SVM
`service 146 similar to the SVM service center 50 of FIG. 3,
`according to the present invention for connection to a GSM
`Network Subsystem, to another UMTS infrastructure, to a
`GI-‘RS infrastructure, or similar. The present invention may
`also be implemented using the networks of FIGS. 4 and 5
`as shown in an open architecture example in FIG. 6.
`[0041] FIG. 6 shows a data network 160 such as the data
`network 80 of FIG. 3, the data network 92 of FIG. 4, or the
`data network 122 of FIG. 5. Within the data network is an
`instant messaging (IM) cloud 162 which contains an instant
`messaging architecture such as proposed in Internet Draft
`"draft-aol-imx-0D.txt” by E. Aoki and A. Wick dated Jun. 15,
`2000 and entitled “The IMX Architecture Interoperability
`with America On I.ine’s Instant Messaging Services". This
`open IM architecture is illustrated and discussed for instance
`in the publication IEEE Internet Corttprtting in an unattrib-
`uted article entitled “AOL’s Instant Messaging Proposal
`Elicits Kudos and Brickbals” dated July-August 2000. This
`proposal by AOL includes three main ways to participate in
`the proposed public [M cloud. IM System Hosts may be
`public, may be aggregators, or may be privately-owned
`gateways. A plurality of IM systems are shown within the
`IM cloud 162 of FIG. 6 and commu.nicate with each other
`
`according to the above-mentioned proposal using an open
`IMX protocol. The communications between hosts in the IM
`cloud is via on—demand, persistent TCP connections using
`the open IMX protocol. This is signified by open IMX
`protocol
`lines 164 interconnecting the IM systems. The
`systems within the IM cloud communicate outside the cloud
`with proprietary or vendor-specific client protocols 180,
`I82, 184, 186, 188. These are server-to-Server protocols and
`are not the same as the open IMX protocol interconnecting
`the IM systems within the IM cloud. These vendor-specific
`
`client protocols may he diliferent from each other and may be
`used to connect various entities to the IM cloud via the data
`network 160. It should he mentioned that although the 1M
`cloud 162 is shown within the data network 160, it could he
`a separate entity connected to the various clients directly or
`via the data network 160. As many [M systems as want to
`can be part of the IM cloud 162, according to the above-
`mentioned AOL proposal. Further to the proposal, compa-
`nies, IM services, or ISPs can run their own IM system by
`either being right
`in the cloud or connecting to the cloud
`through an IM aggregator 190. For instance, an ISP IM
`server 192 is connected by the line 188 to the IM system
`aggregator 190. This ISP 192 can provide instant message
`services to IM clients 194, 196 which can be independent of
`each other. Similarly, a corporate IM server 198 can be
`connected to the aggregator 190 by the line 186 for provid-
`ing IM services to in; own clients 200, 202, 204, within and
`without the enterprise.
`
`[0042] According to the present invention, in addition to
`the above-mentioned ISP I92 and corporate IM server 198,
`for example, short voice messages can be provided from, to,
`or between the clients 194, 196, 200, 202, 204 via the data
`network 160 which may include the IM cloud 162. Further-
`more, in addition to the IM system aggregator, other IM
`systems 206, 208, 210 can be provided for the purpose of
`interconnecting various wireless user equipments 96, I24
`and other mobile stations such as the mobile station 72 to the
`IM cloud 162 for purposes of interchanging short voice
`messages between wireless systems or between various
`systems including SVM exchanges between wireless and
`land based systems.
`
`it has been proposed in IETF
`In the alternative,
`[0043]
`RFC 2378 dated February 2000 (before the AOL proposal)
`to provide a presence and instant messaging system accord-
`ing to “a model for presence and instant messaging“ by M.
`Day (Lotus), J. Rosenberg (Dynamiesoft) and II. Sugano
`(Fujitsu). An exemplary instant message service is shown
`for instance in FIG. 7 accordittg to the above-mentioned
`model
`for presence adapted to SVM, according to the
`present invention. An SVM presence service 248 serves to
`accept SVM presence information e.g. on a line 250, store
`it, and distribute it, e.g., on a line 252. An SVM presentity
`254 is a client that provides the presence information on the
`line 250 to be stored and distributed. Another set of clients
`called SVM watchers such as an SVM watcher 256 in FIG.
`7, receives SVM presence information on the line 252 from
`the SVM presence service 248.
`
`[0044] As shown in FIG. 8,