IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
`US008199747B2
`
`(12'nited States Patent
`Rojas
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,199,747 B2
`*Jun. 12, 2012
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOIP
`MES SAGING
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Michael J. Rojas, North Canton, OH
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Ayalogic, Inc.
`( * ) Notice:
`
`the term of this
`Subject to any disclaimer,
`is extended or adjusted under 35
`patent
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 646 days.
`to a terminal
`is subject
`This patent
`claimer.
`
`dis-
`
`(21) Appl. Noz 12/398,076
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 4, 2009
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2009/0161665 Al
`Jun. 25, 2009
`
`Related U.S.Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 10/740,030, filed on
`Dec. 18, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,535,890.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04L 12/66
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`(58) Field of ClassiTication Search
`
`I)
`(2006.0
`. 370/354; 709/206
`..................370/352,
`370/354; 709/206
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`6,763,226
`2003/0087632
`2003/0126207
`2004/0014456
`2004/0030046
`2004/0122906
`2004/0128356
`2004/0224678
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`BI
`7/2004 McZeal, Jr.
`Al
`Sagi et al.
`5/2003
`A I
`7/2003 Creamer et al.
`A I *
`I/2004 Vnnen
`Al
`Schultes et al.
`2/2004
`Al
`6/2004 Goodman et al.
`Al
`7/2004 Bernstein et al.
`Al* 11/2004 Dahodetal.........
`
`... 455/413
`
`12/2004
`3/2005
`5/2005
`7/2006
`11/2006
`5/2007
`7/2007
`12/2008
`
`Williams et al.
`Gierachf
`Hollowell et al.
`Boukobza
`Weiner
`Malik
`Barry
`DePietro et al.
`
`2004/0252679 Al
`2005/0053230 Al
`2005/0105697 Al
`2006/0167883 Al
`2006/0268750 Al
`2007/0112925 Al
`2007/0174403 Al
`2008/0298309 Al *
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`sco.corn/warp/public/cc/pd/nemnsw/callmn/pro
`http: //www, ci
`dlit/
`ds.htm; "Data Sheet Cisco CallManager Version 3.3",Nov.
`cm33
`22, 2002.
`http: //www,hsteliann,corn/english/?zone=3100-V21P;
`3100-V21P", 2003.
`Iinuxdevices.corn/articles/AT
`5199947519.html;
`http;//www.
`"Device Profile; snom 100 VoIP phone",
`iMay 15, 20021.
`xpressa.j sp; No limits with the advanced
`http;//www.pingtel.corn/pr
`industry standard SIP phone, Dec. 8, 2003; and.
`AudioCoded Enabling Technology Products, TPM-1100 VoP Media
`Gateway Modules; 2003.
`sco.corn/warp/public/cc/pd/nemnsw/callmn/pro
`ci
`http;//www,
`dlit/
`ds.htm; "Data Sheet Cisco CallManager Version 3.3",Nov.
`cm33
`2002;
`22,
`http;//www.cisco.corn/enHJS/products/hw/switches/
`09186 a00800a3c3d.html;
`ps1925/products
`sheet
`data
`Sheet Cisco MGX 8000 Series" iDate unknown).
`* cited by examiner
`
`... 370/328
`
`"Teliphone
`
`"Data
`
`Primary Examiner
`
`Creighton Smith
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`There is provided an instant voice messaging
`system (and
`for delivering
`over a packet-
`instant messages
`method)
`the system comprising: a client connected
`switched network,
`the client selecting one or more recipients,
`to the network,
`an instant voice message therefor, and transmit-
`generating
`and the instant voice message
`ting the selected recipients
`and a server connected to the
`therefor over
`the network;
`the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`network,
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`the instant
`and delivering
`voice message to the selected recipients over the network,
`the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`
`... 455/426.1
`
`15 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`4.
`
`?16
`
`200
`
`204
`
`202
`
`210
`
`~AUDIO
`
`LOCAL
`IP NETWORK
`
`212
`
`LIVM CLIENT
`
`LOCAL
`IVM
`SERVER
`
`I/I=~~
`
`206
`
`IVM CLIENT
`(VolP
`PHONE)
`
`~ GATEWAY
`
`112
`
`LEGACY
`SSVITCH
`
`110I LEGACY
`
`PHONE
`
`Page 1 of 23
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`IP NETWORK
`(INTERNET)
`
`104
`
`I&=~i~i)
`VoIP
`SOFTPHONE
`
`120
`
`VoIP
`
`: SWITCH
`
`106
`
`GATEWAY
`
`116
`
`PSTN
`
`108
`
`114
`
`VoIP
`PHONE
`
`GATEWAY
`
`112
`
`LEGACY
`SWITCH
`110
`
`LEGACY
`PHONE
`
`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Page 2 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`216
`
`214
`
`c
`
`AUDIO
`
`LOCAL
`
`~P NETWORK
`
`IVM CLIENT
`
`LOCAL
`IVM
`SERVER
`
`114
`
`GATEWAY
`
`112:LEGACY
`
`SWITCH
`
`LEGACY
`
`206
`
`IVM CLIENT
`(VoIP
`PHONE)
`
`Page 3 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 2012
`Jun. 12, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 9
`Sheet 3 of 9
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`U.S. Patent
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`
`Jun. 12, 2012
`Jun. 12, 2012
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`Sheet 5 of 9
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`US 8,199,747 B2
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`Jun. 12, 2012
`Jun. 12, 2012
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`US 8,199,747 B2
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`

`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 12, 2012
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`Sheet 9 of 9
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`US 8,199,747 B2
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`Page 10 of 23
`
`

`

`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOIP
`MES SAGING
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
`No. 10/740,030 fled on Dec. 18, 2003, the entire contents of
`which are incorporated herein by this reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field of the Invention
`tele-
`The present
`to Internet
`relates
`invention
`generally
`phony (IP telephony). More particularly,
`inven-
`the present
`tion is directed to a system and method for enabling local and
`instant VoIP messaging over an IP network,
`such as the
`global
`Internet, with PSTN support.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`is based on a public switched tele-
`Traditional
`telephony
`(ke., "PSTN"). In the PSTN, a telephone
`phone network
`or legacy
`is electrically connected to a conventional
`terminal
`and the legacy switch com-
`switch. The telephone
`terminal
`municate via a proprietary protocol, which may be different
`depending on the vendor of the legacy switch. Circuit switch-
`path (ke., dedicated circuit) for
`ing provides a communication
`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.
`to the PSTN is Voice over Internet Protocol
`An alternative
`(ke., "VoIP"), also known as IP telephony
`tele-
`or Internet
`device is con-
`In the IP telephony,
`a VoIP terminal
`phony.
`nected to a packet-switched network (e.g., Internet) and voice
`from the VoIP terminal device is digitized,
`communication
`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
`(PC) enabled
`personal computer
`for IP telephony. More specifically,
`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 a VoIP terminal device. The PC so enabled
`and equipped will herein be referred to as a VoIP terminal
`device or a VoIP so ftphone.
`example of a prior art IP telephony
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative
`system 100.The IP telephony system 100 comprises a packet-
`switched IP network 102, such as the Internet, which trans-
`mits VoIP traffic 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 a VoIP telephone, which is connected to the
`network 102 via a softswitch 10S.The VoIP softswitch 10S is
`network (e.g., Internet) 102
`disposed on the packet-switched
`terminal device (such as VoIP soft-
`between an origination
`phone 104) and a destination terminal device (such as VoIP
`telephone 106), and routes packets over the packet-switched
`IP network 102. The softswitch 10S may also manage
`and
`for the terminal device or
`functions
`perform administrative
`devices (e.g., VoIP telephone 106) to which it is connected.
`the terminal device is a VoIP softphone 104 or a VoIP
`Whether
`telephone 106, the terminal
`device is connected to the IP
`network 102 via a networking
`such as Ethernet,
`standard
`IEEE 1394 (also known as "Firewire"),
`IEEE
`Bluetooth,
`802.11 (also known as "WiFi"), or networking
`over serial
`such as the Universal Serial Bus
`communication
`channels
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`(Le., "USB"). Data communication
`over the network then
`takes place using a connection protocol, e.g., transfer control
`(Le., "TCP/IP").
`protocol
`protocol/Internet
`regarding FIG. 1, terminal device 110 is a legacy
`Further
`telephone that is connected to a legacy switch 112for (circuit-
`over the PSTN 116 with
`switched) voice communications
`terminal devices. A media gateway 114 may be pro-
`other
`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 specifically,
`the
`media gateway 114 converts
`the audio signal carried over
`IP network
`PSTN to packets carried over the packet-switched
`102. In addition, a media gateway 11Smay be disposed over
`the PSTN 116 and connected to a softswitch 120 to convert
`from the legacy telephone 110 to packets
`the audio signal
`routed over the IP network 102 via the softswitch 120.
`in both the VoIP and PSTN is known.
`Voice messaging
`the foregoing systems may be provided
`More specifically,
`for
`with a facility to allow users to leave voice messages
`to anyone who
`recipients, which is a feature that
`is familiar
`leaving a voice message
`uses a telephone. Conventionally,
`the recipient's
`(often
`telephone
`number
`involves
`dialing
`the recipient will answer), waiting
`without knowing whether
`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.
`is likewise known. More specifi-
`text messaging
`Instant
`cally, a user
`is provided with a client
`terminal, which is
`typically a general-purpose PC programmed with instant
`text
`over an IP
`software and in data communication
`messaging
`server. The instant
`text-messaging
`network with an instant
`the user, via the client termi-
`text-messaging
`server presents
`nal, with a list of persons who are currently
`"online" and
`ready to receive text messages on their own client terminals.
`to select one or more
`The user then uses the client
`terminal
`persons to whom the message will be sent and types in a text
`via the text-
`message. The text message is sent immediately
`server to the selected one or more persons and is
`messaging
`displayed on their respective client terminals.
`the foregoing advances
`in the
`However, notwithstanding
`VoIP/PSTN voice communication
`and voice/text messaging,
`there is still a need in the art for providing
`a system and
`over an IP
`for providing
`instant VoIP messaging
`method
`there is a need in the art for
`network. More particularly,
`instant voice messaging over VoIP
`providing local and global
`with PSTN support.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention is directed to a system and method
`The present
`for enabling local and global
`instant VoIP messaging over an
`IP network,
`such as the Internet.
`of the present
`According to an embodiment
`invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv-
`ering instant messages over a packet-switched
`the
`network,
`a client connected to the network,
`the
`system comprising:
`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 there for, and
`delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients
`the selected recipients being enabled to
`over the network,
`audibly play the instant voice message.
`
`Page 11 of 23
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`

`

`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`According to another embodiment ofthe present
`invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv-
`over a packet-switched
`network
`instant messages
`ering
`enabling public switched telephone network (PSTN) support,
`a PSTN telephone
`connected to the
`the system comprising:
`network for providing input audio; a client connected to the
`the client selecting one or more recipients, generat-
`network,
`ing an instant voice message therefor using the input audio
`by the PSTN telephone,
`the
`and transmitting
`provided
`and the instant voice message
`selected recipients
`therefor
`a server connected to the network,
`over the network;
`the
`server receiving the selected recipients and the instant voice
`message therefor, and delivering the instant voice message to
`the selected recipi-
`the selected recipients over the network,
`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
`(VoIP)
`telephone connected to the network for providing input audio;
`the client selecting one or
`a client connected to the network,
`more recipients, generating an instant voice message therefor
`using the input audio provided by the VoIP telephone,
`and
`the selected recipients and the instant voice mes-
`transmitting
`a server connected to the
`sage therefor over the network;
`the server receiving the selected recipients
`and the
`network,
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`the instant
`and delivering
`voice message to the selected recipients over the network,
`the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`of the present
`According
`to still another
`embodiment
`there is provided an instant voice messaging
`sys-
`invention,
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ofpacket-
`a client con-
`switched
`networks,
`the system comprising:
`nected to a local network,
`the client selecting one or more
`recipients connected to an external network outside
`external
`the local network, generating an instant voice message there-
`the selected recipients
`and the instant
`for, and transmitting
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter-
`nal network; and a server connected to the external network,
`receiving the selected recipients
`the server
`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 ofthe present
`inven-
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`of packet-
`over
`a plurality
`instant messages
`delivering
`enabling public switched telephone net-
`switched networks
`a PSTN tele-
`work (PSTN) support,
`the system comprising:
`phone connected to a local network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the local network,
`the client selecting
`one or more external
`connected to an external
`recipients
`the local network,
`outside
`network
`an instant
`generating
`voice message therefor using the input audio provided by the
`PSTN telephone,
`the selected recipients and
`and transmitting
`the instant voice message therefor over the local network and
`the external network; a server connected to the external net-
`receiving the selected recipients
`the server
`and the
`work,
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`the instant
`and delivering
`voice message
`to the selected recipients over the external
`the selected recipients being enabled to audibly play
`network,
`the instant voice message.
`of the present
`According to yet a further
`embodiment
`there is provided an instant voice messaging
`sys-
`invention,
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ofpacket-
`a voice-over-in-
`switched networks,
`the system comprising:
`
`to a local
`connected
`ternet-protocol
`telephone
`(VoIP)
`network for providing input audio; a client connected to the
`the client selecting one or more external recipi-
`local network,
`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
`over the local network and the external network;
`an server
`the external server receiv-
`connected to the external network,
`and the instant voice message
`ing the selected recipients
`the instant voice message
`to the
`therefor,
`and delivering
`selected recipients over the external network,
`the selected
`being enabled to audibly play the instant voice
`recipients
`message.
`of the present
`According to still a further
`embodiment
`there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`invention,
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ofpacket-
`a client con-
`switched
`networks,
`the system comprising:
`the client selecting one or more
`nected to an external network,
`recipients connected to a local network, generating an instant
`voice message therefor, and transmitting
`the selected recipi-
`ents and the instant voice message therefor over the external
`server system connected to the external
`network; an external
`system receiving the selected
`the external
`server
`network,
`and the instant voice message,
`and routing the
`recipients
`and the instant voice message over the
`selected recipients
`a local server con-
`external network and the local network;
`nected to the local network,
`the local server
`receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message there for, and
`delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients
`the selected recipients being enabled
`over the local network,
`to audibly play the instant voice message.
`of the present
`According to an embodiment
`invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet-switched
`selecting
`the method comprising:
`network,
`one or more recipients for instant voice messaging at a client;
`an instant voice message for the selected recipi-
`generating
`the selected recipients and the
`ents at the client; transmitting
`instant voice message
`therefor over the network from the
`to a server;
`receiving the selected recipients
`client
`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 ofthe 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
`connected over the net-
`input audio via a PSTN telephone
`for instant voice mes-
`work; selecting one or more recipients
`saging at a client; generating an instant voice message using
`the input audio from the PSTN telephone
`for the selected
`the selected recipients
`at the client;
`recipients
`transmitting
`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-
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`tion,
`the method comprising: pro-
`over a packet-switched network,
`viding input audio via a voice-over-internet-protocol
`(VoIP)
`selecting one or more
`telephone connected over the network;
`for instant voice messaging at a client; generating
`recipients
`an instant voice message using the input audio from the VoIP
`telephone for the selected recipients at the client; transmitting
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`

`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`to a server;
`over the network from the client
`receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor at
`the instant voice message
`from the
`the server; delivering
`server to the selected recipients over the network; and audibly
`playing the instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`of the present
`According
`to still another
`embodiment
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`invention,
`of packet-switched
`saging over a plurality
`networks,
`the
`selecting one or more external recipients
`method comprising:
`for instant voice messaging
`at a client connected to a local
`the one or more external
`recipients connected to an
`network,
`external network outside the local network;
`an
`generating
`instant voice message for the selected external
`recipients at
`the selected external recipients and the
`the client; transmitting
`instant voice message therefor over the local network and the
`receiving the selected external
`recipients
`external network;
`and the instant voice message therefor at an external
`server
`connected to the external
`network;
`the instant
`delivering
`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 ofthe present
`inven-
`tion, there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`system over a plurality ofpacket-switched networks enabling
`(PSTN)
`telephone
`network
`switched
`the
`public
`support,
`method comprising: providing input audio via a PSTN tele-
`selecting one or more
`phone connected to a local network;
`for instant voice messaging at a client,
`recipients
`external
`the
`one or more external
`connected to an external
`recipients
`the local network;
`network
`outside
`an instant
`generating
`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
`connected to the external
`network;
`the
`server
`delivering
`instant voice message
`to the selected recipients
`from the
`server over the external network;
`the
`and audibly playing
`instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`of the present
`According to still a further
`embodiment
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`invention,
`saging system over a plurality of packet-switched
`networks,
`input audio via a voice-
`the method comprising:
`providing
`over-internet-protocol
`(VoIP) telephone connected to a local
`selecting one or more external
`for instant
`recipients
`network;
`the one or more external
`voice messaging at a client,
`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
`the selected recipients and the instant
`telephone;
`transmitting
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter-
`receiving the selected recipients and the instant
`nal network;
`voice message therefor at a server connected to the external
`network; delivering the instant voice message to the selected
`from the server over the external network;
`recipients
`and
`the instant voice message
`the selected
`at
`audibly
`playing
`recipients.
`of the present
`According to yet a further
`embodiment
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`invention,
`saging over a plurality of a plurality of packet-switched
`net-
`selecting one or more recipi-
`the method comprising:
`works,
`ents connected to a local network at a client connected to an
`external network; generating an instant voice message for the
`selected recipients
`the selected
`the client;
`at
`transmitting
`and the instant voice message
`therefor over the
`recipients
`external network from the client to an external server system;
`
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`and the instant voice mes-
`receiving the selected recipients
`routing the selected recipi-
`sage at the external server system;
`ents and the instant voice message over the external network
`receiving the selected recipients
`and the local network;
`and
`the instant voice message therefor at a local server connected
`to the local network; delivering the instant voice message to
`the selected recipients over the local network; audibly playing
`the instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`IVM system for
`local
`according to the present
`
`IVM client of FIG. 2 for
`according to the present
`
`The objects, features and advantages of the present
`inven-
`to one skilled in the art, in view of
`tion will become apparent
`the following detailed description taken in combination with
`in which:
`the attached drawings,
`an example of a prior art IP telephony
`FIG. 1 illustrates
`system;
`FIG. 2 illustrates
`an exemplary
`instant voice messaging
`enabling
`invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates
`an exemplary
`instant voice messaging
`enabling
`invention;
`an exemplary IVM server of FIG. 2 for
`FIG. 4 illustrates
`instant voice messaging
`according to the present
`enabling
`invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates
`IVM system com-
`an exemplary global
`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
`server depicted in
`an exemplary transport
`FIG. 6, according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. S illustrates an exemplary directory server depicted in
`FIG. 6, according to the present
`and
`invention;
`FIG. 9 illustrates
`IVM system com-
`an exemplary global
`prising a plurality of local IVM systems
`IVM
`and global
`clients, according to the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention is directed to a system and method
`The present
`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-
`system 200 comprises
`tion. The instant voice messaging
`a
`local IVM server 202 that provides the core functionality
`for
`enabling instant voice messaging with PSTN support accord-
`invention. The architecture ofthe local IVM
`ing to the present
`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 20S, as
`instant voice messaging for PSTN legacy tele-
`well support
`phones 110. It is noted that although FIG. 2 depicts one of
`each IVM client 206, 20S and legacy telephone 110for clarity
`the local IVM server 202 is enabled to support a
`and brevity,
`plurality of each of the foregoing IVM clients 206, 20S and
`legacy telephone 110.The local packet-switched
`IP network
`204 interconnects
`the IVM clients 206, 20S 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 20S is
`
`Page 13 of 23
`
`

`

`US 8,199,747 B2
`
`the architecture of which will be described
`a VoIP so ftphone,
`in detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3.A microphone
`212 is connected to the IVM client 20S and enables
`the
`recording ofan instant voice message according to the present
`invention into an audio file 210 for transmission
`to the local
`IVM server 202 over the network 204. An input device 21S
`is connected to the IVM client 20S to select
`(e.g., a keyboard)
`one or more recipients that are to receive the recorded instant
`not depicted in FIG. 2, the input
`voice message. Although
`device 21S may include a trackball, digitizing pad or mouse,
`or the like. A display device 216 is connected to the IVM
`client 20S to display instant voice messages
`recorded and/or
`received by a user ofthe IVM client 20S.An audio device 214,
`is is connected to the IVM client 20S
`such as external speaker,
`It is noted that
`to play received instant voice messages.
`the
`microphone 212, audio device 214, display device 216 and
`input device 21S may form integral parts of the IVM client
`20S.
`Further with reference to FIG. 2, IVM client 206 is inter-
`connected via the network 204 to the local IVM server 202.
`IVM client 206 is a VoIP telephone, which
`An exemplary
`comprises a screen display (not shown) capable of displaying
`received by a user of
`instant voice messages recorded and/or
`the IVM client 206 according to the present
`invention. The
`206 further
`VoIP telephone
`comprises
`a handset
`and/or
`and lis-
`for recording instant voice messages
`speakerphone
`received at the VoIP tele-
`tening to instant voice messages
`invention. The VoIP tele-
`phone 206 according to the present
`phones which may be implemented
`to provide instant voice
`according to the present
`functionality
`invention
`messaging
`are commercially
`from many vendors,
`available
`including
`Alcatel™,Lucent™,NEC™and Cisco™,to name just a few.
`In addition to the foregoing IVM clients 206, 20S, the IVM
`system 200 supports a legacy telephone 110for instant voice
`according to the present
`invention. The legacy
`messaging
`telephone 110is connected to a legacy switch 112.The legacy
`switch 112is further connected to a media gateway 114.Both
`the legacy switch 112 and the media gateway 114 intercon-
`nect the legacy telephone 110via the network 204 to the local
`IVM server 202, thereby facilitating instant voice messaging
`invention. The media gateway 114
`according to the present
`may be a gateway that supports
`trunk pack network control
`(ke., "TPNCP") protocol, media gateway
`control protocol
`(ke., "MGCP"), or a media gateway control H.428 protocol
`(ke., "MEGACO"). As previously mentioned,
`the media gate-
`way 114 converts
`the audio signal carried over PSTN to
`IP network,
`packets to be transmitted
`over a packet-switched
`such as the local network 204.
`of the instant voice messaging
`for
`The implementation
`IVM client 20S will be described first and will be followed by
`for IVM client 206 and legacy telephone
`the implementations
`110, with reference to the local IVM system 200 depicted in
`a "record mode"
`FIG. 2. These implementations
`implement
`ofthe instant voice mes saging according to the present
`inven-
`tion. There will further be described an "intercom mode" of
`the instant voice messaging
`according to the present
`inven-
`in operation of the IVM client 20S according
`tion. Therefore,
`to FIG. 2, the IVM client (IVM softphone) 20S is connected
`over the network 204 to the IVM server 202, which as afore-
`instant voice messaging
`mentioned
`functionality
`enables
`over the network 204. The IVM client 20S 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 20S by using the input device 21S to
`indicate a selection of one or more IVM recipients
`from the
`to the IVM server 202.
`list. The user selection is transmitted
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