I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111111
`US008724622B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Rojas
`
`(IO) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8, 724,622 B2
`*May 13, 2014
`
`(54) SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOiP
`MESSAGING
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Michael J. Rojas, North Canton, OH
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Empire IP LLC, Austin, TX (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/546,673
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 11, 2012
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2012/0275452 Al
`
`Nov. 1, 2012
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(63) Continuation of application No. 12/398,063, filed on
`Mar. 4, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,243,723, which is a
`continuation of application No. 10/740,030, filed on
`Dec. 18, 2003, now Pat. No. 7,535,890.
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04L 12/66
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ......................... 370/352; 709/206; 379/88.17
`( 58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ......................... 379/88.17; 709/206; 370/352
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`7,535,890 B2
`8,199,747 B2
`2003/0087632 Al
`2003/0126207 Al
`2004/0014456 Al
`2004/0030046 Al
`2004/0085456 Al
`2004/0122906 Al
`2004/0128356 Al
`2004/0179092 Al
`2004/0223599 Al*
`2004/0252679 Al
`2005/0053230 Al
`2005/0105697 Al
`2005/0117591 Al*
`2006/0167883 Al
`2006/02687 50 Al *
`2007/0112925 Al
`
`5/2009 Rojas
`6/2012 Rojas
`5/2003 Sagi et al.
`7 /2003 Creamer et al.
`1/2004 Vaiiniinen
`2/2004 Schultes et al.
`5/2004 Kwag et al.
`6/2004 Goodman et al.
`7 /2004 Bernstein et al.
`9/2004 La Point
`11/2004 Bear et al. ................ 379/207.02
`12/2004 Williams et al.
`3/2005 Gierachf
`5/2005 Hollowell et al.
`6/2005 Hurtta et al ................... 370/401
`7/2006 Boukobza
`11/2006 Weiner .......................... 370/260
`5/2007 Malik
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`http:/ /www. ci sco .corn/warp/publi cl cc/pd/nernnsw I callrnn/prodlit/
`cm33_ds.htm; "Data Sheet Cisco CallManager Version 3.3", Nov.
`22, 2002.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Creighton Smith
`John R. Kasha; Kelly L.
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm -
`Kasha; Kasha Law LLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`Methods, systems and programs for instant voice messaging
`over a packet-switched network are provided. A method for
`instant voice messaging may comprise receiving an instant
`voice message having one or more recipients, delivering the
`instant voice message to the one or more recipients over a
`packet-switched network, temporarily storing the instant
`voice message if a recipient is unavailable; and delivering the
`stored instant voice message to the recipient once the recipi(cid:173)
`ent becomes available.
`
`6,763,226 Bl
`7,372,826 B2 *
`
`7/2004 McZeal, Jr.
`5/2008 Dahod et al. .................. 370/328
`
`39 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`200
`(
`
`I
`
`~206
`
`IVM CLIENT
`(VoIP
`PHONE)
`
`Page 1 of 25
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1018
`Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A.
`IPR2017-01800
`
`

`

`US 8, 724,622 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2007/0174403 Al
`2008/0298309 Al *
`2009/0161664 Al
`2010/0070275 Al
`2013/0279681 Al*
`
`7 /2007 Barry
`12/2008 DePietro et al. .............. 370/328
`6/2009 Rojas
`3/2010 Cast
`10/2013 Weiner ..................... 379/207 .02
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`U.S. Office Action dated Oct. 18, 2011 received in related case,
`namely. U.S. Appl. No. 12/398,063, filed Mar. 4, 2009.
`
`"Teliphone
`
`http://www.hsteliann.com/ english/?zone~3 l OO-V2 l P;
`3100-V21P", 2003.
`http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/ AT5199947 519 .html;
`"Device Profile: snom 100 VoIP phone", May 15, 2002.
`the
`http://www.pingtel.com/pr_xpressa.jsp; No
`limits with
`advanced industry standard SIP phone, Dec. 8, 2003; and
`AudioCoded Enabling Technology Products, TPM-1100 VoP Media
`Gateway Modules; 2003.
`U.S. Final Office Action dated Jan. 25, 2012 received in related case,
`namely, U.S. Appl. No. 12/398,063 filed Mar. 4, 2009.
`Notice of Allowance dated Mar. 30, 2012 received in related case,
`namely, U.S. Appl. No. 12/398,063, filed Mar. 4, 2009.
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 1 of 9
`
`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`100
`
`i
`
`120
`= 0
`
`VoIP
`SWITCH
`
`102
`
`VoIP
`SOFTPHONE
`
`= LEGACY
`
`SWITCH
`110
`
`FIG. 1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Page 3 of 25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 2 of 9
`
`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`214
`
`216
`
`200
`(
`
`208
`
`212
`
`AUDIO
`FILE
`
`IVMCLIENT
`
`218
`!c:=s5\\
`
`204
`
`202
`
`LOCAL
`IVM
`SERVER
`
`I ~206
`
`IVM CLIENT
`(VoIP
`PHONE)
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Page 4 of 25
`
`

`

`208
`
`302
`(
`
`320
`)
`
`CLIENT
`ENGINE
`
`,....._, 304
`
`MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`306--
`
`DOCUMENT
`HANDLER
`
`-
`
`AUDIO r--.- 210
`FILE
`
`FILE
`308--
`~ MANAGER ,--
`f'----'
`,..._,__, 310
`MSG
`DATA-
`318
`316
`BASE
`-
`;
`I
`"-
`ENCRYPTION COMPRESSION
`SIGNAL
`PROCESSING DECRYPTION DECOMPRESSION
`
`!
`
`-
`
`AUDIO FILE r---312
`CREATION
`
`314
`(
`
`~
`
`FIG. 3
`
`I
`1
`
`--....____.
`
`TO LOCAL
`IVMSERVER
`202
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`......
`~
`
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`
`N
`0 ......
`
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`
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`('D
`
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`......
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`
`0 ......
`
`l,O
`
`d r.,;_
`
`00
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`N
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`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 5 of 25
`
`

`

`436
`)
`
`402
`!
`SERVER COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
`SERVER ENGlli1E
`(SWITCHING CORE)
`
`-.404
`
`TOIVM
`CLIENTS
`206,208
`
`'-- MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`426../'
`
`428-./
`
`430 __,
`
`STATION
`--- MANAGER
`
`'---
`
`GATEWAY
`MANAGER
`
`r--408
`
`r--410
`
`406__.,..
`
`r--
`
`CLIENT
`:MANAGER
`412
`)
`DATABASE 1 - -
`MANAGER
`
`,,----....
`t,.._....,
`1---- 414
`DATA-
`BASE
`
`432---- PROPRIETARY v1.--
`SERVER
`I/ v
`
`434-./ PROPRIETARY II
`SERVER
`
`CONTROL LAYER
`
`NON
`PROPRIETARY~
`
`SERVER "'
`
`NON
`PROPRIETARY
`SERVER
`
`'
`:----....I--.
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`......
`~~
`N
`0 ......
`
`.i;...
`
`TO
`GATEWAYS
`114
`
`('D
`
`rJJ =-('D
`......
`.i;...
`0 ......
`
`l,O
`
`416
`\
`
`I
`LCD
`MANAGER
`~
`418
`
`l
`!
`DHCP
`TFfP
`SERVER
`SERVER
`l
`l
`422
`420
`SUPPLEMENTAL SERVERS
`
`I
`HTIP
`SERVER
`)
`424
`
`d r.,;_
`
`00
`~
`N
`~
`O'I
`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 6 of 25
`
`

`

`r - - -
`1
`
`-
`
`-
`
`-
`
`500
`
`I
`
`NMSYSIBM
`200
`
`-
`
`I
`I
`I~
`I
`
`212
`
`!
`I
`[
`
`I I
`I
`I
`.............. - _ _
`
`-
`
`-
`
`510
`
`502 a GLOBAL
`
`~ r -=
`
`NM
`SERVER
`SYSTEM
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`......
`~
`
`~
`
`N
`0 ......
`
`.i;...
`
`l
`-
`m
`I ~ I
`~j;;=:j LOCAL
`~/IDS~I
`-
`I
`
`218
`
`M206
`
`~506
`
`NMCLIENT
`(VoIP
`I
`PflONE)
`
`('D
`('D
`
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`......
`Ul
`0 ......
`
`l,O
`
`-
`
`-
`
`IVMCIJENT
`(VoIP
`110
`PHONE)
`-~
`[111. ·~ LEGACY
`- _ _
`LJ
`PHONE
`FIG _____ _J
`.5
`
`IVMCLIENT
`
`d r.,;_
`
`00
`~
`N
`~
`O'I
`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 7 of 25
`
`

`

`600
`~
`
`502
`
`608
`
`510
`
`202
`
`IVM
`SYSTEM
`
`602
`
`•
`
`1P
`NETWORK
`(INTERNET)
`MESSAGES
`
`102
`
`GLOBALIVM
`SERVER
`SYSTEM
`
`FIG. 6
`
`~
`00
`•
`~
`~
`~
`
`~ = ~
`
`~
`~
`......
`~
`
`~
`
`N
`0 ......
`
`.i;...
`
`('D
`('D
`
`rJJ =(cid:173)
`......
`O'I
`0 ......
`
`l,O
`
`d r.,;_
`
`00
`~
`N
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`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 8 of 25
`
`

`

`604,606
`
`714
`)
`
`I
`
`MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`I
`
`11
`
`I I
`
`CL
`706----J W.ANAGER ,
`
`SERVER
`MANAGER
`
`702
`;
`COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
`I SERVER ~ 704
`IENT rH LOCAL
`
`ENGINE
`
`I
`
`L
`
`712
`
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`DATABASE
`__,,,
`'--
`
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`
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`MANAGER
`
`FIG. 7
`
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`00
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`~
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`
`~ = ~
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`0 ......
`
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`
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`
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`
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`......
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`
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`
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`
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`N
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`O'I
`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 9 of 25
`
`

`

`812
`)
`
`-
`
`MESSAGING
`SYSTEM
`
`..____..,,..._-
`
`608
`
`802
`;
`COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
`SERVER
`ENGINE
`
`----. 804
`
`USER
`808 ..,--- MANAGER
`
`806
`;
`LOCAL SERVER
`MANAGER
`
`810
`)
`TRANSPORT
`MANAGER
`
`FIG. 8
`
`~
`00
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`......
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`
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`
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`
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`
`d r.,;_
`
`00
`~
`N
`~
`O'I
`N
`
`N = N
`
`Page 10 of 25
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 13, 2014
`
`Sheet 9 of 9
`
`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`918
`
`920
`
`922
`
`924
`
`926
`
`928
`
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`(
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`GLOBAL NM
`SERVER SYSTEM
`TSl~
`
`604
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`940
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
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`!
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`916
`914
`912
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`
`FIG. 9
`
`Page 11 of 25
`
`

`

`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOiP
`MESSAGING
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
`No. 12/398,063 filed Mar. 4, 2009, which is now U.S. Patent
`Publication Number 2009/0161664 Al, published Jun. 25,
`2009, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
`10/740,030 filed on Dec. 18, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,535,
`890, issued May 19, 2009, the entire content and disclosure of
`which is incorporated by reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally relates to Internet tele(cid:173)
`phony (IP telephony). More particularly, the present inven(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`municate via a proprietary protocol, which may be different
`depending on the vendor of the legacy switch. Circuit switch(cid:173)
`ing provides a communication path (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(cid:173)
`phony. In the IP telephony, a VoIP terminal device is con(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`phone or a general-purpose personal computer (PC) enabled
`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 softphone.
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of a prior art IP telephony
`system 100. The IP telephony system 100 comprises a packet(cid:173)
`switched IP network 102, such as the Internet, which trans(cid:173)
`mits VoIP traffic from and to a plurality of terminal devices
`104, 106 and 110. Terminal device 104 is a VoIP softphone 55
`that is enabled forIP telephony over the network 102. Termi(cid:173)
`nal device 106 is a VoIP 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- 60
`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. 65
`Whether the terminal device is a VoIP soft
`telephone 106, the terminal device is c
`
`2
`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-
`10 switched) voice communications over the PSTN 116 with
`other terminal devices. A media gateway 114 may be pro(cid:173)
`vided between the legacy switch 112 and the packet-switched
`network 102 to enable IP telephony between the legacy tele(cid:173)
`phone 110 and a VoIP terminal device, such as a VoIP soft-
`15 phone 104 or VoIP telephone 106. More specifically, 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
`20 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 specifically, the foregoing systems may be provided
`with a facility to allow users to leave voice messages for
`25 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
`30 or navigating through a menu of options, listening to a greet(cid:173)
`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 specifi-
`35 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-
`40 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-
`45 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/PS TN voice communication and voice/text messaging,
`there is still a need in the art for providing a system and
`50 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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`
`Page 12 of 25
`
`

`

`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`3
`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(cid:173)
`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 10
`network, the client selecting one or more recipients, generat(cid:173)
`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 15
`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(cid:173)
`ents being enabled to audibly play the instant voice message.
`According to a further embodiment of the present inven- 20
`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;
`a client connected to the network, the client selecting one or 25
`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(cid:173)
`sage therefor over the network; a server connected to the
`network, the server receiving the selected recipients and the 30
`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(cid:173)
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet(cid:173)
`switched networks, the system comprising: a client con(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`for, and transmitting the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet(cid:173)
`switched networks enabling public switched telephone net(cid:173)
`work (PSTN) support, the system comprising: a PSTN tele(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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 ena
`the instant voice message.
`
`4
`According to yet a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys(cid:173)
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet(cid:173)
`switched networks, the system comprising: a voice-over-in(cid:173)
`ternet-protocol (VoIP) 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(cid:173)
`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
`connected to the external network, the external server receiv(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet(cid:173)
`switched networks, the system comprising: a client con(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`ents and the instant voice message 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
`35 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
`40 one or more recipients for instant voice messaging at a client;
`generating an instant voice message for the selected recipi(cid:173)
`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
`45 instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi(cid:173)
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`According to another embodiment of the present invention,
`50 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(cid:173)
`work; selecting one or more recipients for instant voice mes-
`55 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
`60 instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi(cid:173)
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`According to a further embodiment of the present inven-
`65 tion, there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`
`Page 13 of 25
`
`

`

`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`6
`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(cid:173)
`sage at the external server system; routing the selected recipi(cid:173)
`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
`10 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
`
`The objects, features and advantages of the present inven(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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
`
`5
`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.
`According to still another embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided a method for instant voice mes(cid:173)
`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 15
`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 20
`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- 25
`sage at the selected external recipients.
`According to yet another embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`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 30
`method comprising: providing input audio via a PSTN tele(cid:173)
`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 35
`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 40
`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 45
`invention, there is provided a method for instant voice mes(cid:173)
`saging system over a plurality of packet-switched networks,
`the method comprising: providing input audio via a voice(cid:173)
`over-internet-protocol (VoIP) telephone connected to a local
`network; selecting one or more external recipients for instant 50
`voice messaging at a client, the one or more external recipi(cid:173)
`ents connected to an external network outside the local net(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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 60
`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(cid:173)
`saging over a plurality of a plurality of packet-switched net(cid:173)
`works, the method comprising: selecting
`ents connected to a local network at a cli
`
`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(cid:173)
`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-
`55 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(cid:173)
`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
`65 legacy telephone 110. The local packet-switched IP network
`
`Page 14 of 25
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`

`

`US 8, 724,622 B2
`
`7
`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 file 210 for transmission to the local
`IVM server 202 over the network 204. An input device 218
`( 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 15
`client 208 to display instant voice messages recorded and/or
`received by a userofthe IVM client 208.Anaudio 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 20
`input device 218 may form integral parts of the IVM client
`208.
`Further with reference to FIG. 2, IVM client 206 is inter(cid:173)
`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 th