111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007535890B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Rojas
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,535,890 B2
`May 19, 2009
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANTVOIP
`MESSAGING
`
`Inventor: Michael J. Rojas, North Canton, OH
`(US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Ayalogic,
`
`Inc., Akron, OH (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`the term of this
`to any disclaimer,
`Subject
`is extended or adjusted under 35
`patent
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 799 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 101740,030
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 18, 2003
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2005/0135333 Al
`Jun. 23, 2005
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04L 12/66
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`Field of Classification Search
`(58)
`
`(2006.01)
`
`370/352; 709/206
`370/354,
`370/352
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,763,226 BI *
`2003/0087632 Al *
`2003/0126207 Al *
`2004/0030046 Al *
`2004/0122906 Al *
`2004/0128356 Al *
`2004/0252679 Al *
`2005/0053230 Al *
`2005/0105697 Al *
`2006/0167883 Al *
`2006/0268750 Al *
`
`455/90.2
`7/2004 McZeal, Jr.................
`455/414
`5/2003
`Sagi et al.
`...................
`7091204
`7/2003 Creamer et al.
`.............
`212004 Schultes et al.
`525171
`...............
`7091206
`6/2004 Goodman et al.
`...........
`7091206
`7/2004 Bernstein et al.
`............
`370/356
`1212004 Williams et al.
`............
`3/2005 Gierachf
`379/406.06
`................
`5/2005 Hollowell et al.
`........
`379/88.13
`7/2006 Boukobza
`707/10
`....................
`3701260
`1112006 Weiner
`.......................
`
`2007/0112925 Al *
`2007/0174403 Al *
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`5/2007 Malik
`7/2007 Barry
`
`7091206
`7091207
`
`Iswitches/ps 1925 I
`"Data Sheet Cisco
`
`00- V21 P;
`
`"Teliphonc
`
`c/ cc/pdlnernnsw Icallrnn/prodlitl
`http://www.cisco.comlwarp/publi
`cm33_ds.htm;
`"Data Sheet Cisco CallManager Version 3.3", Nov.
`22,2002.
`http://www.cisco.comien/US/products/hw
`products_data_sheet_09186a00800a3c3d.html;
`MGX 8000 Series" (date unknown).
`http://www.hsteliann.comlenglish/?zone~31
`3100-V2IP",
`2003.
`519994 7519 .html;
`http://www.linuxdevices.comiarticies.AT
`"Device Profile: snom 100 VoIP phone", May 15, 2002.
`http://www.pingtel.comlprxpressa.jsp;
`No limits with the advanced
`industry standard SIP phone; Dec. 8, 2003.
`AudioCoded Enabling Technology Products, TPM -11 00 VoP Media
`Gateway Modules, copyright 2003.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Creighton
`Smith
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Scully,
`Presser, P.C.
`
`Scott, Murphy &
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`system (and
`There is provided an instant voice messaging
`method)
`for delivering
`instant messages
`over a packet-
`switched network,
`the system comprising: a client connected
`to the network,
`the client selecting one or more recipients,
`generating an instant voice message therefor, and transmit-
`ting the selected recipients
`and the instant voice message
`therefor over the network;
`and a server connected to the
`network,
`the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`and delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected recipients over the network,
`the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`
`70 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`200
`(
`
`202
`
`LOCAL
`IVM
`SERVER
`
`208
`
`212
`
`I AUDIO
`IVM CUENT FILE
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`i i
`
`~8
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`I
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`/
`I
`i
`j
`~206
`
`IVMCUENT
`(VoIP
`PHONE)
`
`Page 1 of 27
`
`Samsung Exhibit 1001
`
`

`

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`
`May 19, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of9
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`US 7,535,890 B2
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`100i
`
`120
`
`= LEGACY
`SWITCH
`110
`
`FIG~1
`(PRIOR ART)
`
`Page 2 of 27
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`Page 3 of 27
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`

`

`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANTVOIP
`MESSAGING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`20
`
`25
`
`15
`
`2
`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
`PSTN to packets carried over the packet-switched
`IP network
`102. In addition, a media gateway 118 may be disposed over
`the PSTN 116 and connected to a softswitch 120 to convert
`the audio signal
`from the legacy telephone 110 to packets
`10 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
`recipients, which is a feature that is familiar
`to anyone who
`uses a telephone. Conventionally,
`leaving a voice message
`involves dialing the recipient's
`telephone
`number
`(often
`without knowing whether the recipient will answer), waiting
`for the connection to be established,
`speaking to an operator
`or navigating through a menu of options,
`listening to a greet-
`ing message, and recording the message for later pickup by
`the recipient.
`In that message,
`the user must typically identify
`himself or herself in order for the recipient
`to return the call.
`Instant
`text messaging is likewise known. More specifi-
`cally, a user
`is provided with a client
`terminal, which is
`typically a general-purpose PC programmed with instant text
`messaging software and in data communication
`over an IP
`network with an instant
`text-messaging
`server. The instant
`text-messaging
`server presents the user, via the client termi-
`nal, with a list of persons who are currently "online"
`and
`ready to receive text messages on their own client terminals.
`The user then uses the client
`terminal
`to select one or more
`persons to whom the message will be sent and types in a text
`message. The text message is sent immediately via the text-
`messaging server to the selected one or more persons and is
`displayed on their respective client terminals.
`in the
`However, notwithstanding
`the foregoing advances
`VoIP/PSTN voice communication
`and voice/text messaging,
`there is still a need in the art for providing a system and
`method for providing
`instant VoIP messaging
`over an IP
`network. More particularly,
`there is a need in the art for
`providing local and global instant voice messaging over VoIP
`with PSTN support.
`
`1. Technical Field of the Invention
`tele-
`to Internet
`The present
`invention generally relates
`inven-
`phony (IP telephony). More particularly,
`the present
`tion is directed to a system and method for enabling local and
`global instant VoIP messaging over an IP network, such as the
`Internet, with PSTN support.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Traditional
`telephony is based on a public switched tele-
`phone network (i.e., "PSTN").
`In the PSTN, a telephone
`terminal
`is electrically connected to a conventional or legacy
`switch. The telephone terminal and the legacy switch com-
`municate via a proprietary protocol, which may be different
`depending on the vendor of the legacy switch. Circuit switch-
`ing provides a 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-
`phony.
`In the IP telephony, a VoIP terminal device is con-
`nected to a packet -switched network (e.g., Internet) and voice
`communication
`from the VoIP terminal device is digitized,
`packetized and transmitted over the packet -switched network
`to a destination VoIP terminal device, which reconstructs
`the 30
`packets and audibly plays, stores or otherwise processes
`the
`transmission. The VoIP terminal device may be a VoIP tele-
`phone or a general-purpose
`personal computer
`(PC) enabled
`for IP telephony. More 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 aVoIP terminal device. The PC so enabled
`and equipped will herein be referred to as a VoIP terminal
`device or a VoIP softphone.
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of a prior art IP telephony
`system 100. The IP telephony system 100 comprises a packet-
`switched IP network 102, such as the Internet, which trans-
`mits VoIP 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 108. The VoIP softswitch 108 is
`disposed on the packet-switched
`network (e.g., Internet) 102
`between an origination terminal device (such as VoIP soft-
`phone 104) and a destination terminal device (such as VoIP
`telephone 106), and routes packets over the packet-switched
`IP network 102. The softswitch 108 may also manage and
`perform administrative
`functions
`for the terminal device or
`devices (e.g., VoIP telephone 106) to which it is connected.
`Whether the terminal device is a VoIP softphone 104 or aVoIP
`telephone
`106,
`the terminal device is connected to the IP
`network 102 via a networking
`standard such as Ethernet,
`Bluetooth,
`IEEE 1394 (also known as "Firewire"),
`IEEE
`802.11 (also known as "Wil i"), or networking over serial
`communication
`channels
`such as the Universal Serial Bus
`(i.e., "USB"). Data communication
`over the network then
`takes place using a connection protocol, e.g., transfer control
`protocol/Internet
`protocol
`(i.e., "TCP/IP").
`Further regarding FIG. 1, terminal device 110 is a legacy
`telephone that is connected to a legacy switch 112 for (circuit-
`switched) voice communications
`over the PSTN 116 with
`other terminal devices. A media gateway 114 may be pro-
`
`35
`
`40
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`45
`
`50
`
`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.
`invention,
`of the present
`According
`to an embodiment
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv-
`ering instant messages over a packet-switched
`network,
`the
`system comprising:
`a client connected to the network,
`the
`client selecting one or more recipients, generating an instant
`voice message therefor, and transmitting the selected recipi-
`55 ents and the instant voice message therefor over the network;
`and a server connected to the network,
`the server receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor, and
`delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients
`over the network,
`the selected recipients being enabled to
`60 audibly play the instant voice message.
`invention,
`According to another embodiment of the present
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for deliv-
`ering instant messages
`over a packet-switched
`network
`enabling public switched telephone network (PSTN) support,
`65 the system comprising:
`a PSTN telephone connected to the
`network for providing input audio; a client connected to the
`network,
`the client selecting one or more recipients, generat-
`
`Page 11 of 27
`
`

`

`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`10
`
`15
`
`3
`ing an instant voice message therefor using the input audio
`provided
`by the PSTN telephone,
`and transmitting
`the
`selected recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor
`over the network;
`a server connected to the network,
`the
`server receiving the selected recipients and the instant voice
`message therefor, and delivering the instant voice message to
`the selected recipients over the network,
`the selected recipi-
`ents being enabled to audibly play the instant voice message.
`According to a further embodiment of the present
`inven-
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`delivering instant messages over a packet-switched
`network,
`the system comprising: a voice-over-internet-protocol
`(VoIP)
`telephone connected to the network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the network,
`the client selecting one or
`more recipients, generating an instant voice message therefor
`using the input audio provided by the VoIP telephone,
`and
`transmitting the selected recipients and the instant voice mes-
`sage therefor over the network;
`a server connected to the
`network,
`the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`and delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected recipients over the network,
`the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`the present
`of
`embodiment
`to still another
`According
`invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet-
`switched networks,
`the system comprising:
`a client con-
`nected to a local network,
`the client selecting one or more
`external recipients connected to an external network outside
`the local network, generating an instant voice message there-
`for, and transmitting the selected recipients
`and the instant
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter-
`nal network; and a server connected to the external network,
`the server receiving the selected recipients
`and the instant
`voice message therefor, and delivering the instant voice mes-
`sage to the selected recipients over the external network,
`the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`inven-
`According to yet another embodiment of the present
`tion, there is provided an instant voice messaging system for
`delivering
`instant messages
`over a plurality
`of packet-
`switched networks enabling public switched telephone net-
`work (PSTN) support,
`the system comprising:
`a PSTN tele-
`phone connected to a local network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the local network,
`the client selecting
`one or more external
`recipients
`connected to an external
`network outside the local network,
`generating
`an instant
`voice message therefor using the input audio provided by the
`PSTN telephone, and transmitting the selected recipients and
`the instant voice message therefor over the local network and 50
`the external network; a server connected to the external net-
`work,
`the server
`receiving the selected recipients
`and the
`instant voice message
`therefor,
`and delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected recipients over the external
`network,
`the selected recipients being enabled to audibly play 55
`the instant voice message.
`of the present
`According
`to yet a further embodiment
`invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet-
`switched networks,
`the system comprising:
`a voice-over-in-
`ternet-protocol
`(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-
`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
`
`4
`over the local network and the external network; an server
`connected to the external network,
`the external server receiv-
`ing the selected recipients
`and the instant voice message
`therefor,
`and delivering the instant voice message
`to the
`selected recipients over the external network,
`the selected
`recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant voice
`message.
`of the present
`to still a further embodiment
`According
`invention,
`there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet-
`switched networks,
`the system comprising:
`a client con-
`nected to an external network,
`the client selecting one or more
`recipients connected to a local network, generating an instant
`voice message therefor, and transmitting the selected recipi-
`ents and the instant voice 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
`over the local network,
`the selected recipients being enabled
`to audibly play the instant voice message.
`invention,
`According
`to an embodiment
`of the present
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet-switched
`network,
`the method comprising:
`selecting
`one or more recipients for instant voice messaging at a client;
`generating an instant voice message for the selected recipi-
`ents at the client;
`transmitting the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor over the network from the
`client
`to a server;
`receiving the selected recipients
`and the
`instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi-
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`invention,
`According to another embodiment of the present
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet-switched network enabling public switched telephone
`network (PSTN) support,
`the method comprising: providing
`input audio via a PSTN telephone
`connected over the net-
`work; selecting one or more recipients for instant voice mes-
`saging at a client; generating an instant voice message using
`the input audio from the PSTN telephone
`for the selected
`recipients
`at the client;
`transmitting
`the selected recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor over the network from
`the client to a server; receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor at the server; delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi-
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`inven-
`According to a further embodiment of the present
`tion, there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`over a packet-switched network,
`the method comprising: pro-
`viding input audio via a voice-over-internet-protocol
`(VoIP)
`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
`65 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.
`
`20
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`25
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`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
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`Page 12 of 27
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`

`US 7,535,890 B2
`
`5
`
`6
`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
`
`inven-
`features and advantages of the present
`The objects,
`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;
`an exemplary
`FIG. 2 illustrates
`enabling instant voice messaging
`invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary IVM client of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging
`according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary IVM server of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging
`according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary global IVM system com-
`prising a local IVM system and global IVM clients, according
`to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary global IVM server system
`depicted in FIG. 5, according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary transport server depicted in
`FIG. 6, according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary directory server depicted in
`FIG. 6, according to the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary global IVM system com-
`prising a plurality of local
`IVM systems and global
`IVM
`clients, according to the present
`invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`the present
`of
`embodiment
`to still another
`According
`invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`saging over a plurality of packet-switched
`networks,
`the
`method comprising:
`selecting one or more external recipients
`for instant voice messaging at a client connected to a local
`network,
`the one or more external recipients connected to an
`external network outside the local network; generating an
`instant voice message for the selected external
`recipients at
`the client; transmitting the selected external recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor over the local network and the
`external network;
`receiving the selected external
`recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor at an external server
`connected to the external network; delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected external
`recipients over the
`external network; and audibly playing the instant voice mes-
`sage at the selected external recipients.
`inven-
`According to yet another embodiment of the present
`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 20
`method comprising: providing input audio via a PSTN tele-
`phone connected to a local network;
`selecting one or more
`external recipients for instant voice messaging at a client, the
`one or more external
`recipients
`connected to an external
`network outside the local network; generating
`an instant
`voice message for the one or more external recipients using
`the input audio provided by the PSTN telephone;
`transmitting
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`over the local network and the external network; receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor at a 30
`server connected
`to the external network;
`delivering
`the
`instant voice message
`to the selected recipients
`from the
`server over the external network;
`and audibly playing the
`instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`According to still a further embodiment
`of the present
`invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`saging system over a plurality of packet-switched
`networks,
`the method comprising: providing input audio via a voice-
`over-internet-protocol
`(VoIP) telephone connected to a local
`network; selecting one or more external recipients for instant
`voice messaging at a client,
`the one or more external recipi-
`ents connected to an external network outside the local net-
`work; generating an instant voice message for the one or more
`external recipients using the input audio provided by the VoIP
`telephone;
`transmitting the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor over the local network and the exter-
`nal network;
`receiving the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor at a server connected to the external
`network; delivering the instant voice message to the selected
`recipients
`from the server over the external network;
`and 50
`audibly playing the instant voice message
`at the selected
`recipients.
`of the present
`to yet a further embodiment
`According
`invention,
`there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`saging over a plurality of a plurality of packet-switched
`net-
`works,
`the method comprising:
`selecting one or more recipi-
`ents connected to a local network at a client connected to an
`external network; generating an instant voice message for the
`selected recipients
`at
`the client;
`transmitting
`the selected
`recipients
`and the instant voice message therefor over the
`external network from the client to an external server system;
`receiving the selected recipients
`and the instant voice mes-
`sage at the external server system; routing the selected recipi-
`ents and the instant voice message over the external network
`and the local network;
`receiving the selected recipients and 65
`the instant voice message therefor at a local server connected
`to the local network; delivering the instant voice message to
`
`40
`
`45
`
`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-
`tion. The instant voice messaging
`system 200 comprises
`a
`local IVM server 202 that provides the core functionality for
`enabling instant voice messaging with PSTN support accord-
`ing to the present
`invention. The architecture of the local IVM
`server 202 will be described in detail hereinbelow with ref-
`erence to FIG. 4. According to the exemplary IVM system
`200, the local IVM server 202 is enabled to provide instant
`voice messaging to one or more IVM clients 206 and 208, as
`well support
`instant voice messaging for PSTN legacy tele-
`phones 110. It is noted that although FIG. 2 depicts one of
`each IVM client 206, 208 and legacy telephone 110 for clarity
`and brevity, the local IVM server 202 is enabled to support a
`plurality of each of the foregoing IVM clients 206, 208 and
`legacy telephone 110. The local packet-switched
`IP network
`204 interconnects
`the IVM clients 206, 208 and the legacy
`telephone 110 to the local IVM server 202 as well as inter-
`connecting the local IVM server 202 to the local IP network
`204. The network 204 may be a local area network (LAN), a
`60 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
`
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`Page 13 of 27
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`US 7,535,890 B2
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`is connected to the IVM client 208 to select
`(e.g., a keyboard)
`one or more recipients that are to receive the recorded instant
`voice message. Although not depicted in FIG. 2, the input
`device 218 may include a trackball, digitizing pad or mouse,
`or the like. A display device 216 is connected to the IVM
`client 208 to display instant voice messages recorded and/or
`received by a user of the IVM client 208. An audio device 214,
`such as external speaker,
`is connected to the IVM client 208
`It is noted that the
`to play received instant voice messages.
`microphone 212, audio device 214, display device 216 and 10
`input device 218 may form integral parts of the IVM client
`208.
`Further with reference to FIG. 2, IVM client 206 is inter-
`connected via the network 204 to the local IVM server 202.
`An exemplary IVM client 206 is a VoIP telephone, which
`comprises a screen display (not shown) capable of displaying
`instant voice messages recorded and/or received by a user of
`the IVM client 206 according to the present
`invention. The
`VoIP telephone
`206 further
`comprises
`a handset
`and/or
`speakerphone
`for recording instant voice messages and lis-
`tening to instant voice messages
`received at the VoIP tele-
`phone 206 according to the present
`invention. The VoIP tele-
`phones which may be implemented to provide instant voice
`messaging fnnctionality
`according to the present
`invention
`are commercially
`available from many vendors,
`including
`Alcatel™, Lucent™, NEC™ and Cisco™,
`to name just a few.
`In addition to the foregoing IVM clients 206, 208, the IVM
`system 200 supports a legacy telephone 11 0 for instant voice
`messaging
`according to the present
`invention. The legacy
`telephone 110 is connected to a legacy switch 112. The legacy 30
`switch 112 is further connected to a media gateway 114. Both
`the legacy switch 112 and the media gateway 114 intercon-
`nect the legacy telephone 11 0 via the network 204 to the local
`IVM server 202, thereby facilitating instant voice messaging
`according to the present
`invention. The media gateway 114 35
`may be a gateway that supports trnnk pack network control
`(i.e., "TPNCP")
`protocol, media gateway control protocol
`(i.e., "MGCP"), or a media gateway control H.428 protocol
`(i.e., "MEGACO"). As previously mentioned,
`the media gate-
`way 114 converts
`the audio signal carried over PSTN to 40
`packets to be transmitted over a packet-switched
`IP network,
`such as the local network 204.
`for
`The implementation
`of the instant voice messaging
`IVM client 208 will be described first and will be followed by
`the implementations
`for IVM client 206 and legacy telephone
`110, with reference to the local IVM system 200 depicted in
`FIG. 2. These implementations
`implement a "record mode"
`of the instant voice messaging according to the present
`inven-
`tion. There will further be described an "intercom mode" of
`the instant voice messaging according to the present
`inven-
`tion. Therefore,
`in operation of the IVM client 208 according
`to FIG. 2, the IVM client (IVM softphone) 208 is connected
`over the network 204 to the IVM server 202, which as afore-
`mentioned
`enables
`instant voice messaging
`fnnctionality
`over the network 204. The IVM client 208 displays a list of
`one or more IVM recipients on its display 216, provided and
`stored by the local IVM server 202, as will be particularly
`described hereinbelow with reference
`to FIG. 4. The user
`operates the IVM client 208 by using the input device 218 to
`indicate a selection of one or more IVM recipients
`from the 60
`list. The user selection is transmitted to the IVM server 202.
`The user selection also generates a start signal
`to the IVM
`client 208 that the user is ready to begin instant voice mes-
`saging according to the present
`invention.
`In response to the
`start signal, the IVM client (softphone) 208 listens to the input
`audio device 212 and records the user's
`speech into a digi-
`tized audio file 210 (i.e., instant voice message) stored on the
`
`8
`IVM client 208. The audio file 210 at the IVM client 208 is
`finalized via a stop sig