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`||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||B
`
`U8008995433
`
`(12; United States Patent
`Rojas
`
`[10) Patent No.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,995,433 32
`*Mar. 31, 2015
`
`(54)
`
`(71}
`
`(72)
`
`(73)
`
`t “‘ 1
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(651
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`(52}
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOIP
`MESSAGING
`
`_
`Applicant: Empire 1P I.I.C_. NL‘W York, NY (US)
`.
`.
`Inventor: Michael .1. R01 as. North Canton. OH
`(115)
`Assignee: Empire 11’ LLC. Austin. TX (US)
`Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofihis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C‘. 154(1)) by 0 days.
`,
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`This 1331131?L 15 511111901 10 5' lemma? dIS-
`claimcr.
`
`Appl.No.: 141224.125
`:'
`..
`.
`I‘lLd' M“ 25* 2“”
`Prior Publication Data
`US 201410204935-11
`10.24.2014
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 131546.673. filed on
`.10]. ll. 2012, now Pat. No. 8.724.622. which is a
`continuation of application No. 121398063. filed on
`Mar. 4. 2009. now Pat. No. 8.243.723. which is a
`continuation of application No. 101740.030. filed on
`Dec. 18, 2003. now Pat. No. 7.535.890.
`
`Int. Cl.
`H041. 12266
`11041. 12/53
`11041113533
`1104M 7/00
`1104!. 29/06
`U.S. (Ii.
`CPC
`
`(200601)
`[2006.01]
`[2006.01]
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`H0412 51/04 (2013.01); H041. 12/581
`(2013.01 }; 11041143253366 (2013.01 ): H04.”
`
`7/1906 (2013.01); 1104M 2203/45361E2013.01):
`H041. 65/40 (2013.01); H04M3/533 (2013.01)
`USPC
`3701352; 7091206; 379188.17
`[58) Field ofClassificatinn Search
`(TPC
`[-1041, 65140; 1104M 31533: 1104M
`220314536
`USPC.
`3701352 7091206
`See application fileibr completesearch history
`References Cited
`[13 PATl'iN‘I‘IX)(_‘UM1€N’1‘S
`
`(56)
`
`7.12004 McZeia. Jr.
`6.753.226 B1
`3.12005 Rufet n1.
`7013.155 131"
`7.133.687 Bl’k [112006 ElvFishawyctal.
`7.317.929 31’“
`112008 ElvFishawycl :11.
`7.535.890 B2
`512009 Rojas
`8.199.747 132
`612012 Rojas
`8.243.223 B2
`8-"2012 Rojas
`2011150087632 Al
`512003 Sagi et a].
`200330126207 A1
`7-2003 Creamer et a].
`2004-0014456 Al
`112004 V'aananen
`33323-3333??? iii .
`333% 33133332}?
`(Continued)
`
`455-‘466
`455’466
`455-"466
`
`7041260
`
`Primmjv Examiner
`Creighton Smith
`(74) Attorney. Agent. or firm
`John R. Kasha: Kelly 1...
`Kasha: Keisha 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 ma}.r 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 dciivcring the
`stored instant voice message to the recipient once the recipi~
`ent becomes available.
`
`2'? Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`in"M CEMENT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`on men
`(on:
`new}:
`
`GOOGLE 1001
`
`GOOGLE 1001
`
`1
`
`

`

`US 8,995,433 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56}
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`200470085456
`200470122906
`200470128356
`200470179092
`200470223599
`200470224678
`20047022524
`2004-02 52679
`2005.-"0053230
`
`A1
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`f'\l
`Al"
`Al
`Al
`
`572004
`6.-'2004
`7:"2004
`9:"2004
`1 132004
`1 172004
`I “2004
`1272004
`372005
`
`Kwag at al.
`Goodman ct al.
`Bernstein el al.
`LaPoint
`Bear et a].
`Dahod et al.
`Narasimhan et :11.
`Williams at a].
`Gicrachf
`
`200 5.-"01 05 697
`200 5.-"01 I 759 l
`2006.-"00 944 72
`2006701 678 83
`2006.!02 687 50
`2007.301 12925
`200 7:"0 174403
`200 8-' 02 98309
`201070070275
`201270275452
`20 1 3.300 669 89
`2013-0279681
`
`Al
`A1
`Al“
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al
`Al *
`A1
`
`5’2 005
`6'2 005
`572 006
`772 006
`l 172 006
`5:"2 007
`7"}! 007
`1272 008
`3720 10
`l 1 I”20 12
`3:20 13
`l 0720 13
`
`Hoilowell et a].
`Huma et a].
`Othmcr et al.
`Boukob’za
`Weiner
`Malik
`Barry
`DePicho at a].
`Cast
`Rojas
`Enete el al.
`Weiner
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`705’]
`
`4553563
`
`709-206
`
`2
`
`

`

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`Mar. 31, 2015
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`US 8,995,433 BZ
`
`l
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSTANT VOTP
`MESSAGING
`
`CROSS-REFERENC E TO RELATED
`AI’PIJCNI‘ION
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica—
`tion Ser. No. 13546.67}. filed Jul. 11. 2012. which is a
`continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12898063 filed
`Mar. 4. 2009. now U.S. Pat. No. 8.243.723. issued Aug. 14.
`20l2. which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.
`IOEMOIISO tiled 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 01" "fl-IF. INVENTION
`
`1. Technical Field ofthe invention
`
`The present invention generally relates to Internet tele-
`phony (IP telephony). More particularly. the present inven-
`tion is directed to a system and method for enabling local and
`global instant VoIP messaging over an IP network. such as the
`Internet. with PSTN support.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Traditional telephony is based on a public switched tele-
`phone network (i.c.. “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 altemative to the PSTN is Voice over Internet Protocol
`
`(i.e.. “V"oll’“). also known as IP telephony or Internet teIe«
`phony. In the IP telephony. a V’oIP terminal device is con-
`nected to a packet-switched network (e.g.. lntemet) zmd voice
`communication front the Voll’ terminal device is digitized.
`packetized and transmitted over the packet-switched network
`to a destination V’oIP terminal device. which reconstructs the
`packets and audibly plays, stores or otherwise processes the
`transmission. The VoIP temiinal device may be a V’oIP 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 inputtoutput
`devices (cg. 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 sofiphone.
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative example of a prior art IP telephony
`system 100. The IP telephony system 100 comprisesa packet-
`switched IP network 102. such as the Internet. which trans-
`mits VoIP traffic from and to a plurality ofterminal devices
`104. 106 and 110. Temiinal device 104 is a VoIP softphone
`that is enabled for IP telephony over the network 102. Tenni—
`nal device 106 is a Voll’ telephone. which is connected to the
`network 102 via a softswitch 108. The V'oIP soflswitch 108 is
`disposed on the packet-switched network (e.g.. Internet) 102
`between an origination tenninal device [such as VollJ soft-
`phone 104) and a destination terminal device (such as VolP
`telephone 106). and routes packets over the packet~switched
`IP network 102. The soi’tswitch 108 may also manage and
`perform administrative functions for the terminal device or
`devices (cg. \r’oIP telephone 106) to which it is connected.
`Whether the terminal device is a VoIP softphone l 04 or a VoIP
`
`3t]
`
`4t]
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`telephone 106, the terminal device is comiected to the IP
`network 102 via a networking standard such as Ethernet.
`Bluetooth. IEEE 1394 (also known as “Firewire"). IEBE
`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
`protocolflnternet protocol {i.e.. “TC PHP").
`Further regarding FIG. 1. tenninal device 110 is a legacy
`telephone that is connected to a legacy switch 1 12 for {circuit-
`switched) voice communications over the PSTN 116 with
`other terminal devices. A media gateway 114 may be pro-
`vided between the legacy switch 1 12 and the packet-switched
`network 102 to enable IP telephony between the legacy tele—
`phone 110 and a Voll’ terminal device. such as a VolP 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 ] 18 may be disposed over
`the PSTN I 16 and connected to a softswitch 120 to convert
`the audio signal from the legacy telephone 110 to packets
`routed over the IP network 102 via the softswitch 120.
`
`Voice messaging in both the VoIP and PSTN is known.
`More 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 ofoptions, listening to a greet-
`ing message. and recording the message for later pickup by
`the recipient. In that message. the user must typically identify
`ltimsel f 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 temiinal. 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 tenni-
`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.
`I-Iowever. notwithstanding the foregoing advances in the
`VoIPt’PSTN voice communication and voiccttexl 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 PS'IN support.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for enabling local and global instant VolP 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 dis] iv-
`ering instant messages over a packet~switched network. the
`system comprising: a client connected to the network. the
`client selecting one or more recipients. generating an instant
`voice message therefor. and transmitting the selected recipi-
`ents and the instant voice message therefor over the network:
`
`12
`
`12
`
`

`

`3
`
`4
`
`US 8,995,433 B2
`
`and a serverconnected to the network, the server receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor, and
`delivering the instant voice message to the selected recipients
`over the network, the selected recipients being enabled to
`audibly play the instant voice message.
`According to another embodiment of the present invention.
`there is provided an instant voice messaging system for do] iv-
`ering instant messages over a packet-switched network
`enabling public switched telephone network (PSTN) support.
`the system comprising: a PSTN telephone connected to the
`network for providing input audio: a client connected to the
`network, the client selecting one or more recipients, generatv
`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 (Vbll’)
`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 VolP telephone. and
`transmitting the selected recipients and the instant voice mes-
`sage therefor over the network; a server connected to the
`network, the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor. and delivering the instant
`voice message to the selected recipients over the network, the
`selected recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant
`voice message.
`According to still another embodiment of the present
`invention. there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ofpacket-
`switched networks.
`the system comprising: a client con-
`nected to a local network, the client selecting one or more
`external recipients cotmected 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 extemal network,
`the server receiving the selected rwipients 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
`delivering instant messages over a plurality of packet-
`switched networks enabling public switched telephone net~
`work (PSTN) support, the system comprising: a PSTN tele~
`phone connected to a local network for providing input audio;
`a client connected to the local network. the client selecting
`one or more external recipients connected to an external
`network outside the local network. generating an instant
`voice message therefor using the input audio provided by the
`PSTN telephone. and transmitting the selected recipients and
`the instant voice message therefor over the local network and
`the external network: a server connected to the external net—
`work. the server receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor, and delivering the instant
`
`voice message to the selected recipients over the extemal
`network, the selected recipients being enabled to audibly play
`the instant voice message.
`According to yet a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ol‘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-
`
`10
`
`work, generating an instant voice message therefor using the
`input audio provided by the VoIP telephone, and transmitting
`the selected recipients amd the instant voice message therefor
`over the local network and the external network; an server
`connected to the external network, the external server receiv-
`ing the selected recipients and the instant voice message
`therefor, and delivering the instant voice message to the
`selected recipients over the external network, the selected
`recipients being enabled to audibly play the instant voice
`message.
`According to still a further embodiment of the present
`invention, there is provided an instant voice messaging sys-
`tem for delivering instant messages over a plurality ofpacket-
`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 recipient's being enabled
`to andibly play the instant voice message.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention.
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet—switched network. the method comprising: selecting
`one or more recipients for instant voice messaging at a client:
`generating an instant voice message for the selected recipi-
`ents at the client; transmitting the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor over the network from the
`client to a server; receiving the selected recipients and the
`instant voice message therefor at the server. delivering the
`instant voice message from the server to the selected recipi—
`ents over the network; and audibly playing the instant voice
`message at the selected recipients.
`Ac cording to another embodiment ofthe present invention.
`there is provided a method for instant voice messaging over a
`packet-swi tched 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.
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`According to a further embodiment of the present invenn
`tion. there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`over a packet-switched network. the method comprising: pro-
`viding input audio via a voice-over-intemet-protocol (V0113)
`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 Vol]J
`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-
`saging over a plurality of packet-switched networks.
`the
`method comprising: selecting one or more external recipients
`l‘or instant voice messaging at a client connected to a local
`network. the one or more external recipients connected to an
`extemal 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 extenial recipients over the
`external network; and audibly playing the instant voice mes-
`sage at the selected external recipients.
`According to yet another cmb odiment ofthe present inven-
`tion. there is provided a method for instant voice messaging
`system over a plurality ofpaeket-switched networks enabling
`public switched telephone network (PSTN) support.
`the
`method comprising: providing input audio via a PSTN tele—
`phone connected to a local network: selecting one or more
`external recipients for instant voice messaging at a client. the
`one or more external recipients connected to an external
`network outside the local network: generating an instant
`voice message for the one or more external recipients using
`the input audio provided by the PSTN telephone; transmitting
`the selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor
`over the local network and the external network: receiving the
`selected recipients and the instant voice message therefor at a
`server connected to the external network; delivering the
`instant voice message to the selected recipients from the
`server over the external network; and audibly playing the
`instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`According to still a fiirther 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 inpttt audio via a voice-
`over-internet-pmtocol (VolP) telephone cotuiected 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 therelbr over the local network and the exter-
`nal network: receiving the selected recipients and the instant
`voice message therefor at a server connected to the external
`network; delivering the instant voice message to the selected
`recipients from the server over the external network; and
`audibly playing the instant voice message at the selected
`recipients.
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`According to yet a further embodiment of the present
`invention. there is provided a method for instant voice mes-
`saging over a plttrality 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 forthc
`selected recipients at the client; transmitting the selected
`recipients and the instant voice message therefor over the
`external network from the client to an external server system:
`receiving the selected recipients and the instant voice mes-
`sage at the external server system: routing the selected recipi-
`ents and the instant voice message over the external network
`and the local network: receiving the selected recipients and
`the instant voice message therefor at a local server connected
`to the local network; delivering the instant voice message to
`the selected recipients over the local network; andibly playing
`the instant voice message at the selected recipients.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The objects. features and advantages ofthe present inven—
`tion will become apparent to one skilled in the art. in view of
`the fol lowing detailed description taken in combination with
`the attached drawings. in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art ll’ telephony
`system:
`FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary local IVM system for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary IVM client of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary IVM server of FIG. 2 for
`enabling instant voice messaging according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary global IVM system com—
`prising a local IVM system and global IVM clients. according
`to the present invention;
`FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary global IVM server system
`depicted in FIG. 5. according to the present invention:
`FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary transport server depicted in
`FIG. 6. according to the present invention:
`FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary directory server depicted in
`FIG. 6. according to the present invention: and
`FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary global lVM system com-
`prising a plurality of local IVM systems and global IVM
`clients. according to the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The present invention is directed to a system and method
`for enabling local and global instant \r’ollJ messaging over an
`IP network with PS'I‘N support.
`FIG. 2 is an exemplary illustration ol'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 tnessaging with PSTN support accord—
`ing to the present invention. The architecture of the local IV'M
`server 202 will be described in detail hereinbelovtr 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 NM client 206. 208 and legacy telephone 110 for clarity
`and brevity. the local IVM server 202 is enabled to support a
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`plurality of each of the foregoing IVM clients 206. 208 and
`legacy telephone 1 l 0. The local packet-switched IP network
`204 interconnects the WM clients 206. 208 and the legacy
`telephone 110 to the local IVM server 202 as well as inter-
`connecting the local IVM server 202 to the local IP network
`204. The network 204 may be a local area network (LAN). a
`wide area network (WAN). or the like. which supports both
`wired and wireless devices. The exemplary IVM client 208 is
`a Voll’ sol‘tphone, the architecture ot'which will be described
`in detail hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 3. A microphone
`212 is connected to the IV'M client 208 and enables the
`
`recording ol‘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 WM client 208 to select
`one or more recipients that are to receive the recorded instant
`voice message. Although not depicted in FIG. 2. the input
`device 218 may include a trackball. digitizing pad or mouse,
`or the like. A display device 216 is connected to the IVM
`client 208 to display instant voice messages recorded andfor
`received by a userofthe IVM client 208. An audio device 214.
`such as external speaker. is connected to the IVM client 208
`to play received instant voice messages. It is noted that the
`microphone 212. audio device 214, display device 216 and
`input device 218 may form integral parts of the WM client
`208.
`Further with reference to FIG. 2. IV’M 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 ofdisplaying
`instant voice messages recorded andtor received by a user of
`the lVM client 206 according to the present invention. The
`V’olP telephone 206 further comprises a handset andi’or
`speakerphone for recording instant voice messages and lis-
`tening to instant voice messages received at the Voll’ tele—
`phone 206 according to the present invention. The VoIP tele—
`phones which may be implemented to provide instant voice
`messaging functionality according to the present invention
`are commercially available from many vendors. including
`Alcatelm. l.,ttcentTM. NBC?“ and C iscoTM. to namejust a few.
`In addition to the foregoing IVM clients 206. 208. the IVM
`system 200 supports a legacy telephone 110 for instant voice
`messaging according to the present invention. The legacy
`telephone 110 is connected to a legacy switch 112. The legacy
`switch 112 is further connected to a media gateway 114. Both
`the legacy switch 112 and the media gateway 114 intercon-
`nect the legacy telephone 110 via the network 204 to the local
`IVM server 202. thereby facilitating instant voice messaging
`according to the present invention. The media gateway 114
`may be a gateway that supports trunk pack network control
`(i.e._. “TPNCP") protocol. media gateway control protocol
`[i.e.. “MGCP"), or a media gateway control [-1.428 protocol
`(i.e._. “M[?.GACO"). As previously mentioned. the media gate-
`way 114 converts the audio signal carried over PSTN to
`packets to be transmitted over a packet-switched 11’ network.
`such as the local network 204.
`
`The implementation of the instant voice messaging for
`IVM client 208 will be described first and will be followed by
`the implementations for lVM 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 lVM client 208 according
`to FIG. 2, the iV'lVl client (lVM softphone) 208 is connected
`over the network 204 to the WM server 202. which as afore-
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`mentioned enables instant voice messaging functionality
`over the network 204. The lV’M 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 hereiubelow with reference to FIG. 4. The user
`operates the [VM client 208 by using the input device 218 to
`indicate a selection of one or more IVM recipients from the
`list. The user selection is transmitted to the lVM server 202.
`The user selection also generates a start signal to the [VM
`client 208 that the user is r