Instant message audio connection management system and method

An instant message monitoring and controlling system includes an instant message monitoring and controlling module, a user operation interface and a bluetooth module. The instant message monitoring and controlling module is used for monitoring and controlling plural instant message tools. The user operation interface is used for defining a bluetooth device therevia. The bluetooth module automatically searches the pairing codes required for connection with the bluetooth device. When the instant message monitoring and controlling module receives data from the instant message tools, one of the instant message tools is communicated with the bluetooth device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an instant message audio connection management system, and more particularly to an instant message audio connection management system for integrating plural instant message tools therewith and dynamically selecting an audio device. The present invention also relates to an instant message audio connection management method.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With increasing development and cost-effectiveness of the network technology, instant message software now rapidly gaining in popularity. For example, the well-known instant message software such as MSN Messenger, Skype, Yahoo Messenger and the like becomes the popular instant message tool. Such instant message software usually has a voice chat function. For most users, many different instant message tools are used to execute the voice chat function.

Although many different instant message tools installed in a same computer system provide diversity of executing the voice chat function, there are still some drawbacks. For example, when a remote user sends a chat invitation to a local user, the local user should find out the corresponding instant message tool at first. When the local user is invited to chat, a chat window is displayed on the computer screen. Next, the chat window is used as the foreground window, and then the local user may trigger a confirmation key on the foreground window to have the instant message software execute the voice chat function. That is, the procedure of executing the voice chat function by a specified instant message tool is both complicated and time-consuming.

Moreover, before the voice chat function is executed, the audio device should have been previously defined, which is also troublesome. Typically, there are two approaches of switching the audio device. The first approach defines or switches the audio device via the operation system of the computer. After the audio device is defined or switched, the instant message tools should be rebooted. The second approach defines or switches the audio device via the functional option menu provided by the instant message tools. If a voice chat is proceeding, the procedure of switching the audio device is not permitted. In other words, the voice chat needs to be terminated in order to switch the audio device. Therefore, such an approach is very inconvenient.

As known, the commercial audio devices for voice chat include for example bluetooth earphones, USB phones and the like. Unlike the conventional mobile phone, the instant message tools fail to be directly used with the Bluetooth device to respond the chat invitation or have a chat. In other words, the bluetooth earphones can be used as the general audio devices. After the Bluetooth connection software is executed, the bluetooth earphone is communicated with the computer. Then, the bluetooth earphone is defined or switched as the audio device by the above-mentioned inconvenient approaches.

In views of the above-described disadvantages resulted from the prior art, the applicant keeps on carving unflaggingly to develop an instant message audio connection management system and method according to the present invention through wholehearted experience and research.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an instant message audio connection management system and method, in which several different instant message tools are integrated into this system, so that the local user can receive the chat invitation from the remote user employing one of these instant message tools.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an instant message audio connection management system and method, in which the audio data can be rerouted between different audio devices, so that the audio device may be switched as required.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an instant message audio connection management system and method, in which the use mode of the bluetooth earphone is introduced into the audio chat use mode, so that the voice chat is accepted or terminated when the multifunction key thereof is activated.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instant message monitoring and controlling system. The system includes an instant message monitoring and controlling module, a user operation interface and a bluetooth module. The instant message monitoring and controlling module is used for monitoring and controlling plural instant message tools. The user operation interface is used for defining a bluetooth device therevia. The bluetooth module automatically searches the pairing codes required for connection with the bluetooth device. When the instant message monitoring and controlling module receives data from the instant message tools, one of the instant message tools is communicated with the bluetooth device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instant message monitoring and controlling system. The system includes an instant message monitoring and controlling module for monitoring and controlling plural instant message tools; a user operation interface for defining a first audio device therevia; and an audio screening module for rerouting the audio data from the first audio device to a second audio device when one of the instant message tools is executed to have a voice chat function.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instant message monitoring and controlling method. The method comprises steps of monitoring and controlling the data of plural instant message tools; defining a bluetooth device; and searching the pairing codes required for connection with the bluetooth device, wherein one of the instant message tools is communicated with the bluetooth device when the connection is established.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instant message monitoring and controlling method. The method comprises steps of monitoring and controlling the statuses of plural instant message tools; switching a first audio device to a second audio device; and rerouting the audio data from the first audio device to the second audio device when one of the instant message tools is executed to have a voice chat function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An instant message audio connection management system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated with reference to the schematic functional block diagram ofFIG. 1. The instant message audio connection management system100ofFIG. 1can be applied to a notebook computer and/or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

Several different instant message tools112,114and116are integrated into this system, so that the local user can receive the chat invitation from the remote user employing one of these instant message tools. Moreover, the audio data can be rerouted between different audio devices. Even when the local user is having a chat, the audio device may be switched as required.

The instant message audio connection management system100of the present invention further refers to the use mode of the bluetooth earphone, so that the voice chat is accepted or terminated when the multifunction key thereof is activated. As a consequence, the instant message audio connection management system100of the present invention is convenient and user-friendly.

The instant message audio connection management system100ofFIG. 1includes an instant message monitoring and controlling module110, a user operation interface120and a bluetooth module130. By wired communication networks or wireless communication networks, the instant message monitoring and controlling module110is communicated with the instant message tools112,114and116in order to monitor and control these instant message tools112,114and116. An example of the wired communication networks include but are not limited to world wide webs, wide area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs) or various special lines. Exemplary wireless communication networks include mobile phone networks or wireless local area networks (WLANs). For example, the instant message tools112,114and116are MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger and Skype, respectively. The instant message monitoring and controlling module110is responsible for detecting the packets transmitted by the instant message tools112,114and116, and discriminating whether someone invites to chat or whether either of the instant message tools112,114and116is being used to have a chat with the system100.

By the instant message monitoring and controlling module110, the priority order of the instant message tools112,114and116is determined. In an embodiment, according to the priority order setting, the instant message tool112(e.g. MSN Messenger) has a higher priority than the instant message tool114(e.g. Yahoo Messenger) and the instant message tool114has a higher priority than the instant message tool116(e.g. Skype). When the local user is invited to chat by several chat invitations at the same time, the instant message tool having a higher priority is selected to respond the invitation. For example, in a case that chat invitations are simultaneously received by the instant message tools112and114, the connection management system will respond to the instant message tool112according to the priority order setting. Even when the local user is having a chat with the system100by the instant message tool116, the chat will be interrupted and an audio connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and another instant message tool having a higher priority (for example the instant message tool112, e.g. MSN Messenger) will be established.

Via the user operation interface120of the system100, the functions of a bluetooth device132and a non-bluetooth device134are defined. For example, the bluetooth device132is a bluetooth earphone to be defined as a first audio device or a preset audio device. The non-bluetooth device134is for example an external speaker and microphone to be defined as a second audio device or an external audio device.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the bluetooth module130will automatically search a paring code of the bluetooth device132. Take a bluetooth earphone as the bluetooth device132for example. The instant message monitoring and controlling module110may actively locate the bluetooth earphone and try to communicate with the bluetooth earphone by searching the paring codes (e.g. 4444, 0000, 1234, etc.) of the general bluetooth earphone. If there is a successful paring, the connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and the bluetooth device132is established. Under this circumstance, the local user may chat with the remote user by using one of the instant message tools112,114and116.

Moreover, the instructions issued from the bluetooth device132can be transmitted to the instant message monitoring and controlling module110through the bluetooth module130, thereby controlling the audio communication operations of the instant message tools112,114and116. Examples of the audio communication operations include but are not limited to reception of audio chat invitations, call waiting of audio chats, ending chats, having video chats, and so on. For example, after the bluetooth module130successfully searches a pairing code and the connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and the bluetooth device132is established, the bluetooth device132can receive the chat invitation sent from the instant message tool112when the multifunction key thereof is activated.

In some embodiments, the system100further includes a hot key module140. By actuating the hot key module140, an audio device is disabled but another audio device is enabled. For example, via the user operation interface120, a hot key is defined to implement the functions originally triggered by several individual function keys. In an embodiment, a specified function key on the bluetooth device132is a hot key. When the hot key is pressed down, the built-in audio device (not shown) of the system100can be switched to the bluetooth device132. It is noted that, however, those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the functions of the hot key module may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, by actuating the hot key module140, the bluetooth device132is switched to the non-bluetooth device134, or the built-in audio device (not shown) of the system100is switched to the non-bluetooth device134, or the bluetooth device132is switched to another bluetooth device (not shown). Accordingly, the above disclosure should be limited only by the bounds of the following claims.

Moreover, the hot key module140is also used for controlling the audio communication operations of the instant message tools112,114and116. Likewise, via the user operation interface120, a hot key of the hot key module140is defined to implement the functions originally triggered by several individual function keys.

In some embodiments, the system100further includes an audio screening module150. For example, the audio screening module150is composed of an audio screening proxy (not shown) and an audio screening driver (not shown). When one of the instant message tools112,114and116is executed to have a chat with the system100, an audio device switching instruction may be issued to the system100by the user operation interface120and the hot key module140. In response to the audio device switching instruction, the built-in audio device is switched to the external audio device such as the bluetooth device132or the non-bluetooth device134. The specified information issued from the system100will be received by the audio screening proxy of the audio screening module150and then transmitted to the audio screening driver. Under this circumstance, the audio data will be rerouted from the built-in audio device to the selected audio device such as the bluetooth device132or the non-bluetooth device134. The detailed description of the audio screening module150is disclosed in for example a co-pending Taiwanese Patent Application No. 094147667, entitled “Dynamic audio data rerouting system, structure and method”, which was filed by the same assignee of the present application on Dec. 30, 2005, and the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Hereinafter, an instant message monitoring and controlling method will be illustrated with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 2. This method is applied to the instant message monitoring and controlling system100as shown inFIG. 1. The system100ofFIG. 1includes an instant message monitoring and controlling module110for monitoring and controlling the instant message tools112,114and116; a user operation interface120for defining the selected audio device such as the bluetooth device132or the non-bluetooth device134; a bluetooth module130for automatically searching the pairing codes required for connection with the bluetooth device132; a hot key module140actuated to be switched to the desired audio device; and an audio screening module150for rerouting the audio data to the selected audio device such as the bluetooth device132or the non-bluetooth device134.

First of all, the instant message monitoring and controlling module110monitors and controls the data of the instant message tools112,114and116(Step202). For example, the instant message monitoring and controlling module110is responsible for detecting the packets transmitted by the instant message tools112,114and116, and discriminating whether someone invites to chat or whether either of the instant message tools112,114and116is being used to have a chat with the system100.

If one of the instant message tools112,114and116is invited to chat (Step204), it is determined whether either of the instant message tools112,114and116is being used to have a chat with the system100(Step206). For example, if the instant message tool114is being used to have a chat with the system100and the instant message tool112is invited to chat, the instant message monitoring and controlling module110will determine the priority order of the instant message tools112and114(Step208). If the instant message tool112has a higher priority than the instant message tool114, the chat by the instant message tool114will be interrupted and an audio connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and the instant message tools112will be established. Whereas, if the instant message tool112has a lower priority than the instant message tool114, the chart invitation by the instant message tool112is ignored.

Whereas, if no other instant message tool is being used to have a chat with the system100(Step206), the instant message monitoring and controlling module110will accept the chat invitation of the instant message tool114(Step210). When the chat is proceeding, the built-in audio device can be switched to the bluetooth device132via the user operation interface120and/or the hot key module140(Step212).

In a case that the selected audio device is the bluetooth device132, the bluetooth module130will automatically search paring codes required for connection with the bluetooth device132. For example, if the bluetooth earphone is defined as the bluetooth device132via the user operation interface120, the instant message monitoring and controlling module110may actively locate the bluetooth earphone and try to communicate with the bluetooth earphone by searching the paring codes (e.g. 4444, 0000, 1234, etc.) of the general bluetooth earphone. If there is a successful paring, the connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and the bluetooth device132is established. Under this circumstance, the local user may chat with the remote user by using one of the instant message tools112,114and116.

In response to the audio device switching instruction, the specified information issued from the system100will be received by the audio screening proxy of the audio screening module150and then transmitted to the audio screening driver. Under this circumstance, the audio data will be rerouted from the built-in audio device to the selected audio device such as the bluetooth device132or the non-bluetooth device134(Step214).

Alternatively, the audio device switching instruction may be transmitted from the bluetooth device132to the system100through the bluetooth module130, thereby controlling audio communication operations of the instant message tools112,114and116. Examples of the audio communication operations include but are not limited to reception of audio chat invitations, call waiting of audio chats, ending chats, having video chats, and so on. For example, after the bluetooth module130successfully searches a pairing code and the connection between the instant message monitoring and controlling module110and the bluetooth device132is established, the bluetooth device132can receive the chat invitation sent from the instant message tool112when the multifunction key thereof is activated.