Abstract:
The present invention is system and method for holding voice chat over a telephone network. An embodiment for implementing the invention can comprise the following steps. First, a caller accesses the chat service by dialing a telephone number that is associated with the service of the present invention. Second, the caller is routed to a conference bridge circuit. Third, the subscriber enters a public chat room. Fourth, the subscriber participates in the public chat room that he or she had entered. While in the public chat room, the subscriber hears the voices of other chatters in the public chat room, and those chatters hear the subscriber&#39;s voice when the subscriber speaks. Fifth, at anytime, the subscriber may leave the public chat room by pressing an appropriate key on the keypad. In the preferred embodiment, two or more chatters may request to be placed in a private chat room for a private discussion that is not heard by other chatters of the public chat room.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to telecommunication, and more particularly to voice chat services over telephone networks. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   Live “chat” on the Internet has become one of the most popular ways to communicate. Participants of Internet chat often express their ideas freely because each of them may remain anonymous. Chatters on the Internet can discuss just about anything during an Internet chat session. There are literally thousands of chat rooms, each of which can be dedicated for a specific topic. Each chat room is also known as a channel. Internet chat channels are maintained by different people on different servers around the world. Some servers have a small number of channels, other servers have a large number of channels. Chatters go “online” to chat using a computer over the Internet. 
   During an Internet chat session, chatters do not actually hear each other in the chat rooms. Instead, they communicate with each other using their keyboards. A chatter types words on his or her computer during an Internet chat session, and other people can see those words on their computer immediately, and vice versa. Many chatters can participate in the “conversation” simultaneously. The chatters can be located any where in the world. 
   Although Internet chat services are very popular, they continue to suffer from several shortcomings, which include: (1) each of the chatters must have a computer with certain requirements; (2) the participants must have access to the Internet; and (3) communications among the participants are limited to text messages that are input through their keyboards. 
   Currently, voice chat services are not available to telephone users over existing telephone networks. Using the current “3-way calling” technology, more than two persons may participate in a conference call using their telephones. The parties of the conference call normally know the identities and telephone numbers of other parties to enable the conference call to take place. Thus, the 3-way calling technology is not desirable for voice chat services because participants could not remain anonymous. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,912,874 and 4,232,198 disclose a conference arrangement and a device for use in establishing telephone conference calls, respectively. These references are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
   Accordingly, there is a need to expand Internet chat services to telephone networks. There is a need for a system and a method through which people may anonymously participate in a voice chat with using a PSTN telephone, a cellular telephone, and a digital telephone. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is system and method for providing voice chat services over telephone networks. The present invention can enable a plurality of telephone users to have voice communications among themselves without revealing their identities or telephone numbers. The system architecture comprises at least one conference bridge circuit (CBC) in the telephone network. A caller can access the chat service by dialing a telephone number that is associated with the CBC. The telephone number may be, for example, 1-800-CHAT-NOW. 
   When the caller (the subscriber) is connected to the CBC, the system routes the caller to a chat room in which he can participate as a chatter, contributing to a topic of common interest among all the chatters in that chat room. In the preferred embodiment, the subscriber can be initially offered a “main menu,” at which the subscriber is given a plurality of main topics, each of which is associated with a chat room or channel. For example, one topic may be about sports, and another topic may be related to music. After the subscriber has chosen one of the broad topics, the subscriber can be offered a plurality of sub-topics within each broad topic. For example, a subscriber who has selected the “Sports” topic may be subsequently prompted to choose one of several subtopics including, for example, “Football” and “Baseball.” An additional CBC is required for each subtopic or sub-channel. The menu can be implemented using one of several technologies. For example, standard menu-driven technology with or without voice command capabilities may be used. 
   Once the subscriber has selected the subtopic or sub-channel of interest, the subscriber can be led to a chat room, in which the subscriber can hear an existing conversations of other chatters who had already entered the chat room. When the subscriber speaks, other chatters can hear the subscriber&#39;s voice. Such chat room is hereinafter referred to as a “public” chat room. In the preferred embodiment, two or more chatters in a public chat room may enter a “private” chat room for a more private discussion. Chatters who remain in the public chat room do not hear the conversation in the private chat room. A chatter can be required to provide a unique user ID number assigned to him or her before the system allows the chatter to enter the private chat room. 
   During a session in a chat room, public or private, a subscriber or chatter may press one or more keys on his or her telephone keypad to execute a command. The command may result in exiting the chat room, entering a different chat room, or obtaining help from a customer service representative. For example, the subscriber may press “9” to return to a chat room previously visited, “0” for the main menu, and “611” for a customer service representative. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide voice chat services to telephone service subscribers. 
   It is another object of the present invention to increase available venues through which telephone subscribers may exchange information among themselves. 
   It is another object of the present invention to enable a plurality of persons to discuss anonymously during a telephone communication session. 
   It is another object of the present invention to enable a subset of persons in a public chat room to enter a private room for a more private discussion. 
   These and other objects of the present invention are described in greater detail in the detailed description of the invention, the appended drawings, and the attached claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the general steps involved in using an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in using an embodiment of a private chat room feature of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating the system architecture of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in using the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a system and method for providing voice chat services over one or more telephone networks. The telephone network may comprise one or more of public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular, personal communications service (PCS), and other wireless networks. The present invention can use standard bridge conference line technology. Voice service chat room can be offered to subscribers of the telephone networks with the addition of at least one conference bridge circuit that is accessible by the telephone networks. 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating the system architecture of an embodiment of the present invention. Wireless telephones  12 ,  14 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  are in wireless communications with base stations  10  and  20 . Base stations  10  and  20  are in communication with mobile telephone switching office (MTSO)  31 . Wireless telephones  12 ,  14 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , base stations  10  and  20 , and MTSO  31  are nodes or components of wireless communication network (WIN)  30 . Wireline telephones  52  and  54 , and service switching point (SSP)  51  are part of PSTN  50 . A communication link may be established between any of the wireless and wireline telephones through one or more of base stations  10  and  20 , MTSO  31 , and SSP  51 . Computers  62  and  64  are in communication with computer network  60 . Computer network  60  is preferably the Internet. Computers  62  and  64  may establish a communication link with any of wireless telephones  12 ,  14 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26 , and wireline telephones  52  and  54  through gateway  70 . Voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) may be used. 
   Conference bridge circuit (CBC)  40  can facilitate a voice chat service comprising chatters using any of computers  62  and  64  and telephones  12 ,  14 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  52 , and  54 . CBC  40  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a component independent of WCN  30 , PSTN  50 , and computer network  60 . Therefore, a business entity other than a telephone company may provide the service of the present invention. CBC  40  could also be a component or a node of one of WCN  30 , PSTN  50 , and computer network  60 . In the preferred embodiment, CBC  40  is preferably a component of WCN  30 . 
     FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating the general steps involved in using an embodiment of the present invention. In step  202 , a caller dials a telephone number that is associated with the service of the present invention. The telephone number may be, for example, 1-800-CHAT-NOW. The caller who dialed the telephone number can be connected to a CBC, such as CBC  40  shown in  FIG. 1 . Routing of the call may be performed using known technologies, including advanced intelligent network (AIN) and wireless intelligent network (WIN). The caller may use a wireless telephone of WCN  30 , a wireline telephone of PSTN  50 , or a computer via computer network  60 . 
   In step  204 , a verification process can be performed to determine whether the caller is an authorized user or a subscriber of the service. The verification may be performed in one of several methods. In a first method, the caller can be required to enter a password or a personal identification number (PIN) to identify himself or herself as a subscriber. Other user verification methods can include, for example, checking the caller&#39;s mobile identification number (MIN) if the caller uses a wireless telephone. The caller&#39;s MIN or other identity information may be obtained from, for example, a home location register (HLR) of WCN  30  if the caller is a subscriber of WCN  30 . If the caller is not a subscriber of WCN  30 , the caller&#39;s identity information may be obtained from a visitor location register (VLR). If the caller uses a wireline telephone of PSTN  50 , the caller&#39;s calling party number and other identity information may be obtained from a service control point (SCP) of PSTN  50 . 
   If the caller is not a subscriber of the service of the present invention, the system can, in step  206 , invite the caller to sign up as a subscriber. The subscription can be for a term as short as “this call only.” The subscription can also be for a longer term. 
   If the caller was verified in step  204  to be a subscriber, the process goes to step  208  in which the subscriber can be greeted. The subscriber can also be given a “main menu.” The main menu can comprise a plurality of options. Each option can represent a main topic. For example, the subscriber may be prompted to press “1” to select the “Music” topic; “2” to select the “Sports” topic; and “3” to select the “Computer” topic. 
   After the subscriber presses one of the key in step  208 , the process goes to one of steps  210 ,  220 , and  230 , in which the subscriber can be further offered additional options or sub-topics. For example, if the subscriber had pressed “1” in step  208 , the subscriber may be asked, in step  210 , to press “1” for “Rock” and “2” for “Pop.” If the subscriber presses “1” in step  212 , the subscriber enters the Rock Music chat room in step  218 . If the subscriber presses “2” in step  214 , the subscriber enters the Pop Music chat room in step  216 . 
   While in either step  216  or step  218 , the subscriber can hear the voices of other chatters that had already entered the chat room. The subscriber may join in the conversation and other chatters will hear the subscriber&#39;s voice. Steps  220  through  228  and steps  230  through  238  are similar to corresponding steps  210  through  218  described above. If the subscriber had entered the Pop Music chat room in step  216 , the subscriber would preferably be provided with an announcement: “You have entered the Pop Music public chat room.” A similar announcement may be heard by the subscriber in steps  218 ,  226 ,  228 ,  236 , and  238  if the subscriber had entered one of those chat rooms. A CBC can be provided and dedicated for each of these chat rooms. 
   In step  240 , while the subscriber is in one of the chat rooms, the subscriber may press one or more buttons on the keypad of his or her telephone to execute a command. The command may be to enter a different chat room, access the main menu, enter a private chat room, or obtain help from a customer service representative. For example, if the subscriber is in the Pop Music chat room in step  216 , the subscriber may press “9” to return to step  210 , and then press “1” to enter the Rock Music chat room in step  218 . The subscriber may also press “0” to return to step  208 , followed by “3” and “1” to enter the PC Computer chat room. Furthermore, the subscriber may press, for example, “611” to get in touch with a customer service representative of the chat service. 
   It is also possible that in step  240  the subscriber may be removed from the chat room by the system. For example, if the subscriber is in one of the chat rooms on a trial-membership basis, the subscriber may be removed from the chat room and be directed to step  206  in which the subscriber can be offered to join the service. Similarly, the subscriber may be removed from the chat room if the subscriber does not participate in accordance with the rules of the service. The rules may comprise, for example, a prohibition against the use of language involving profanity, racism, or other undesirable contents. 
   The present invention can also provide a method that allows two or more chatters in a public chat room, e.g., one of the chat rooms in steps  216 ,  218 ,  226 ,  228 ,  236 , and  238 , to go to a private chat room. The private chat room allows a subset of interested chatters in any public chat room to have a private conversation not heard by other chatters of the public chat room. Using a unique ID number assigned to each of the chatters, for example, an interested chatter may be placed in the private chat room. 
     FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in using an embodiment of a private chat room feature of the present invention. Steps  202  through  206  shown in  FIG. 3  are similar to corresponding steps  202  through  206  shown in  FIG. 2  and described above. In step  207 , the subscriber can be given a user ID number for private chat room purposes. The user ID number may be a “permanent” user number assigned to the subscriber for as long as the subscriber maintains his or her subscription. Such permanent user ID number may be desirable by those subscribers who want to be identified by other chatters or subscribers by their permanent user ID numbers. Subscribers with permanent ID user numbers may also use the permanent ID user numbers in step  204  for verification purposes. Alternatively, a subscriber may be assigned a temporary user ID number. The temporary user ID number may be good for one-time use only. The subscriber may therefore have a different user ID number for each chat session. The user ID number, permanent or temporary, may be provided to the subscriber via one of several methods. For example, the subscriber may be provided with the user ID number at the time of the call, by mail, or through an electronic system such as an e-mail system. The use of a temporary user ID number can protect the subscriber&#39;s privacy. 
   Step  208 ,  210 ,  212  and  218  shown in  FIG. 3  are similar to the corresponding steps shown in  FIG. 2  and described above. For discussion purposes, it is assumed that there are more than four chatters in the Rock Music public chat room carrying on a conversation in step  218 . Each of the chatters has a unique user ID number, either a permanent one or a temporary one. Assume further that two of the chatters in the Rock Music public chat room desire to discuss further with each other without participation from the remaining chatters in the Rock Music public chat room. 
   In step  302 , depending on the interest of the chatters, two alternatives exist for the chatters in the public chat room to further their conversation. In step  304 , those who are not interested in entering a private chat room simply continue their conversation in the Rock Music public chat room. In step  306 , one of the two chatters who are interested in entering the private chat room (the interested chatters), may press a button on the keypad of his or her telephone. That chatter may then be connected to an operator to whom the chatter provides his user ID number and the user ID number of the other interested chatter. Alternatively, each interested chatters must provide his or her own user ID number to the operator. The operator may be a customer service representative or an automated system. If a chatter or subscriber does not remember his or her user ID number, the chatter may press a button or key, for example the “*” key, at anytime to get his or her current user ID number from the system. 
   In step  308 , the interested chatters can exit the Rock Music public chat room, and enter the private chat room after supplying the user ID numbers. While in the private chat room, the interested chatters do not hear the conversation in the Rock Music public chat room, and those who remain in the Rock Music public chat room do not hear the conversation of the interested chatter in the private chat room. 
   In any of the chat rooms, the conversation may or may not be moderated. A moderated chat room may comprise, for example, a designated representative of the chat service provider as a participant. The designated representative may, for example, remove one or more chatters from the chat room if the chatters do not comply with the rules of the service. The chat service provider may require a higher subscription fee for moderated chat rooms. The designated representative may serve as an operator that facilitates two or more interested chatters to enter a private chat room. 
   Subscribers of the present invention may be billed in a number of different ways. For example, the subscribers may pay a flat monthly fee or they may pay based on the amount of time spent in the chat rooms. Private chat room services may be provided to the subscribers at a higher fee. 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating the system architecture of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the chat service of the present invention is provided by WCN  410  that comprises CBC  412 . The chat service can be accessible by customers of WCN  410 , such as those using wireless telephones  414  and  416 . The chat service can also be accessible by customers of other telephone networks, including WCN  420  and PSTN  430 . Wireless telephones  424  and  426  are used by customers of WCN  420 , and wireline telephone  434  belongs to a customer of PSTN  430 . 
   In addition to CBC  412 , other components or nodes of WCN  410  can include MTSO  418 , base station  411 , HLR  415 , and VLR  413 . When wireless telephones  414  and  416  are in communication with base station  411 , caller information such as the name of the caller may be obtained from HLR  415 . Similarly, a non-network user, such as wireless telephone  424 , may be identified using VLR  413 . 
   MTSO  428 , base station  421 , wireless telephone  424  and  426 , HLR  425  and VLR  423  are components or nodes of WCN  420 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , although wireless telephone  424  is part of WCN  420 , wireless telephone  424  can be located within the service area of WCN  410 . For example, wireless  424  may be in a “roaming” situation. 
   Wireline telephone  434 , SCP  438 , and SSP  436  are components or nodes of PSTN  430 . SSP  436  is a switch that can connect wireline telephone  434  with other switches or circuits, including MSTO  418 , MTSO  428 , and CBC  412 . MTSO  418 , MTSO  428 , SSP  436 , and CBC  412  can be in wireless or wireline communications among themselves. When any of wireless telephones  414 ,  416 ,  424 ,  426 , and wireline telephone  434  dials a telephone number that is associated with the voice chat service of the present invention, e.g., 1-800-CHAT-NOW, the caller will be routed to CBC  412 . For example, a call generated by wireless telephone  414  can go through base station  411  and MTSO  418  to reach CBC  412 . If wireless telephone  426  is used to dial the telephone number, then the communication link can comprise base station  421 , MTSO  428 , and CBC  412 . Similarly, a communication session between wireline telephone  434  and CBC  412  can involve SSP  436 . 
     FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating the steps involved in using the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 . In step  502 , when a caller dials the telephone number of the chat service, the call can be routed to CBC  412 . At CBC  412 , the caller can go through a verification process to determine whether the caller is a subscriber of the voice chat service of the present invention. A number of verification methods or techniques may be used. For example, if it is determined that the caller uses a wireless telephone in step  504  to access the service, a further determination can made in step  506  whether the wireless telephone is part of WCN  410 . If it is, for example wireless telephone  414  is used, then the process goes to step  508 , in which the caller information can be retrieved from a HLR, e.g., HLR  415 . The caller information may comprise, for example, the caller&#39;s name, the MIN of wireless telephone  414 , and the caller&#39;s voice chat service subscription status. 
   If the caller uses a wireless telephone that is part of a different wireless network, for example wireless telephone  424  is used, the caller information and subscription status may be retrieved from VLR  413  in step  510 . For customers of WCN  410 , CBC  412  can allow access to the voice chat service of the present invention based on the subscriber profiles of the callers. If the caller uses a wireline telephone, e.g., wireline telephone  434  of PSTN  430 , the caller information may be obtained from SCP  438  in step  512 . 
   Another method for allowing access by non-customers of WCN  410 , such as customers of WCN  420  or PSTN  430 , CBC  412  may require the caller to provide a PIN that would be verified before access is granted. If the caller is not already a subscriber of the chat service, the system can invite the caller to join. Billing could be on a timed basis or based on a monthly flat fee. Preferably, the caller can be required to pay by credit card before routed to a chat room. 
   Once the caller is verified to be a subscriber, or the caller has been signed up as a subscriber (whether for one-time access or for a longer term subscription), the process goes to step  514 , in which the subscriber can be given or assigned a user ID number that is unique to the subscriber. In step  516 , the subscriber can enter a public chat room. Although not indicated in  FIG. 5 , the subscriber may be offered a plurality of chat rooms described above. While in a public chat room, the subscriber can listen to other chatters who are also in the public chat room. If the subscriber chooses to speak, the other chatters would hear the subscriber&#39;s voice. If in step  518  the subscriber is not interested in a private chat room, the subscriber may remain in the public chat room in step  520 . 
   But if in step  518  the subscriber wishes to enter a private chat room with another chatter from the public chat room, the subscriber can press a button, e.g., the “#” button on the keypad of this or her telephone, and the subscriber can be routed to an operator in step  524 . The subscriber can then, in step  526 , provides his or her user ID number to the operator. The subscriber may also provide the user ID number of other chatters who wish to join the subscriber in the private chat room. Alternatively, each interested chatter may go through steps  522 ,  524 , and  526  individually. In step  528 , each interested chatter can be routed to the private chat room. While in the private chat room, none of the chatters in the public chat room could participate in the private conversation among the interested chatters of the private chat room. 
   The foregoing disclosure of embodiments and specific examples of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.