Abstract:
A mobile terminal supporting a voice messaging method includes a microphone for capturing sound waves and converting the sound waves into an audio signal, a storage unit for storing the audio signal, an audio data generation unit for generating audio data packets with the audio signal, a packet data communication network interface unit for providing a packet data communication network, and a control unit for controlling the microphone, audio storage unit, audio data generation unit, and packet data communication network interface unit to capture the audio signal and transmit the audio signal as audio data packets in response to audio message transmission request entered during a mobile messenger service session.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application is a Continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/087,965, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 22, 2013, and U.S. application Ser. No. 11/788,072, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 19, 2007 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,605,638 on Dec. 10, 2013, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to a Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0036634, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Apr. 24, 2006, and entitled “Voice Messaging Method and Mobile Terminal Supporting Voice Messaging In Mobile Messenger Service,” the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and, in particular, to a voice messaging method and a mobile terminal supporting the voice messaging method in a mobile messenger service. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    With the advance of wireless technologies, mobile communication systems including Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system has been developed to provide multimedia communication services in addition to the basic service of voice communication service. 
         [0006]    Keeping pace with popularity of the multimedia communications, mobile terminals become closer to personal computers (PC) in their capabilities. For example, recent mobile terminals incorporate various supplementary functions such as messaging service, image transmission, contact list management, and scheduler functions. Accordingly, the mobile terminal must store various kinds of data such as residential addresses, internet mail addresses, avatars, and the like, as well as call numbers. 
         [0007]    Rapid growth of such multimedia services has led to the increase of utilization of mobile terminals and strong demands for various mobile services including messaging service. 
         [0008]    As one of such mobile services, mobile messenger services allow subscribers to exchange data in real time. The mobile messenger service enables the subscribers to exchange memos, files, and other data and to participate in a real time chatting and group telephony. 
         [0009]    Typically, the conventional mobile messenger services use text messages for communication between the subscribers and support a group chatting which allow several subscribers to take part in a chatting session. 
         [0010]    However, the conventional mobile messenger services have some drawbacks in that voice communication is not supported during a mobile messenger service session and a person-to-person messaging is not allowed in a group chatting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a voice messaging method allowing a mobile terminal operating with the voice messaging method to transmit a voice message using a mobile messenger service. 
         [0012]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a voice messaging method allowing a mobile terminal operating with the voice messaging method to transmit a voice message to one of members participated in a chatting session of a mobile messenger service. 
         [0013]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects are accomplished by a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a microphone for capturing sound wave and converting the sound wave into an audio signal; an audio storage unit for storing the audio signal; an audio data generation unit for generating audio data packets with the audio signal; a packet data communication network interface unit for providing a packet data communication network; a control unit for controlling the microphone, audio storage unit, audio data generation unit, and packet data communication network interface unit to capture the audio signal and transmit the audio signal in the form of the audio data packets in response to audio message transmission request input in the middle of a mobile messenger service session. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the microphone captures a user voice as the sound wave and stores user voice in the form of the audio signal in the storage unit. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the audio data generation unit encodes the user voice into audio data, segments the audio data into transmission data units, and generates the audio data packets contained in the transmission data units together with source and destination Internet Protocol addresses. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the audio data generation unit performs, encoding the user voice and segmentation of the audio data using an enhanced variable rate codec. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the packet data communication network interface unit transmits the audio data packets to a target terminal participating in a mobile messenger service session with the mobile terminal through the packet data communication network. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the mobile terminal further includes an audio decoding unit for decoding the audio data packets; and a speaker to output the decoded audio data packets in the form of an audible sound wave, wherein the packet data communication network unit transfers the audio data packets received in the mobile messenger service session to an audio decoding unit. 
         [0019]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects are accomplished by a voice messaging method for a mobile terminal in a mobile messenger service session. The voice messaging method includes recording a voice message in response to a voice message transmission request input in the middle of the mobile messenger service session; generating audio data packets containing the voice message; and transmitting the audio data packets through a packet data communication network in a predetermined period. 
         [0020]    Preferably, generating the audio data packets includes encoding the voice message; segmenting the encoded voice message into transmission data units of a predetermined size; and packing the data units with the audio data packets together with source and destination Internet Protocol addresses. 
         [0021]    Preferably, encoding the voice message includes compressing the voice message using an enhanced variable rate codec. 
         [0022]    Preferably, the voice messaging method further includes receiving audio data packets through the packet data communication network in the middle of the mobile messenger service session; decoding the audio data packets; and outputting the audio data decoded from the audio data packet in the form of an audible sound wave. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an overview of a mobile messenger service system according to the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a message flow diagram illustrating message flows in the messenger service system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a voice messaging method in a mobile messenger service according to the present invention; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobile terminal supporting a voice messaging during a mobile messenger service according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0028]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the mobile messenger service system includes a plurality of mobile terminals  100 ,  500 , and  600 , a short message service (SMS) server  200 , a packet data core network  300 , and a packet data serving node (PDSN)  400 . 
         [0030]    The mobile terminals  100 ,  500 , and  600  are provided with a mobile messenger application. In this embodiment, a host mobile terminal  100  transmits an invitation message and client mobile terminals  500  and  600  transmit acceptance message to host mobile terminal  100  in response to the invitation message. 
         [0031]    SMS server  200  provides short messaging service to a mobile communication network (for example, CDMA network). In this embodiment, SMS server  200  relays the invitation message transmitted by host mobile terminal  100  to client mobile terminals  500  and  600 . 
         [0032]    Packet data core network  300  establishes communication channels between the mobile terminals using a point-to-point protocol (PPP) and supporting packet data communication. Packet data core network  300  also supports a mobile messenger service after a mobile messenger service session is initialized. That is, packet data core network  300  is configured to support the real time data exchanges between the host and client mobile terminals  100 ,  500 , and  600 . For example, the packet data core network bridges the information message transmitted by host mobile terminal  100  to client mobile terminal  500  and  600 , bridges the information message transmitted by client mobile terminal  500  to host mobile terminal  100  and client mobile terminal  600 , and bridges the information message transmitted by client mobile terminal  600  to host mobile terminal  100  and client mobile terminal  500 . 
         [0033]    An operation of the above-structured messenger service system is described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , if a command input for the mobile messenger service is detected while operating in a normal mode, host mobile terminal  100  activates the messenger application in step S 105 . Next, host mobile terminal  100  generates a buddy list on the basis of a user command in step S 110 . After the buddy list is generated, host mobile terminal  100  transmits a connection request message to PDSN  400  in step S 115  and assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address at step S 120  so as to establish a point-to-point channel. 
         [0035]    The buddy list provides a group of members registered for the mobile messenger service (so called, counterparty user lists). Preferably, the buddy list is created with the candidate participants selected from the subscribers stored in the mobile terminal. However, the participants can be selected in such a manner that the service subscribers are listed in a normal phonebook with a specific indicator and choosing the participants among the subscribers listed in a normal phonebook. 
         [0036]    After generating the buddy list, host mobile terminal  100  transmits an invitation message to the client mobile terminals of the candidate participants. In the embodiment, the invitation message is transmitted to client mobile terminal  500  as an example. That is, host mobile terminal  100  registers client mobile terminal  500  to the buddy list at step S 110 , transmits an invitation message to the SMS server in step S 125 . Upon receiving the invitation message, SMS server  200  forwards the invitation message to client mobile terminal  500  in step S 130 . The invitation message is transmitted with the IP address assigned to host mobile terminal  100  at step S 115 . The invitation message also contains information of identification number of host mobile terminal  100  and port number for a current session in addition to the IP address. 
         [0037]    Upon receiving the invitation message, client mobile terminal  500  checks that the invitation message is a mobile messenger service message, and activates the messenger application in step S 135 . Next, client mobile terminal  500  extracts the information on the host mobile terminal, i.e. the identification number and current session port number of host mobile terminal  100  in step S 140 . 
         [0038]    Next, client mobile terminal  500  is coupled with PDSN  400  through a PPP connection in step S 145  and assigned an IP address from PSDN  400  in step S 150 . If an IP address is assigned, client mobile terminal  500  transmits an acceptance message to PDSN  400  in accordance with a user command in step S 155 . Upon receiving the acceptance message, PDSN  400  forwards the acceptance message to host mobile terminal  100  in step S 160 . 
         [0039]    Since client mobile terminal  500  knows the IP address of host mobile terminal  100  through the invitation message, client mobile terminal  500  transmits the acceptance message with the IP address of the host mobile terminal as a destination address and the IP address assigned from PSDN  400  as a source address. Preferably, the acceptance message also contains information on a protocol, port number, and authentication in addition to the IP address information. 
         [0040]    Upon receiving the acceptance message, host mobile terminal  100  updates its buddy list so as to maintain the client mobile terminal transmitting the acceptance message in the buddy list and removes other candidate mobile terminals that do not transmit an acceptance message in step S 165 . Next, host mobile terminal  100  transmits the updated buddy list to client mobile terminal  500  via the PDSN in steps S 170  and S 175 . That is, host mobile terminal  100  transmits the updated buddy list to PSDN (S 170 ), and the PDSN forwards the updated buddy list to client mobile terminal  500 . 
         [0041]    If host and client mobile terminals  100  and  500  share the buddy list, the mobile messenger service starts based on the IP network in step S 180 . That is, the host and client mobile terminals are connected to PDSN  400  such that IP-based mobile messenger service is provided between the host and client mobile terminals. 
         [0042]    It is assumed that the mobile messenger service is initialized through the procedure of  FIG. 2  such that the host and client mobile terminals  100  and  500  are in a mobile messenger service session. In this embodiment, the voice messaging method is described with an exemplary situation in which host mobile terminal  100  transmits a voice message to client mobile terminal  500 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , after a messenger service session is established between the host and client mobile terminals  100  and  500  in step S 205 , and the host and client mobile terminals operate in a text exchange mode in steps S 210  and S 305 . 
         [0044]    Host mobile terminal  100  detects if a command input for transmitting a voice message has been issued in step S 215 . If a voice message command input is detected, host mobile terminal  100  starts recording an audio (for example, voice) in step S 220 . For example, if a user inputs a voice messaging request command, host mobile terminal  100  records a voice input right after the voice messaging request command is received. For receiving and processing the voice, host mobile terminal  100  includes a microphone and audio storage unit such that the audio signal input through the microphone is stored in the audio storage unit. 
         [0045]    Host mobile terminal  100  detects whether a command for stopping the voice recording is issued in step S 225  while the voice recording is progressing. 
         [0046]    If a voice record stop command is detected, the host mobile terminal stop recording the voice and generates an audio file with the audio recorded until the voice record stop command is detected in step S 230 . At this time, host mobile terminal  100  encodes the recorded voice within an audio file and then segments the audio file in available transmission size. In this embodiment, an Enhanced Variable Rate Codec (EVRC) is used for compressing the recorded voice. The compressed and segmented audio data are contained in data fields of audio data packets each having an IP header of which source and destination fields are set to the IP addresses of the host and client mobile terminals. 
         [0047]    Next, host mobile terminal  100  transmits the audio data packets to client mobile terminal  500  in step S 235 . 
         [0048]    If a reception of the audio data packet is detected, client mobile terminal  500  determines if all the audio data packets are successfully received in step S 310 . If all the audio data packets are successfully received, client mobile terminal  500  decodes the audio packets to restore the audio file in step S 315 . That is, client mobile terminal  500  designates a time duration for receiving the audio data packets and then decodes the audio data packets received in the time duration to restored the audio file. The decoding process is performed with reference to the audio data segmentation information implied within the headers of the audio data packets. 
         [0049]    After the audio data packets are successfully decoded and restored into the transmitted audio file, client mobile terminal  500  replays the audio file in step S 320 . It is preferred that the client mobile terminal determines if it is in an audio input state and start replays of the audio file when it is not in an audio input state. 
         [0050]    Next, client mobile terminal  500  determines if a command for terminating the messenger service session is issued in step S 325 . If a session termination command input is detected, the client mobile terminal ends the messenger service session in step S 330 . If no session termination command is detected, the client mobile terminal repeats steps  305  to  325 . 
         [0051]    Meanwhile, after transmitting the audio data packets at step S 235 , host mobile terminal  100  determines if a session termination command input is detected in step S 240 . For example, if a session termination command is input by a user&#39;s key manipulation or received from client mobile terminal  500 , the host mobile terminal ends the messenger service session in step S 245 . 
         [0052]    In this embodiment outlined in  FIG. 3 , host mobile terminal  100  starts recording a voice in response to an audio transmission request command, performs compression and segmentation on the recoded audio data, and directly transmits the audio in the form of audio data packets to client terminal  500 . That is, the voice messaging is carried out between the host and client mobile terminals with engagement of any mobile communication system and server. 
         [0053]    Accordingly, it is possible to transmit a voice message to a specific counterparty mobile terminal among the participant terminals in a mobile messenger service while maintaining the mobile messenger service session. 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary configuration of the host mobile terminal in the  FIGS. 1 to 3 . However, client mobile terminals  500  and  600  can be implemented with the same configuration. The configuration of the host mobile terminal is determined by a transmission of the invitation message. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , host mobile terminal  100  includes a microphone  110 , an audio storage unit  120 , an audio data generation unit  130 , a PDSN interface unit  140 , an audio decoder  150 , a user interface unit  160 , a control unit  170 , and a radio frequency interface  180 , and a storage unit  190 . 
         [0056]    Microphone  110  captures a sound wave (for example, a voice) and converts the sound wave into electrical signals. That is, microphone  110  receives a user voice in the mobile messenger service session and stores the user voice into audio storage unit  120  in the form of audio data, under the control of control unit  170 . 
         [0057]    Audio storage unit  120  stores the audio signals input through microphone  110 . That is, audio storage unit  120  starts and ends recording the voice in response to recording start and end commands generated by control unit  170 . 
         [0058]    Audio data generation unit  130  converts the audio signal stored in audio storage unit  120  into a data format suitable for PSDN  400 . For example, audio data generation unit  130  segments the audio data into transmission data units of predetermined size and compresses the transmission data units in a predetermined coding scheme. Preferably, the transmission data units are compressed using an Enhanced Variable Rate Codec (EVRC). The transmission data units are carried by, the audio data packets each having a header contained the IP address of host mobile terminal  100  as a source address and the IP address of client mobile terminal  500  as a destination address. 
         [0059]    PDSN interface unit  140  is responsible for data communication with PDSN  400  (see  FIG. 2 ). Particularly, PDSN interface unit  140  allows host mobile terminal  100  to communicate with other mobile terminals registered in the buddy list for the mobile messenger service. Particularly, PDSN interface unit  140  transfers the audio data packets generated by audio data generation unit  130  to the destination address, i.e. client mobile terminals  500  and  600  and receives an audio data packet transmitted by client mobile terminals  500  and  600  that are participated in a mobile messenger service session. 
         [0060]    Audio decoding unit  150  decodes the audio data packets received through PDSN interface unit  140 . That is, audio decoding unit  150  decompresses the EVRC-coded audio data packets. 
         [0061]    User interface unit  160  provides a graphic interface in order for a user to control the operation of host mobile terminal  100 . Particularly, user interface unit  160  receives input commands for transmitting the invitation message and audio data and transmits the commands to control unit  170 . 
         [0062]    Control unit  170  controls the operation of host mobile terminal  100  on the basis of the user commands and predetermined events associated with the applications. If an audio message transmission request is entered, control unit  170  controls microphone  110 , audio storage unit  120 , audio data generation unit  130 , and PDSN interface unit  140  for recording audio signal and transmitting the audio signal in the form of the audio data packet. The recoded audio signal is formatted into audio data packets and then transmitted to client terminal  500 . 
         [0063]    Control unit  170  also controls audio decoder  150  to process the audio data packets received through PDSN interface  140  and output the audio data though a speaker (not shown) as an audible sound wave. 
         [0064]    Preferably, control unit  170  controls such that the text message exchange is stopped while the audio data packets are transmitted or received. That is, control unit  170  controls host mobile terminal  100  to operate in a text exchange mode and to switch the operation mode to the audio messaging mode in response to an audio data transmission request command input through PDSN interface unit  140  or when received an audio data packet from a client mobile terminal. In this case it is preferred to stop the text exchange. This is because host terminal  100  exchanges the text and audio data through a virtual port (for example, socket). 
         [0065]    Radio frequency interface unit  180  controls the voice communication of the host mobile terminal. Radio frequency interface unit  180  is responsible for transmitting and receiving an invitation message in the form of a short message via SMS server  200  (see  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0066]    Storage unit  190  stores an operating system, application programs, and the information related to the operations of application programs. Particularly, storage unit  190  stores a phonebook  191 , a messenger program, and a buddy list  195 . Buddy list  195  provides the information of members of a group for communicating through the mobile messenger service. 
         [0067]    The voice messaging method of the present invention enables transmitting a voice message to a specific member participated in a mobile messenger service session without engagement of a mobile communication system or a server. 
         [0068]    As described above, the voice messaging method and mobile terminal supporting the voice messaging method according to the present invention enables a user participating in a mobile messenger service session to transmit a voice message to another participant of the session without engagement of a mobile communication system or a server. In the case where a single counterparty user is participating in the mobile messenger service session, the participants can communicate with each other using a voice messaging function in the mobile messenger service rather than through costly voice communication channel, resulting in cost effective voice communication. 
         [0069]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and/or modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may be made by those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as further defined by the appended claims.