Patent Publication Number: US-2004049545-A1

Title: Instant message notification via caller ID

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001] This invention relates to a technique for providing notification of a message from a data network, such as the Internet, to a recipient via a Caller Identification (caller ID) message.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002] The proliferation of the Internet, and in particular, the proliferation of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that offer subscribers relatively low cost access, has led to the widespread exchange of electronic messages between subscribers. Many ISPs such as America On-Line (AOL) and The Microsoft Network (MSN), as well as some Internet electronic mail providers, such as Yahoo, currently offer instant messaging capability whereby an ISP subscriber can initiate an instant messaging session with one or more selected recipients. Assuming one or more of the message recipients is currently “on line”, the message sender and message recipient(s) can communicate nearly instantly with each other by typing or otherwise entering a desired message, such as by using speech-to-text for translating spoken words. Instant messaging has widespread popularity among ISP subscribers, especially among young adults who often spend significant time on line exchanging instant messages among friends.  
       [0003] To receive an instant message, the intended recipient must be on line. Currently, an intended recipient has no way of knowing that some one wishes to commence an instant messaging session unless the recipient is on line. Not infrequently, an intended message recipient, although off line, is nonetheless physically present at home or in the office and thus is physically proximate a computer. If the intended recipient had knowledge of the instant messaging attempt, then the recipient could then go on line and commence an instant messaging session with the message sender.  
       [0004] Thus, there is need for a technique that alerts an off-line Internet subscriber of an instant message.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] Briefly, in accordance with present principles, a method is provided for alerting an intended message recipient of an instant message originated by a sender. The method commences upon receipt of the instant message along with an identification of the sender, the identification typically embedded in the message. Following receipt instant message, a caller identification message containing the identity of the sender of the instant message is generated. The caller identification message is then routed to at least one caller identification device for display. The caller identification display can take the form of a stand-alone caller identification display device or a general-purpose display device such as a television set for example, having the capability of displaying caller identification information. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006]FIG. 1 depicts a block schematic diagram of a network for practicing the instant message notification technique of the present principles; and  
     [0007]FIG. 2 depicts of a block schematic diagram of a router comprising part of the network of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     [0008]FIG. 1 depicts a block schematic diagram of a network  10  in accordance with present principles for providing a notification to an intended recipient (not shown) of an incoming instant message via a caller identification message. The term instant message refers to an incoming electronic message from an Internet Service Provider  12  or a chat room  14 , which message can have a proprietary format, such in the case with instant messages originated by America On-Line, or a non-proprietary, generally recognized instant messaging format, such as the ICQ instant message format. Such instant messages include an identification of the sender and are intended for immediate delivery to a computer (not shown) for display on a monitor (not shown) or the like. The term caller identification message refers to a signal that identifies an incoming telephone caller in compliance with the Bellcore GR 30 Core requirements, available from Telcordia, Morristown, N.J., and FCC Part 68 (both standards incorporated by reference herein).  
     [0009] The network  10  of the present principles includes a modem  16 , typically although not necessarily, a broadband modem, for receiving incoming instant messages from the Internet Service Provider  12  and/or chat room  14  over one or more TCP/IP links  18 . The TCP/IP link(s)  18  comprise at least part of a private data network, a public data network, such as the Internet, or a combination of private and public networks (not shown). The modem  16  includes a message generator  19  for parsing the instant message to obtain the identity of the sender in order to generate a conventional format caller identification message (with the sender&#39;s name) for transmission across one or more links  20  to a router  22 . In practice, the link(s)  20  exist within a Wide Area Network (WAN), or within a Local Area Network (LAN), or a combination of such networks.  
     [0010] The router  22 , described in greater detail with respect to FIG. 2, modulates the caller identification signal generated by the modem  16  onto a telephone line  24  for receipt by a conventional caller identification device  26  well known in the art. One or more other devices  28 , such as a television set or the like, that have caller identification display capability, can also receive and display the caller identification message. In this way, the intended message recipient, even if off line from his or her computer (not shown), can nonetheless receive notification of the receipt of an instant message, via one of the devices  26  and  28 , respectively.  
     [0011] In addition to routing the caller identification message over the telephone line  24 , the router  22  can also route the caller identification message over a broadband communication link  30 , such as a cable television line, for receipt by an interface unit  31 , such as a Set Top Box (STB), having caller identification capability. In turn, the STB  31  routes a caller identification display, together with video information, typically in the form of an RF signal, to a television set  32 . Thus, in this way, the intended message recipient can receive via the television set  32  notification of the receipt of the instant message.  
     [0012]FIG. 2 depicts a block schematic diagram of a portion of the router  22  for handling the caller identification message from the broadband router  16 . As shown in FIG. 2, the router  22  includes a notification controller  33 , typically in the form of a programmed microprocessor, or a logic array, that controls a notification receiver  34  that receives the incoming caller identification message. Within the router  22  of FIG. 2, a line checker  36  functions to check the status of the telephone line  24 , and to alert the Notification controller  33  accordingly. Specifically, the line checker  36  determines whether the line  24  is off-hook, ringing, and whether another caller identification message is present. Upon receiving a notification from the line checker  36  that the telephone line  24  is free, the Notification controller  33  causes the Notification receiver  34  to pass the incoming caller identification message to a line modulator  38 . In turn, the line modulator  38  modulates the caller identification message onto the telephone line  24 .  
     [0013] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the broadband modem  16  and the router  22  exist as separate elements. However, a single element could perform the separate functions of the broadband modem and the router.  
     [0014] The foregoing describes a method and apparatus for providing notification of a message from a data network, such as the Internet, to a subscriber via a Caller Identification message.