Abstract:
Systems and methods of exchanging voice chat information are provided. Voice chat information is received and the received voice chat information is placed into one or more packets. A control channel is selected and the one or more packets are transmitted over the selected control channel. The voice chat information can be transmitted in short messaging service (SMS) packets over the control channel. Moreover, voice chat information is exchanged between first and second communication stations by way of a SMS gateway, and media and signaling information are exchanged between the first and second communication stations independent on the SMS gateway.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless and wired communications are typically performed in accordance with one or more standards. These standards define a number of different aspects of the communications. For example, wireless communication standards typically define a number of different channels, such as control channels and traffic channels. The control channels carry control information (such as call-related signaling), which is distinct from user data carried in the traffic channels. Some wireless networks provide different traffic channels for different type of user data, where each traffic channel is optimized for the particular type of user data carried within the channel. For example, a wireless communication system can employ one type of traffic channel for voice user data and another traffic channel for non-voice user data. Some wireless communication systems also provide for different types of non-voice user data channels, such as channels for low-rate non-voice user data and high-rate user data. Once these channels are defined, standards-compliant communication devices must use these channels in the manner defined in the standard. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods of exchanging voice chat information. Voice chat information is received and placed into one or more packets. A control channel is selected and the one or more packets are transmitted over the selected control channel. The voice chat information can be transmitted in short messaging service (SMS) packets over the control channel. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are also directed to systems and methods of communicating between a first and second communication station. Voice chat information is exchanged between the first and second communication stations by way of a short messaging service (SMS) gateway. Media and signaling information are exchanged between the first and second communication stations independent of the SMS gateway. 
     An exemplary system includes a short message service (SMS) gateway coupled to a switching center of a wireless communication network, and an Internet gateway coupled to the SMS gateway. A voice chat server is coupled to the Internet gateway, and the SMS gateway provides voice chat packets to the voice chat server via the Internet gateway. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary voice chat client application in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary voice chat gateway in accordance with the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 4-7  are exemplary call flow diagrams in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system in accordance with the present invention. The system of  FIG. 1  allows a mobile station  102  to participate in a voice chat session with one or more communication stations  126   a  and  126   b  using short message service (SMS) packets to carry the voice chat information via public land mobile network (PLMN)  110  to Internet  120 . In  FIG. 1  the dashed line indicates the path of the voice packets, the dotted line indicates the path of the signaling and the dash-dotted line indicates the path of media (voice and/or data) other than voice chat media. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , voice chat client  104  of mobile station  102  provides the voice chat information in SMS packets to base station  112 . The voice chat packets then follow a path that includes base station controller (BSC)  114 , switching center  116 , SMS gateway  118 , an Internet gateway (voice chat gateway  122 ) and voice chat server  124 . Voice chat server  124  then provides the voice chat packets to the particular end communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b . As also illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the signaling packets follow a path that includes base station  112 , base station controller  114 , switching center  116 , voice chat gateway  122  and voice chat server  124 . Voice chat server  124  can then forward the signaling packets to the particular end communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b . The media packets follow a similar path to that of the signaling packets except that the media packets are routed from base station controller  114  to voice chat gateway  122  without passing through switching center  116 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the voice chat information is exchanged between the source and destination endpoints by way of SMS gateway  118 , whereas the signaling and other media information are exchanged independent of SMS gateway  118 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an exemplary voice chat client application in accordance with the present invention. Voice chat client application  200  can be software executed on a processor of a wireless communication device and/or can be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Voice chat application  200  includes element  202  which can be a speaker and/or microphone for receiving and outputting voice chat information with media processing module  205 . Media processing module  205  processes voice chat information received from element  202  and outputs voice chat information received from another endpoint via element  202 . Media processing module  205  is coupled to voice chat protocol module  210 , which establishes, maintains and clears the chat session. Voice chat control protocol module  210  is coupled to pre-stored voice chat user accounts module  215 , which can store voice chat user account credentials for one or more user accounts. Application user interface provides an output to a display of the wireless communication device. For example, when the user is registered with the network and in an active state, a corresponding entry in the list of voice chat user accounts can be highlighted in a list output by application user interface  220 . 
     As will be described in more detail below, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a wish list feature allowing a voice chat caller to be notified when second voice chat participant, who is not currently available (e.g., either involved in another media session or not registered with the network), becomes available. Modules  225  and  230  support this wish list feature. Specifically, voice chat control protocol module  210  is coupled to voice chat wish list storing module  225 , which allows a user to set a notification of called party&#39;s availability. Module  210  is also coupled to voice chat wish list user finder  230  which employs a filter to identify SMS messages related to wish list notifications received from voice chat gateway  122 . Thus, when module  230  identifies such SMS messages, the user of the communication station can be notified of another user&#39;s availability. Messaging interface  235  is coupled to voice chat wish list finder  230 , and acts as an interface between voice chat application  200  and the network. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an exemplary voice chat gateway in accordance with the present invention. The various components of the voice chat gateway can be software modules executed on a processor of the gateway and/or can be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Voice chat gateway  300  includes messaging module  305  which sends SMS messages indicating the availability of users that are listed on other user&#39;s wish lists. Module  305  is coupled to wish list polling module  310  which tracks the availability of users listed on other user&#39;s wish lists. Media processing module (MPM)  315 , which is coupled to wish list polling module  310 , processes received voice chat information for transmission to the voice chat called party. The voice chat information can be received from and/or transmitted to voice chat session control module (VCS-CM)  330 , which establishes, maintains and clears the chat session. Wish list polling module  310  is also coupled to user specific wish list storage module (VC-WLSM)  325 , which stores updated wish list filter information for the user located within the PLMN. Modules  315 ,  320  and  325  are coupled to virtual voice chat client module (VCCM)  330 , which acts as a voice chat client on behalf of mobile station  102 . Thus, module  330  makes it appear to communication stations  126   a  and/or  126   b  as if mobile station  102  is located on the Internet  120 . 
       FIGS. 4-7  are exemplary call flow diagrams in accordance with the present invention. Turning now to  FIG. 4 , initially, when a user invokes the voice chat application (Step  401 ) application user interface  220  outputs to a display a welcome screen with a list of previously used user accounts and voice chat session options (Step  402 ). These session options can include, for example, whether the user is online or offline. The user then selects and/or enters the account details in a log-in screen (Step  403 ) and the user interface  220  initializes the voice chat control protocol module  210  with the necessary input parameters (Step  404 ). The input parameters include an identifier of the destination communication station, which identifier could be an IP address, medium access control (MAC) address, session initiation protocol (SIP) address, directory number and/or the like. 
     Voice chat control protocol module  210  sends a request to establish the chat session to switching center  116  (Step  405 ), which sends the request to virtual voice chat client module  330  of voice chat gateway  300  (Step  406 ). Virtual voice chat client module  330  attempts to determine the availability of the end user on the destination network via the voice chat server  124 , and when the called party is available the virtual client is initialized in the virtual voice chat client module  330  (Steps  407  and  408 ). Module  330  then creates the voice chat session with the voice chat server  124  (Step  409 ), and module  330  creates the voice chat session with mobile station  100  (Step  410 ). As part of the established voice chat session, mobile station  100  exchanges media with module  330 , which in turn exchanges the media with voice chat server  124 . 
       FIG. 5  is a call flow diagram of an exemplary voice chat session establishment procedure between a mobile station  102  and an internet-connected communications station  126   a  and/or  126   b . Initially, the calling party&#39;s mobile station sends an outgoing call request via base station controller  114 , switching center  116 , voice chat gateway  300 , voice chat server  124  (Step  501 ). Voice chat server  124  then sends a call alert to the called party communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b  (Step  502 ), and the called party communication station (when available) responds to the call alert indicating such availability, which message is forwarded via elements  124 ,  300 ,  116 ,  114  to the calling party&#39;s mobile station  102  (Step  503 ). Voice chat gateway  300  then sends a session establishment complete message to the calling party mobile station  102  via base station controller  114  (Step  504 ), and then the calling and called parties can exchange voice chat information (Step  505 ). As discussed above, the voice chat information from the calling party mobile station  102  is transported in SMS packets via a SMS gateway. 
     When the calling party decides to terminate the chat session, the calling party&#39;s mobile station  102  sends a chat termination request to voice chat gateway  300  via switching center  116  (Step  506 ). Voice chat gateway  300  sends a chat end notification to the called party communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b  (Step  507 ). Switching center  116  then sends a resource release command to base station controller  114  and voice chat gateway  300  (Step  508 ), and base station controller  114  sends a chat end notification to calling party&#39;s mobile station  102  (Step  509 ). 
       FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of an exemplary voice chat wish list update and notification procedure. Initially, when a user invokes the voice chat application (Step  601 ) user interface  220  outputs to a display a welcome screen with a list of previously used user accounts and voice chat session options (Step  602 ). The user then performs authentication via user interface  220  (Step  603 ) and the user then selects the wish list update option via user interface  220  (Step  604 ). 
     User interface  220  then initializes the voice chat control protocol module  210  with the necessary input parameters (Step  605 ), which then sends the request to switching center  116  to find and update the user&#39;s wish list (Step  606 ). Switching center  116  sends the request to the voice chat gateway (Step  607 ), which then updates the wish list filters for the user through an exchange of messages between virtual voice chat client module  330  and voice chat wish list storage module  325  (Step  608 ). Virtual voice chat client module  330  initializes the virtual client (Step  609 ) and updates the polling filters of wish list polling module  310 . 
     Wish list polling module  310  contacts the virtual chat server  124  to determine the destination wish list user&#39;s status (Step  611 ). When the wish list user is on the network, wish list polling module  310  updates the voice chat session control module  320  (Step  612 ), which then sends a text message to virtual chat wish list filter  230  of voice chat application  200  when the wish list user is on the network (Step  613 ). Voice chat wish list filter  230  then sends a message to the user interface  220  to indicate the wish list user availability on the network (Step  614 ). 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary flow diagram of wish list updates and availability notification procedures in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Initially, the calling party&#39;s mobile station  102  sends an outgoing call service request to voice chat gateway  300  via base station controller  114  and switching center  116  (Step  701 ). Voice chat gateway  300  adds the wish list user details in the wish list for the called party mobile station  102  (Step  702 ) and sends a message to voice chat server  124  to determine the availability of the called party communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b  (Step  703 ). 
     Voice chat server  124  then indicates that the called party&#39;s current availability status is “currently on network” to voice chat gateway  300  (Step  704 ). Voice chat gateway  300  sends a message indicating the called party&#39;s availability to switching center  116 , which then sends the message to the calling party&#39;s mobile station  102  (Step  705 ). Subsequently, voice chat gateway  300  sets the filter to indicate whenever the called party&#39;s communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b  is available (Step  706 ) and voice chat gateway  300  polls the voice chat server  124  (Step  707 ). When the called party&#39;s communication station  126   a  and/or  126   b  logs-in (Step  708 ), voice chat server  124  indicates that the called party&#39;s current availability status is currently “on network” (Step  709 ). Voice chat gateway  300  then sends a text notification of the called party&#39;s current availability to SMS gateway  118  (Step  710 ), which then sends a SMS message to the calling party user device to indicate the called party&#39;s current availability (Step  711 ). 
     The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.