Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VolP)
LOCATION BASED CONFERENCING
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to Voice Over Internet (VolP)
protocols and architectures.
More particularly, it relates to location based
conferencing services using VolP.
2. Background of the Related Art
Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VolP) is a technology that emulates a
phone call, but instead of using a circuit based system such as the telephone
network, utilizes packetized data transmission techniques most notably
implemented in the Internet.
The use of VolP technology is growing quickly. Given VolP
technology, there are at least three VolP scenarios:
1. A VolP UA that is physically connected to a static data cable at a "home"
address. For instance, an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) that is
connected to the "home" data cable and uses traditional telephone
devices.
2. A VolP UA that is physically connected to a data cable at a location
different than its "home" address. For instance, a laptop computer device
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utilized away from home as a VolP software telephone would be a VolP
'visitor' device as described by this scenario.
3. A VolP UA that is wireleless, physically disconnected from any data cable.
In this situation, the VolP UA connects to the VolP service provider via
either a wide-are wireless technology (e.g., cellular, PCS, WiMAX) or via a
local-area wireless technology (e.g., Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), UWB, etc.)
using a laptop computer or handheld device.
VolP phone calls are routed to a VolP voice gateway, from which
they are passed on to their destination. A VolP voice gateway or soft switch
is a
programmable network switch that can process the signaling for all types of
packet protocols. Also known as a 'media gateway controller,' call agent,' or
'call
server,' such devices are used by carriers that support converged
communications services by integrating SS7 telephone signaling with packet
networks. Softswitches can support, e.g., IP, DSL, ATM and frame relay.
VolP telephone technology is quickly replacing conventional
switched telephone technology. A location of a given VolP device may be
provisioned to be at a given geographic location, or queried from a home
location
register (HLR) in a mobile system.
With given VolP technologies, a VolP user must know the specific
phone number of an individual, business, or other entity that they wish to
call.
There is no conventional technique for allowing a conference call between two
or
more VolP users. In the Internet venue, users can find each other using a
"chat
room", but the burden nevertheless remains on the user to search for,
identify,
and use a specific phone number or Universal Resource Identifier (URI)
information to reach specific entities. This creates inefficiency and lack of
flexibility with respect to the desire to establish a conference call,
preventing
VolP users from managing their own communication needs and preferences.
Generally, voice communication using VolP technologies is limited to only
point-
to-point direct links between familiar or previously identified parties.
There is a need for an architecture and methodology that simplifies
the complexity of conferencing VolP calls.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a Voice
Over Internet Protocol (VolP) conference bridge comprises a conference bridge
application active in a location addressed using Internet Protocol. A module
determines a geographic boundary of a given conference. A plurality of
Internet
interfaces are provided to the conference bridge application, to accept a
respective plurality of VolP telephone users.
Wherein a conference is
established between the plurality of VolP telephone users, each of the
plurality of
VolP telephone users being within the geographic boundary.
A Method of conferencing Voice Over Internet Protocol (VolP) voice
communications devices in accordance with another aspect of the present
invention comprises establishing at least one conference bridge. At least one
criteria is defined for participation in the given conference bridge. A VolP
call to
the conference bridge is received from an initial VolP user. A location of the
initial VolP is compared to a location of at least one other VolP user. An
invite
message is issued to another VolP user based on a match of the location of the
at least one other VolP user being within a desired proximity to the location
of the
initial VolP user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I shows an exemplary architecture of a VolP conference
bridge application operating in a soft switch of a VolP provider to provide
VolP
location based conferencing, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary message flow diagram for establishing
a VolP location based conference, in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
Fig. 3 shows a VolP user originating an invitation to join a
conference bridge in a VolP soft switch, in a business to business or business
to
consumer scenario, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
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Fig. 4 shows exemplary signal/call flow for a VolP user originating
an invitation to join a conference bridge sent to other VolP users as shown in
Fig.
3.
Fig. 5 shows a VolP user originating the transmission of a series of
Invitations to join a conference bridge in a VolP soft switch, in a peer to
peer or
consumer to consumer scenario, in accordance with the principles of the
present
invention.
Fig. 6 shows exemplary signal/call flow for a VolP user originating
an invitation to join a conference bridge sent to other VolP users as shown in
Fig.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
A VolP user from time to time might wish to initiate a conversation
with other (known or unknown) VolP users based on location and other shared
attributes/criteria. The need may be for a single point-to-point type
connection,
or it may extend to the desire for a multi-user conference with other VolP
users.
Existing conferencing systems for putting VolP users in touch with
one another relies upon prior knowledge and contact information existing
between the specified users. The present invention provides a way for VolP
users to use VolP technology to form temporary or permanent "VolP
Communities" or VolP conferences by initiating an interaction based on
location
and other shared attributes, supply/demand relationships, or other criteria.
Currently, there is no existing mechanism to create a voice link
between VolP communication devices based on the location of each VolP user
(and potentially other preferences or attributes). Existing VolP technology
does
not address this problem for VolP calls nor does it for any conference
established
based on location. For instance, while Internet text chat rooms provide a
means
of communication between party's, Internet text chat rooms do not utilize the
user's location to find and invite available individuals/businesses/entities.
The present invention provides the ability for a VolP user to utilize
their own geographic position to narrow down or pinpoint known and even
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unknown potential VolP third parties meeting the user's criteria based on
their
physical location to join in on a phone conference.
Fig. 1 shows an exemplary architecture of a VolP conference
bridge application operating in a VolP soft switch of a VolP provider to
provide
VolP location based conferencing, in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 1, a VolP communications device
104 is serviced by their service provider's soft switch 102. A positioning
center
106 provides location data upon request from the soft switch 102. Other VolP
users 110, 112, 114 etc. are potential members of any given conference.
Conference bridges 100 are implemented on the VolP soft switch
102 located, e.g., at the VolP service provider's VolP network.
While the VolP soft switch 102 is, preferably capable of being
provisioned with as many VolP conference bridges 100 as are required in any
particular application, only one conference bridge 100 is shown in Fig. 1 for
simplicity of explanation.
Also, while the conference bridge 100 is shown implemented in the
soft switch 102, it can be embodied within another suitable network element
having an Internet Protocol (IP) type connection (e.g., TCP/IP) with the
initial
user 104 as well as with the potential conferees 110, 112, 114.
The use of a conference bridge .100 eliminates the otherwise
conventional requirement that the VolP user 104 dial digits for a direct link
with
another specific VolP communications device 110, 112 or 114. Instead, in
accordance with the principles of the present invention, location information
relating to the initial VolP user 104 is passed to the VolP conference bridge
100,
either from the user's VolP communication device 104 or from their respective
location server 106. The location information is then compared by the VolP
soft
switch 102 against other VolP devices 110, 112, 114 etc. to find matching
predetermined location-based criteria, e.g., within a geographic vicinity of
the
user's VolP communication device 104.
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The VolP soft switch 102 makes use of the location information.
Based on the location, the VolP conference bridge 100 identifies potential
other
participants to be asked to join the conference currently established by the
initial
VolP user 104 on the conference bridge 100, and outputs invites or requests
204
to join that conference 100 to the specific URLs, phone numbers and/or other
identifying address information relating to VolP communications equipment 110,
112, 114 of the potential other participants.
The soft switch 102 also maintains the attributes and rules from
other communication devices 110, 112, 114 etc. for receiving conference bridge
calls, as well as the fixed location (e.g., a place of business) or the
ability to
query for a current location (e.g., for mobile communication devices such as
mobile phones) for each device. Based on this information, with or without
other
user input (e.g., to select or prioritize among a list of available third
parties), the
soft switch 102 invites one or more other communication devices 110, 112, 114,
etc. to join the conference bridge. This creates a voice link between the
first user
104 and the other third parties 110, 112, 114 without requiring the first user
104
to know the contact information or name of the third parties 110, 112, 114.
Fig. 2 shows an exemplary message flow diagram for establishing
a VolP location based conference, in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 2, the initial VolP user 104 sends a
request for conference bridge call to the soft switch 102. Preferably the
initial
VolP user 104 includes location information with the conference request call
201.
However, as depicted in Fig. 1, location information can be obtained from an
appropriate positioning server 106 if not available from the initial VolP user
104.
Subsequent to the incoming conference call 201, suitable potential
conferees are determined, and those that are within the geographic boundary
pre-set or pre-provisioned into the conference bridge are invited with
respective
invite messages 204, 206.
In operation, the user's VolP communication device 104 dials a pre-
determined phone number (or URL) to initiate a conference bridge 100 on the
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relevant VolP soft switch 102. Various phone numbers (or URL's) may be made
available at the VolP conference bridge 100, each corresponding to a
respective
VolP conference bridge 100 each with its own pre-established profile of who
will
be invited once the conference bridge 100 is first entered by the initiating
VolP
user 104.
For instance, one VolP conference bridge 100 may be profiled to
invite all other VolP users within a geographic boundary of, e.g., 1 mile
radius
from a center point formed by the location of the initiating VolP user 104. A
geographic boundary need not be merely a distance range. For instance, a
geographic boundary may comprise, e.g., the grounds of a college or
schoolyard,
a workplace, etc., or be as specific as those VolP users within a given room
(e.g.,
gym) at the college or schoolyard. Another VolP conference bridge 100 with its
own phone number may correspond to invites to all other VolP users 110, 112,
114 etc. currently located in, e.g., a given sports stadium.
The profiles used to identify the potential other VolP conference
participants may provide additional filtering characteristics beyond the
location
based information, e.g., other VolP users who are contained not only within
the
pre-established geographic boundaries set for a given conference bridge 100,
but also listed within a `conference buddy' list pre-listed by the user. Thus,
as a
result, `buddies' that a user has pre-listed that are within the sports
stadium at the
time of the user's call will be invited to join a VolP conference bridge.
Fig. 1 shows use of a VolP positioning center (VPC) 106. The VolP
soft switch 102 may receive the user's location information either from each
of
the VolP communication devices 104, 110, 112, 114 etc., or from the VPC 106.
The VolP soft switch 102 preferably uses both the location
information of the initiating VolP user 104, together with any profile
criteria set for
a given conference bridge 100, to determine a list of potential other
conferees to
be sent Invite messages inviting them to join the established VolP conference
bridge 100. The profile information for the conference bridge 100 is
preferably
either pre-established by the VolP service provider (e.g., to set a geographic
boundary within a sports stadium), and/or may be input by the initiating user
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through keypad entry or voice response on the communications device.
Alternatively, profile information for a particular conference bridge may be
pre-
established via an appropriate web page and transmitted via the Internet to
the
soft switch 102 or other host gateway.
The VolP soft switch 102 preferably also maintains the attributes
and rules from other VolP communication devices 110, 112, 114 for receiving
conference bridge calls, as well as the fixed location (e.g., a Place of
business) or
the ability to query for a current location (e.g., for mobile communication
devices
such as mobile phones) for each device. Based on this information, with or
without other user input (e.g., to select or prioritize among a list of
available third
parties), the VolP soft switch 102 invites one or more other VolP
communication
devices 110, 112, 114, etc. to join the VolP conference bridge 100. This
creates
a voice link between the first VolP user 104 that initially called into the
VolP
conference bridge 100, and the other potential, third party conferees 110,
112,
114, etc., without requiring the first VolP user 104 to know the name or even
the
contact information of the other potential, third party conferees 110, 112,
114,
etc.
Upon receipt of an invite to a VolP conference bridge 204, 206, the
potential other VolP users 110, 112, 114, etc. are preferably notified similar
to an
incoming telephone call, e.g. with a ring signal, though it may be customized
to
be distinguished from the sound of an otherwise ordinary incoming phone call.
For instance, a given unique phone tone may be activated upon receipt of an
invite 204, 206 to a conference bridge 100.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the Vol P
user(s) 110, 112, 114 receiving invitations to join a VolP conference 100 may
be
provided with a filter that automatically rejects any/all invite requests not
meeting
their own specific criteria (e.g., maintained on their VolP devices 110, 112,
114
themselves, though such filtering may alternatively be performed at a network
level, e.g., at the VolP soft switch 102 or other centralized location.
Benefits of the invention include that there is no effective limit to the
number of participants in the conference VolP call, there are no cold
transfers of
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a call as VolP invitees enter or leave the conference bridge 100, and there is
the
ability to continue the conference call even after the initial VolP user 104
disconnects.
The present invention has particular applicability with any/all VolP
users, VolP service providers, and/or even Public Safety Access Points
(PSAPs).
Fig. 3 shows a VolP user 104 originating an invitation to join a
conference bridge 100 in a VolP soft switch 102, in a business to business or
business to consumer scenario, in accordance with the principles of the
present
invention.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 3, a VolP user 104 initiates an
invitation or request 204 based on certain pre-defined criteria for a service
provider or a peer attribute. The VolP service provider acquires the user's
location information, either directly from the VolP communications device 104
or
by request to the LIS 106, and initiates a conference on the conference bridge
100. The conference bridge 100 issues invitations or notifications to one or
more
potential VolP conferee users 110, 112, 114 etc. based on the location of the
original user 104 and the specified criteria, by comparison to attribute or
provider
data for the other VolP users 110, 112, 114 etc. The conference bridge 100
enables participation by multiple parties and does not depend on the
participants'
knowledge of or current access to each other's contact information, profile /
attributes / business type, or location. In addition, VolP users can elect
when to
receive notifications based on their current status (away, available, business
hours, etc.)
For instance, the VolP user 104 would initiate a call to the
conference bridge 100, thus initiating the sending of invitations or requests
to
potential conferees 110, 112, 114 etc. based on certain criteria (e.g., "tow
truck
drivers currently in Seattle"). Upon receipt of the initial call from the
initiating
VolP user 104, the VolP service provider initiates a conference bridge 100 and
issues an Invite or other notification to one or more VolP users 110, 112, 114
etc.
who have selected or subscribed to receive such conference notifications for
this
particular conference topic (as defined by its criteria). Subscriptions may be
,
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semi-permanent criteria for that particular conference bridge 100 (e.g.,
occupations or interests of the registered user of the relevant VolP device)
or
temporary criteria (e.g., passengers on a specific airline flight, ticket
agents with
extra tickets for a specific event, etc.)
The conference bridge 100 enables participation by multiple parties
and does not depend on the participants' knowledge of or current access to
each
other's contact information. In addition, VolP users can elect when to receive
notifications based on their current status (e.g., away, available).
More sophisticated implementations of the invention include
adaptation of the criteria for a given conference bridge 100 to correspond to
a
particular live auction. For instance, in such application, the matchmaking
database 300 functions as an automated auction tool by accepting as criteria
for
the auction data such as the proposed cost of service, and then connect the
lowest bidder of those potential bidders 110, 112, 114 to the conference
bridge
100.
Preferably, the initiating VolP user 104 is allowed to pre-define
given criteria for the conference bridge 100, e.g., a maximum number of
participants (e.g., the first 4 providers or peers who accept the conference
invitation), or other criteria for choosing among multiple users (e.g., to
select the
VolP user(s) 110, 112, 114 etc. whose location is closest to the initiating
VolP
user 104 who initiated the conference invitation in the first place).
Fig. 4 shows exemplary signal/call flow for an initiating VolP user
104 calling to establish a conference bridge 100, causing invitations to be
transmitted to each potential VolP conferee using IP protocol (e.g., TCP/IP)
to
join the conference bridge 100 as shown in Fig. 3. In response, each invited
VolP user 110, 112, 114 may accept or reject the invitation with an Accept or
Reject message transmitted via Internet Protocol back to the VolP soft switch
102 that transmitted the initial invite messages 204, 206.
Offline activity also occurs, separate from the call flow, e.g., to
update location data (be it permanent or temporary) and critera or attributes
for
the conference bridge 200 itself. Availability data may also be maintained and
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updated offline, e.g., relating to pre-defined times for the conference bridge
100
to be established, and/or to the current status of the conference bridge 100.
Fig. 5 shows a VolP user 104 originating the transmission of a
series of Invitations 504 to join a conference bridge 100 in a VolP soft
switch
102, in a peer to peer or consumer to consumer scenario, in accordance with
the
principles of the present invention.
In particular, as shown in Fig. 5, the VolP user 104 can call a
conference bridge 100 and provide particular, customized criteria for the
conference. In a peer-to-peer scenario as shown in Fig. 5, the VolP user 104
issues a peer-to-peer request 550 such as a call searching for tickets to a
specific public event (e.g., "Falcons Tickets"), searching for others with a
similar
hobby or interest (e.g., "Chess Players"), matchmaking services forming a
personal add (e.g., "Male 30-35"), etc.
In the disclosed embodiment, the peer-to-peer conference is
initiated by a call by an initiating VolP user 104. The conference bridge 100
may
be pre-established with pre-determined criteria, and the initiating VolP user
104
merely calls the appropriate conference bridge 100. In such case, the VolP
service provider may establish network-wide criteria itself, or may allow
customized conference bridges as a service to their subscribers.
Alternatively,
the criteria for the conference bridge may be established by the initiating
VolP
user 104. The criteria may be transmitted to the soft switch to establish the
relevant conference bridge 100 preferably with data contained within the call
from
the initiating VolP user 104.
The peer attributes and desired geographical boundaries of the
conference are maintained in a matchmaking database 500 in communication
with the VolP soft switch 102 or other gateway that hosts the conference
bridge
100.
The VolP soft switch 102 issues a Peer Request 504 with location
data to any/all VolP users 110, 112 and/or 114 fitting the criteria for the
conference. In response, those VolP users 110, 112 and/or 114 who accept
entry into the conference (e.g., by activating an 'Accept' button on the VolP
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communications device), return an Accept message 505 to the inviting VolP soft
switch 102. Those VolP users 110, 112 and/or 114 that don't accept the Invite
(either by activating a `Reject' button on the VolP communications device, or
simply by not responding to the Invite message 204 within a given period of
time)
return a Reject message 505 to the inviting VolP soft switch 102.
The invited VolP users 110, 112, 114 may include a filter allowing
through only acceptable Invite messages based on criteria established by or on
the receiving VolP users 110, 112, 114.
Fig. 6 shows exemplary signal/call flow for a VolP user originating
an invitation to join a conference bridge sent to other VolP users as shown in
Fig.
5.
In particular, the peer-to-peer request 550 issued by the VolP user
104 is depicted in Fig. 6, as are the respective Invite messages 504 and
Accept
or Reject messages 505 from each of the invited VolP users 110, 112, 114.
The present invention allows VolP users to find their most
appropriate conferees, provider or peer match with minimal user interaction.
This
is particularly helpful for mobile VolP users (e.g., while driving, walking,
etc.)
Moreover, there is no effective limit to the number of participants in the
conference call (within network hardware limits of the conference bridge
itself).
There is also no risk of cold transfers of a VolP telephone call as
participants
aren't handled in point-to-point connections that are transferred but rather
join or
exit an established conference at will.
Furthermore, participants in the
conference call can continue in the conference even after the initial user
disconnects.
Potential markets for the present invention include VolP service
providers who may implement the inventive VolP multi-user conferencing as a
value added services for users. Other uses of the invention include consumer
and business VolP users with respect to commercial, government, educational
activities, and Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs), to name a few.
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VolP location based conferencing in accordance with the principles of
the present invention has particular applicability with any/all VolP users,
VolP
service providers, and/or Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs).
While the invention has been described with reference to the
exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make
various
modifications to the described embodiments,
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