Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) location based conferencing

Existing conferencing systems for putting VoIP 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 VoIP users to use VoIP technology to form temporary or permanent "VoIP Commu- 5 nities" or VoIP 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 VoIP communication devices based on the loca- 10 tion of each VoIP user (and potentially other preferences or attributes). Existing VoIP technology does not address this problem for VoIP 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, 15 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 VoIP user to utilize their own geographic position to narrow down or pinpoint known and even unknown potential VoIP third parties 20 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 VoIP conference bridge application operating in a VoIP soft switch of a VoIP provider to provide VoIP location based conferencing, 25 in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, a VoIP 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 VoIP users 110,112, 114 etc. are potential members of any given conference.

Conference bridges 100 are implemented on the VoIP soft switch 102 located, e.g., at the VoIP service provider's VoIP network.

While the VoIP soft switch 102 is preferably capable of being provisioned with as many VoIP 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. 45

The use of a conference bridge 100 eliminates the otherwise conventional requirement that the VoIP user 104 dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device 110, 112 or 114. Instead, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, location information 50 relating to the initial VoIP user 104 is passed to the VoIP conference bridge 100, either from the user's VoIP communication device 104 or from their respective location server 106. The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch 102 against other VoIP devices 110,112,114 etc. 55 to find matching predetermined location-based criteria, e.g., within a geographic vicinity of the user's VoIP communication device 104.

The VoIP soft switch 102 makes use of the location information. Based on the location, the VoIP conference bridge 60 100 identifies potential other participants to be asked to join the conference currently established by the initial VoIP 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 65 relating to VoIP communications equipment 110,112,114 of the potential other participants.

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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 ofthe third parties 110,112,114.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary message flow diagram for establishing a VoIP location based conference, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 2, the initial VoIP user 104 sends a request for conference bridge call to the soft switch 102. Preferably the initial VoIP 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 VoIP 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 VoIP communication device 104 dials a pre-determined phone number (or URL) to initiate a conference bridge 100 on the relevant VoIP soft switch 102. Various phone numbers (or URL's) may be made available at the VoIP conference bridge 100, each corresponding to a respective VoIP 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 VoIP user 104.

For instance, one VoIP conference bridge 100 may be profiled to invite all other VoIP users within a geographic boundary of, e.g., 1 mile radius from a center point formed by the location of the initiating VoIP 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 VoIP users within a given room (e.g., gym) at the college or schoolyard. Another VoIP conference bridge 100 with its own phone number may correspond to invites to all other VoIP users 110,112,114 etc. currently located in, e.g., a given sports stadium.

The profiles used to identify the potential other VoIP conference participants may provide additional filtering characteristics beyond the location based information, e.g., other VoIP 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 j oin a VoIP conference bridge.

FIG. 1 shows use of a VoIP positioning center (VPC) 106. The VoIP soft switch 102 may receive the user's location information either from each of the VoIP communication devices 104,110,112, 114 etc., or from the VPC 106.

The VoIP soft switch 102 preferably uses both the location information of the initiating VoIP 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 VoIP conference bridge 100. The profile information for the conference bridge 100 is preferably either pre-established by the VoIP service provider (e.g., to set a geographic boundary within a sports stadium), and/or may be input by the initiating user through keypad entry or voice response on the communica- 5 tions 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 VoIP soft switch 102 preferably also maintains the 10 attributes and rules from other VoIP 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 15 information, with or without other user input (e.g., to select or prioritize among a list of available third parties), the VoIP soft switch 102 invites one or more other VoIP communication devices 110,112,114, etc. to join the VoIP conference bridge 100. This creates a voice link between the first VoIP user 104 20 that initially called into the VoIP conference bridge 100, and the other potential, third party conferees 110, 112, 114, etc., without requiring the first VoIP user 104 to know the name or even the contact information of the other potential, third party conferees 110, 112,114, etc. 25

Upon receipt of an invite to a VoIP conference bridge 204, 206, the potential other VoIP 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 30 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 VoIP user(s) 110,112,114 receiving invitations to join a 35 VoIP 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 VoIP devices 110, 112,114 themselves, though such filtering may alternatively be performed at a network level, e.g., at the VoIP soft switch 40 102 or other centralized location.

Benefits of the invention include that there is no effective limit to the number of participants in the conference VoIP call, there are no cold transfers of a call as VoIP invitees enter or leave the conference bridge 100, and there is the ability to 45 continue the conference call even after the initial VoIP user 104 disconnects.

The present invention has particular applicability with any/ all VoIP users, VoIP service providers, and/or even Public Safety Access Points (PSAPs). 50

FIG. 3 shows a VoIP user 104 originating an invitation to join a conference bridge 100 in a VoIP 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 VoIP user 104 initiates 55 an invitation or request 204 based on certain pre-defined criteria for a service provider or a peer attribute. The VoIP service provider acquires the user's location information, either directly from the VoIP communications device 104 or by request to the LIS 106, and initiates a conference on the 60 conference bridge 100. The conference bridge 100 issues invitations or notifications to one or more potential VoIP 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 VoIP users 110, 112, 65 114 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, VoIP users can elect when to receive notifications based on their current status (away, available, business hours, etc.)

For instance, the VoIP 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 VoIP user 104, the VoIP service provider initiates a conference bridge 100 and issues an Invite or other notification to one or more VoIP 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 semi-permanent criteria for that particular conference bridge 100 (e.g., occupations or interests of the registered user of the relevant VoIP 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, VoIP 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 VoIP user 104 is allowed to predefine 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 VoIP user(s) 110, 112, 114 etc. whose location is closest to the initiating VoIP user 104 who initiated the conference invitation in the first place).

FIG. 4 shows exemplary signal/call flow for an initiating VoIP user 104 calling to establish a conference bridge 100, causing invitations to be transmitted to each potential VoIP conferee using IP protocol (e.g., TCP/IP) to join the conference bridge 100 as shown in FIG. 3. In response, each invited VoIP user 110, 112, 114 may accept or reject the invitation with an Accept or Reject message transmitted via Internet Protocol back to the VoIP 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 criteria or attributes for the conference bridge 200 itself. Availability data may also be maintained and 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 VoIP user 104 originating the transmission of a series of Invitations 504 to join a conference bridge 100 in a VoIP 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 VoIP 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 VoIP 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