Method and system for integration of instant messaging and teleconferencing via a telephone network

US7685235B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Darragh Curran · Tallaght, IE
• Michael Desmond · White Plains, US
• Martin Harrigan · Clonmel, IE
• Trevor Jamison Johnston · Walnut Creek, US
• Cenk Kuzucu · Cully, IE
• Mark E. Wallace · Blackrock, IE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 27, 2004
• Grant date: Mar 23, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 2, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2203/5063
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system is provided comprising a plurality of instant messaging client applications (202, 207, 208, 209) communicating via a computer network (206) to send and receive messages in real time integrated with n-way teleconferencing capability via a telephone network (216). The system includes a plurality of instant messaging client applications (202, 207, 208, 209), an instant messaging server (204), and a teleconferencing server (210), all connected via a computer network (206). The teleconferencing server (210) enables n-way telephone connections via the telephone network (216). The n-way telephone connections are provided to telephone apparatus of at least some users of the instant messaging client applications who can visualize the teleconference via a graphical user interface (600) of the instant messaging client application.