Telecommunication and multimedia management method and apparatus

摘要

A telecommunication and multimedia management apparatus and method that supports voice and other media communications and that enables users to: (i) participate in multiple conversation modes, including live phone calls, conference calls, instant voice messaging or tactical communications; (ii) review the messages of conversations in either a live mode or a time-shifted mode and to seamlessly transition back and forth between the two modes; (iii) participate in multiple conversations either concurrently or simultaneously; (iv) archive the messages of conversations for later review or processing; and (v) persistently store media either created or received on the communication devices of users. The latter feature enables users to generate or review media when either disconnected from the network or network conditions are poor and to optimize the delivery of media over the network based on network conditions and the intention of the users participating in conversations.

主权项

1. A live video messaging system implemented on a communication network, comprising:
a node on the communication network, the node arranged to: receive an identifier associated with a live video message transmitted over the communication network from a first client communication device, the identifier identifying a recipient of the live video message; ascertain, in response to receipt of the identifier, an IP address for a second client communication device on the communication network associated with the recipient; persistently store video media of the live video message as the video media is received at the node from the first client communication device; and transmit the video media of the live video message to the second client communication device using the IP address, the transmission enabling the video media of the live video message to be rendered live at the second client communication device as the video media is transmitted by the first client communication device and received, stored and transmitted by the node on the communication network, wherein the transmission of the video media of the live video message supports live video messaging between the first client communication device and the second client communication device without first establishing an end-to-end connection over the communication network between the first and second client communication devices.