Method and system for using instant voice messaging

Abstract

A method and system for establishing a conference call, by an instant voice message (IVM) server coupled to end-user devices, includes enabling an initiating user using one of the end-user devices, to create an instant voice message indicative of: (i) a request to establish a conference call, and (ii) a group of target users, wherein the group of target users includes at least two target users; establishing an IVM session between the IVM server and at least part of the group of target users; receiving a response, from at least one target user of the at least part of the group of target users, indicating that the at least one target user confirms joining the conference call; and establishing the conference call among the initiating user and the at least one target user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for establishing a conference call, comprising:
 by an instant voice message (IVM) server coupled to end-user devices, enabling an initiating user using one of the end-user devices, to create an instant voice message indicative of: (i) a request to establish a conference call, and (ii) a group of target users, wherein the group of target users comprises at least two target users;   establishing an IVM session between the IVM server and at least part of the group of target users;   receiving a response, from at least one target user of the at least part of the group of target users, indicating that the at least one target user confirms joining the conference call; and   establishing the conference call among the initiating user and the at least one target user.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the instant voice message comprises a recorded voice message requesting the conference call. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprising: during the IVM session, enabling instructing each target user of the at least part of the group of target users to press at least one key comprised in an end-user device used by each target user, in order to confirm joining to the conference call. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising enabling playing to each target user of the at least part of the group of target users, a recorded message that instructs pressing at least one key comprised in respective end-user devices, in order to confirm joining to the conference call. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising receiving the response from the at least two users and establishing the conference call among the initiating user and the at least two target user. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the establishing of the conference call comprises signaling by the IVM server to a switch, coupled to the IVM server, to initiate the conference call, wherein the switch is selected from a telephony switch and a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) switch. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising: receiving, by the IVM server, a session indicative of a presence status, wherein the presence status indicates whether a certain target user of the group of target users is willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising: prior to the establishing of the IVM session, checking presence statuses reported by the at least two target users, wherein a presence status reported by a target user indicates whether the target user is willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the group of target users comprise target users that reported presence statuses indicating willingness to receive instant voice messages and exclude target users that did not report presence statuses indicating willingness to receive instant voice messages. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising notifying the initiating user that a target user of the group of target users cannot join the conference call, if a presence status reported by the target user indicates that the target user is not willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising an instant voice message (IVM) server coupled to end-user devices, wherein the IVM server is configured to:
 enable an initiating user using one of the end-user devices, to create an instant voice message indicative of: (i) a request to establish a conference call, and (ii) a group of target users, wherein the group of target users comprises at least two target users;   establish an IVM session with at least part of the group of target users;   receive a response, from at least one target user of the at least part of the group of target users, indicating that the at least one target user confirms joining the conference call; and   establish the conference call among the initiating user and the at least one target user.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the instant voice message comprises a recorded voice message requesting the conference call. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the instant voice server is further configured to enable instructing, each target user of the at least part of the group of target users, to press at least one key comprised in an end-user device used by said each target user, in order to confirm joining to the conference call. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the IVM server is configured to receive the response from the at least two users and to establish the conference call among the initiating user and the at least two target user. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the IVM server is configured to establish the conference call by signaling to a switch, coupled to the IVM server, to initiate the conference call, wherein the switch is selected from a telephony switch and a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) switch. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the IVM server is configured to receive a session indicative of a presence status, wherein the presence status indicates whether a certain target user of the group of target users is willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the IVM server is configured to check presence statuses reported by the at least two target users, wherein a presence status reported by a target user indicates whether the target user is willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least part of the group comprises target users that reported presence statuses indicating willingness to receive instant voice messages and excludes target users that did not report presence statuses indicating willingness to receive instant voice messages. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the IVM server is configured to notify the initiating user that a certain target user cannot join the conference call, if a presence status reported by the target user indicates that the target user is not willing to receive instant voice-messages. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that once executed by a processor of an instant voice message (IVM) server cause the processor to:
 enable an initiating user using one of the end-user devices, to create an instant voice message indicative of: (i) a request to establish a conference call, and (ii) a group of target users, wherein the group of target users comprises at least two target users;   establish an IVM session between the IVM server and at least part of the group of target users;   receive a response, from at least one target user of the at least part of the group of target users, indicating that the at least one target user confirms joining the conference call; and   establish the conference call among the initiating user and the at least one target user.