HK1088166B - Methods and system for instant voice messaging and instant voice message retrieval - Google Patents

Description

Method and system for transmitting instant voice message and retrieving instant voice message

Technical Field

The present invention relates to telecommunications, and more particularly to wired and wireless telephone and telephone communication systems and communications via public switched telephone networks such as PSTN (public switched telephone network) and PLMN (public land mobile network) and voice over internet protocol (VoIP), and even more particularly to communication system No.7(SS 7). The invention also relates to cellular phone technology, namely: first generation ("1G", i.e. analog cellular phone technology), second generation ("2G", e.g. global system for mobile communications, GSM, CDMA (code division multiple access) and TDMA (time division multiple access)), 2.5 generation ("2.5G", e.g. general packet radio service, GPRS), and third generation (3G) cellular phone technologies, e.g. UMTS (universal mobile telephone system) and 1XRTT (1x) radio transmission technologies.

The invention also relates to message transmission technology, including instant message transmission technology and voice message transmission technology. Instant messaging technology is a relatively new concept, first proposed by ICQ corporation. The invention also relates to Instant Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) and push-to-talk (PTT) over Internet Protocol (IP) telephony (PTT over VoIP), also known as Instant Voice Communication (IVC).

Background

Existing IVC technology

There are many technologies that support instant voice communication technology. Although telephone voice communication can be easily established through a circuit-switched line such as a telephone connection, it still has a delay such as a connection delay, which does not exist in PTT technology such as iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network) or TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio communication).

iDEN technology was first developed in 1994 and is used in the field of cellular telephone communications. Its market share is extremely low compared to other cellular telephone technologies. With iDEN technology, when a user presses a button to talk on his cell phone, his designated group station may receive his voice immediately. iDEN technology is similar to "walkie-talkie" technology in radio. The other party can make an instant reply, which is also similar to a "walkie-talkie" system.

TETRA technology is a publicly standard technology for a single aggregated two-way wireless network that can support multiple government agencies in various countries and can communicate over the same network, and thus has a low share in the consumer market.

Other IVC technologies include "personal mobile radio", which is a short-range radio with limited capabilities, primarily for use in workgroup stations, and "walkie-talkie terminals", such as "Cobra" and "Talkabout", which represent growing consumer markets (theme parks, ski coaching stations, etc.), but have limited transmission ranges.

In the cellular telephone market, the share of PTT technology is smaller than other prevalent cellular telephones, such as GSM, CDMA, and TDMA.

In recent years, an emergency "keep-alive" concept for data networks has been developed. In this concept, the user is always connected to the data network by his/her cellular phone. Taking GPRS cellular telephone technology as an example, its IP network interfaces with the GSM cellular voice network. This permanent data connection capability promises to open up a situation where cellular phone users compete for the adoption of IVC technology.

VoIP technology, which can transmit voice over data networks, is expected to be a key technology of the IVC concept of data networks. However, the VoIP technology requires improvements in the end-user's handset in applications to enable the handset to support speech encoding and decoding over IP networks. This improvement may be referred to as 'client software'.

Existing instant messaging techniques

ICQ is a widely used instant messaging technology that originates from internet-based (and thus data-based) technologies. With ICQ technology, users can communicate text messages for immediate transmission over the internet. A user may attach a voice file to an ICQ message, but this technique is not a voice-based technique, and voice is just an attachment. While ICQ technology needs to be implemented over advanced cellular telephone networks, such as GPRS networks, it employs the data portion of the cellular telephone network rather than the voice portion. ICQ technology requires the installation of ' client software ' within the end user's device. There are also other ICQ-like techniques such as AOL messaging.

Short Message Service (SMS) technology represents another instant messaging platform that can send messages of up to 160 characters in real time via the communication sub-network of a telephone (especially cellular) system. EMS (enhanced SMS) technology can concatenate short SMS messages so that a picture or image can be sent.

Another instant voice message transmission method is a 'record and send' service based on multimedia services (MMS). In this service, a user records a message into his MMS capable handset and then transmits the message to another MMS 'recording and sending' capable handset. The message is stored in the handset of the opposite user and can be presented. The service requires a network supporting MMS and a dedicated handset, and also requires a great deal of interactive effort to operate across various networks and handsets.

Another method of instant voice messaging is voice paging delivery (VP). When using the VP technique, a telephone number is called, then an identification number (IDN) of the user is input, and then a voice message is input. The message is sent to a voice paging device.

The advent of 2.5G cellular telephone technology, such as GPRS, has enabled people to utilize non-wired data networks for the transmission of instant messages. SMS messages may be transmitted as well.

A series of general specifications for mobile phone instant messaging and presence services were specified and drafted in the 'wireless village' forum sponsored by ericsson, motorola and nokia corporation in 4 months 2001, which further worked on in terms of standardization of instant messaging or instant messaging technologies. The wireless village forum has drafted a standard protocol for instant messaging and on-site services (IPMS) technologies, which includes on-site information management, instant messaging, group site management, and content sharing. Another forum is the PAM, an on-site and acquisition management forum. The PAM forum is held by independent non-profit organizations for establishing standards for the management and sharing of presence and availability information across multiple services and networks. A group is set under the IETF (internet engineering task force) to exclusively handle Instant Messaging and Presence Protocol (IMPP). The task of the IMPP group is to handle protocols and data formats, thus creating an internet end-user presence alert, notification and instant messaging system. A group recently established in the IETF (2002, 10/31) is the extended messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) working group.

Current voicemail techniques

Voice messages are stored over a telecommunications network, which is a common function supported by voice mail systems. By using the function, the voice mail answering machine can be called, so that a calling user can leave a message. Voicemail systems have a variety of different capabilities and sizes: telecommunication carrier systems, medium-sized organisations and even individual users (home answering machines). The calling user can use these systems to leave a message in the event that the called party is unanswered, the called number is busy, or even the call is on standby. A message may also be left where the called party is a cellular telephone user in a non-radio coverage area. Another method of voice messaging is to dial the voice mail system directly (without calling the target user), including the target user's phone number. Such as 151-54-123456, the user of No.054123456 may be voice-spoken and/or faxed without calling him/her.

After leaving a message for the voice (and/or fax) of the target user, the user can know the message through the following modes: receiving an SMS notification; displaying a mail icon on his/her mobile phone(ii) a An indicator light (such as a wired telephone connected to a wired telecommunications network or PBX (personal branch exchange)) is illuminated on his/her handset.

Another way to find out whether a new voicemail has arrived in one's voicemail box is to call the voicemail system to listen for how many new messages have arrived. Message retrieval may be performed by calling the voice mail system, listening to an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and doing so as instructed by the IVR.

Voicemail is a common technique. The company Comverse (Tel Aviv 69710 RamatHachasal HaBarzel street 29, Israel) has developed and marketed a voicemail technique. Voicemail technology may employ SS7 signaling system interconnection technology to allow connection to a telephone system. Other voicemail systems transmit over data networks. These voicemail systems employ VoIP technology so that voice can be received and sent to a data network that interfaces with the voicemail systems.

Some voicemail systems, such as the combersi system, may allow users to mark urgent typefaces on messages that are left. In this scenario, all urgent messages are displayed to the target user before the "normal" message (i.e., the message not annotated with the urgent typeface). The display order of the urgent messages depends on the message leaving order of the urgent messages.

Current VoIP technology for instant voice communication

In the conventional art, there have been several attempts to implement instant voice communication through a data network. These attempts have attempted to simulate the experience of applying the 'push-to-talk' technique. For example, Tornado mobile phone company (Herzlya 46140 Gallaley Haplada street 6, P.N. letter 4043) uses a data network (e.g., GPRS, 1XRTT, etc.) that is characterized by a constant connection to the end user. In this way, the user can be always connected to the network and thus receive messages in a very short time. Since the above-described network is used for data transmission, voice can be transmitted through the network only in a VoIP manner. VoIP technology requires installation of a dedicated network, a dedicated handset and dedicated interaction capability, and thus is being brought to the market at a remote date and in short term, and the number of users of the system is small, so that many interaction problems remain to be solved. In addition, the quality of service (QoS) of the VoIP network is low because of problems such as fluctuation (variation delay), delay, and bandwidth in typical characteristics of the VoIP system.

Disadvantages of the prior art

The prior art does not provide the same instant voice messaging as real-time voice communication for all telephone systems and technologies (wireline and cellular telephones). Most prior art requires the installation of client software at the end user terminal. Most of the prior art has a market share lower than the iDEN or TETRA technologies.

Existing VoIP technology for implementing instant voice communications via a 2.5G cellular telephone data network, such as a GPRS data network, has lower voice quality than circuit switched voice networks. This is mainly because the voice quality of circuit switched voice networks is improved. The circuit switched voice network is dedicated to telephony communication, while the data network is used for packet transmission. When a packet transmission network (data network) is used to transmit voice, a VoIP technique is used, whose voice transmission quality is lower than that of a circuit switched network.

With the prior art for retrieving voice and/or fax messages, the user is required to call the system and listen to the system greeting and other new messages that arrive prior to the desired message before the desired message can be retrieved.

Existing PTT technology does not require the provision of a "store and transmit" engine. In other words, messages that are not received will be lost, similar to two-way wireless communication techniques. Due to the lack of a storage and transmission engine, PTT technology is prone to interference, i.e., the handset suddenly generates interference noise when playing a voice message. For example, iDEN technology does not allow for the storage of sent messages. Thus, if the target user is not listening, the message is lost. In addition, the target user is not provided with a flag indicating that the message is attempting to reach the target user. Further, the caller is not provided with a flag indicating reception or non-reception.

The main disadvantages of the existing message retrieval technology are: the target user cannot receive and retrieve a particular message without listening to all of the preceding messages. In addition, even if the target user knows that someone is sending a particular voice (and/or fax) message that is important and/or urgent, the target user must call his/her voice mail system and listen to all the preceding messages. Another disadvantage of existing voicemail retrieval techniques is that: listening to greetings and IVR instructions are required. The Commverse corporation has recently developed a technology known as "visual voicemail" that enables instant voicemail retrieval. This technology requires a dedicated 'client software' or a dedicated handset and an attached communication line equipped with a voice mail system (such as an IP-based conversational line). In fact, according to this method, the end user can have a browsing dialogue with the voice mail, from which the user can find out what messages are left for him/her, so that the messages can be selected for display. The message may be displayed upon request. The method requires the use of a dedicated end-user device and an IP session equipped with a voice mail server.

Us patent No.20020146097 discloses a method, apparatus and system for a Short Voice Message (SVM) delivered as an SMS message, an SMS-like message or an instant message. The method of operation proposed in this patent application comprises one of the following: adopting MMS protocol in new user terminal and network; utilizing the existing SMS point-to-point server and connecting Packet Data Units (PDUs) into a whole in series, thereby forming a short voice message; providing voice to the recorded message in the text converter and providing text to the voice converter for display as a message; or to transmit voice messages over a data network.

Canadian patent No.2355420 discloses an apparatus and method for transmitting information over an electronic network in the form of a user-to-user voice message service between mobile telephone users. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system, as a voice SMS platform, includes a voice SMS server and an application user interface layer coupled to a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The invention is based on the following technology: a browser-based interface based on Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or HTML or C-HTML; SIM Application Toolkit (SAT); and Interactive Voice Response (IVR).

The U.S. patent application No.20020146-097 and canadian patent No.2355420 do not disclose solutions with full end-user flexibility and real-time availability for use with existing standard networks and end-user devices.

Therefore, it would be a great advance to develop an instant voice message transmission and voice message retrieval method and system that does not exist in the conventional technology.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention discloses a new instant (instant) voice message transmission (IVM) method and system. Part of the IVM method disclosed herein is used to acknowledge message reception or non-reception. The IVM method disclosed herein differs from conventional instant voice communication methods (such as the PPT method) in that it can be easily used for all cellular and wireline telephone networks and all existing end-user telephone devices.

The present invention provides a system in a communication network for instant voice messaging comprising an IVM server (described in detail below) that simultaneously receives at least one voice message segment from a calling user and transmits the at least one voice message segment to at least one target user; the system also comprises a switch which is connected with the IVM server and is used for carrying out communication between the calling user and each target user and the IVM server and between the calling user and at least one target user, wherein each voice message from the calling user can be instantly transmitted to at least one target user through a communication network.

The present invention provides a method for relaying an instant voice message from a calling subscriber to at least one target subscriber via a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: at least one IVM server receiving at least one voice message segment from a calling subscriber and simultaneously transmitting the at least one voice segment to at least one target subscriber using the receiving step.

The invention provides a method for instantly retrieving a voice message transmitted from a calling user to a target user through an IVM server, comprising the steps of: receiving, by the target user, a notification from the IVM server that a particular instant voice message has been sent; the target user directly accesses the particular message.

The present invention provides an instant voice message transmission (IVM) server, comprising: a mechanism for receiving at least one voice message segment from a first user and simultaneously transmitting the at least one voice message segment to at least one second user; a communication mechanism for the IVM server is also included for communicating with the first user and at least one second user.

The present invention provides systems and methods for sending instant voice, fax and multimedia messages using existing standard cellular telephone and PSTN networks and standard end user terminal technology. The message is preferably sent to the end user in a "key" fashion, using a merging technique, so that the user can listen to the message while recording and retrieve the recorded message using simple functions such as keys on a cell phone. The user may also switch to a full two-way (full duplex) traditional telephone conversation mode.

The present invention provides an improved Voice Paging (VP) that combines the VP with the instant voice message service of the present document. In this way, the IVM service can be extended to voice paging devices. The telephone user needs to store a telephone number, which includes: (a) an instant messaging service number, (b) a voice paging server number, (c) a target user paging identification number. When the telephone number is dialed, the IVM server connects to the voice paging server, providing an intuitive and simple instant voice paging service so that it can be activated from a conventional telephone device.

By using the invention, the PTT message can be transmitted to the telephone users without PTT telephones or not PTT service users. The method is that PTT message is sent to IVM server, and at the same time the message is converted into IVM message, and sent to any telephone user. The invention enables each telephone user to send an IVM message to the IVM server, which converts the message to PTT format and sends it to the PTT system. The PTT system sends the PTT message to the PTT user designated by the telephone user.

The present invention provides a private dialing feature (method) that can send instant messages to IVM users, which can be implemented over existing telephone networks, particularly networks that employ the SS7 signaling system. This feature may establish an instant voice message while initiating a voice conversation with the target user. For example, dialing "152" and then dialing the phone number of the phone user, such as 152 + 054 + 123456, an instant conversation with the IVM server is initiated, so that an IVM conversation with the 054 + 123456 phone user can be initiated simultaneously. In this example, "152" is a dedicated "IVM prefix" that indicates to the switch that the session is an IVM session and should therefore be transmitted to the IVM server.

The voice conversation with the target user preferably includes a dedicated notification to the target user so that the target user knows that the conversation includes an instant voice message communication. With an IVM server, a calling user can set up his/her message while a target user can hear the message. During this setup, the calling user may be notified whether his/her message is being listened to by inserting a dedicated notification (such as a "beep") into the voice conversation the calling user is conducting with the IVM server. The calling user may also be notified that his/her message has been listened to after the calling user has finished his/her voice conversation with the IVM server. The notification may be made using SMS or a message that may be established by the IVM server and sent to the calling user. The calling and target users can connect with the IVM server but there is no telephone and no two-way communication channel between them, although this channel can be easily established. Thus, the IVM service is a content-based call trigger or content-based call screening service, i.e., whether to make a call (call trigger) or not (call screening) is determined according to the message content. With the IVM service, the calling user can pre-select (with different dialing) whether to have him/her send an instant voice message or have he/she talk to the target user on a regular basis. With the new dialing technique disclosed herein, the user (calling user and target user) can choose whether to use the messaging mode or the conversational mode when starting a conversation because there are different conversational mode numbers and messaging mode numbers. A time limit may be set up for the instant voice message (e.g., no more than 2 minutes, etc.).

With the method and system herein, a dedicated single-person hosted conference teleconference can be established. A single person-hosted conference user first speaks an instant voice message "please attend the conference" and then continues as a normal teleconference. After sending a short message "please attend the meeting" to multiple users, the target user can press the key button on the phone to attend the meeting with other users.

The invention also discloses a voice and/or fax and/or instant voice message instant retrieval method and a system. The system can directly access specific voice and/or fax and/or multimedia and/or unified messages without listening to previous messages and/or system greetings and/or system operation instructions. After the user receives his/her notification, such as an SMS notification, the following is written: "you have a new voice message (and/or fax) from phone number + 9723123456" the user can call the voicemail system while using the information in the notification (here, number + 9723123456). For "instant" retrieval, the notification should be "dynamic," such as an SMS with a "dynamic" call number 15397231234561997. In this example, "153" is a prefix that tells the switch that this is an instant retrieval of an instant voice message. The switch will send the call to the IVM server, but with a different prefix than the "152" prefix that accessed the server. "152" represents a message establishment session and "153" represents a message retrieval session. The IVM server treats all calls with a "153" prefix as a retrieval call. "1997" refers to the suffix used to specify the particular message that was retrieved immediately. The suffix can be shortened by combining the number of the calling subscriber with the suffix because in this case the suffix only specifies the message left by the calling subscriber, not all messages left in the system.

An example of SMS text (content) is as follows: "you have an instant voice message from 9723123456; please dial the number of the sender of the message for instant retrieval ". The user can use the number in the SMS by pressing the CALL or SEND key on the handset.

By using the normal voice, fax and instant voice message instant retrieval method and system of the invention, the instant voice message which is changed into the voice mail message and is not heard (not listened) can be directly accessed in an instant manner. The method comprises the following steps: when an IVM message is transmitted from the IVM server to another store, such as a voicemail system, the IVM server may communicate with the other store (voicemail in this case) server to obtain a dedicated indicator for instant access to the message in the new store. The receiving (target) user need not know whether the message has been transferred to other storage. The user employs a dial-up method to instantly access messages stored in the IVM server. If the message has been transmitted, the IVM server can still access it and display it instantly. In addition, each message stored in a conventional memory system, such as a voice mailbox, has an immediate access indicator, and the dynamic notification described above can be sent to the receiving user so that he/she can retrieve the message immediately without the use of an IVM server.

The invention is applicable to various cellular telephone technologies and wired telephone technologies. Compared with the prior art, the invention preferably adopts a circuit switching network to implement the instant voice message service, thereby providing high-quality transmission voice.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention. The structure, operation, and advantages of preferred embodiments of the invention will be further understood with reference to the following description and drawings.

FIG. 1a is a block diagram of a basic preferred embodiment of an Instant Voice Messaging (IVM) system of the present invention;

FIG. 1b shows an example of each IVM number;

FIG. 1c shows a plurality of target user IVM numbers;

FIG. 2a is a flow chart showing the main steps of an IVM preferred embodiment of the "push button" function of the IVM of the present invention;

FIG. 2b shows details of the steps in the flow diagram of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2c shows the IVM additional processing step sent in FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 2d is a flow chart showing the main steps of the preferred embodiment of instant voice message transmission for the IVM instant retrieval function of the present invention;

FIG. 2e shows details of the steps of the flow diagram of FIG. 2 d;

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an IVM system of the present invention;

fig. 4 shows an example of a flow diagram for IVM server-calling user notification in the case of sending a message to a target user;

fig. 5 shows an example of a flow diagram for IVM server-calling user notification in the case of sending messages to multiple target users;

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an IVM system of the present invention including optional components in addition to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the IVM system of the present invention, in which the IVM server is connected to IP (data) under VoIP technology;

fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the IVM system of the present invention, wherein the IVM server is connected to the sub-PTT system and/or the VoIP based PTT.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The invention discloses a method and a system for instant voice message transmission and voice message retrieval.

Fig. 1a is a block diagram of a basic preferred embodiment of an instant voice messaging system 100 in accordance with the present invention. The system includes a calling end user device (calling user) 102 coupled through a telephone line or VoIP switch 104 to an Instant Voice Message (IVM) server 106 that is mounted on a telephone (cell phone or wired phone) line or VoIP network 108. The calling subscriber may be connected to one or more target subscriber devices ("target subscribers") 110 through the switch 104. The description made with reference to one target user can prove that the present invention is also applicable to a plurality of users. The calling and target user devices may be cellular telephone handsets (analog and/or digital 2G, 2.5G or 3G), wireline telephone or VoIP devices, optionally with memory for storing numbers. Hereinafter, all of these devices are referred to as "mobile phones". Each user is assigned an instant voice message number, as described in detail below. It represents a major novel feature of the present invention. After dialing the target user's IVM number, a session may be established (triggered) with the IVM server 106 in real-time, thereby enabling the calling user to establish an instant voice message. At the same time, the server 106 establishes a dialog with one or more target users. The part (segment) of the message that has been set up by the calling user is transmitted (merged) by the IVM server to the target user while the calling user can still set up other segments, unlike known prior voice messaging techniques.

The following description of the simultaneous establishment of an IVM by a calling user and the establishment of a session between an IVM server and a target user is the first main feature of an IVM dialing system. The ability to store message segments simultaneously and merge into the target user is a second primary feature, which is a "segment store merge" module 120, located within the IVM server 106. Module 120 is operable to identify the format of the received message and store the message in a prescribed format, such as MP3 format. The module is also used to store messages in segments of a specified length and to merge (transmit) these segments to the target user before the IVM server receives the entire message.

The system 100 may include a self-selecting "instant retrieve" module 122, preferably (but not necessarily) disposed within the server 106. When it is set, module 122 provides a "dynamic" notification (such as a "dynamic" caller ID or SMS) to the target user. This notification may be used by the target user when the "key" is deactivated, or when he/she accesses a message that has been listened to and saved. Through the notification, the target user can immediately access the saved message. In the present invention, "dynamic" means a counting system that allows instant retrieval of a particular message. The system 100 may further include an in-place status module 326, preferably located in the IVM server, for providing the status of the target user, as described in more detail below.

Module 122 is operable to identify stored messages, indicate such messages so that they may be retrieved on the fly. In addition, the module can also establish dynamic notifications. The IVM server need not store IVM messages. For example, if the target user has heard the message during preparation and does not require that it be saved or transmitted, the message may be deleted. In this case, the IVM server only acts as a buffer, not as a memory. Furthermore, the operator may specify that IVM messages are not stored, but merely buffered, and only listened to during preparation.

Fig. 1b shows examples of IVM numbers (e.g. a dialog between a calling user and a target user). Figure 1c shows a plurality of target user IVM numbers (dialog between a calling user and a plurality of target users). When the calling subscriber dials, the exchange recognizes it as a call to the IVM server. Before the message is over, i.e. before the recording is over in the server, the IVM server recognizes it as a "push" instant message (instant send) and sends it to the target user together with the phone number in the IVM number. Each IVM service number may comprise two or three parts. The two-part IVM number includes an IVM prefix 152 and a target user number 154, such as 152054123456, where "152" is the prefix and 054-123456 is the target user number. As with the telephone network, when a prefix is added, the zero (0) preceding the number may be omitted. Thus, the target user number 154 may also become 54123456. In general, if three parts 152(IVM prefix), 154 (target user number) and 156(IVM suffix, such as "789") are included, as shown in fig. 1b, then either the prefix or the suffix will identify the conversation as an IVM conversation. That is, the phone or VoIP switch may employ a prefix or suffix to inform the IVM server of the delivery of the message. With the portion 154, the IVM server can instantly 'request' the phone or VoIP switch to connect with the target number. The target user's IVM number can be accessed immediately, thereby starting the conversation immediately. "152", "154", and "156" may also represent IP addresses and have an IP address format (e.g., "152" may be considered 172.24.204.205).

Table 1 shows the contents of the phone memory. The stored number is the IVM number, prefixed by "152". After each number is dialed, the IVM transmission to the user with the following prefix number is initiated.

A.9.. 9.. 152054123456 instant voice message, father.. 152054654321 IMVM salon

TABLE 1

If there are multiple (or "groups") target users, the multiple target user IVM number preferably also has three parts, as shown in FIG. 1 c. In other words, the plurality of target user IVM numbers includes an IVM session identifier, a multi-target user identifier, a phone number or IP address of each target user (e.g., an internet-based system). The first portion 160 "informs" the telephone or VoIP switch that the session is an IVM session. The second part 162 informs the IVM server that this is an IVM session request between a calling user and multiple target users. The third portion 164 includes all telephone numbers of the target user. All telephone numbers of all target users can be directly input one by one or isolated by symbols.

As shown in fig. 1c, the multi-target user IVM number may be: 152 × 054123456 # 054765432 # 053234876. Here, "152" (part 160) indicates "start IVM session". "#" (part 162) indicates a conversation with multiple end users, "#" indicates isolation between different member phone numbers (the three numbers 054123456, 054765432, 053234876 form part 164 here). Multiple target user IVM numbers may be saved into the calling user device, named "IVM to my classmates". Additionally, the user group may be specified by dialing 152 to the IVM server and then entering a number, such as 777. They will get an IVR (interactive voice response) and introduce it to the group member number. Next, the group will get a group identification number, such as "54321", and then leave an IVM message for the full group by toggling, such as 15254321. It is also possible to always access an IVM server (WEB interface) through the internet and specify a user group.

During an IVM session, the IVM server is included as a channel in all communications between the calling user and the target user. However, any user (target or calling user) may request that the IVM server change modes of communication, i.e., from an IVM conversation into a two-way phone call (two participants), or into a conference call (more than two participants). In this case, the IVM server may signal the telephone or VoIP switch to initiate a two-way or conference call when the calling user presses a key (e.g., presses # #).

The IVM server can record the message so that it is displayed to all connected users at any time during the connection. Such messages may direct the calling and target users to use various functions to set up a regular voice telephone conversation by pressing a certain key.

The IVM server may have a function of limiting the length of the instant voice message, thereby preventing overload of the telephone network due to an excessively long instant voice message, and the IVM server may stop the operation of the IVM after the limited length (e.g., 2 minutes). A notification is then sent to the calling user to set up a message that is no longer than a defined period.

Fig. 2a is a flow chart showing the main steps of a preferred embodiment of the instant voice message transmission method with IVM "key press" function according to the present invention. It comprises receiving at least one voice message segment from a calling user in an IVM server, step 200, and simultaneously receiving and merging the at least one voice segment to at least one target user, step 202. Fig. 2b shows details of these steps.

As shown in fig. 2b, step 200 further includes the following: in step 210, after the calling user performs the IVM "key press" operation, the IVM server is provided with the IVM number of the target user through the switch (i.e., a signaling session is established). Using this number, the IVM server is accessed by the calling user (i.e., a voice conversation is established) at step 212. After access, the IVM server sends a notification, such as a beep tone, to the calling user indicating to the calling user that recording of the message can begin. In step 214, two processes are performed simultaneously: the IVM server records the message provided by the calling user (using the segment store and merge module 120) and simultaneously accesses the target user. The IVM server continues to record and store message segments until the calling user has sent all messages.

As shown in fig. 2b, step 202 further includes the following: the target user may or may not reply to the IVM server after being accessed by it. If the target user replies, the IVM server merges the stored segment information at step 216 until all messages have been transmitted. The target user may transition to a full duplex conversation with the calling user at any of the merging stages (step 218). If the target user replies to an IVM message, the calling user can press a key on the handset at any time, thereby converting the IVM conversation to a two-way telephone conversation. The user may inform the server that he/she would like to have a full duplex conversation with others. The notification may be made by, for example, DTMF (dual tone multi frequency) signals, and the establishment method is to press any key of the cellular phone. Other notifications may also be made, such as any instruction in the IP phone based on a data code generated by the user's handset. Upon notification, the IVM server connects the user to the full duplex session through the server, or instructs the telephone (or VoIP) switch to connect the user directly to the full duplex session through the switch.

The target user may also process the message, such as storing it, replying to it, or transmitting it, as described in steps 248 and 258 of fig. 2 c. If the target user does not reply to the server (step 215), the server processes the message according to predetermined rules. It includes storing, transmitting to a voice mail system, or resending IVM messages in the IVM server. For example, if the message is still stored in the IVM server, the message is displayed immediately. If the message is not stored, the IVM server contacts the voicemail system for dynamic retrieval (instant message display), or simply connects the retrieving user to the voicemail system (normal message retrieval) without any "dynamic" implementation. The user can always access the voicemail and retrieve existing messages. If the message is in a voicemail system, the user may simply listen to it.

Figure 2c shows the IVM process flow details of the present invention. After the process begins, the calling user selects (or "types") the number at step 232 and presses the "send" key on the handset. At step 234, a connection between the calling user and the IVM server is established instantaneously. The IVM server provides an acknowledgement (such as a "forward" notification) to the calling user at step 236. Two steps (same as 212/222) are then performed simultaneously: the calling user records his message in the IVM server at step 238, and the IVM server calls the target user at step 240. It is checked in step 242 whether the target user has returned the call. If so, the IVM server displays the recorded message part (segment) to the target user at step 244. The target user may press the DTMF key on the handset to select one of six options at step 246: save the message in step 248, or: reply to the instant voice message at step 250, or: if there is more than one target user, all users are replied to in step 256, i.e. the calling user and all target users, or: the message is sent as an IVM to other users at step 252, or: at step 254, an instant full duplex telephone conversation is established with the calling user, or: the message is deleted at step 258. The target user may also end the dialog.

If the target user does not answer the call ("No" at step 242), the recorded message is displayed when accessed by the target user at step 260, or if not accessed within a specified time, the recorded message may be transmitted to voicemail at step 262 and the process ends.

Fig. 2d is a flow chart of two main steps of the preferred embodiment of instant voice message transmission for the IVM instant retrieval function of the present invention. It involves receiving a "dynamic" notification by the target user from the IVM server that an instant message (voice, fax, etc.) has been delivered to him/her at step 264 and directly accessing the particular instant message at step 266. Fig. 2e shows these steps in detail.

Prior to step 264, the IVM server sends a "dynamic" notification, such as "caller ID", to the target user: "instant voice message from ABC # XYZ × W054123456". Here, "ABC" represents an access code to the IVM instant retrieval module of the IVM server (i.e., module 122) or other system capable of storing messages. "# XYZ" indicates the unique identification code of the particular message, "# W" indicates the message type (voicemail, MMS message, unified message, or IVM). For example, W-1 means a voicemail message, W-2 means an MMS message, W-3 means a unified message, and W-4 means an instant voice message. If the target user does not see the caller ID and therefore loses (does not reply to) the incoming IVM message, the target user who sees the 'lost instant voice message' notification can read the list of lost (not replied to) instant voice messages, including the prefix (step 276), and can manually dial the prefix number of the particular message to retrieve it instantly (step 278). The target user may also press the 'DIAL' key or 'CALL' key of the handset while observing the 'missed' message notification at step 278. At this time, the mobile phone will automatically dial the prefix number.

The notification may be an SMS message, as described in more detail below. The target user selects whether the notification is a caller ID or SMS message at step 270. If it is an SMS message (step 272), the target user can read the message in step 280, access the SMS sender's number in step 282, and instantly connect to the IVM server in a message retrieval mode in step 284. If it is a caller ID notification (step 274), the caller ID is displayed on the target user's handset in step 276, the target user accesses the displayed number in step 278, and then connects to the IVM server in step 284. The IVM server checks 285 to see if the message is stored in the IVM server. The message may be stored in the memory module 623 (see fig. 6) for later immediate retrieval. If so, the target user directly accesses and retrieves the message at step 287. If not, the IVM server will check if the message is transmitted to other storage servers (not shown in step 289). A voicemail server (not shown) is coupled to server 106. In addition, the multimedia message may also be saved to an MMS server (not shown) and the unified message may be saved to a Unified Messaging System (UMS) (not shown). These servers and their connection to a telephone or VoIP system or network are known to those skilled in the art. In the affirmative case, the IVM server also checks if there is a dynamic connection with the memory server at step 292. If the connection exists (yes), the IVM server provides the stored message ID number to the storage server at step 296 so that the message can be immediately accessed and displayed to the target user. Otherwise, the target user is connected to the storage server by the IVM server and guided by the storage server's menu, as shown at step 294. If the message is not transmitted to other storage servers at step 289, the retrieval process ends at step 289 with a "delayed" instant message retrieval.

"instant retrieval" refers to direct access to a particular voice and/or fax and/or multimedia and/or unified message without listening to previous messages and/or the system's greeting and/or the system's operating instructions. This functionality is implemented by the instant retrieval module 122.

After step 276, if the message is still stored in the IVM server, the message is displayed immediately, if the message is not stored, the IVM server connects to the voicemail system for dynamic retrieval (at which point the message is displayed immediately), or the IVM server does not perform "dynamic" activities, only connects the retrieving user to the voicemail system (at which point normal message retrieval is performed), and the user can also always access the voicemail and retrieve any existing messages. As described above, the IVM server may not be utilized at this time. If the message is in a voicemail system, the user can hear it.

The basic system shown in FIG. 1a can be expanded as follows, with the addition of additional functionality.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of an instant voice message system in accordance with the present invention. The system 300 includes all of the elements of the system 100 of FIG. 1a, with the addition of a discretionary bit server 302. With presence servers, a user can specify whether a message can be received. Presence servers are known to those skilled in the art. Existing presence devices are represented by ICQ, Odigo, convert ('Next 2 Me') and AOL (AOL 'messenger'). The GMS cellular telephone system is included in the IVM and the presence server may connect to a Home Location Register (HLR) 306. The presence server 302 is coupled to the IVM server 106 and each user can specify his/her presence parameters. Another "dynamic" numbering method may be used, such as dialing "152 # 0", the user specifying him/her as "offline" and dialing "152 # 1", the user specifying him/her as "online". The HLR stores information about the cellular phone subscriber. The existing standard is that the mobile phone of a target user is switched on and off. The on-off switch is registered by the HLR. The presence server requests the HLR to retrieve this information and uses it as a presence (availability) criterion.

The presence parameter is a select user selection state that indicates the ability or willingness to retrieve an instant voice message. The status may include 'online', which means that the user can retrieve the IVM; 'send me a message', which means that the user requests to receive an instant voice message; 'offline', which means that the user cannot receive instant voice messages. The special number can be dialed to specify the on-site state, and can be kept in the device memory of the target user, so that the dialing can be rapidly carried out. The dedicated bit status number preferably comprises two parts, the first part being the IVM prefix as described above. The second part is a code indicating the presence status of the IVM server. If the IVM server receives the presence status command, it communicates with the presence server 302 and updates a database within the presence server (not shown).

Assume that the calling subscriber wants to update the presence status to 'offline'. The user dials 152# 111054987654. The IVM prefix "152" tells the telephony switch that this is an IVM session, which connects to the IVM server. "#" tells the IVM server that this is an in-place status update command. The IVM server establishes a communication session with the presence server 302. "111" tells the presence server that the user wants to go 'offline'. The user is identified by his own caller ID or number after the presence status (at 05487654 in this case). The presence server updates the presence status of the user, telephone number 05487654, to an 'offline' status in the database. The presence server may be a module within an IVM server if a dial-up method is used as the presence feature or if presence status is obtained from the HLR. Before setting up an instant voice message conversation with one or more target users, the IVM server may check the presence status of each target user, whether a single user or a group user. If the presence status is 'offline', the IVM session is not set and the voice message will be stored in the IVM server until the target user can proceed with the IVM session. If the target user is not able to conduct an IVM session, the calling user is notified during the IVM setup. The notification is preferably inserted as a special beep and sent by the IVM server to the calling user.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a flow diagram for IVM server-calling user notification. The IVM server sends the notification to the calling user who sent the IVM message to the target user. After establishing a voice conversation between the calling user and the IVM server, the IVM server provides a 'go' signal (beep, etc.) to the calling user (102) at step 402. The calling user records the message at step 404. Meanwhile, the IVM server checks the presence status of the target user in step 405 by communicating with the presence server (302 in fig. 3). If the target user is in the 'offline' state and cannot receive an IVM message, the IVM server notifies the user with a voice signal (using a series of rapidly repeating beeps) at step 420. The IVM server-calling user notification may be sent via a short text message (SMS) and IVM session between the IVM server and the calling user. The dialog may be initiated by the server receiving the recorded voice announcement. In the SMS notification, the IVM server establishes communication with SMSC 605. The notification text message may be stored in the IVM server and sent to the user as a text SMS message via the SMSC. In the telephone network, the SMSC is connected to the telephone exchange as shown in fig. 6.

If the target user is 'online', an IVM message can be received, and the IVM server calls the target user in step 406. At this point, the target user may select: an incoming call message is replied to at step 410, rejected at step 412, or the phone is allowed to ring (at which point a notification will be sent by the IVM server to the calling user).

The IVM server may request the switch to inform it that the target user has replied to the conversation. At this point, the IVM server may notify the calling user (such as inserting a particular beep in the dialog with the calling user) at step 414: the target user has replied to the conversation or has received the message. The IVM server may receive from the exchange the session time (CDR-call session login) with the target user. If the time is similar to the original message time that the calling user left, the IVM server may cause the conversation to not only be replied to, but the message to be listened to. If the target user receives an incoming IVM message (such as pressing the 'end' key on the handset) at step 412, the IVM server may notify the calling user through a voice signal (such as a beep) at step 416. The target user may specify an 'invisible state' in which the calling user cannot receive notifications from the IVM server regarding the receipt and rejection of messages sent from the user to the target user, etc. This may be done by dialing a specific number in a similar way to the presence state.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a flow diagram for IVM server-calling user notification in the case of sending messages to multiple target users. At step 502, the message is sent to a plurality of calling subscribers as described above. Since each target user may hear the incoming message at different times (e.g., the first person replies after one ring, the second person replies after three rings, etc.), different methods need to be employed to notify the calling user of the real-time status, such as message received (heard) or rejected. The notification may be sent to the calling user at step 504 when all target users have heard the IVM message, or after a predetermined time has elapsed. In the latter case, the IVM may identify calling users who have heard the message by the target user, and calling users who have not heard the message by the target user. At step 506, the notification is sent using one of the steps described above.

Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of an IVM system 600 of the present invention that includes optional components in addition to those shown in fig. 1 and 3. These optional parts may be attached separately or in combination to the basic system configuration shown in fig. 1 a. For example, system 600 may include a voice and/or text paging system 602 in communication with the IVM server, a text pager 604 that receives paging messages (voice or text) from paging system 602 and may sometimes reply to a calling user with voice or text messages via the paging system, and an optional Short Message Server Center (SMSC) 605. The SMSC605 is coupled to the IVM server 106 and, in a telephone or VoIP network such as network 108, to the telephone or VoIP switch 104. System 600 may further include a voice recognition module 606 for converting voice messages to text messages, a voice paging module 608, a text-to-voice module 610, an SMSC module 612, and an IVM setup module 614. These modules are preferably located within the IVM server. The network 108 may also be coupled to other telephone or VoIP networks 630.

The calling subscriber can dial an instant message access number (e.g., 152), then dial a number unique to the voice paging message (e.g., 99999), and dial the destination paging subscriber number (identification number, e.g., 3963). If the paging system is a voice paging system, the IVM server converts the message into a voice paging message (having a voice paging format) in the voice paging module 608 and then transmits the message to the voice paging system 602, which transmits his/her message as a voice paging message using the number of the target subscriber.

To transmit the text message, after the IVM access code (e.g., 152), a number unique to the text paging message (e.g., 88888) is dialed, and then the target paging subscriber number (e.g., identification code 4175) is dialed. The voice recognition module 606 is used to convert voice messages into text messages. If the text paging system has a response function (text response), a response text message from the text pager 604 is forwarded to the IVM server via the text paging system 602. The text message is converted from text to speech within the server by module 610 and into IVM format by module 614. The message is sent as an IVM message to the calling user. The text-to-speech module 610 is required when a text SMS message is sent to a calling or target user, and when the SMSC number of the message is a number belonging to the SMSC module 612. Specifying an SMSC number that "belongs" to the IVM server (via block 612), a text SMC message may be received in the SMSC block 612, converted to speech by the text-to-speech block 610, converted to IVM format by block 614, and transmitted as an IVM message by the IVM server to a particular user. Another occasion where text needs to be transmitted to a specific module is: the text message is an IP-based text message (such as an ICQ message or an email message) or other type of text message. In this case, the ICQ or email message is delivered to the target user via the IVM server using the number method. For example, the IVM server may have an email domain, such as "ivm.com", and each user may have an email address, such as "123456 @ ivm.com", if the user receives an email, the IVM server will convert it into an IVM message using the text-to-speech module. In the ICQ scenario, the IVM server may be identified as a user with multiple ICQ numbers. Each ICQ number belongs to a different target user and is stored in a database within the IVM server. If the ICQ user sends an ICQ message to a target user, the ICQ message will reach the IVM server registered for the ICQ user. The IVM server then converts the ICQ text message to a voice message in the text-to-voice module and sends it as an IVM message to the target user representing the ICQ number in the IVM server's database.

The IVM module 614 is employed if the IVM server has sent an IVM message, such as a notification message, that needs to be prepared within the IVM server. The module may also provide an IVM format to a text message or voice paging message that is converted to an IVM message.

In another scenario, a telephone user may wish to send a message, originally a voice message (IVM), to an ICQ user. The ICQ user may be an IP device 704 (fig. 7) that employs instant text messaging software, such as ICQ. In fact, each ICQ user may be provided with a unique telephone number (for receiving instant voice messages). The telephone number belongs to the IVM server that receives the IVM message and there is also a list specifying the telephone number and the ICQ number. The IVM server converts the voice message to text by module 606 and sends the text message to IP server 704 (see fig. 7 description below) via IP domain 702 (see fig. 7 description below).

If one or more target users receive an instant voice message and cannot reply aloud (such as in a meeting venue), an IVM may be displayed on each handset, such as: a voice instant message is sent. The target user may reply back and forth via SMS. The SMS message may be replied to with the sender's number in "caller ID".

The IVM server may also include a "matching module" 650 that the user can utilize and utilize via the internet or via phone call and IVR (interactive voice reply) and establish criteria for the IVM server to send back IVM messages. In this case, the IVM server can send the IVM to multiple users in a timely manner, and the users can establish a two-way voice conversation between them instantly.

The IVM server may also include a "dynamic billing" module 660 that enables the phone system to provide 'dynamic' billing for IVM services, such as where the target user chooses to establish a two-way phone call after receiving an IVM message. The dynamic billing module notifies the charging system of the telephone system: the object to be charged at this time is the target user.

Any of the embodiments of the system of the present invention may also include a dedicated handset 670 for each user. Handset 670 includes a set of keys including "dedicated" keys, such as dedicated IVM key 672, a dedicated SMS key 674, a dedicated PTT key 676, etc. The calling user selects a destination telephone number and presses a dedicated key for the desired function. Thus, pressing IVM key 672 automatically enables the calling user to send IVM to the target user, pressing SMS key 674 automatically enables the calling user to send SMS to the target user, and pressing PTT key 676 automatically enables the calling user to send PTT messages to the target user. The same is true for mail, paging (voice and text), instant IP text messages (such as ICQ), and the like. This set of keys may provide menu-based operation of the handset.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the system of the present invention, in which the IVM server is connected with an IP (data) domain 702 on its own. Instant voice messages are sent from the user's telephone device to one or more IP devices 704, which may be VoIP phones or Personal Computers (PCs), or other devices having a data (IP) connection running text or voice messaging software. The IVM server can identify an instant voice message sent to the VoIP client by adding a suffix to the number dialed by the calling user. The number may be an IVM access number such as "152" or an IVM access number, followed by the normal telephone number of the IP device. Following this suffix is the IP address 192.168.100.11 of the target IP user, where a '#' may be employed instead of a '#'. The total number dialed may be 152192 #168#100#11 or 15254123456192 #168# #11#11, where 54123456 is the assigned IP subscriber telephone number. Suffixes may be omitted if each IP user obtains a private (normal telephone) telephone number or other IP identification number, such as an email address. The device 704 (including the telephony software client in the PC) can send an instant voice message to the line-switched telephone (normal telephone) user by specifying the IP address of the IVM server and the telephone number of the target user.

It is noted that the IP device may be a text device such as ICQ or mail in a PC, or may be a VoIP device such as VoIP software in a PC. If the target device is a text IP device (i.e., the target user is specified as a text user), the initial IVM message is preferably converted to a text message using the voice recognition module 606. Each IP user may be assigned a telephone number. The number may be saved in a database of the IVM server along with the IP address of the user. The telephone system 108 may assign these phone numbers to the IVM server, and each time the calling user sends an IVM message to the phone number, the IVM server receives the message, converts it to the text message, and sends it as a text message to the text IP based user 704. If the target IP user 704 is a VoIP user (VoIP software running on a PC), the initial IVM message cannot be converted to a text message. The database within the IVM server will be updated according to the IP target user properties (text or voice). The database comprises a set of dedicated telephone numbers registered in the IVM server, with which the IVM server can implement this interconnection with the IP database. A suffix may be added to the dialed number (e.g., suffix 01 to the text user and suffix 02 to the voice user) to provide the IVM server with information indicating whether the target user is a text user or a voice user.

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the system of the present invention, wherein the IVM server comprises a PTT module 802 and is connected to a sub-PTT system 804 or a PTT over ip (voip) system 806 to send and/or receive instant voice messages to and from the PTT system. The connection may be made using other dialing formats, such as using the prefix "154" instead of the dialing "152" (which indicates that this is an IVM session). The "154" prefix is identified by the telephony switch as a call to the IVM server. However, the IVM server recognizes "154" as a message to the PTT system, followed by the number of the PTT target user 806 or VoIP PTT user 812.

If the PTT user 810 or VoIP PTT user 812 decides to send a PTT message to a certain phone number and if the PTT system identifies the target number as not belonging to a PTT registered user, the PTT system sends the message to the IVM server. The IVM server converts the PTT-type message into an IVM format and sends the message to the desired target user. The IVM server may also be a PTT user with a PTT module 802 that receives and/or sends PTT messages (the same as PTT user 810 or VoIP user 812) to the PTT system. However, each IVM subscriber preferably has a unique "PTT" subscriber number that is registered as an IVM number within the PTT system. Thus, the PTT message will be sent to the IVM server. The IVM server is provided with a database matching the PTT number and the normal telephone number, and each user has the uniqueness matching. Thus, the received PTT message will be received by the PTT module 802, then converted to IVM format within the IVM setup module 614, and sent to the target IVM user. The IVM user can reply to the message, which requires the IVM server to convert the reply to PTT format (using PTT module 802) and send the reply to PTT subsystem 804 or IP PTT system 806, which sends the message to the corresponding PTT sub-user 810 or VoIP PTT user 812.

Throughout this specification, reference is made to all publications, patents and patent applications referred to in this specification, within the scope of the subject matter of citation of each publication, patent or patent application. Furthermore, any reference to or identification in this specification does not imply that such reference constitutes a prior art to the present invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications, improvements and other uses can be made.

Claims (40)

1. A system in a communication network for instant voice messaging, comprising:

a. an Instant Voice Messaging (IVM) server that simultaneously receives at least one voice message segment from a calling user and merges the at least one voice message segment to at least one target user;

b. a switch coupled to the IVM server for communicating between the calling user and each of the at least one target user and the IVM server and between the calling user and the at least one target user,

wherein each voice message segment from said calling subscriber is transmitted instantaneously to said at least one target subscriber via a communication network, characterized in that said system further comprises:

c. an instant retrieval module coupled to said IVM server and adapted to provide a first dynamic notification to said at least one target user when voice message segments from said calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to said at least one target user over the communications network, said first dynamic notification notifying the target user that voice message segments from said calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to the target user over the communications network, and providing a second dynamic notification to said calling user regarding the status of said message selected from the group consisting of rejection of said message by said at least one target user and receipt of said message by said at least one target user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication network is selected from a telephone network and a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network, and the switch is selected from a telephone switch and a VoIP switch.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said IVM server comprises a segment memory and merge module for simultaneous reception and transmission of said at least one speech segment.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the telephone network is selected from a cellular telephone network and a wired network.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cellular network employs a technology selected from first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5 generation (2.5G), or third generation (3G) cellular telephones.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the switch operates for communication between the calling and target users and the IVM server using an IVM number assigned to each of the users.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the IVM number is selected from a user IVM number and a plurality of target user IVM numbers.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said user IVM numbers includes a session identifier and a telephone number, or each of said user IVM numbers includes a session identifier and an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the conversation identifier is selected from a prefix preceding the telephone number or IP address and a suffix following the telephone number or IP address.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the prefix and the suffix each comprise a three-digit number.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of target user IVM numbers sequentially include an IVM session identifier, a multi-target user identifier, and a telephone number, or the plurality of target user IVM numbers sequentially include an IVM session identifier, a multi-target user identifier, and an IP address of each of the at least one target user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said IVM session identifier is a three digit number.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein said instant retrieval module is included within said IVM server.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising a short message service center coupled to the IVM server and the switch, wherein the dynamic notification is selected from a Short Message Service (SMS) notification and a dynamic user Identifier (ID).

15. The system of claim 4, further comprising an on-site status subsystem coupled to the IVM server and configured to provide the status parameters of the at least one target user.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the presence status subsystem is selected from a presence status module included in the IVM server and an external presence status server coupled with the IVM server.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the cellular network is a mobile communications Global System for Mobile (GSM) network, and wherein the presence server is further coupled to a home register.

18. The system of claim 2, further comprising a paging system selected from a text paging system and a voice paging system, said paging system coupled to said IVM server, said IVM server further comprising:

i. a voice recognition module for converting the voice message into a voice paging message,

ii a text-to-speech recognition module for converting the voice message to a text message,

wherein the paging system is configured to communicate the voice paging message and the text message with a paging system belonging to the at least one target subscriber.

19. The system of claim 2, further comprising a push-to-talk (PTT) module included in the IVM server for transmitting instant voice messages between the calling user and the at least one target user.

20. An instant voice message transmission method, comprising:

a. simultaneously receiving at least one voice message segment from a calling user through an Instant Voice Messaging (IVM) server and merging the at least one voice message segment to at least one target user;

b. communicating between the calling user and each of the at least one target user and the IVM server, and between the calling user and the at least one target user,

wherein each voice message segment from said calling subscriber is transmitted instantaneously to said at least one target subscriber via a communication network, said method further comprising:

c. providing a first dynamic notification to the at least one target user when voice message segments from the calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to the at least one target user over the communications network, the first dynamic notification notifying the target user that voice message segments from the calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to the target user over the communications network, and providing a second dynamic notification to the calling user regarding a status of the message selected from the group consisting of the at least one target user declining to receive the message and the at least one target user receiving the message.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

i. providing a switch coupled to the IVM server for communicating between each of the calling users and a target user and the IVM server, and between the calling user and the at least one target user;

providing a unique Instant Voice Messaging (IVM) number to each target user;

the target user accessing the IVM server,

wherein merging the at least one voice message segment to the at least one target user comprises:

in the IVM server, beginning recording and storing the voice message segment while accessing the target user.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

c. if the at least one target user answers the IVM server, merging the stored instant voice message segments to the at least one target user until all messages are transmitted; or

d. Processing the instant voice message within the IVM server according to one of the following rules if the at least one target user does not answer the IVM server:

(1) storing the instant voice message in the IVM server;

(2) transmitting the instant voice message to a voice mail system;

(3) the instant voice message is sent again.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said at least one target user is a single target user, wherein said step of providing said single target user with an IVM number comprises the step of providing a two-part number comprising an IVM session identifier and a telephone number, or wherein said number comprises an IVM session identifier and an IP address.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one target user comprises a plurality of target users, and wherein the step of providing the IVM number to the plurality of target users comprises the step of providing a three-part multi-target user number comprising an IVM session identifier, a multi-target user identifier, and a telephone number, or an IVM session identifier, a multi-target user identifier, and an IP address.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein after the step of merging stored message segments, the following is performed by the at least one target user: and turning to a full duplex conversation with the calling user and processing the instant voice message.

26. The instant voice message transmission method of claim 20, further comprising:

a. retrieving, by the target user, the first dynamic notification from the IVM server, the notification being provided to the target user along with an instant voice message sent by the calling user to the target user;

b. the message sent by the calling subscriber to the target subscriber is directly accessed by the target subscriber.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of receiving a first dynamic notification comprises receiving a notification selected from a caller ID notification and a Short Message Service (SMS) notification.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of receiving a caller ID notification further comprises the step of receiving a notification comprising an access code to an IVM instant retrieval module, a unique identification code for the instant voice message sent by the calling user to the target user, and a message type.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the message type is selected from the group consisting of an instant voice message, a voicemail, a multimedia service message, and a single message.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein said step of directly accessing said message sent by the calling user to the target user comprises accessing said message by the target user after the message has been delivered to the server or after the message has been heard.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of directly accessing the message sent by the calling user to the target user comprises accessing the message after the instant voice message is sent by the calling user.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of accessing the message sent by the calling user to the target user comprises directly dialing a prefix of the message sent by the calling user to the target user.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of accessing the message sent by the calling user to the target user comprises pressing a dial key or a call key on a handset directly by the target user while viewing some missing message notification.

34. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of forwarding, by the IVM server, the message sent by the calling user to the target user.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the message sent by the calling subscriber to the target subscriber comprises an overheard message, and wherein the forwarding step comprises sending the overheard message as: a message selected from a group of IVMs, a voicemail message, a multimedia service message, a unified message, a fax message, and a push-to-listen message.

36. A system in a communication network for instant voice messaging, comprising:

a. an Instant Voice Messaging (IVM) server for simultaneously receiving at least one voice message segment from a calling user having a calling user handset and merging said at least one voice segment to at least one target user having a corresponding target user handset;

b. a switch coupled to said IVM server for communicating between said calling subscriber and each of said at least one target subscriber and said IVM server, and between said calling subscriber and said at least one target subscriber, wherein each voice message segment from said calling subscriber is transmitted instantaneously to said at least one target subscriber over a communications network;

c. a mechanism included in each of said handsets for making a key press access to said IVM server to send or listen to said voice message;

it is characterized by also comprising:

d. an instant retrieval module coupled to said IVM server and adapted to provide a first dynamic notification to said at least one target user when voice message segments from said calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to said at least one target user over the communications network, said first dynamic notification notifying the target user that voice message segments from said calling user cannot be instantly transmitted to the target user over the communications network and providing a second notification to said calling user regarding the status of said message selected from the group consisting of rejection of receipt of said message by said at least one target user and receipt of said message by said at least one target user.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the mechanism comprises at least one key, and the key access comprises operation of the at least one key.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the IVM server optionally comprises a sensitive billing module for sensitive billing of activities conducted through the IVM server.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein said at least one key is a dedicated key.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the dedicated key is selected from the group consisting of: a dedicated IVM button, a dedicated Short Message Service (SMS) button, and a dedicated push-to-listen (PTT) button.