Techniques for managing voice messages in a communication system

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for managing media communications in a communication system that includes communication devices managed and mediated by a communication server, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable channels. A communication server receives, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices. The request includes a means for identifying the one or more other communication device. The communication server determines a current channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set and automatically switches the channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current channel to the channel configured for direct media communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.

1 . A method of managing audio communications in a communication system that includes communication devices managed and mediated by a communication server in an Internet Protocol (IP) network, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable logical channels, the method comprising:
 in the communication server:
 receiving, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices via the communication server, the request including a means for identifying the one or more other communication devices; 
 determining a current logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set; and 
 automatically switching the logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current logical channel to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 notifying the first communication device that the one or more other communication devices are now set to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving a audio communication from the first communication device; and   routing the audio communication to the one or more other communication devices through the communication server and over the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the one or more other communication devices are screenless. 
     
     
         5 . A communication server in an Internet Protocol (IP) network configured to manage audio communication among a plurality of communication devices, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable logical channels, the server comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
 receive, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices via the communication server, the request including a means for identifying the one or more other communication devices;   determine a current logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set; and   automatically switch the logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current logical channel to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server.   
     
     
         6 . The server of  claim 5 , the server comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
 notify the first communication device that the one or more other communication devices are now set to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server.   
     
     
         7 . The server of  claim 6 , the server comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions to:
 receive a audio communication from the first communication device; and   route the audio communication to the one or more other communication devices through the communication server and over the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.   
     
     
         8 . The server of  claim 5 , wherein one or more of the one or more other communication devices are screenless. 
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions that when executed enable processing circuitry in an Internet Protocol (IP) network communication server to manage audio communication among a plurality of communication devices, wherein the communication devices are communicable over a plurality of configurable logical channels, the instructions to:
 receive, from a first communication device, a request to immediately communicate with one or more other communication devices over a logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices via the communication server, the request including a means for identifying the one or more other communication devices;   determine a current logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set; and   automatically switch the logical channel to which the one or more other communication devices are set from the current logical channel to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions to:
 notify the first communication device that the one or more other communication devices are now set to the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices through the communication server.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , further comprising instructions to:
 receive a audio communication from the first communication device; and   route the audio communication to the one or more other communication devices through the communication server and over the logical channel configured for audio communications between the first and one or more other communication devices.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the one or more other communication devices are screenless.