Method and system for universal chat gateways

#The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing alternate communication pathways for mobile devices, specifically, video, voice, text, or picture data over mobile telecommunication handsets. The invention presents improvements for communicating information across multiple networks through use of both Internet Protocol (IP) and roaming transmissions.

#Mobile devices have evolved from a simple voice communication medium to becoming a multi-function communication device. Today, mobile device users can communicate via video, video memo, voice, voice memo, text, Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), instant message, picture message, Facebook chat, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), other chat programs, in addition to a wide variety of alternative communications means, all from our mobile devices (“Communication Methods”). Users of modern mobile devices face juggling the multiple applications, programs, usernames, logins, passwords, friend's lists, and other items just to navigate the communications options of their mobile devices. Further, for many mobile users, the Communication Methods present multiple contact lists and user interfaces that are often not very consistent with each other.

#Mobile devices can use internet protocol services and cellular telecommunication services for communicating video, voice, data, text, and picture information when the corresponding networks are accessible. Internet protocol networks are easy enough for data driven mobile device applications to implement. However, use of cellular radio networks generally require access to licensed RF spectrum, either via a user's home network provider or via a web of partnerships with roaming network providers, either of which usually incurs an expense for the user and can be a challenge for application developers to utilize. Together the mix of IP and cellular communication networks is referred to as “Communication Networks.” Furthermore, most application developers do not have the hardware to interface with the Cellular Networks, thus their applications are limited to accessing the Communication Networks via the standard methods available on the mobile device. Managing and navigating the multiple types of Communication Methods become that much more complex when we factor in the different Communication Networks.

#A better understanding of the present invention may be had from the drawings as described in greater detail in the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT section which follows:

#FIG. 1 is a chart of the Chat Registration process of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a chart of the Send and Receive a Message process of the present invention;

#The following is a description of the present invention. In general the major components of the present invention are the Chat Client, the Chat Gateway, and the Cell Gateway. In these descriptions, the term “client” includes (but is not be limited to) users, customers, and consumers. “Client” should also be understood to refer to any person or organization with an interest in communicating wirelessly to another person or organization. The term “mobile device” or the like should generally be understood to include (without limitation) mobile devices, cellphones, smartphones, wireless phones, and other wireless devices, to the extent that such devices would fall within the scope of any patent claims that may ultimately issue based on these descriptions.

#In the preferred embodiment the Chat Client is an application that runs on a mobile device. The Chat Client integrates into the mobile device operating system and replaces the Communication Methods of the device. In the preferred embodiment, the Chat Client automatically imports all the text, SMS, MMS, and contact lists of the mobile device. In alternative embodiments, the Chat Client will provide multiple Communication Methods, such as video chat, video memo, voice chat, voice memo, text, picture messaging, group chat, location sharing, file transfer, among others. In other embodiments, the Chat Client will optionally run in addition to the standard applications included (embedded) on the users' mobile device. The Chat Client manages sending and reception of communications from the users' mobile device. To a user, the Chat Client keeps all the functionality normally available over their cellular home service network. This has the advantage of providing a single interface to manage all communications with other users.

#The Chat Client has several innovations in the user interface. For example, the Chat Client interface in some embodiments allows for a one button toggle for voice memos and voice communications. In some embodiments this one button toggle could be similar to a “walkie talkie” or “push to talk” type communication. In other embodiments this feature is used to append or attach voice, video, or picture messages to a text conversation. In some embodiments the Chat Client features VOIP or SIP voice communication.