Allowing GSTN/PSTN subscribers access to Internet, Instant Messaging and Presence/multimedia services.

摘要

Today, so called Instant Messaging (IM) and presence services are restricted to Internet connections and internet capable devices (e.g. computers, PDAs etc). The invention allows all mobile phones and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) telephones to use and share these services with other internet users. The invention enables a terminal 1,2 coupled to a GSTN (General Switched Telephone Network) 10 to join an Internet based presence service facilitated by a presence server 6. The method comprises establishing a telephone connection between terminals 1,2 and an intermediate server 4 via the GSTN 10 and establishing a proxy entity corresponding to the terminal 1,2 at the intermediate server 4 and registering the proxy entity with the presence server 6 via the Internet. The presence service messages are then exchanged via the internet and the terminal 1,2 via the GSTN network 10. The second embodiment is a method/server to enable a terminal coupled to a GSTN to access multimedia services over an IP network, comprising similar means to the above. The third embodiment is a method of setting up a multimedia call to a user over an IP network in response to an incoming request to set up the call.