Methods and systems for communications processing

• US 10,142,269 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: D'Agruma, Daniel, Phillips, Chris, Burwell, Nicholas, Bland, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Application Number:
  US15/376,229
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/655 Combination of telephone service and social networking messaging within social networks H04L51/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012

Abstract

Communication systems and methods are described. In an illustrative embodiment, embeddable code is provided to a user to embed on a user web page. A communication request is received from a visitor via a user interface displayed on the user web page, the user interface including an address field configured to receive from the visitor an address associated with the visitor, and a text entry field configured to receive a text message from the visitor, wherein the user interface is generated at least in part by the code. If the visitor enters a phone address into the address field, a determination is made as to whether the phone address is valid at least partly in response to a first action by the visitor. If the visitor enters text into the text entry field, the text is transmitted to the user at least partly in response to a second action by the visitor.

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a processing device;

a network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory that stores program code that when executed by the processing device is configured to cause the system to at least;

provide a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

enable delivery of a voice message, directed to the user, to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the software program;

enable the voice message to be played via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user;

enable the user to send a textual reply message, via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, to an originator of the voice message without the user entering an address of the originator of the voice message; and

receive, via the network interface, a user voice message deletion instruction from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user;

in response to the user voice message deletion instruction received from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enable the voice message to be deleted from a user interface presented by the browser, and in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with of the user, enable deletion of the voice message on the first computing device associated with the user.

2. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the processing device enables delivery by routing the voice message over the Internet to the first computing device associated with the user.

3. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the browser interface enables the voice message to be played by displaying a control associated with the received voice message, the control when selected causes the voice message to be streamed via the second computing device of the user.

4. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the browser interface enables the user to send a textual reply message by receiving a text entry from a user and transmitting the received text entry over a data network to a computing device associated with the message originator.

5. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

6. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

7. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

receive via the network interface a presence indication transmission from the software program hosted on the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online.

8. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

enable data message receipts from and transmissions to the first computing device associated with the user and the second computing device associated with the user.

9. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

enable data message receipts from and transmissions to the first computing device associated with the user and to the second computing device associated with the user, wherein the data message receipts and transmissions are received or sent using a secure HyperText Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) protocol.

10. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the provided software program includes a corporate brand identifier.

11. The communications system as defined in claim 1, wherein the communications system is further configured to:

monitor usage of the software program; and

based at least in part on the monitored usage, promote one or more products and/or services to the user.

12. A system, comprising:

a processing device;

a network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory storing program code that when executed by the processing device is configured to cause the system to at least;

provide a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

enable delivery of a voice message, directed to the user, to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the software program;

enable the voice message to be played via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user;

enable the user to send a textual reply message, via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, to an originator of the voice message without the user entering an address of the originator of the voice message;

receive, via the network interface, a user voice message deletion instruction from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user; and

in response to the user voice message deletion instruction received from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enable, in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with of the user, deletion of the voice message on the first computing device associated with the user.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the provided software program comprises a Flash object and the system is further configured to:

enable the user to send a textual reply message to an originator of the voice message while the delivered voice message is played.

14. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

15. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

16. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

17. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

18. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the first computing device associated with the user, of receipt of the voice message.

19. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the second computing device associated with the user, of receipt of the voice message.

20. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the voice message is received via the Internet at the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

21. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

receive a verified phone address associated with the user, wherein a verification of the phone address comprises verification that a received set of digits is a valid phone address.

22. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

based at least in part on receipt of a verified phone address, create a user account wherein the verified phone address is associated with the user account.

23. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

receive a verified phone address associated with the user, wherein a verification of the phone address comprises verification that a received set of digits is a valid phone address;

determine a country of origin of the verified phone address from the received set of digits.

24. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

receive via the one or more network interfaces a presence indication transmission from the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online.

25. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

receive via the network interface a presence indication transmission from the software program hosted on the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online.

26. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

enable data message receipts from and transmissions to the first computing device associated with the user and the second computing device associated with the user.

27. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

enable data message receipts from and transmissions to the first computing device associated with the user and the second computing device associated with the user, wherein the data message receipts and transmissions are received or sent using a secure HyperText Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) protocol.

28. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

cause, at least in part, an audible notification to be played upon delivery of the voice message to the user on the first computing device associated with the user.

29. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

cause, at least in part, an audible voice message notification to be played on the second computing device associated with the user.

30. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the provided software program includes a corporate brand identifier.

31. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the system is further configured to:

monitor usage of the software program; and

based at least in part on the monitored usage, promote one or more products and/or services to the user.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

enabling delivery of a voice message, directed to the user, to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the first software program;

enabling the voice message to be played via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user;

enabling the user to send a textual reply message, via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, to an originator of the voice message without the user entering an address of the originator of the voice message;

receiving a user voice message deletion instruction from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user;

in response to the user voice message deletion instruction received from the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enabling, in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with of the user, deletion of the voice message on the first computing device associated with the user.