Communication management system for managing multiple incoming communications, such as from one graphical user interface
First Claim
1. A method for managing communications from a user interface, the method comprising:
- receiving user input to configure a telephony service provider system (TSPS), wherein configuration includes associating a handling method with each one of multiple call handling codes, wherein the handling method directs the TSPS in handling a call;
receiving user input to a contact management system associating at least some of multiple contacts stored in a contact management system database with one of the handling codes; and
receiving user input when a call is received that directs the TSPS how to handle a call, including contradicting a handling code previously associated with a contact, and wherein the TSPS interfaces with the contact management system and uses data from the contact management system database to handle calls.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is described for managing communications, including telephone calls, to a user. In one embodiment, the user configures a telephone services provider system (TSPS) to handle incoming calls based upon information stored in a contact management software database. The user may provide a handling code in part of an unused data field in the standard contact management software database. The TSPS interfaces with the contact management software using open application programming interfaces (APIs). The user views and manages communications, including incoming calls, caller contact information, and call histories from a user interface. In one embodiment, the user interface is the standard contact management software interface.
360 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A method for managing communications from a user interface, the method comprising:
-
receiving user input to configure a telephony service provider system (TSPS), wherein configuration includes associating a handling method with each one of multiple call handling codes, wherein the handling method directs the TSPS in handling a call;
receiving user input to a contact management system associating at least some of multiple contacts stored in a contact management system database with one of the handling codes; and
receiving user input when a call is received that directs the TSPS how to handle a call, including contradicting a handling code previously associated with a contact, and wherein the TSPS interfaces with the contact management system and uses data from the contact management system database to handle calls. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
13. A communication management system, comprising:
-
at least one user computer, including a storage device having standard contact management software stored thereon, including a contact management user interface, and a contact management database;
a telephony service provider system (TSPS) coupled to the at least one user computer through a network, and further coupled to at least one telephone network for receiving voice calls intended for a user of the at least one user computer, wherein the TSPS comprises, an interface component that communicates with the contact management system;
at least one database that stores;
a user configuration for the user;
calendar information for the user associated with the contact management database;
contact information for the user stored from the contact management database; and
TSPS registration information for the user;
wherein the TSPS receives a voice call for the user and handles the voice call with reference to information in the at least one database, and wherein handling includes routing the call based at least upon contact information related to a caller that placed the call.
-
-
19. A method for handling incoming communications, comprising:
-
receiving at least one voice call intended for a recipient;
based on data related to the at least one voice call, accessing data regarding a caller that placed the at least one voice call, wherein the data regarding the caller includes data from a previously configured standard contact management system; and
handling the at least one voice call based on the data regarding the caller, wherein handling includes routing the at least one voice call to a particular destination, and notifying the recipient of the at least one voice call using at least one notification method.
-
-
25. A computer-readable medium, having stored thereon instructions, which when executed, cause at least one processor to:
-
receive user input to configure a telephony service provider system (TSPS), wherein configuration includes associating a handling method with each one of two or more call handling codes, wherein the two or more call handling codes correspond to directing the TSPS in handling a call under respective two or more call handling methods;
receive user input to a contact management system associating at least some of multiple contacts stored in a contact management system database with one of the handling codes;
in response to receiving a call, displaying a window that provides information from the contract management system regarding a likely caller associated with the call; and
receive user input when the call is received that directs the TSPS to handle the received call, wherein the TSPS uses data from the contact management system database to handle the received call.
-
-
35. A call handling system, comprising:
-
a standard contact management application, wherein the standard contact management application includes a database of contact information, wherein the contact information includes names of contacts and telephone numbers associated with the contacts, and wherein the standard contact management application further includes a set of published application program interfaces (APIs) for accessing functionality in the standard contact management application;
a call management application, wherein the call management application is configured to receive information regarding an incoming call, including an originating phone number, employ at least some of the set of APIs in the standard contact management application to provide at least a name from the contact information in the database based on the originating phone number; and
provide at least two different call handling options to the user for handling the incoming call.
-
-
36. A computer-implemented method for use with a standard contact management application, wherein the standard contact management application stores and displays contact information, the method comprising:
-
receiving an incoming voice telephone call, wherein the incoming call includes information associated with an originating telephone number;
accessing one of many contact records in the standard contact management application based on the information associated with an originating telephone number; and
automatically causing at least some information associated with the one contact record to be displayed for a user.
-
Specification