Mode-swapping in multi-modal telephonic applications
First Claim
1. A method of performing a communication between an application and a user through a telephone in first and second modes, the communication being in a first mode, the method comprising:
- receiving an instruction to perform a change of mode; and
adding the second mode to the communication and/or dropping the first mode from the communication.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Multi-modal applications are capable of interacting with a user in a voice mode, a visual mode, and/or other modes of communication. Mode swapping refers to the process of changing from one mode of communication (or one combination of modes) to another. Mode swapping may be initiated by a user, by an application, or by another entity. Mode swapping may be performed “adaptively,” in that an entity monitors the effectiveness of a communication mode and initiates a mode swap if communication is proceeding non-optimally in the current mode. Mode swapping may be performed by dropping a call to a telephone terminal in the currently-open mode and placing a call to that same device in another mode. In one embodiment, logic for mode swapping resides on a gateway proxy that mediates communication between an application and a telephone terminal.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of performing a communication between an application and a user through a telephone in first and second modes, the communication being in a first mode, the method comprising:
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receiving an instruction to perform a change of mode; and
adding the second mode to the communication and/or dropping the first mode from the communication. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A gateway for facilitating multi-modal communication comprising:
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a first component which participates in a voice connection between a telephone and an application;
a second component which participates in a data connection between said telephone and said application; and
logic which opens and closes said data connection and said voice connection in accordance with an instruction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of interacting with a device which is capable of communicating in both:
- (1) a voice mode which receives audio input and provides audio output, and (2) a visual mode which receives non-audible input and provides visual output, the method comprising;
interacting with the device in voice mode, including receiving information from the device in voice mode, but without sending information to the device in voice mode;
interacting with the device in visual mode concurrently with voice mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- (1) a voice mode which receives audio input and provides audio output, and (2) a visual mode which receives non-audible input and provides visual output, the method comprising;
Specification