Instant messaging for caller notification

• US 20030174815A1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Uk
• Original Assignee: Avaya Uk
• Inventors: Didcock, Clifford Neil, Andrew Wilson, Michael Geoffrey
• Application Number:
  US10/323,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20030174815A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

There is disclosed a unified messaging system in which a subscriber is notified of an incoming telephone call by a unified messaging voice server using instant messaging.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a subscriber of a computer telephony integration system of a telephone call, the computer telephony integration system including at least one voice server, the method comprising registering at least one voice server and the subscriber with an instant messaging service, wherein on receipt of a telephone call for the subscriber at least one voice server initiates an instant messaging session with the subscriber.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the instant messaging session identifies to the subscriber a characteristic of the telephone call.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the characteristic of the telephone call includes one of the originating telephone number, or the identity of the caller.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein prior to initiating the instant messaging session the voice server establishes that the subscriber is available for an instant messaging session.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the voice server sends a message to the subscriber requesting the subscriber to identify how the call is to be handled.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein in response to the message the subscriber sends a message to indicate whether to:

accept the call, reject the call, or transmit a voice message to the caller.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the voice server converts any such voice message from text to speech.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the subscriber provides the voice server with rules for handling incoming calls for that subscriber.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the rules apply to all incoming calls.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein the rules apply to selected incoming calls.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the rules apply to calls from selected callers.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the rules apply to calls in selected time periods.

16. A computer program product for storing computer program code for performing the method of claim 1.

13. A computer telephony integration system including at least one voice server and a subscriber, wherein at least one voice server and the subscriber are registered with an instant messaging service, such that on receipt of a telephone call for the subscriber at least one voice server initiates an instant messaging session with the subscriber.

14. A computer telephony integration system according to claim 13 further including an instant messaging server.

15. A computer telephony integration system according to claim 13 wherein the voice server is a unified messaging server.