Enhanced services call completion

• US 20030185359A1
• Filed: 04/02/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gunasekar, Duraisamy, Moore, Richard G., Mumsford, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US10/404,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185359A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/40 Processing or translation of natural language natural language analysis G06F40/20; semantic analysis G06F40/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/58 Use of machine translation, e.g. for multi-lingual retrieval, for server-side translation for client devices or for real-time translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1813 for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms instant messaging H04L51/04; protocols for multimedia communication H04L65/1101; arrangements for multi-party communication H04L65/403; telephonic conference arrangements H04M3/56; television conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1822 Conducting the conference, e.g. admission, detection, selection or grouping of participants, correlating users to one or more conference sessions, prioritising transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/308 Route determination based on user's profile, e.g. premium users
• 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 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1016 IP multimedia subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 : Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 : Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 : Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/07 : Split billing, i.e. both A-party and B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 : Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 : Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/57 : for integrated multimedia messaging subsystem [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/7655 : shared by technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/77 : involving multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/772 : per service, e.g. prepay or post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 : Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 : Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 : Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 : Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 : Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 : Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/208 : IMS, i.e. Integrated Multimedia messaging Subsystem
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/64 : Split billing, sharing the cost of calls, e.g. between calling and called parties
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 : Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/725 : Shared by technologies, e.g. one account for different access technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7254 : Multiple accounts per user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7263 : per service, e.g. prepay and post-pay
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/82 : Advice-of-Charge [AOC], i.e. notify subscriber of charges/cumulative charge; meter at the substation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 : Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 : Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 : for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 : Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0003 : Interconnection between telephone networks and data networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 : Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1295 : Details of dual tone multiple frequency signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2335 : involving reformatting operations of audio signals, e.g. by converting from one coding standard to another details of audio signal transcoding G10L19/173
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234309 : by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 or from Quicktime to Realvideo conversion of standards in analog television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/234336 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures or audio is converted into text
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440236 : by media transcoding, e.g. video is transformed into a slideshow of still pictures, audio is converted into text

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for achieving completion of a telephone call by way of an instant communications client.

Claims

1. In a communication system, a method of establishing communication among parties coupled to the communication system comprising the steps of:

from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party; and

responsive to at least whether instant communications may be established with the second party, establishing communications, comprising instant communications, between the first party and the second party.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of instant communications, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish instant communications with the second party, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive instant communications from the first party, and determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications and, responsive to at least such determination, indicating to the second party whether communications with the second party involving instant communications is available.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

engaging an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of;

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive at least to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive based at least upon a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining presence state information.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the presence identifier is any one of a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, an alias, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said determining the a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier over the telephone call.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said determining the a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an alias, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number;

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first mode of communicating is a telephone connection and the second mode of communicating is a voice-enabled chat session.

22. In a communication system, a method of establishing communication among parties coupled to the communication system comprising the steps of:

from a first party, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party using a first mode of communicating;

determining, using a presence determination, whether the second party is accessible via a second mode of communicating; and

establishing communications between the first party and the second party using at least the second mode of communication responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible via the second mode of communicating.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communicating and wherein the establishing the communications is selectively performed responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible using the first mode of communications.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of:

indicating to the first party whether the second party is accessible via the second mode of communicating; and

receiving indication from first party as to whether the second mode of communicating is acceptable to the first party;

wherein the establishing communications is responsive to the indication from the first party as to whether the second mode of communicating is acceptable.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the first mode of communicating is a telephone connection and the second mode of communicating is a textual instant messaging session.

28. In a communication system, a method of establishing communication among parties coupled to the communication system comprising the steps of:

from a first party, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party using a first mode of communication;

determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communication;

responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communicating, determining a second mode of communicating with the second party; and

establishing communications, comprising the second mode of communication, between the first party and the second party.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein said determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communication includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of communications via the first mode of communication, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish communications with the second party via the first mode of communication, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive communications from the first party via the first mode of communication.

33. The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using the second mode of communication; and

responsive to at least whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using the second mode of communication, conditionally performing said establishing communications, comprising the second mode of communication, between the first party and the second party.

34. The method of claim 28 wherein said determining whether the second party is accessible comprises attempting to contact the second party through a instant communications session.

35. The method of claim 28 wherein said first mode of communication is an instant communications session.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the second mode of communication is a telephone connection.

37. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

engaging an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of;

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

40. The method of claim 39 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive at least to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

42. The method of claim 40 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

43. The method of claim 40 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

46. The method of claim 28 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive based at least upon a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

47. The method of claim 28 wherein the presence identifier comprises at least one of:

a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an alias, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

48. The method of claim 28 wherein said determining the a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier over the telephone call.

49. The method of claim 28 wherein said determining the a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number;

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

50. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

51. In a communication system, a method of establishing communication among parties coupled to the communication system comprising the steps of:

detecting a telephone call from a first party to a second party;

determining that the telephone call will not be answered by a telephone device to which the call has been placed;

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party; and

responsive to at least whether instant communications may be established with the second party, establishing communications, comprising instant communications, between the first party and the second party.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the determining that the telephone call will not be answered by the telephone device comprises at least one of:

determining whether the telephone device is ringing without being answered;

determining whether a telephone line associated with the telephone device is busy;

determining whether a telephone facility associated with the telephone device is busy;

determining whether service to the telephone device is disconnected;

determining whether a service feature causes the telephone call to be redirected; and

determining whether a service feature blocks completion of the telephone call to the telephone device.

53. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

54. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

56. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

connecting the telephone call from the first party to a voice processing system;

via the voice processing system, receiving indication from the first party as to whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party; and

conditionally performing said establishing communications responsive to at least whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party.

57. The method of claim 51 further comprising:

connecting the telephone call from the first party to a voice processing system; and

via the voice processing system, informing the first party of whether instant communications may be established with the second party.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

via the voice processing system, receiving indication from the first party as to whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party; and

conditionally performing said establishing communications responsive to at least whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party.

59. The method of claim 51 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of instant communications, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish instant communications with the second party, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive instant communications from the first party, and determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications.

60. The method of claim 51 wherein determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises attempting to contact the second party through a instant communications session.

61. The method of claim 51 further comprising the step of:

engaging an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of;

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

63. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

64. The method of claim 63 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

65. The method of claim 64 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

66. The method of claim 64 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

67. The method of claim 63 further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

70. The method of claim 51 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive at least to a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

71. The method of claim 70 wherein the presence, identifier is any one of a screen name, a logical address, a physical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

72. The method of claim 70 wherein said determining a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier via the telephone call.

73. The method of claim 70 wherein said determining a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number;

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

74. The method of claim 73 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

94. The computer-readable medium of claim 72 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

75. A method for establishing communications among parties comprising the steps of:

providing a communication system acting to establish communications among telephones and instant communications clients;

making available a telephone number by which a first party may access the communication system;

at the communication system, receiving a telephone call from the first party by the action of the first party using a telephone to call the telephone number;

at the communication system, receiving a request from the first party to establish communications with a second party;

identifying an instant communications client associated with the second party; and

responsive to the request, acting to establish communications between the first party and the instant communications client using the communication system.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

77. The method of claim 75 further comprising:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

78. The method of claim 77 further comprising:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

79. The method of claim 75 wherein the calling of the telephone number by the first party signifies to the communication system the intent of the first party to preferably establish communications via the instant communications client associated with the second party.

80. The method of claim 79 wherein the communication system acts to effect an alternative form of communication between the first party and the second party and wherein the communication system, responsive at least to said calling of the telephone number by the first party, acts to establish communications via the instant communications client associated with the second party in preference to establishing communications via the alternative form of communication.

81. The method of claim 80 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the preferentially establishing communications between the first party and the second party via the instant communications client.

82. The method of claim 75 wherein the communications via the instant-communications client comprises text messaging.

83. The method of claim 75 wherein the communications via the instant communications client comprises voice-enabled chat.

84. The method of claim 75 wherein the communications via the instant communications client comprises Internet Relay Chat.

85. The method of client 75 further comprising:

responsive to the request, providing an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of;

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

86. The method of claim 85 further comprising:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the providing the intelligent information translator.

87. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party; and

responsive to at least whether instant communications may be established with the second party, establishing communications, comprising instant communications, between the first party and the second party.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

90. The computer-readable medium of claim 89 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

91. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of instant communications, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish instant communications with the second party, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive instant communications from the first party, and determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications.

92. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications; and

responsive to at least such determination, indicating to the second party whether communications with the second party involving instant communications is available.

93. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication system to perform at least the step of engaging an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of:

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

95. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

96. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive at least to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

97. The computer-readable medium of claim 96 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

98. The computer-readable medium of claim 96 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

99. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

100. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

101. The computer-readable medium of claim 99 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client.

102. The computer-readable medium of claim 87 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive based at least upon a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

103. The computer-readable medium of claim 102 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining presence state information.

104. The computer-readable medium of claim 102 wherein the presence identifier is any one of a screen name, a logical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

105. The computer-readable medium of claim 102 wherein said determining the a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier over the telephone call.

106. The computer-readable medium of claim 102 wherein said determining the a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number;

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

107. The computer-readable medium of claim 106 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

138. The computer-readable medium of claim 107 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

139. The computer-readable medium of claim 107 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

140. The computer-readable medium of claim 107 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

108. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

from a first party, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party using a first mode of communicating;

determining, using a presence determination, whether the second party is accessible via a second mode of communicating; and

establishing communications between the first party and the second party using at least the second mode of communication responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible via the second mode of communicating.

109. The computer-readable medium of claim 108 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

110. The computer-readable medium of claim 108 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform at least the step of:

determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communicating and wherein the establishing the communications is responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible using the first mode of communications.

111. The computer-readable medium of claim 108 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

indicating to the first party whether the second party is accessible via the second mode of communicating; and

receiving indication from first party as to whether the second mode of communicating is acceptable to the first party, wherein the establishing communications is responsive to the indication from the first party as to whether the second mode of communicating is acceptable.

112. The computer-readable medium of claim 108 wherein the first means of communicating is a telephone connection and the second means of communicating is a textual instant messaging session.

113. The computer-readable medium of claim 108 wherein the first means of communicating is a telephone connection and the second means of communicating is a voice-enabled chat session.

114. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

from a first party, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party using a first mode of communication;

determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communication;

responsive to at least whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communicating, determining a second mode of communicating with the second party; and

establishing communications, comprising the second mode of communication, between the first party and the second party.

115. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the establishing communications between the first party and the second party.

116. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein the method further comprises:

determining billable usage of the system related to usage of the communication system by at least one of the first party and the second party.

117. The computer-readable medium of claim 116 wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether payment can be obtained for usage charges pertaining to the billable usage; and

selectively performing the establishing communications between the first party and the second party responsive at least to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charges.

118. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said determining whether the second party is accessible via the first mode of communication includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of communications via the first mode of communication, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish communications with the second party via the first mode of communication, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive communications from the first party via the first mode of communication.

119. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using the second mode of communication; and

responsive to at least whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using the second mode of communication, conditionally performing said establishing communications, comprising the second mode of communication, between the first party and the second party.

120. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said determining whether the second party is accessible comprises attempting to contact the second party through a instant communications session.

121. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said first mode of communication is a instant communications session.

122. The computer-readable medium of claim 121 wherein the second mode of communication is a telephone connection.

123. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

124. The computer-readable medium of claim 123 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

125. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

126. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive at least to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

127. The computer-readable medium of claim 126 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

128. The computer-readable medium of claim 126 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

129. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

130. The computer-readable medium of claim 126 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

131. The computer-readable medium of claim 129 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

132. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive based at least upon a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

133. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein the presence identifier is any one of a screen name, a logical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

134. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said determining the a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier over the telephone call.

135. The computer-readable medium of claim 114 wherein said determining the a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number;

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

136. The computer-readable medium of claim 135 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the obtaining the presence identifier based on the identifying information.

137. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

detecting an unanswered telephone call from a first party to a second party;

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party;

responsive to at least whether instant communications may be established with the second party, establishing communications, comprising instant communications, between the first party and the second party.

141. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

connecting the telephone call from the first party to a voice processing system;

via the voice processing system, receiving indication from the first party as to whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party; and

conditionally performing said establishing communications responsive to at least whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party.

142. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

connecting the telephone call from the first party to a voice processing system;

via the voice processing system, informing the first party of whether instant communications may be established with the second party.

143. The computer-readable medium of claim 142 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

via the voice processing system, receiving indication from the first party as to whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party; and

conditionally performing said establishing communications responsive to at least whether instant communications with the second party is desired by the first party.

144. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party includes at least one of:

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, contacting the second party and obtaining an indication from the second party as to the acceptance of instant communications, determining whether the first party is eligible to establish instant communications with the second party, determining whether the second party is eligible to receive instant communications from the first party, and determining whether the first party desires to establish communications with the second party using instant communications.

145. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 wherein determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises attempting to contact the second party through a instant communications session.

146. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

engaging an intelligent information translator comprising at least one of;

a text-to-speech translator acting to receive textual information input from the second party, translate the textual information input into corresponding audio information output, and provide the corresponding audio information output to the first party; and

a speech-to-text translator acting to receive audio information input from the first party, translate the audio information input into corresponding textual information output, and provide the corresponding textual information output to the second party.

147. The computer-readable medium of claim 146 wherein the method further comprises:

indicating, to a billing system, activity pertaining to the engaging the intelligent information translator.

148. The computer-readable medium of claim 146 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether an instant communications client used by the second party supports text messaging.

149. The computer-readable medium of claim 148 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging; and

conditionally performing said engaging the intelligent information translator responsive to at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

150. The computer-readable medium of claim 149 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises receiving indication from the second party as to whether the second party desires to use text messaging.

151. The computer-readable medium of claim 149 wherein said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the second party desires to use text messaging and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

152. The computer-readable medium of claim 148 comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the communication system to perform a method comprising the steps of:

determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communications; and

conditionally performing said determining whether the second party desires to use text messaging responsive to at least whether the instant communications client support more than one type of communications.

153. The computer-readable medium of claim 152 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises receiving indication from the second party via the instant communications client as to at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication.

154. The computer-readable medium of claim 152 wherein said determining whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication comprises accessing profile information in a database, the profile information indicating at least whether the instant communications client supports more than one type of communication and the profile information being associated with at least one of the second party and the instant communications client being used by the second party.

155. The computer-readable medium of claim 137 wherein said determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party comprises:

determining a presence identifier associated with the second party;

obtaining presence state information pertaining to the second party, the presence identifier being used to specify the second party to the presence server; and

determining whether instant communications may be established with the second party responsive at least to a presence state for the second party as indicated by the presence state information.

156. The computer-readable medium of claim 155 wherein the presence identifier is any one of a screen name, a logical address, an electronic pseudonym, a chat identifier and an instant messaging identifier.

157. The computer-readable medium of claim 155 wherein said determining a presence identifier comprises:

prompting the calling party for the presence identifier; and

receiving the presence identifier via the telephone call.

158. The computer-readable medium of claim 155 wherein said determining a presence identifier includes:

obtaining identifying information associated with the second party including at least one of a telephone number, an email address, a given name and a personal identification number; and

querying a database to obtain the presence identifier based on the identifying information.