Telephony services system with instant communications enhancements
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of providing service in a communications system comprising:
- from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;
from a presence-determining element, obtaining presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request; and
responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive telephony services system is provided with instant communications function. In accordance with some embodiments, presence information related to the availability of a called party to be contacted via instant communications affects the handling of telephone calls to the called party. In accordance with some embodiments, a telephone call may be connected to an instant communications client used by a called party.
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Citations
107 Claims
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1. A method of providing service in a communications system comprising:
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from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;
from a presence-determining element, obtaining presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request; and
responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A voice processing system for providing service to parties in a communications system comprising:
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means for receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;
means for obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request; and
means for responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In a communication system, a device acting to establish communications comprising:
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a telephony interface acting to communicate with a first party via a telephone call;
a interactive response station acting to conduct an interactive session with the first party via the telephone call;
a presence interface acting to obtain presence information pertaining to a second party;
a bearer channel interface operably coupled to an instant communications client associated with the second party, the bearer channel interface acting to establish communications between the first and second parties responsive to at least one of the interactive session and the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. In a communication system, a device operable to establish communications comprising:
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telephony interface means for communicating with a first party via a telephone call;
interactive response means for conducting an interactive session with the first party via the telephone call;
presence determining means for obtaining presence information pertaining to a second party;
bearer channel interface means operably coupled to an instant communications client associated with the second party, wherein the bearer channel interface means establishes communications between the first and second parties responsive to at least one of the interactive session and the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A voice processing system for providing service to parties in a communications system comprising:
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means for receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;
means for obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client; and
means for responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of providing service in a communications system comprising:
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from a first party using a telephone device, receiving a request to establish communications with a second party;
from a presence-determining element, obtaining presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client; and
responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84)
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85. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for providing service to parties in a communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;
obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications using an instant communications client; and
responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96)
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97. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method of providing service to parties in a communications system, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a first party using a telephone device, a request to establish communications with a second party;
obtaining, from a presence-determining element, presence information related to the availability of the second party to engage in communications wherein the presence information is already maintained in the presence-determining element before the receiving the request; and
responding to the request to establish communications with the second party responsive at least to the presence information. - View Dependent Claims (98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107)
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Specification