System and method for facilitating communication using presence and communication services

• US 20040037271A1
• Filed: 08/01/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Liscano, Ramiro, Balaba, Natalia
• Granted Patent: US 7,412,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• 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 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres

Abstract

A method for facilitating communication with a user. The method comprises the steps of: receiving contact information for the user, from a presence service; checking to determine if a particular communication service is supported by the user; checking to determine if the contact address of the user is accessible; launching at least one of an appropriate helper application and objects; and initiating communication with the user through the particular communication service.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating communication with a user, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving contact information for said user, from a presence service;

checking to determine if a particular communication service is supported by said user;

checking to determine if the contact address of the user is accessible;

launching at least one of an appropriate helper application and objects; and

initiating communication with the user through the particular communication service.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of checking to determine if a particular communication service is supported comprises checking a service look-up table.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of checking said service lookup table includes determining if domain information in the service url of the user is accessible.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said step of checking to determine if the contact address of the user is accessible is based on the address-family of the user.

5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 further comprising the step of receiving availability information of the user from a presence service, prior to the step of receiving contact information.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 further comprising the step of projecting availability information to the presence service, prior to the step of receiving availability information of the user.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.

7. A method for facilitating communication with a presentity, comprising the steps of:

projecting a subscription request to a presence service for determining the availability of the presentity;

receiving a notification message from the presence service including role and key tags for identifying a role that-the presentity is in and for identifying the availability of the presentity for the subscription request;

checking to determine if a particular communication service is supported by the presentity;

checking network accessibility of the presentity;

launching at least one of an appropriate helper application and objects; and

initiating communication with the presentity through the particular communication service.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said step of checking to determine if a particular communication service is supported comprises checking a service look-up table.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said step of checking said service lookup table includes determining if domain information of the presentity is accessible.

10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the step of checking to determine if the contact address of the presentity is accessible is based on the address-family of the user.

11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 further comprising the step of projecting availability information to the presence service, prior to the step of projecting a subscription request.

21. A method as claimed in claim 7 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.

12. A system for facilitating communication with a presentity, comprising:

a presentity presence client;

a watcher presence client for projecting a subscription request;

a presence server connected to the presentity presence client and the watcher presence client, said presence server for receiving the subscription request and for replying to said watcher presence client to identify the availability of the presentity for the subscription request; and

a communication service separate from said presence server and connected to said watcher presence client and said presentity presence client,

wherein said watcher presence client is operable to launch at least one of an appropriate helper application and objects and to initiate communication with the presentity through the particular communication service.

13. A system for initiating communication as claimed in claim 12 wherein said presentity comprises a presentity resource.

14. A system for initiating communication as claimed in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said presence server comprises a directory service for storing a data record in association with a plurality of users.

15. A system for initiating communication as claimed in claim 14, wherein said presence server further comprises a user agent for maintaining information about the availability of the presentity and the means by which the presentity is available.

19. A system as claimed in claim 12 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive.