Integrating multiple communication modes

• US 20050144291A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FMR LLC
• Original Assignee: FMR LLC
• Inventors: Prusinoski, Scott J., Frank, Randall, Vujjini, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US10/952,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A system that includes a computer device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail. The interactions can include the following. Creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user. Viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons. Selecting the person from the set of persons. Selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person, and retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, where the identifying characteristic is selected by the user from a display. Communicating with the person.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

34. A method comprising:

providing to a first person a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and two or more communication modes available to communicate with each person;

enabling the first person to select a second person from the set of persons; and

enabling the first person to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the second person.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising retrieving one or more first letters of a name of the second person, matching the one or more first letters of the name to names of a second set of persons, and presenting the second set of persons to the first person.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising enabling the first person to select the second person from the second set of persons.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person using the selected communication mode by interfacing with a computer program.

38. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by voice.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein communication by voice uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

40. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by voice and video.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by text-based conversation.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the text-based conversation comprises Instant Messaging.

43. The method of claim 34 further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person via an e-mail message.

44. The method of claim 34 wherein the communication modes comprise at least two of a voice conversation mode, an e-mail mode, a graphic text-based conversation mode, and an voice/video conversation mode.

45. The method of claim 34 wherein the presence information comprises an indicator indicating that the second person is (i) logged into a computer, (ii) at work but not logged into the computer, or (iii) out of the office.

46. The method of claim 34 wherein the listing further comprises status information comprising an indicator indicating that the second person is currently engaged in conversation with a third person.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the indicator indicates that the second person is currently engaged in conversation using one of a voice conversation mode, a voice/video conversation mode, and a graphic text-based conversation mode.

48. The method of claim 34 further comprising querying a database for information about the set of persons.

49. A system comprising:

a user interface module configured to;

generate a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;

enable a user to select a person from the set of persons; and

enable the user to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the selected person.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein the user interface is further configured to interface with a computer program providing at least one of the communication modes.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein the user interface is further configured to interface with a computer program providing at least a portion of the presence information.

52. The system of claim 49 further comprising a database including information about the set of persons.

53. The system of claim 49 wherein the user interface module further comprises a user interface hook to detect when the user is interacting with the computing device.

54. An article comprising a machine-readable medium that stores executable instruction signals that cause a machine to:

provide to a first person a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;

enable the first person to select a second person from the set of persons; and

enable the first person to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the second person.

55. A communication integration environment comprising:

an integration module configured to interact with at least two of voice conversation software, voice-video conversation software, graphic text-based conversation software, fax software, and electronic mail software, and to automatically perform an action determined by a rule created by the user based on the received request; and

a user interface module configured to;

generate a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;

enable a user to select a person from the set of persons; and

enable the user to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the selected person.

56. A system comprising:

a computer device;

a user interface that is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail;

wherein the interaction comprises;

creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user;

viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons;

selecting the person from the set of persons;

selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person;

retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, and the identifying characteristic being selected by the user from a display; and

communicating with the person.

57-89. -89. (canceled)