Communications method

• US 20070136478A1
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Agarwal, Vivek, Sasidharan, Suresh, Varshnay, Sarvesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,837,507 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for establishing a communications link between a source and a target comprises: a) receiving, at a server, data identifying the source and the target; b) for each of the source and the target, retrieving a respective communication profile identifying one or more communications systems by which the respective one of the source or target may be communicated with; c) comparing the profiles to identify one or more common communications systems; and d) opening a communications link between the source and the target using one or more of the common communication systems.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for establishing a communications link between a source and a target, the method comprising:

a) receiving, at a server, data identifying the source and the target;

b) for each of the source and the target, retrieving a respective communication profile identifying one or more communications systems by which the respective one of the source or target may be communicated with;

c) comparing the profiles to identify one or more common communications systems; and

d) opening a communications link between the source and the target using one or more of the common communication systems.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each communications system is an electronic communications system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the data identifying the source and target are embedded in an electronic mail received by the server.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communications profiles identify one or more of the following communications systems:

electronic mail, instant messaging and telephony.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication profiles are stored as a data structure on a database.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication profiles include data indicating the priority of a communication system with respect to other communication systems.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication profiles include data indicating whether use of each communication system is inhibited in order to establish a communications link with a particular source or target.

15. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the steps of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer.

16. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer.

8. A server adapted to receive data identifying a source and target, wherein the server comprises a processor adapted to:

a) retrieve, for each of the source and the target, a respective communication profile identifying one or more communications systems by which the respective one of the source or target may be communicated with;

b) compare the profiles to identify one or more common communications systems; and

c) open a communications link between the source and the target using one or more of the common communication systems.

9. A server according to claim 8, wherein each communications system is an electronic communications system.

10. A server according to claim 8, wherein the data identifying the source and target are embedded in an electronic mail received by the server.

11. A server according to claim 8, wherein the communications profiles identify one or more of the following communications systems:

electronic mail, instant messaging, landline telephony and mobile telephony.

12. A server according to claim 8, wherein the communication profiles are stored as a data structure on a database.

13. A server according to claim 8, wherein the communication profiles include data indicating the priority of a communication system with respect to other communication systems.

14. A server according to claim 8, wherein the communication profiles include data indicating whether use of each communication system is inhibited in order to establish a communications link with a particular source or target.