Systems and methods to arrange call back

• US 20070160076A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thryv, Inc. (Mudrick Capital Management LP)
• Original Assignee: UTBK, Inc.
• Inventors: Altberg, Ebbe, Faber, Scott, Hirson, Ron, Linden, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,720,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• 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 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses to provide services to people who wish to make connections for real time communication, such as live telephone conversation, chat, video conferencing, etc. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a media connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity; and attempting to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity according to the call back time window.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a media connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity; and

attempting to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity according to the call back time window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call back time window starts from a time of the request from the first entity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the media connection comprises:

determining whether or not the second entity is available for real time communication with the first entity.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said attempting to establish the media connection comprises:

establishing the media connection between the system and the second entity; and

determining whether or not the second entity is available for real time communication with the first entity within the time window using the media connection between the system and the second entity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying a sufficient source of payment of the first entity to pay for a session of real time communication over the media connection to the second entity;

wherein said attempting is after successful completion of said verifying.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

charging an account of the first entity for an amount for the session of the real time communication before said attempting; and

automatically refunding the amount to the first entity in response to a failure to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity within the call back time window.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

obtaining authorization to charge an amount to a credit card of the first entity for the session of the real time communication before said attempting; and

charging the amount after establishing the media connection between the first entity and the second entity within the call back time window.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the first entity after receiving the request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said authenticating the first entity comprises one of verifying a member identification and a password and creating an account with a new member identification and a password.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the request including recording a voice message from the first entity; and

presenting the voice message to the second entity when the media connection is established between the system and the second entity, before the system determining if the second entity is available for communication with the first entity.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting the first entity to verbally record a name of the first entity.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting the first entity to verbally record an introduction of the first entity.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

contacting the second entity to determine at least one of;

the second entity is currently available for real time communication with the first entity;

the second entity is not currently available for real time communication with the first entity, and is available within the call back time window; and

the second entity is not available for real time communication with the first entity within the call back time window.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the determination is performed through the media connection between the system and the second entity.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

when the second entity is not currently available for real time communication with the first entity, and is available within the call back time window, re-initiating a connection with second entity within the call back time window.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said re-initiating is in response to one of:

reaching a period of a scheduled attempt to contact the second entity within the call back time window; and

receiving an indication of current availability from the second entity.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

presenting a user interface to the second entity to show the request that is pending in the call back time window, the user interface comprising an element which is selectable to inform the system of current availability of the second entity for the request.

18. A machine readable media embodying instructions, the instructions causing a machine to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a media connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity; and

attempting to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity according to the call back time window.

19. A data processing system, comprising:

means for receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a media connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity; and

means for attempting to establish the media connection between the first entity and the second entity according to the call back time window.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving in a system a call back time window for a request from a first entity to establish a telephonic connection for real time communication with a second entity, the call back time window being specified by the first entity to indicate a period of time including a current time during which the first entity is available for real time communication with the second entity;

authenticating the first entity after the call back time window is received;

verifying a sufficient source of payment of the first entity to pay for a session of real time communication over the media connection to the second entity before contacting the second entity for the request;

establishing a telephonic connection between the system and the second entity to receive an indication from the second entity;

when the indication indicates that the second entity is currently available for real time communication with the first entity, instructing the first entity to accept a charge over a telephone connection between the system and the first entity for a real time communication session before joining the first entity and the second entity for the real time communication session;

when the indication indicates that the second entity is not currently available for real time communication with the first entity, and is available within the call back time window, re-initiating a telephone connection at a late time within the call back time window;

when the indication indicates that the second entity is not available for real time communication with the first entity within the call back time window, presenting the first entity with an opportunity to make an appointment with the second entity.