VoIP contextual information processing

• US 20070239428A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Criddle, Linda, Moore, Timothy, Milstein, David, Wang, Kuansan, Howell, David, Forbes, Scott, Chou, Philip, Malueg, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,228,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols

Abstract

A method and system for processing contextual information relating to an exchange of a conversation over a communication channel is provided. Several users, and/or service providers are allowed to specify a set of rules relating to a conversation channel. Contextual information, including information relating to the specified set of rules and conditions of the users, is exchanged among the users and/or several service providers when one user requests to initiate a communication channel. The received contextual information is processed to extract a set of rules and the current conditions of users. If the current conditions of the users satisfy the set of rules, a corresponding communication channel is established among the users. However, additional contextual information may be received and processed whenever there is a change in the contextual information during the conversation. Appropriate actions to the existing communication channel may be determined based on the changes.

Claims

1. A method for processing contextual information relating to an exchange of a conversation on a communication channel between a first client and a second client, comprising:

obtaining first contextual information relating to the first client;

determining a set of rules by processing the obtained first contextual information;

obtaining second contextual information relating to the second client;

determining conditions of the second client by processing the second contextual information;

comparing the set of rules with the conditions of the second client; and

if the conditions of the second client satisfy the set of rules, establishing, or maintaining a communication channel connection as indicated by the set of rules.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon receipt of additional contextual information relating to changes in the first client, dynamically updating the set of rules based on the additional contextual information.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

upon receipt of additional contextual information relating to changes made in the second client, dynamically updating the conditions of the second client based on the additional second contextual information while the first client and the second client are communicating over the existing communication channel.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

in response to the update in the set of rules and/or in the conditions of the second client, comparing the conditions of the second client with the set of rules.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

terminating the communication channel if at least one rule of the set of rules indicates a connection termination based on the condition of the second client.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of rules includes a rule indicating a desired location of the second client.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of rules includes a rule indicating desired clients who can exchange a conversation over the communication channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of rules includes a rule indicating a desired subject relating to the conversation.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

selecting appropriate actions if the conditions of the second client disagree with the set of rules.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable components for processing contextual information relating to a conversation on a communication channel comprising:

a processing module component for obtaining the contextual information and determining a set of rules related to the communication channel by processing the contextual information; and

a managing module component for establishing, or maintaining a communication channel connection in accordance with the set of rules.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the managing module component rejects a request to establish the communication channel based on the set of rules.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein, upon receipt of additional contextual information relating to the set of rules, the processing module component updates the set of rules by incorporating the additional contextual information.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the managing module component dynamically selects appropriate actions on an existing communication channel connection in accordance with the updated set of rules.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the processing module component determines the set of rules by processing the contextual information obtained from a callee;

and wherein the managing module component compares a caller'"'"'s condition and the set of rules before terminating the existing communication channel connection.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the processing module component determines the set of rules by processing the contextual information obtained from a caller;

and wherein the managing module component compares a callee'"'"'s condition and the set of rules before terminating the existing communication channel connection.

16. A method for establishing a communication channel in accordance with client specified preferences, comprising:

receiving a request to establish a communication channel for an exchange of conversation between a caller and a callee;

upon receipt of the request to establish a communication channel, obtaining callee'"'"'s contextual information and caller'"'"'s contextual information;

determining callee rules by processing the callee'"'"'s contextual information;

determining caller conditions by processing the caller'"'"'s contextual information;

comparing the caller'"'"'s conditions with the callee'"'"'s rules; and

if the caller'"'"'s conditions satisfy the callee'"'"'s rules, establishing a communication channel connection as indicated by the set of rules.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

if the caller'"'"'s condition does not satisfy the callee'"'"'s rule, rejecting the request to establish the communication channel.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a plurality of callers initiate a request to establish a communication channel with the callee.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein callee'"'"'s rules include a set of rules relating to a group of allowed callers.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

if a condition of the caller changes during the exchange of conversation, obtaining additional contextual information relating to the change; and

terminating the existing communication channel if the changed condition of the caller does not satisfy the callee rules.