Techniques for automatically setting up communications

• US 20070285502A1
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yee, Dawson
• Application Number:
  US11/441,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285502A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.80
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Techniques are provided for automatically setting up a communication event. A request for a communication event is registered with an automated agent. The automated agent determines an availability status of each participant in the communication event. The communication event is established.

Claims

1. A method of automatically setting up a communication event comprising:

registering a request for a communication event with an automated agent;

determining, by said automated agent, an availability status of each participant in said communication event; and

establishing said communication event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing is performed for each available participant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication event is a conference call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication event is a video conference.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication event is an instant message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication event includes at least one mode of communication, wherein said at least one mode of communication includes at least one of:

text, voice, and video.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said availability status of each participant is determined using a calendar and scheduling program for said each participant.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said availability status of each participant is determined using at least one presence indicator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said availability status of each participant is determined using a physical presence indicator.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said availability status of each participant is determined in accordance with said physical presence indicator of said each participant for a device and in accordance with an available communication mode associated with said device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said device is a telephone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said device is a mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said device is a computer system.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by said automated agent, whether said each participant is available for said communication event in accordance with an application program that tracks appointments for said each participant.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining, by said automated agent, a current availability status for each participant when the current time is a time for said communication event.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said current availability status is determined using a physical presence indicator.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said establishing is performed by said automated agent.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said availability status is determined by said automated agent using a physical presence indicator and available modes of communication for each participant, wherein at least one of said available modes of communication for at least one participant is selectively enabled by said at least one participant as a user of a registered device.

19. A computer readable medium comprising executable code for automatically setting up a communication event comprising code that:

registers a request for a communication event with an automated agent;

determines, by said automated agent, an availability status of each participant in said communication event, said availability status being determined in accordance with a physical presence indicator associated with a device for said each participant and available modes of communication for said device; and

establishing said communication event.

20. A method of automatically setting up a communication event comprising:

registering a request for a communication event with an automated agent;

determining, by said automated agent, an availability status of each participant in said communication event, said availability status being determined in accordance with a presence indicator for said each participant; and

establishing said communication event.