Method And System For Transmitting Data Utilizing Multiple Communication Modes Simultaneously

• US 20080155108A1
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZAMA Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Scenera Technologies LLC (Scenera Research LLC)
• Inventors: Morris, Robert Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,747,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

The present invention is related to a method for transmitting data utilizing a plurality of communication applications simultaneously in a communication device supporting the plurality of communication applications, and a communication device for implementing the method. The method according to the present invention includes establishing a first communication session between a user of the communication device and a recipient via a first communication application supported by the communication device, invoking a second communication application to transmit data to the recipient via the second communication application during a communication session concurrent with the first communication session, and, in response to invoking the second communication application, automatically retrieving communication information related to the recipient and necessary to establish the concurrent communication session via the second communication application.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data utilizing a plurality of communication applications simultaneously in a communication device supporting the plurality of communication applications, the method comprising:

establishing a first communication session between a user of the communication device and a recipient via a first communication application supported by the communication device;

invoking a second communication application to transmit data via the second communication application during a communication session concurrent with the first communication session, the second communication application invoked in response to user input representing at least one of requesting the invoking of the second communication application and submitting a data transmission request; and

in response to invoking the second communication application, automatically retrieving, from a profile corresponding to the recipient, communication information including an address related to the recipient and necessary to establish the concurrent communication session via the second communication application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the address related to the recipient includes an address for the recipient and the second communication session is between the user and the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the address associated with the recipient includes an address for a third party other than the recipient, and the second communication session is between the user and the third party.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting data via the second communication application while the first communication session continues uninterrupted.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving communication information further includes:

determining whether the first communication session is ongoing;

returning communication information used to establish the first ongoing session; and

utilizing the returned communication information to retrieve the related communication information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is stored in a database in memory in the communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile is stored in a database in a remote server accessible by the communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving communication information further includes:

submitting a query to retrieve the related communication information, wherein the query includes, as an input parameter, communication information used to establish the first communication session via the first communication application;

identifying the profile corresponding to the recipient using the input parameter; and

selecting, from the identified profile, the appropriate communication information necessary to support a connection via the second communication application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication information includes at least one phone number, email address and dynamically assigned IP addresses.

10. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for transmitting data utilizing a plurality of communication applications simultaneously in a communication device supporting the plurality of communication applications, the program instructions for:

establishing a first communication session between a user of the communication device and a recipient via a first communication application supported by the communication device;

invoking a second communication application to transmit data via the second communication application during a communication session concurrent with the first communication session, the second communication application invoked in response to user input representing at least one of requesting the invoking of the second communication application and submitting a data transmission request; and

in response to invoking the second communication application, automatically retrieving, from a profile corresponding to the recipient, communication information including an address related to the recipient and necessary to establish the concurrent communication session via the second communication application.

11. A communication device supporting a plurality of communication applications comprising:

a first communication application supported by the communication device for establishing a first communication session between a user of the communication device and a recipient;

a second communication application for transmitting data during a communication session concurrent with the first communication session, the second communication application invoked in response to user input representing at least one of requesting the invoking of the second communication application and submitting a data transmission request; and

an integration module for, in response to invoking the second communication application, automatically retrieving, from a profile corresponding to the recipient, communication information including an address related to the recipient and necessary to establish the concurrent communication session via the second communication application.

12. The device of claim 12 wherein the second communication application is for transmitting data to the recipient while the first communication session continues uninterrupted.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the integration module includes a communication monitor for receiving a query from the second communication application to determine whether the first communication session is ongoing and for returning communication information used to establish the first ongoing session.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the integration module further includes an address mapper for receiving a query from the second communication application to retrieve the related communication information from a profile corresponding to the recipient, wherein the profile includes communication information necessary to establish a connection with the recipient via any of the plurality of supported communication applications.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the query includes, as an input parameter, the communication information used to establish the first communication session via the first communication application, and wherein the address mapper identifies the profile corresponding to the recipient using the input parameter and selects, from the identified profile, the appropriate communication information need to support a connection via the second communication application.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the address mapper is further for receiving a profile corresponding to the recipient from the recipient'"'"'s communication device, updating an existing profile for the recipient, if one exists, and storing the recipient'"'"'s profile in memory.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the address mapper is in communication with a remote server.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the remote server includes memory for storing the recipient'"'"'s profile and is further for retrieving related communication information in response to receiving the query from the address mapper.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the address related to the recipient includes an address for the recipient and the second communication session is between the user and the recipient.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the address associated with the recipient includes an address for a third party other than the recipient, and the second communication session is between the user and the third party.