Method and system for multi-modal communications

• US 20080192732A1
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vonage America LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Grikas, Mary, Riley, John, Smires, Daniel Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,917,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion

Abstract

A system and method for provisionable, multi-modal communications, including detecting a provisioning condition, selecting a communications mode based on the provisioning condition from a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode, and displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode. The first usage mode includes a first communications channel supporting a first communication data consisting of instant messages (IM) and in-network voice data. The second usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a second communication data consisting of IM, in-network voice data and out-of-network voice data. The third usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a third communication data comprising video data.

Claims

1. A method for providing selectively provisionable, multi-modal communications, comprising:

detecting a provisioning condition;

selecting a communications mode from the group consisting of a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode based on the provisioning condition,

wherein the first usage mode provides communications only within a defined domain, the second usage mode provides communications as described in the first usage mode and adds out-of-domain communications capability and the third usage mode provides communications as described in the second usage mode and adds video-enhanced communications capability; and

displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first usage mode further comprises support for an instant message (IM) functionality and in-network voice calling functionality.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second usage mode further comprises support for out-of-network voice calling functionality to a PSTN network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the third usage mode further comprises support for video-enhanced communications capability with one or more in-network users, one or more out-of-network users on a PSTN network and one or more users on a mobile network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the video-enhanced communications capability is SIP-based.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting a provisioning condition includes

receiving a digital key, and

comparing the digital key to a stored code to output the provisioning condition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the stored code corresponds uniquely to a single username or DID number associated with a user of the multi-modal communications

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the provisioning condition is selected from the group consisting of an initialization condition, an upgrade condition, an update condition, and a reset condition.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the initialization condition further comprises an initially provisioned service level based on an initial download or service subscription purchase, the upgrade condition further comprises a user'"'"'s purchase of an upgrade to a higher usage level or mode, the update condition further comprises feature upgrades or updates corresponding to an automatic or periodic update of the multi-modal communications and the reset condition corresponds to circumstances selected from the group consisting of cancellation and termination of a user service subscription.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting further comprises choices selected from the group consisting of enabling end-user access to particular communications functions, unlocking existing but previously restricted communications functions using an authentication mechanism and retrieving additional or alternative functionality from a remote Service Provider network entity.

11. A computer program product for use with a device on a communications network, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in said medium for providing selectively provisionable, multi-modal communications;

a computer readable first program code module for causing a computer to detect a provisioning condition;

a computer readable second program code module for causing a computer to select a communications mode from the group consisting of a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode based on the provisioning condition,

wherein the first usage mode provides communications only within a defined domain, the second usage mode provides communications as described in the first usage mode and adds out-of-domain communications capability and the third usage mode provides communications as described in the second usage mode and adds video-enhanced communications capability; and

a computer readable third program code module for causing a computer to display an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode.

12. A method for providing for selectively provisionable, multi-modal communications, comprising:

providing a first set of communications capabilities upon detection of an initial provisioning condition;

receiving an upgrade signal;

determine an updated provisioning condition based on the upgrade signal; and

providing a second set of communications capabilities corresponding to the updated provisioning condition, the second set providing additional communications capabilities not included in the first set.