MULTI-MODE COMMUNICATION

• US 20090181702A1
• Filed: 01/14/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Vargas, Sandra Irene, Rowe, Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/013,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails

Abstract

A method for operating a communications system is provided. The method includes receiving a text communication from a first user destined for a second user. One of a number of user communication points on which to connect the text communication to the second user is selected, and a suitable communication type capable of displaying the text on the selected communication point is determined. The text communication is then forwarded the second user using the communication type.

Claims

1. A method for operating a mobile communications system, comprising:

receiving a text communication from a first user destined for a second user;

selecting one of a number of user communication points on which to connect the text communication to the second user;

determining a suitable communication format capable of displaying the text on the selected communication point; and

forwarding the text communication to the second user using the communication format.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the text communication from the first user is received in a first communication format, and the method further includes providing the text communication to the second user in a second communications format.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further includes the step of

receiving a reply message from the second user in the second communications format;

and

forwarding the reply message to the first user in the first communications format.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing a unified messaging interface on a first user device, and the step of receiving includes receiving the text communication from the unified messaging interface.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving is performed via a data network and the step of forwarding is performed via a cellular network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second communications format comprises one of an instant messaging format;

an email;

or a SMS message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting includes:

determining whether the first user has a communication point preference with the second user;

determining whether the communication point is available; and

if the communication point is available, connecting to communication point and if the communication point is not available, connecting to an alternative communication point.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting includes:

determining whether the second user has a communication point preference;

determining whether the communication point is available; and

if the communication point is available, connecting to communication point and if the communication point is not available, connecting to an alternative communication point.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selecting includes one or more of:

determining whether presence information on for the second user is available.

10. A method for operating a communications system connecting users having a plurality of different connection points and connection devices, comprising:

receiving a text communication from a sending user destined for a group of receiving users;

selecting one of a number of contact points for each receiving user;

determining a suitable communication format capable of displaying the text at each contact point;

providing the text communication to each of the group of receiving users using the communication format determined for each point.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the text communication from the first user is received in a first communication format, and the text communication at least one of the group is provided in a second communications format.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the method further includes the step of

receiving a reply message from a second user in the second communications format and

forwarding the reply message to the first user in the first communications format.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the second communications format comprises one of an instant messaging format;

an email;

or a SMS message.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting includes one or more of:

determining whether the first user has communication preferences with each group user;

determining whether each group user has communication preferences indicating how the group user wishes to be contacted; and

/or determining whether presence information for each group user is available.

15. The method of claim 10 further including the step of determining whether the communication format of the first user is compatible with that of each group user and if not, translating the text communication to an alternate text format suitable for each group user.

16. A method for operating a communications system connecting users having a plurality of different connection points and connection devices, comprising:

receiving a text communication in a first communication format from a sending user destined for a receiving user;

selecting one of a number of contact points for the receiving user;

determining a suitable second communication type capable of displaying the text at the contact point;

converting the text from the first communication format to the second communication format; and

providing the text communication to the user using the second communication format.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the method further includes the step of receiving a reply message from the second user in the second communications format;

and

forwarding the reply message to the first user in the first communications format.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of selecting includes determining whether the first user has a communication point preference with the second user;

determining whether the communication point is available; and

if the communication point is available, connecting to communication point and if the communication point is not available, connecting to an alternative communication point.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of selecting includes determining whether the second user has a communication point preference;

determining whether the communication point is available; and

if the communication point is available, connecting to communication point and if the communication point is not available, connecting to an alternative communication point.

20. The method of claim 16 further including repeating said steps of receiving, selecting, determining, converting and providing for a plurality of users.