SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL CALL HOLD

• US 20130063543A1
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: BENTLEY, Jon L., Krishnakumar, Anjur S., Singh, Navjot, Yajnik, Shalini, Krishnan, Parameshwaran
• Granted Patent: US 9,503,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/14.03
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/258 Service state indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for accomplishing a virtual call on hold. A client communication device, such as a telephone, smartphone, or computer, receives a notification of a communication session to which the user is invited, and establishes a relationship with the communication session. Alternatively, a server associated with the communication session can establish the relationship with the client communication device. Then, the communication device can present an indication of the relationship with the communication session for a duration of the communication session, such that the user can join the communication session at will via a communication channel, and such that the communication channel is not occupied by the communication session unless or until the user joins the communication session. The communication session can be a conference call, video conference, a multi-modal chat wherein multiple users communicate via different modalities.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a communication device of a user, a notification of a communication session to which the user is invited;

establishing a relationship with the communication session; and

presenting, via the communication device, an indication of the relationship with the communication session for a duration of the communication session, such that the user can join the communication session at will via a communication channel, and such that the communication channel is not occupied by the communication session unless the user joins the communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication session is one of a conference call and a video conference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication is a blinking light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication channel is a telephone line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication changes based on updates describing content of the communication session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user can join the communication session via pressing a button associated with the indication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the relationship comprises communicating with a server associated with the conference.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the user a request to join the communication session; and

joining the user to the communication session via the communication channel.

9. A system comprising:

a processor;

a memory storing instructions for controlling the processor to perform steps comprising;

identifying a user associated with a communication session; and

establishing a relationship with a communication device of the user based on a duration of the communication session,

wherein establishing the relationship configures an indication to the user at the communication device allowing the user to join the communication session at will without occupying a communication channel to the communication session.

10. The system of claim 9, the instructions further comprising providing information about the communication session to the user upon a user request.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the additional information is configured to trigger, at the communication device, at least one of text, speech, a blinking light, and a light color.

12. The system of claim 10, the instructions further comprising:

receiving, via the communication device, a one-click input from the user; and

in response to the one-click input, joining the user to the communication session.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the relationship includes metadata.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the metadata comprises at least one of a conference agenda, user identity, conference call-in number, other attendees, and duration.

15. The system of claim 9, the instructions further comprising sending a signal to the communication device to adjust the indication.

16. The system of claim 9, the instructions further comprising:

detecting an end of the communication session; and

terminating the relationship with the communication device.

17. The system of claim 9, the instructions further comprising:

receiving availability data of the user from the communication device; and

transmitting at least part of the availability data to other communication session participants.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to, the instructions comprising:

receiving, at a communication device of a user, a notification of a communication session to which the user is invited;

establishing a relationship with the communication session; and

presenting, via the communication device, an indication of the relationship with the communication session for a duration of the communication session, such that the user can join the communication session at will via a communication channel, and such that the communication channel is not occupied by the communication session unless the user joins the communication session.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the communication session is one of a conference call and a video conference.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the indication is a blinking light.