SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20150039700A1
• Filed: 08/05/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: WEST, Robert, WOODS, Charles G., WARNER, Andrew B., LE, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 10,122,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing electronic communications. According to certain embodiments, an enterprise directory is provided for listing a plurality of enterprises. In one embodiment, the enterprise directory may include an enterprise profile for each enterprise identifying, among other things, a mode of communication for the enterprise. Enterprises that wish to communicate with one another may form partnerships with one another. In one embodiment, a partnership may be formed between two enterprises when one enterprise accepts a partnership request submitted by the other enterprise. Information regarding partnerships between enterprises may be stored in a database. Further, an enterprise user may request to electronically communicate (e.g., via IM, voice, or email) with a user associated with a different enterprise. Users associated with different enterprises may be allowed to communicate electronically with one another if their respective enterprises are in a partnership with one another.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications, the method comprising:

storing an enterprise directory in a database, the enterprise directory including information on a plurality of enterprises;

defining a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises;

storing, in the database, an indication of the defined partnership;

receiving, at a gateway server, a request from a source user associated with a first enterprise to electronically communicate with a target user associated with a second enterprise; and

enabling, with the gateway server, electronic communications between the source user and the target user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enterprise directory comprises a plurality of enterprise profiles, each of the plurality of enterprise profiles describing a different enterprise from the plurality of enterprises.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of enterprise profiles identifies at least one mode of communication available to the enterprise described by the profile.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the at least one mode of communication available to the enterprise described by the profile is selected from the group consisting of instant messaging and voice.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein enabling electronic communications between the source user and the target user comprises translating communications between a first communications protocol used by the source user and a second communications protocol used by the target user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol are different communications protocols.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first communications protocol and the second communications protocol are selected from a group consisting of extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) and session initiation protocol (SIP).

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising facilitating formation of a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises, wherein facilitating formation of a partnership comprises:

receiving, from a source enterprise, a partnership request identifying a target enterprise as a potential partner;

notifying the target enterprise of the received partnership request; and

receiving a response from the target enterprise, wherein the response specifies whether the target enterprise accepts the received partnership request.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user directory, wherein the user directory lists a plurality of enterprise users; and

enabling electronic communications between the at least two of the plurality of enterprise users.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein enabling communications between the at least two enterprise users comprises translating communications between open system for communication in realtime (OSCAR) protocol and at least one of extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) and session initiation protocol (SIP).

11. A system for managing communications among enterprises, the system comprising:

a database; and

at least one processor in communication with the database and configured to;

store an enterprise directory in a database, the enterprise directory including information on a plurality of enterprises;

define a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises;

store, in the database, an indication of the defined partnership;

receive a request from a source user associated with a first enterprise to electronically communicate with a target user associated with a second enterprise; and

enable electronic communications between the source user and the target user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein enabling electronic communications between the source user and the target user comprises translating communications between a first communications protocol used by the source user and a second communications protocol used by the target user.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further adapted to facilitate formation of a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises, wherein facilitating formation of a partnership comprises:

receiving, from a source enterprise, a partnership request identifying a target enterprise as a potential partner;

notifying the target enterprise of the received partnership request; and

receiving a response from the target enterprise, wherein the response specifies whether the target enterprise accepts the received partnership request.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further adapted to:

provide a user directory, wherein the user directory lists a plurality of enterprise users; and

enable communications between the at least two of the plurality of enterprise users.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein enabling electronic communications between the at least two enterprise users comprises translating communications between open system for communication in realtime (OSCAR) protocol and at least one of extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) and session initiation protocol (SIP).

16. The system of claim 11, wherein enabling electronic communications between the source user and the target user comprises enabling at least one of instant messaging and voice communications between the source user and the target user.

17. A computer-readable storage medium that comprises a set of instructions that are executable by at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to perform a method for managing electronic communications, the method comprising:

storing, in a database, an enterprise directory, the enterprise directory including information on a plurality of enterprises;

defining a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises;

storing, in the database, an indication of the defined partnership;

receiving, at a gateway, a request from a source user associated with a first enterprise to electronically communicate with a target user associated with a second enterprise; and

enabling, with the gateway, electronic communications between the source user and the target user.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein enabling electronic communications between the source user and the target user comprises translating communications between a first communications protocol used by the source user and a second communications protocol used by the target user.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the set of instructions further cause the at least one processor to facilitate formation of a partnership between at least two of the listed plurality of enterprises, wherein facilitating formation of a partnership comprises:

receiving, from a source enterprise, a partnership request identifying a target enterprise as a potential partner;

notifying the target enterprise of the received partnership request; and

receiving a response from the target enterprise, wherein the response specifies whether the target enterprise accepts the received partnership request.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein enabling electronic communications between the source user and the target user comprises enabling at least one of instant messaging and voice communications between the source user and the target user.