Computer email with telephony support

• US 6,502,127 B1
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oath Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Renshaw, David Seager, Nathoo, Amir, Edwards, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/227,948
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/203, 709/221, 709/224, 709/217, 709/206, 709/228, 709/222, 709/227, 707/10, 379/201, 379/93.17, 379/265, 340/825.05
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/322 Intralayer communication protocols among peer entities or protocol data unit [PDU] definitions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2478 Telephone terminals specially adapted for non-voice services, e.g. email, internet access centralized arrangements where telephones services are combined H04M7/0024; for recording text messages H04M3/5322; for accessing Internet H04M3/4938
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5054 Meet-me conference, i.e. participants dial-in
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Office workers are equipped with a telephone and a desktop computer, the latter including an email system which allows telephony applets to be included in email messages. Thus the recipient of a message which includes an applet might typically be presented with a call back button. When this button is selected, it automatically provides the recipient with a telephone connection through to the sender of the message. This is accomplished by the applet using JTAPI to interact with the appropriate telephony equipment in order to form the desired connection.

Claims

1. A method of integrating computer and telephony messaging comprising the steps of:

creating an email message on a first computer system, said step of creating the email message including the step of embedding within said email message an applet for performing a telephony function;

transmitting said email message to a second computer system;

opening said email message on said second computer system, said step of opening said email message including the step of launching said applet; and

said embedded telephony applet accessing telephony software on the second computer to perform the telephony function of the applet.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing the telephony function of the applet comprises the step of the applet accessing telephony software on the second computer system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of performing the telephony function of the applet comprises the step of the applet accessing telephony software associated with the first computer system.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of authenticating that the applet originated from the first computer, prior to the applet accessing telephony software on the first computer system.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the applet accesses said telephony software on the second computer system via a standard interface.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the applet accesses said telephony software on the first computer system via a standard interface.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to set up a telephone connection between the sender and recipient of the email message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to connect the recipient of the email message to a conference call.

9. An email system comprising:

means for creating and transmitting email messages;

means for receiving email messages;

means for embedding within said email messages for transmission an applet for performing a telephony function;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within a received email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said launched applet for implementing said telephony function.

10. A method of integrating computer and telephony messaging comprising the steps of:

creating an email message on a first computer system, said step of creating the email message including the step of embedding within said email message an executable component for performing a telephony function;

transmitting said email message to a second computer system;

opening said email message on said second computer system, said step of opening said email message including the step of launching said executable component; and

said embedded executable component accessing telephony software on the second computer system for performing the telephony function of the executable component.

11. A computer program product including program code stored on a computer readable medium, said program code including:

means for creating and transmitting email messages;

means for receiving email messages;

means for embedding within said email messages for transmission an applet for performing a telephony function;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within a received email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said launched applet for implementing said telephony function.

12. An email system including:

means for creating an email message;

means for embedding within said email message an applet for performing a telephony function;

means for transmitting said email message;

means for presenting to a user said applet for embedding within said email message; and

means, responsive to the embedded telephony applet, for accessing telephony software on the email system for performing the telephony function of the applet on a remote system.

13. The email system of claim 12, wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to set up a telephone connection between the sender and recipient of the email message.

14. The email system of claim 12, wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to connect the recipient of the email message to a conference call.

15. An email system including:

means for receiving an email message;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within said email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said applet for implementing said telephony function, including means for accessing telephony software on a remote system.

16. An email system including;

means for receiving an email message;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within said email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said applet for implementing said telephony function;

wherein the applet accesses said telephony software via a standard interface on a remote system.

17. An email system including:

means for receiving an email message;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within said email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said applet for implementing said telephony function;

wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to set up a telephone connection between the sender and recipient of the email message on a remote system.

18. The email system of claim 17, wherein said applet operates to present a button to the recipient of the email message, wherein activation of the button causes the applet to set up said telephone connection.

19. An email system including:

means for receiving an email message;

means for launching an applet for performing a telephony function contained within said email message; and

means, comprising telephony software, responsive to said applet for implementing said telephony function;

wherein the telephony function of said applet operates to set up a telephone connection for the recipient of the email message into a conference call on a remote system.

20. The email system of claim 19, wherein said applet operates to present a button to the recipient of the email message, wherein activation of the button causes the applet to set up said telephone connection.