Integrated chat client with calling party choice

• US 6,970,553 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: [24]7.ai, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Scott, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Bing Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/159,314
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/114.01, 379/201.01, 379/88.18, 379/90.01, 379/93.09, 379/202.01, 379/221.08, 379/265.09, 379/900, 370/260, 370/352, 709/204
• US Class Current: 379/265.09
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

Phone systems for an integrated chat client service are provided. A representative phone system includes call processing system operable to check whether a called party has a called party chat client accessible through a chat server coupled to the internet. The call processing system is further operable to prompt a calling party to select to talk or chat with the called party when the called party chat client is accessible. Methods to connect and place telephone calls are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session, comprising:

receiving a telephone call request;

checking for accessibility of a called party chat client associated with a called party; and

prompting a calling party to choose whether or not to electronically chat with the called party in an electronic chat session when the called party chat client is accessible, wherein the electronic chat session is enabled between a calling party chat client and the called party chat client that are logged into respective electronic chat servers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending an invitation to the called party, inviting initiation of a chat session with the calling party when the calling party chooses to chat.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

connecting a voice call when the calling party chooses not to chat.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

checking for accessibility of a calling party chat client associated with the calling party.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a query upon receiving a prefix code, a busy trigger or a no answer trigger.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:

forwarding the call request to prompt the calling party when the called party chat client is accessible.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

updating a first database, the first database comprising information used to connect a plurality of chat clients.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

using the first database to connect the chat session when the called party chooses to chat.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein checking for accessibility comprises:

updating a second database, the second database comprising information about which of a plurality chat clients are registered with a respective chat server; and

searching a second database for registration of the called party chat client.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second database further comprises information about which of the plurality of chat clients registered are present at a computer to chat, and checking for accessibility further comprises:

searching the second database for presence of the called party chat client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second database further comprises information about which of the plurality of chat clients registered with the respective chat server have a preference to chat, and checking for accessibility further comprises:

searching the second database for the preference of a called party chat client.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a first internet service provider coupled to a calling party terminal associated with the calling party.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a second internet service provider coupled to a called party terminal associated with the called party.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the chat session is initiated over an instant messaging client.

15. A method for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session, comprising:

dialing, via a first communications device, a prefix code;

dialing, via the first communications device, a called party telephone number associated with a called party;

selecting to electronically chat with the called party when a called party chat client is accessible; and

initiating an electronic chat session between a second communications device and the called party chat client when the calling party selects to electronically chat.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

connecting a voice call when the called party chat client is inaccessible.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein accessibility of a plurality of chat clients, including the called party chat client, is defined in relation to a database comprising registration, presence at the called party chat client, and preference for a chat session fields.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the accessibility of the called party chat client is operable to be updated by the called party through the internet.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the accessibility of the called party chat client is updated by the called party through a chat server, the chat server being coupled to a called party terminal and the database.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

updating accessibility in the database upon receipt of a request by a party with whom a chat client is associated.

21. A method for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session, comprising:

dialing a called party telephone number associated with a called party;

receiving a prompt indicating the called party telephone number is busy, and a called party chat client is accessible;

selecting to electronically chat with the called party when a called party chat client is accessible; and

initiating an electronic chat session between a calling party chat client and the called party chat client when the calling party selects to electronically chat, wherein the calling party chat client and the called party chat client are logged into respective chat servers before initiation of the electronic chat session.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving an alternate subscriber service when the called party chat client is inaccessible.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein accessibility of a plurality of chat clients, including the called party chat client, is defined in relation to a database comprising registration, presence at the called party chat client, and preference for a chat session fields.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the accessibility of the called party chat client is operable to be updated by the called party through the internet.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the accessibility of the called party chat client is updated by the called party through a chat server, the chat server being coupled to a called party terminal and the database.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

updating accessibility in the database upon receipt of a request by a party with whom a chat client is associated.

27. A method for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session comprising:

dialing a called party telephone number associated with a called party;

receiving a prompt indicating no answer at the called party telephone number, and a called party chat client is accessible;

selecting to electronically chat with the called party when a called party electronic chat client is accessible; and

initiating an electronic chat session between a calling party electronic chat client and the called party electronic chat client when the calling party selects to electronically chat.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving an alternate subscriber service when the called party electronic chat client is inaccessible.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein accessibility of a plurality of electronic chat clients, including the called party electronic chat client, is defined in relation to a database comprising registration, presence at the called party electronic chat client, and preference for a chat session fields.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the accessibility of the called party electronic chat client is operable to be updated by the called party through the internet.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the accessibility of the called party electronic chat client is updated by the called party through an electronic chat server, the electronic chat server being coupled to a called party terminal and the database.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

updating accessibility in the database upon receipt of a request by a party with whom an electronic chat client is associated.

33. A computer-readable medium having a program for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session, the program performing the steps of:

receiving a telephone call request;

checking for accessibility of a called party electronic chat client associated with a called party; and

prompting a calling party to choose whether or not to electronically chat with the called party when the called party electronic chat client is accessible, wherein electronic chat communication is enabled between a calling party electronic chat client and the called party electronic chat client.

34. The medium of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

sending an invitation to the called party, inviting initiation of an electronic chat session with the calling party when the calling party chooses to electronically chat.

35. The medium of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

connecting a voice call when the calling party chooses not to electronically chat.

36. The medium of claim 33, wherein the program further comprises the step of:

checking for accessibility of a calling party electronic chat client associated with the calling party.

37. The medium of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

starting a query upon receiving a prefix code, a busy trigger or a no answer trigger.

38. The medium of claim 37, wherein the program further comprises the steps of:

forwarding the call request to prompt the calling party when the called party electronic chat client is accessible.

39. The medium of claim 33, the program further comprising the steps of:

updating a first database, the first database comprising information used to connect a plurality of electronic chat clients; and

using the first database to connect the electronic chat session when the called party chooses to electronically chat.

40. The medium of claim 33, wherein the checking for accessibility step comprises:

updating a second database, the second database comprising information about which of a plurality of electronic chat clients are registered with an electronic chat server;

searching a second database for registration of the called party electronic chat client; and

searching the second database for presence of the called party electronic chat client, wherein the second database further comprises information about which of the plurality of electronic chat clients registered are present at a computer to electronically chat.

41. The medium of claim 40, wherein the second database further comprises information about which of the plurality of chat clients registered with the electronic chat server have a preference to electronically chat, and the checking for accessibility step further comprises searching the second database for the preference of a called party electronic chat client.

42. A computer-readable medium having a program for converting a voice call attempt to an alternate medium for a real-time communication session, the program performing the steps of:

detecting an incoming voice call attempt for initiating a voice session;

identifying availability of a called party of the voice call on an alternate communications medium; and

initiating an alternative real-time communication session in lieu of the voice session when the called party is available on the alternative communication medium.

43. The medium of claim 42, wherein the alternative real-time communication session is an electronic chat session and the electronic chat session is enabled between a calling party electronic chat client and a called party electronic chat client.

44. The medium of claim 42, wherein the alternative real-time communication session is a different type of communication session than the voice session.

45. The medium of claim 42, wherein the availability of the called party is determined partially on whether the called party has designated a preference for initiating an alternative real-time communication session from an incoming voice call.

46. The medium of claim 42, wherein the availability of the called party is determined based on whether the called party has an active electronic chat session.

47. The medium of claim 42, the program further performing the step of:

sending an invitation to the called party on behalf of the calling party to invite the called party to communicate via an alternate real-time communication session.

48. The medium of claim 47, wherein the initiating step is performed when the calling party responds to the invitation by selecting to communicate via the alternate real-time communication session.

49. The medium of claim 48, wherein a voice call from the calling party is terminated after the calling party selects to communicate via the alternative real-time communication session.

50. The medium of claim 47, further comprising the step of:

establishing a voice session in lieu of initiating an alternative real-time communication session when the calling party responds to the invitation by selecting to participate in a voice session.

51. The medium of claim 47, wherein a connection to an incoming voice call is maintained until the called party responds to the invitation and selects to communicate via the alternative real-time communication session.