Real-time call control system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a telephone call to an instant messaging user, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving at a call server a call directed to the user;
(b) identifying an instant messaging service used by the user;
(c) sending an instant message to the user through the instant messaging service to offer the user one or more options for responding to the call, wherein said options are based on a profile of the user;
(d) if no response is received from the user within a predetermined period of time, controlling the call as specified in a default option; and
otherwise;
(e) receiving an option selection from the user over the instant messaging service; and
(f) controlling the call as specified in said selected option;
wherein when the user selects an option to answer the call over the instant messaging service, the controlling step further comprises the steps of;
(f1) if the instant messaging service is communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing an audio connection between the user and the caller;
(f2) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to a speaker at the users side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the user by enabling speech-to-text software conversion; and
(f3) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the user by enabling speech-to-text and/or text-to-speech software conversion.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for real-time call control. When a call is received at a telephone server for a service subscriber, the server identifies the subscriber and retrieves information that will allow the server to contact the subscriber via instant messaging. An instant message is sent to the subscriber, and includes any number of options for controlling or handling the call. The options may be presented as hyperlinks, or the selected option may be returned in another instant message. The subscriber selects an option and communicates it to the server, which effects the selected option. The server may establish an audio connection between the server and the subscriber'"'"'s computer or communication device (to allow the parties to talk), may transfer the call to another number, play a message for the caller (which may be pre-recorded or recorded in real-time), record a voicemail (which the subscriber may screen), etc.
143 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of controlling a telephone call to an instant messaging user, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving at a call server a call directed to the user; (b) identifying an instant messaging service used by the user; (c) sending an instant message to the user through the instant messaging service to offer the user one or more options for responding to the call, wherein said options are based on a profile of the user; (d) if no response is received from the user within a predetermined period of time, controlling the call as specified in a default option; and otherwise; (e) receiving an option selection from the user over the instant messaging service; and (f) controlling the call as specified in said selected option; wherein when the user selects an option to answer the call over the instant messaging service, the controlling step further comprises the steps of; (f1) if the instant messaging service is communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing an audio connection between the user and the caller; (f2) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to a speaker at the users side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the user by enabling speech-to-text software conversion; and (f3) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the user by enabling speech-to-text and/or text-to-speech software conversion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of handling a telephone call for a subscriber, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving at a call server a call for a subscriber; (b) identifying a first computer-implemented instant messaging system used by the subscriber; (c) sending a first instant message to the subscriber through the instant messaging system, wherein said first instant message includes a first set of options for handling the call, wherein said first set of options are based on a subscriber profile of the subscriber, and one or more of said first set of call handling options comprise links to said call server; if the subscriber selects one of said first set of call handling options; (d) receiving a communication connection from the subscriber, wherein said connection is initiated by the subscriber'"'"'s selection of a call handling option that comprises a link; and (e) handling the call as specified in said selected call handling option; wherein when the subscriber selects an option to answer the call over the instant messaging service, the controlling step further comprises the steps of; (e1) if the instant messaging service is communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the subscriber'"'"'s side, establishing an audio connection between the subscriber and the caller; and (e2) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the subscriber'"'"'s side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the subscriber by using speech-to-text software conversion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27)
-
-
26. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of controlling a telephone call to an instant messaging user, the method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) receiving at a call server a call directed to the user; (b) identifying an instant messaging service used by the user; (c) sending an instant message to the user through the instant messaging service to offer the user one or more options for responding to the call, wherein said options are based on a profile of the user; (d) if no response is received from the user within a predetermined period of time, controlling the call as specified in a default option; and otherwise; (e) receiving an option selection from the user; and (f) controlling the call as specified in said selected option; wherein when the user selects an option to answer the call over the instant messaging service, the controlling step further comprises the steps of; (f1) if the instant messaging service is communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing an audio connection between the user and the caller; and (f2) if the instant messaging service is not communicatively coupled to both a microphone and a speaker at the user'"'"'s side, establishing verbal-textual communication between the caller and the user by using speech-to-text software conversion. - View Dependent Claims (28)
-
Specification