Method, system and service for achieving synchronous communication responsive to dynamic status

• US 7,362,698 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Rose Marie, Shae, Zon-Yin, Stern, Edith Helen, Acharya, Arup, Christensen, James Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/707,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20050163104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 370/381, 370/389, 370/392, 370/217, 370/219, 370/220, 709/203, 709/204, 709/205, 709/206, 379/127.01, 37920101-20102, 379/207.04, 379/207.14, 379/211.01, 379/216.01, 379/355.01, 379196-199
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

A method for routing a communication connection request includes the steps of obtaining context information from a communication connection requestor in response to a communication connection request. The steps further include using the context information to determine a communication connection action, and connecting the communication connection requestor based upon the connection action.

Claims

1. A service for determining a communication connection for a caller comprising the method steps of:

receiving a communication connection request from said caller, wherein said communication connection request does not identify a called party;

obtaining real-time context information for said caller to automatically determine a situation of said caller, without input form said caller;

determining a communication connection action using said real-time context information for said caller and context information for a called party,

wherein said real-time context information for said caller comprises at least one of a location of said caller and an appointment calendar of said caller,

wherein said context information for said called party comprises data of said called party from at least one of sensors and a location of at least one personal device of said called party,

wherein said communication connection action comprises a decision as to who should be called and to whom said communication connection requestor should be telephonically connected without additional input from said caller, and

wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said caller; and

connecting said caller based upon said connection action, wherein said determining of said communication action is performed prior to said connecting of said caller.

2. An apparatus for use in a computer services environment, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver operative to receive a communication connection request from a caller, wherein said communication connection request does not identify a called party;

at least one processor operative to;

route a communication connection of said caller based upon real-time context information for said caller to automatically determine a situation of said caller, without input from said caller, and context information for said called party, wherein said context information for said called party comprises data of said called party from at least one of sensors and a location of at least one personal device of said called party, and

use said real-time context information for said caller and said context information for a called party, to determine a communication connection action for connecting said caller, wherein said communication connection action comprises a decision as to who should be called and to whom said caller should be telephonically connected without additional input from said caller, wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said caller, and wherein said real-time context information for said caller comprises at least one of a location of said caller and an appointment calendar of said caller; and

a connector operative to connect said caller to said called party, wherein said processor is operative to determine said communication connection action prior to connection of said caller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising a rules engine for determining said communication connection action.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said context information for said called party further comprises at least one of

a called party policy and

a called party availability.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to determine a confidence factor for said connection action, and wherein said connector is adapted to perform said connection action in response to exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said processor is adapted to validate said connection action with a caller for connections not exceeding said confidence factor threshold.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to provide an indication of an associated action.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a data transmission.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a notification.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a workflow initiation.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a logging action.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said processor is adapted to direct said associated action to at least one additional connection.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to authenticate said caller before determining said communication connection action.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said processor is adapted to use biometrics to authenticate said caller.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said processor is adapted to require a single action by said caller for determining said communication connection action.

16. An apparatus for use in a computer services environment, said apparatus comprising:

a receiver operative to receive a communication connection request from a caller, wherein said communication connection request does not identify a called party;

at least one processor operative to route a communication connection of said caller based upon real-time context information for said caller, to automatically determine a situation of said caller without input from said caller, and context information for said called party, wherein said context information for said called party comprises data of said called party from at least one of sensors and a location of at least one personal device of said called party;

use said real-time context information for said caller and said context information for a called party to determine a communication connection action for connecting said caller, wherein said communication connection action comprises a decision as to who should be called and to whom said caller should be telephonically connected without additional input from said caller, wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said caller, and wherein said real-time context information for said caller comprises at least one of a location of said caller and an appointment calendar of said caller; and

a connector operative to connect said caller to said called party, wherein said processor is operative to determine said communication connection action prior to connection of said caller, wherein said processor is adapted to determine a confidence factor for said connection action, and wherein said connector is adapted to perform said connection action in response to said confidence factor exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a rules engine for determining said communication connection action.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said use of said real-time context information for said caller and said context information for said called party to determine said communication connection action for connecting said caller comprises a calendar of said caller.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said context information for said called party further comprises at least one of

a called party policy and

a called party availability.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor is adapted to validate said connection action with a caller for connections not exceeding said confidence factor threshold.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor is adapted to provide an indication of an associated action.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a data transmission.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a notification.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a workflow initiation.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said receiver is adapted to receive a logging action.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said processor is adapted to direct said associated action to at least one additional connection.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor is adapted to authenticate said caller before determining said communication connection action.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said processor is adapted to use biometrics to authenticate said caller.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor is adapted to require a single action by said caller for determining said communication connection action.