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

• US 7,400,575 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Acharya, Arup, Shae, Zon-Yin, Stern, Edith Helen, Christensen, James Edward, Williams, Rose Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan; Wing F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mais; Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US11/844,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20070286384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 370/381, 370/389, 370/392, 370/217, 370/219, 370/220, 709203-206, 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 requester 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 requester based upon the connection action.

Claims

1. A method for routing a communication connection request comprising the steps of:

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

in response to said communication connection request, obtaining real-time context information for said communication connection requestor to automatically determine a situation of said communication connection requestor, without input from said communication connection requestor;

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

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

wherein said context information for said called party comprises a called party connectivity, 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 communication connection requestor, and wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said communication connection requestor; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising:

determining a confidence factor for said connection action; and

performing said connection in response to exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

3. The method according to claim 2, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of validating said connection action with a caller for connections not exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

4. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein the step of determining a connection action is done with a rules engine.

5. The method according to of claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of providing an indication of an associated action.

6. The method according to claim 5, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said step of providing an indication of an associated action further includes the step of having data transmission.

7. The method according to claim 5, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said step of providing an indication of an associated action further includes the step of having a notification.

8. The method according to claim 5, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said step of providing an indication of an associated action further includes the step of comprises having a workflow initiation.

9. The method according to claim 5, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said step of providing an indication of an associated action further includes the step of having a logging action.

10. The method according to claim 5, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said step of providing an indication of an associated action further includes the step of directing said associated action to at least one additional connection.

11. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said using of said context information for said called party to determine said communication connection action comprises using said context information for said called party comprising;

a called party policy;

a called party availability;

a called party connections status; and

at least one of corporate and personal data of said called party from at least one of sensors that detect at least one of motion, sound, light, and pressure deployed in spaces frequented by said called party, radio frequency identification readers that detect the presence of companion devices that have been provisioned with identification numbers associated with said called party, and at least one of a location, activity, and network address of at least one personal device of said called party, comprising at least one of a cellular telephone, an office telephone, a home telephone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and an automobile.

12. A method for providing a communication connection for a user comprising the steps of:

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

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

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

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

wherein said context information for said called party comprises a called party connectivity and a called party connections status, and wherein said communication connection action comprises a decision as to who should be called and to whom said user should be telephonically connected without additional input from said user; and

connecting said user based upon said connection action, wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said user, wherein said determining of said communication action is performed prior to said connecting of said user.

13. The method according to claim 12, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising:

determining a confidence factor for said connection action; and

performing said connection in response to exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

14. The method according to claim 13, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of validating said connection action with a user for connections not exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

15. The method according to claim 12, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein the step of determining a connection action is done with a rules engine.

16. The method according to claim 12, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said using of said context information for said called party to determine said communication connection action comprises using said context information for said called party comprising a called party policy;

a called party availability; and

at least one of corporate and personal data of said called party from at least one of sensors that detect at least one of motion, sound, light, and pressure deployed in spaces frequented by said called party, radio frequency identification readers that detect the presence of companion devices that have been provisioned with identification numbers associated with said called party, and at least one of a location, activity, and network address of at least one personal device of said called party, comprising at least one of a cellular telephone, an office telephone, a home telephone, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and an automobile.

17. A method of routing a caller'"'"'s phone call comprising the 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 from said caller;

determining a communication connection action using said real-time context information for said caller and context information for said 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 data of said called party from at least one of sensors 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 caller 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.

18. The method according to claim 17, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising:

determining a confidence factor for said connection action; and

performing said connection in response to exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

19. The method according to claim 18, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of validating said connection action said caller for connections not exceeding a confidence factor threshold.

20. The method according to claim 17, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein the step of determining a connection action is done with a rules engine.

21. The method according to claim 17, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of authenticating the caller before determining said communication connection action.

22. The method according to claim 17, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of requiring a single action by a caller for determining said communication connection action.

23. The method according to claim 21, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising the step of using biometrics to authenticate said caller.

24. The method according to claim 17, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said using of said context information for said called party to assist in determining said communication connection action comprises using said context information for said called party comprising a called party policy and a called party availability.

25. A method for routing a communication connection request comprising the steps of:

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

in response to said communication connection request, obtaining real-time context information for said communication connection requestor to automatically determine a situation of said communication connection requestor, without input from said communication connection requestor;

automatically selecting said called party without additional input from said communication connection requestor, wherein said selecting of said called party is based on at least one of real-time context information of said communication connection requestor and context information of said called party, wherein said real-time context information for said communication connection requestor comprises at least one of a location of said communication connection requestor and an appointment calendar of said communication connection requestor, and wherein at least one of an identification of said called party and contact information for said called party is unknown to said communication connection requestor; and

establishing a communication connection between said communication connection requestor and said called party, wherein said selecting of said called party is performed prior to said establishing of said communication connection.