Integrated chat client with receiving party choice

• US 7,412,048 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: [24]7.ai, Inc.
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Scott, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/755,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20070223659A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 370/260, 370/261, 370/270, 379/93.21, 379/93.24, 379/158, 379/202.01, 379/219, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/265.09, 379/900, 37920301-20601, 709/204
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• 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 a call processing system operable to check a chat server for accessibility of a calling party chat client associated with a calling party and coupled to the internet, the call processing system being further operable to prompt a called party to select to talk or chat. Methods to connect telephone calls and answer telephone calls are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for inviting a sending party and a receiving party to conduct a chat communication comprising:

receiving a voice connection request from the sending party;

prompting the receiving party to select either a voice or chat connection type;

receiving a chat selection from the receiving party; and

inviting the sending and receiving parties to conduct a chat communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication by a recorded voice message from an interactive voice recording system.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

notifying the sending party of the receiving party'"'"'s choice to conduct a chat communication using a voice call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking for an accessible chat client associated with the sending party, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

starting a chat session between the receiving and sending parties.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

terminating a voice call after the receiving party accepts an invitation to conduct a chat communication.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a voice selection from the receiving party; and

making a voice connection between the receiving party and the sending party.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking a preference from the sending party on whether the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party and the preference from the sending party indicates that the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking a preference from the receiving party on whether the receiving party prefers to receive a chat invitation.

11. A computer readable storage medium having a program with instructions for inviting a sending party and a receiving party to conduct a chat communication, the program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform:

receiving a voice connection request from the sending party;

prompting the receiving party to select either a voice or chat connection type;

receiving a chat selection from the receiving party; and

inviting the sending and receiving parties to conduct a chat communication.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication by a recorded voice message from an interactive voice recording system.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

notifying the sending party of the receiving party'"'"'s choice to conduct a chat communication using a voice call.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

checking for an accessible chat client associated with the sending party, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party.

15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

starting a chat session between the receiving and sending parties.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, further comprising:

terminating a voice call after the receiving party accepts an invitation to conduct a chat communication.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a voice selection from the receiving party; and

making a voice connection between the receiving party and the sending party.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

checking a preference from the sending party on whether the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party and the preference from the sending party indicates that the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising:

checking a preference from the receiving party on whether the receiving party prefers to receive a chat invitation.