Real-time communications architecture and methods for use with a personal computer system

• US 7,577,429 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ledbetter, Carl, Adams, Aditha May, Crosier, Dale C., Kaneko, Steve, Magendanz, Chad, Bear, Eric Gould, Plank, Robert Scott, Van Flandern, Michael W., DeMaio, Pasquale
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor; Barry W
• Application Number:
  US11/837,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 455/426.1, 379/90.01, 379/93.07
• US Class Current: 455/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A system and method for improved real-time communications in a computer system that eliminates the distinctions between various communication devices, communication channels and types of communication, including voice, text and video, is provided. When connected for communication, the user may easily move between modalities, including switching devices on which the user is communicating, switching networks, and transitioning between types of communication. A computer system includes various integrated communications-related devices, and a controller controls those devices based on user actions entered via buttons or user interface software and provides notifications to the user. The user is able to input data via any appropriate input mechanism, and receive data on any suitable output mechanism. Improved non-linear caller ID navigation is also provided.

Claims

1. In a computing environment, a method for automatically switching a call from a communication device that is being used in a call to a different communications device, the method comprising:

a call management module receiving a call from an initiating communication device, the call directed to an identifier associated with a call participant;

the call management module establishing a first connection to a first recipient communication device associated with the call participant and being configured to communicate on a first communication network, the first connection being over the first communication network;

the call management module coupling the received call from the initiating communication device to the first recipient communication device over the established first connection to the first recipient communication device;

the call management module receiving an indication from the first recipient communication device of the call participant indicating that continuation of the call is to be transitioned from the first recipient communication device to a second, different recipient communication device associated with the call participant;

in response to the received indication, the call management module automatically establishing a second connection to the call participant'"'"'s second recipient communication device while the first connection remains coupled between the initiating and first recipient communication devices, the second communication device configured to communicate on a second network different from the first communication network, the second connection being over the second communication network;

the call management module automatically transitioning the coupling of the received call from the initiating communication device to the second recipient communication device over the established second connection to the second recipient communication device, the transitioned coupling allowing the call participant to participate in the call using the second recipient communication device; and

in response to the indication, the call management module automatically decoupling the call over the first connection from the first recipient communication device subsequent to transitioning the coupling of the call over the second connection to the second recipient communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone and the second recipient communication device comprises a wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone and the second recipient communication device comprises a video communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone and the second recipient communication device comprises a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) communication device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a wireless communication device and the second recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a wireless communication device and the second recipient communication device comprises a video communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first recipient communication device comprises a wireless communication device and the second recipient communication device comprises a VOW communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call comprises detecting an incoming text message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call comprises detecting an incoming Internet Protocol-based call.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the received indication from the call participant comprises a voice command.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying caller ID information corresponding to the initiating communication device to notify the call participant of an incoming caller'"'"'s identity.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the type of the call from POTS to video phone call.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the call management module receiving an indication from the call participant indicating that continuation of the call is to be transitioned from the second recipient communication device to a third recipient communication device associated with the call participant;

in response to the received indication, the call management module automatically establishing a third connection to the call participant'"'"'s third recipient communication device while the second connection remains coupled between the initiating and second recipient communication devices, the third communication device configured to communicate on a third network different from the second communication network, the third connection being over the third communication network;

the call management module automatically transitioning the coupling of the received call from the initiating communication device to the third recipient communication device over the established third connection to the third recipient communication device, the transitioned coupling allowing the call participant to participate in the call using the third recipient communication device; and

in response to the indication, the call management module automatically decoupling the call over the second connection from the second recipient communication device subsequent to transitioning the coupling of the call over the third connection to the third recipient communication device.

14. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform the method of claim 1.

15. A computer system including an initiating communication device, a call management module and at least one recipient communication device, the system for automatically switching a call from a communication device that is being used in a call to a different communications device, the system comprising a call management module configured to:

receive a call from an initiating communication device, the call directed to an identifier associated with a call participant;

establish a first connection to a first recipient communication device associated with the call participant, wherein the call management module is configured to communicate on a first communication network, the first connection being over the first communication network;

couple the received call from the initiating communication device to the first recipient communication device over the established first connection to the first recipient communication device;

receive an indication from the first recipient communication device of the call participant indicating that continuation of the call is to be transitioned from the first recipient communication device to a second, different recipient communication device associated with the call participant;

in response to the received indication, automatically establish a second connection to the call participant'"'"'s second recipient communication device while the first connection remains coupled between the initiating and first recipient communication devices, the second communication device configured to communicate on a second network different from the first communication network, the second connection being over the second communication network;

automatically transition the coupling of the received call from the initiating communication device to the second recipient communication device over the established second connection to the second recipient communication device, the transitioned coupling allowing the call participant to participate in the call using the second recipient communication device; and

in response to the indication, automatically decouple the call over the first connection from the first recipient communication device subsequent to transitioning the coupling of the call over the second connection to the second recipient communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the call management module is further configured to:

receive a call from the first recipient communication device, the call directed to an identifier associated with a second call participant;

establish a third connection to a third recipient communication device associated with the second call participant, wherein the call management module is configured to communicate on a third communication network, the third connection being over the third communication network;

couple the received call from the first recipient communication device to the third recipient communication device over the established third connection to the third recipient communication device;

receive an indication from the second recipient communication device of the second call participant indicating that continuation of the call is to be transitioned from the third recipient communication device to a fourth, different recipient communication device associated with the second call participant;

in response to the received indication, automatically establish a fourth connection to the call participant'"'"'s fourth recipient communication device while the third connection remains coupled between the first recipient communication device and the third recipient communication device, the fourth communication device configured to communicate on a fourth network different from the third communication network, the fourth connection being over the fourth communication network;

automatically transition the coupling of the received second call from the first recipient communication device to the fourth recipient communication device over the established fourth connection to the fourth recipient communication device, the transitioned coupling allowing the second call participant to also participate in the call from the initiating communication device to the first recipient communication device using the fourth recipient communication device; and

in response to the indication, automatically decouple the call over the third connection from the third recipient communication device subsequent to transitioning the coupling of the call over the fourth connection to the fourth recipient communication device.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising displaying received call information on a user interface coupled with the call management module.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the third recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone and the fourth recipient communication device comprises a wireless communication device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the third recipient communication device comprises a POTS telephone and the fourth recipient communication device comprises a VOIP communication device.

20. In a computing environment, a method for automatically switching a call from a communication device that is being used in a call to a different communications device on a different network, the method comprising:

a call management module receiving a call from an initiating communication device, the call directed to an identifier associated with a call participant;

the call management module establishing a first connection to a POTS telephone associated with the call participant and being configured to communicate on a POTS telephone network, the first connection being over the POTS telephone network;

the call management module coupling the received call from the initiating communication device to the POTS telephone over the established first connection to the POTS telephone;

the call management module receiving an indication from the POTS telephone of the call participant indicating that continuation of the call is to be transitioned from the POTS telephone to a digital wireless telephone associated with the call participant;

in response to the received indication, the call management module automatically establishing a second connection to the call participant'"'"'s digital wireless telephone while the call remains coupled between the initiating device and the POTS telephone, the digital wireless telephone being configured to communicate on a digital wireless network different from the POTS telephone network, the second connection being over the digital wireless communication network;

the call management module automatically transitioning the coupling of the received call from the initiating communication device to the digital wireless telephone over the established second connection to the digital wireless telephone, the POTS telephone and the digital wireless telephones being configured to communicate on separate communication networks, the transitioned coupling allowing the call participant to participate in the call using the digital wireless telephone; and

in response to the indication, the call management module automatically decoupling the call over the POTS telephone network from the POTS telephone subsequent to transitioning the coupling of the call over the digital wireless network to the digital wireless telephone.