System and method for providing a presence based Camp-On feature in a communications environment

• US 7,684,434 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Labhesh, Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe; Aung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rose; Kerri M
• Application Number:
  US11/120,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20060268698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,785 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/352, 370463-467, 370/469, 370229-232, 370/252, 370/253, 370/389, 370/400, 370/401, 370/412, 370/413, 370/415, 370/417, 379/90.01, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.07, 379/142.1, 379/142.15, 379/142.17, 379/201.01, 379/201.06, 379/201.07, 379/201.08, 379/201.1
• US Class Current: 370/463
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A method for facilitating a data session in a communications environment is provided that includes initiating, by a first endpoint, a call that is intended for a second endpoint. The method also includes invoking, by the first endpoint, an eCamp-On™ feature in response to the second endpoint being unavailable. The eCamp-On™ feature initiates a new call between the first and second endpoints once the second endpoint is available. Presence data associated with the first endpoint may be leveraged in order to make the new call.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating a data session in a communications environment, comprising:

initiating, by a first endpoint used by a first party, a call that is intended for a second endpoint;

invoking, by the first endpoint, a camp-on feature in response to the second endpoint being unavailable, wherein the camp-on feature initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the second endpoint is available; and

leveraging presence data associated with the first endpoint in order to make the new call by;

presenting the presence data to the second endpoint, the presence data indicating one or more options for contacting the first party;

receiving a selection of an option from the second endpoint; and

establishing the new call according to the selected option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second endpoint is operable to recognize that the first endpoint is seeking to contact the second endpoint in order to execute the new call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence data is user configurable, and wherein the presence data can be collected and utilized autonomously.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the presence data includes scheduling information associated with an end user of the first endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence data prescribes different protocols, for contacting the first endpoint, for different individuals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first endpoint can change modalities such that when the new call is placed, the change in modalities is recognized in order for an end user of the first endpoint to receive information in a proper communication medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence data is associated with a selected one of a group of devices, the group consisting of:

a) a personal computer;

b) a laptop;

c) a personal digital assistant;

d) an Internet protocol (IP) telephone;

e) a standard telephone; and

f) a mobile telephone.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the second endpoint to utilize the presence data in order to complete the new call.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing a presence based camp-on feature is invoked via a button provided at the second endpoint.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein utilizing a presence based camp-on feature is invoked via a soft button using software that comprises a menu.

11. The method of claim 1, the one or more options comprising one or more devices through which the first party can be reached.

12. The method of claim 1, the one or more options comprising one or more media options through which the first party can be reached.

13. A method for facilitating a data session in a communications environment, comprising:

executing a camp-on feature, which was triggered by a first endpoint used by a first party, in response to a second endpoint being unavailable, wherein the camp-on feature initiates a new call to the and second endpoint once the second endpoint is available; and

utilizing presence data associated with the first endpoint in order to coordinate the new call by;

presenting the presence data to the second endpoint, the presence data indicating one or more options for contacting the first party;

receiving a selection of an option from the second endpoint; and

establishing the new call according to the selected option.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

maintaining the presence data, wherein the presence data is user configurable, and wherein the presence data can be collected and utilized autonomously.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the presence data includes scheduling information associated with an end user of the first endpoint.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the presence data prescribes different protocols, for contacting the first endpoint, for different individuals.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first endpoint can change modalities such that when the new call is placed, the change in modalities is recognized in order for an end user of the first endpoint to receive information in a proper communication medium.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

prompting the second endpoint to utilize the presence data in order to complete the new call.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

accessing a presence server in order to gather the presence data associated with either of the endpoints.

20. An apparatus for facilitating a data session in a communications environment, comprising:

a communications platform operable to;

execute a camp-on feature, which was triggered by a first endpoint used by a first party, in response to a second endpoint being unavailable, wherein the camp-on feature initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the second endpoint is available,

utilize presence data associated with the first endpoint in order to coordinate the new call by;

presenting the presence data to the second endpoint, the presence data indicating one or more options for contacting the first party;

receiving a selection of an option from the second endpoint; and

establishing the new call according to the selected option.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the communications platform is further operable to manage the presence data, and wherein the presence data is user configurable.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the presence data includes scheduling information associated with an end user of the first endpoint.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the presence data prescribes different protocols, for contacting the first endpoint, for different individuals.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first endpoint can change modalities such that when the new call is placed, the change in modalities is recognized in order for an end user of the first endpoint to receive information in a proper communication medium.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the communications platform is further operable to prompt the second endpoint to utilize the presence data in order to complete the new call.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

a presence server coupled to the communications platform, wherein the communications platform is operable to access the presence server in order to gather the presence data associated with either of the endpoints.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, the one or more options comprising one or more devices through which the first party can be reached.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, the one or more options comprising one or more media options through which the first party can be reached.

29. A computer readable non-transitory medium storing software for facilitating a data session in a communications environment, the software comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

execute a camp-on feature, which was triggered by a first endpoint used by a first party, in response to a second endpoint being unavailable, wherein the camp-on feature initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the second endpoint is available; and

utilize presence data associated with the first endpoint in order to coordinate the new call by;

presenting the presence data to the second endpoint, the presence data indicating one or more options for contacting the first party;

receiving a selection of an option from the second endpoint; and

establishing the new call according to the selected option.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the code is further operable to:

maintain the presence data, wherein the presence data is user configurable.

31. The medium of claim 29, wherein the presence data includes scheduling information associated with an end user of the first endpoint.

32. The medium of claim 29, wherein the presence data prescribes different protocols, for contacting the first endpoint, for different individuals.

33. The medium of claim 29, wherein the presence data is collected and utilized autonomously.

34. The medium of claim 29, wherein the code is further operable to:

prompt the second endpoint to utilize the presence data in order to complete the new call.

35. The medium of claim 29, the one or more options comprising one or more devices through which the first party can be reached.

36. The medium of claim 29, the one or more options comprising one or more media options through which the first party can be reached.

37. A system for facilitating a data session in a communications environment, comprising:

means for executing a camp-on feature, which was triggered by a first endpoint used by a first party, in response to a second endpoint being unavailable, wherein the camp-on feature initiates a new call to the second endpoint once the second endpoint is available; and

means for utilizing presence data associated with the first endpoint in order to coordinate the new call by;

presenting the presence data to the second endpoint, the presence data indicating one or more options for contacting the first party;

receiving a selection of an option from the second endpoint; and

establishing the new call according to the selected option.

38. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

means for maintaining the presence data, wherein the presence data is user configurable.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the presence data includes scheduling information associated with an end user of the first endpoint.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the presence data prescribes different protocols, for contacting the first endpoint, for different individuals.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the presence data is collected and utilized autonomously.

42. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

means for prompting the second endpoint to utilize the presence data in order to complete the new call.

43. The system of claim 37, further comprising:

means for accessing a presence server in order to gather the presence data associated with either of the endpoints.

44. The system of claim 37, the one or more options comprising one or more devices through which the first party can be reached.

45. The system of claim 37, the one or more options comprising one or more media options through which the first party can be reached.