Software application break through a screen blanker

• US 7,689,939 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Becker, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien T
• Application Number:
  US10/882,889
• Time in Patent Office: 2,099 Days
• Field of Search: 715/867
• US Class Current: 715/867
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a personal computer that includes: a display device 316 for displaying image information and a processor 312 operable when the display device 316 is in a screen saver mode to (a) receive, from an application, at least part of which is executing on the personal computer 216, notification of the occurrence of an event; (b) determine if the event is a member of a defined set of events; and (c) when the event is a member of the defined set of events, display on the display image information associated with the event, wherein the displaying function occurs while the display is in the screen saver mode.

Claims

1. A method of effecting a communication on a communication application, at least a portion of which is executing on a personal computer having a display, comprising:

(a) when the display is in a password protected screen saver mode, providing, by the personal computer, a communication application display, the communication application display permitting a user to perform, via the display, a plurality of the following operations;

(A1) place an active live voice communication on hold;

(A2) transfer an active live voice communication to another communication device;

(A3) conference at least one other communication device into an active live voice communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network to a third party; and

(A4) place an outgoing and nonemergency call over the Public Switched Telephone Network to a third party;

(b) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, receiving, from the user, a selection of at least one of operations (A1)-(A4); and

(c) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, performing, by the personal computer, the selected at least one operation, wherein the user is not logged into the personal computer during the performance of steps (a)-(c) and wherein, when a command is received from the user to disable break through by the communication application while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, prohibiting the performance of steps (a)-(c).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects operation (A1).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects operation (A2).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects operation (A3).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects operation (A4) and wherein the user is able to answer, via the display while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, an incoming live voice communication from a third party for the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects operation (A4) and wherein the user is able to place, via the display while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, a non-emergency, at least one of (i) a toll-free and long distance and (ii) a local live voice communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a third party.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, the user is prevented from accessing, via the personal computer, at least one application other than the communication application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the display is not in the password protected screen saver mode, the communication application is enabled to perform a first set of operations and wherein, when the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, the communication application is enabled to perform the first set of operations.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a password protected screen saver display is modified to include the communication application display in response to input from the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication application display is continuously displayed while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, audibly alerting the user to an incoming live voice communication; and

(e) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, displaying the display of the communication application to permit the user to answer the incoming live voice communication without first disabling the password protected screen saver mode.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, when the user fails to answer the incoming live voice communication, ceasing the display of the communication application display in lieu of a password protected screen saver display and directing the incoming live voice communication to call coverage.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the substeps:

(i) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, determining whether or not defined information is inputted by the user;

(ii) when the defined information is not inputted by the user, determining whether or not an incoming live voice communication for the personal computer has been received;

(iii) when an incoming live voice communication for the personal computer is received and when the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, alerting, by the personal computer, the user to the incoming live voice communication; and

(iv) when the defined information is inputted by the user, terminating the password protected screen saver mode, wherein the defined information is a password.

14. A computer readable medium encoded with processor executable instructions operable, when executed by the processor to perform the steps of claim 1.

35. The method of claim 6, wherein a subscriber is associated with the personal computer and wherein no authorization by the subscriber is required for the user, other than the subscriber, to place at least one of (i) a non-emergency and, toll-free and (ii) a local live voice communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network (“

PSTN”

).

15. A method of effecting a communication by a communication application, at least a portion of which is executing on a personal computer having a display, comprising:

(a) when the display is in a password protected screen saver mode, providing, by the personal computer, a communication application display, the communication application display permitting a user to perform, via the display, a first set of operations, the first set of operations being the same as a second set of operations permitted by the communication application when the display is not in the password protected screen saver mode and including at least one of placing an active live voice communication on hold;

transferring an active live voice communication to another communication device; and

conferencing at least one other communication device into an active live voice communication;

(b) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, receiving, from the user, a selection of at least one member of the first set of operations; and

(c) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, performing the selected at least one operation wherein the user is not logged into the personal computer during the performance of steps (a)-(c) and wherein, when a command is received from the user to disable break through by the communication application while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, prohibiting the performance of steps (a)-(c) and wherein the first and second sets of operations each comprise the following operations;

(i) answer an incoming live voice communication from a third party for the user;

(ii) place an active live voice communication on hold;

(iii) transfer an active live voice communication to another communication device;

(iv) conference at least one other communication device into an active live voice communication; and

(v) place at least one of (i) a non-emergency and toll-free and (ii) local live voice communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a third party.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein, while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, the user is prevented from accessing, via the personal computer, applications other than the communication application and the screen saver application.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a password protected screen saver display is modified to include the communication application display in response to input from the user.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication application display is continuously displayed while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

(d) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, audibly alerting the user to an incoming live voice communication; and

(e) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, displaying the display of the communication application to permit the user to answer the incoming live voice communication without first disabling the password protected screen saver mode.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein, when the user fails to answer the incoming live voice communication, ceasing the display of the communication application display in lieu of a password protected screen saver display and directing the incoming live voice communication to call coverage.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises the substeps:

(i) while the display is in the screen saver mode, determining whether or not defined information is inputted by the user;

(ii) when the defined information is not inputted by the user, determining whether or not an incoming live voice communication for the personal computer is received;

(iii) when an incoming live voice communication for the personal computer is received and when the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, alerting, by the personal computer, the user to the incoming live voice communication; and

(iv) when the defined information is inputted by the user, terminating the password protected screen saver mode, wherein the defined information is a password.

22. A computer readable medium encoded with processor executable instructions operable, when executed by the processor, to perform the steps of claim 15.

23. A personal computer, comprising:

(a) a display for displaying image information;

(b) a computer readable medium storing executable instructions; and

(c) a processor operable to execute the instructions stored in the computer readable medium to perform;

(C1) when the display is in a password protected screen saver mode, provide a communication application display, the communication application display permitting a user to perform, via the display, a plurality of the following operations;

(i) place an active live voice communication on hold;

(ii) transfer an active live voice communication to another communication device; and

(iii) conference, over the Public Switched Telephone Network, at least one other communication device into an active live voice communication; and

(iv) place an ongoing and nonemergency call over the Public Switched Telephone Network to a third party;

(C2) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, receive, from the user, a selection of at least one of operations (i)-(v); and

(C3) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, perform the selected at least one operation, wherein the user is not logged into the personal computer during the performance of operations (C1)-(C3) and wherein, when a command is received from the user to disable break through by the communication application while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, prohibiting the performance of operation (C1)-(C3).

24. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein the user selects operation (i).

25. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein the user selects operation (ii).

26. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein the user selects operation (iii).

27. The personal computer of claim 23, wherein the processor is operable, while in the password protected screen saver mode, to answer an incoming live voice communication from a third party for the user.

28. The personal computer of claim 23, wherein the processor is operable, while in the password protected screen saver mode, to place at least one of (i) a non-emergency and toll-free and (ii) a local live voice communication over the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a third party.

29. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein, while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, the user is prevented from accessing, via the personal computer, a plurality of other applications other than a communication application associated with the communication application display.

30. The personal computer of claim 23, wherein a password protected screen saver display is modified to include the communication application display in response to input from the user.

31. The personal computer of claim 23, wherein the communication application display is continuously displayed while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode.

32. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein the processor is operable further to perform the operations of:

(C4) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, audibly alert the user to an incoming live voice communication; and

(C5) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, display the communication application display to permit the user to answer the incoming live voice communication without first disabling the password protected screen saver mode.

33. The method personal computer of claim 32, wherein, when the user fails to answer the incoming live voice communication, the processor is operable to cease the communication application display in lieu of a password protected screen saver display and direct the incoming live voice communication to call coverage.

34. The method personal computer of claim 23, wherein operation (C1) comprises the sub-operations:

(i) while the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, determining whether or not defined information is inputted by the user;

(ii) when the defined information is not inputted by the user, determining whether or not an incoming live voice communication for the personal computer is received;

(iii) when the incoming live voice communication for the personal computer is received and when the display is in the password protected screen saver mode, alerting the user to the incoming live voice communication; and

(iv) when the defined information is inputted by the user, terminating the password protected screen saver mode, wherein the defined information is a password.