Voice terminal for dialing by name with presence
First Claim
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1. A communication system for providing an enhanced dial-by-name feature, comprising:
- a directory of subscribers within said communication system;
a voice terminal configured to receive speech input from a user indicating directory search criteria for searching said directory to identify said subscribers matching said input and to provide both a list of said subscribers matching said input and presence information on each of said subscribers in said list to said user, wherein said presence information for each of said subscribers indicates availability of said respective subscriber;
a presence system for collecting and storing said presence information on said subscribers, wherein said presence system is operable to provide said presence information on each of said subscribers in said list to said voice terminal; and
a private branch exchange (PBX) coupled to said directory, said voice terminal and said presence system and providing an interface between said voice terminal, said directory and said presence system for receiving said input from said voice terminal, accessing said directory to retrieve said list of subscribers, providing said list of subscribers to said presence system to retrieve said presence information and providing said list of subscribers and said presence information to said voice terminal;
wherein said presence information is organized into presence levels, a first one of said presence levels indicating availability of said subscribers in said list and a subsequent one of said presence levels of a subscriber of said subscribers indicating availability of the subscriber per media type, said subsequent level is retrieved in response to the user selection via user interface from said presence level.
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Abstract
A voice terminal provides an enhanced dial-by-name feature using presence information indicating availability of subscribers. The voice terminal includes an input device configured to receive input from a user indicating directory search criteria for searching a directory of subscribers to identify those subscribers matching the input and a user interface operable to provide both a list of subscribers matching the input and presence information on each of the subscribers in the list.
43 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A communication system for providing an enhanced dial-by-name feature, comprising:
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a directory of subscribers within said communication system; a voice terminal configured to receive speech input from a user indicating directory search criteria for searching said directory to identify said subscribers matching said input and to provide both a list of said subscribers matching said input and presence information on each of said subscribers in said list to said user, wherein said presence information for each of said subscribers indicates availability of said respective subscriber; a presence system for collecting and storing said presence information on said subscribers, wherein said presence system is operable to provide said presence information on each of said subscribers in said list to said voice terminal; and a private branch exchange (PBX) coupled to said directory, said voice terminal and said presence system and providing an interface between said voice terminal, said directory and said presence system for receiving said input from said voice terminal, accessing said directory to retrieve said list of subscribers, providing said list of subscribers to said presence system to retrieve said presence information and providing said list of subscribers and said presence information to said voice terminal;
wherein said presence information is organized into presence levels, a first one of said presence levels indicating availability of said subscribers in said list and a subsequent one of said presence levels of a subscriber of said subscribers indicating availability of the subscriber per media type, said subsequent level is retrieved in response to the user selection via user interface from said presence level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A private branch exchange (PBX) for providing an enhanced dial-by-name feature, comprising:
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an interface coupled to a voice terminal, a directory of subscribers and a presence system, said interface including software instructions operable to; receive user speech input from said voice terminal, said input indicating directory search criteria for searching said directory to identify a list of subscribers matching said input; access said directory to retrieve said list of subscribers; provide said list of subscribers to said presence system to retrieve presence information on each of said subscribers in said list of subscribers, wherein said presence information for each of said subscribers in said list of subscribers indicates availability of said respective subscriber; and provide said list of subscribers and said presence information to said voice terminal; and a processor operable to execute said software instructions of said interface;
wherein said presence information is organized into presence levels, a first one of said presence levels indicating availability of said subscribers in said list and a subsequent one of said presence levels of a subscriber of said subscribers indicating availability of the subscriber per media type, said subsequent level is retrieved in response to the user selection via user interface from said presence level. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for providing presence information from a private branch exchange (PBX) to a voice terminal to enhance a dial-by-name feature, comprising:
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receiving user speech input from said voice terminal at said PBX, said input indicating directory search criteria for searching a directory of subscribers to identify a list of subscribers matching said input; accessing said directory, by said PBX, to retrieve said list of subscribers; providing said list of subscribers from said PBX to a presence system; retrieving presence information on each of said subscribers in said list of subscribers at said PBX from said presence system, wherein said presence information for each of said subscribers in said list of subscribers indicates availability of said respective subscriber; and providing said list of subscribers and said presence information from said PBX to said voice terminal;
wherein said presence information is organized into presence levels, a first one of said presence levels indicating availability of said subscribers in said list and a subsequent one of said presence levels of a subscriber of said subscribers indicating availability of the subscriber per media type, said subsequent level is retrieved in response to the user selection via user interface from said presence level. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification