Leaving a message for a party while on an active real-time communication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- in a hardware based messaging server performing the following steps;
in a real-time communication that is not on hold and is connected by a communication system between a first party and at least one second party, detecting absence of the second party from the communication for a predetermined period of time;
in response to the absence, prompting the first party to signal a desire to leave a message for the second party;
in response to receiving a signal from the first party, storing a message from the first party;
monitoring the communication for presence of the second party; and
in response to detecting the presence of the second party on the communication, sending the stored message to the second party.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When one party to an active call has momentarily stepped away from the call that has not been put on hold, the other party can record and leave a message for the party that stepped away, and then hang up. The call is monitored for return of the party that stepped away. When the returned party begins to speak, the message is immediately played to the returned party in response. In a conference, after a conferee who wishes to leave the conference, records a message and hangs up, the conference is monitored for either a break in the conversation or conversation directed to the party that left, and in response the message is played to the other conferees.
48 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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in a hardware based messaging server performing the following steps; in a real-time communication that is not on hold and is connected by a communication system between a first party and at least one second party, detecting absence of the second party from the communication for a predetermined period of time; in response to the absence, prompting the first party to signal a desire to leave a message for the second party; in response to receiving a signal from the first party, storing a message from the first party; monitoring the communication for presence of the second party; and in response to detecting the presence of the second party on the communication, sending the stored message to the second party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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in a real-time communication that is not on hold and is connected by a communication system between a first party and at least one second party, hardware based means for detecting absence of the second party from the communication for a predetermined period of time; hardware based means for prompting the first party to signal a desire to leave a message for the second party in response to the absence; hardware based means for storing a message from the first party; hardware based means for monitoring the communication for presence of the second party; and hardware based means for sending the stored message to the second party in response to detecting the presence of the second party on the communication. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification