Predictive communication routing scheme using instant messaging preferences and/or settings for routing packet traffic for voice, video and other multimedia communications

• US 8,223,747 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yarlagadda, Madhu, Wan, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US11/056,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20060023695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,714 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/360, 370/395.31, 370/352, 370/459, 379/207.06, 379/207.07, 379/207.08, 379/274
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 : Simulation, emulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/76 : Translation from the called subscriber's number to the outgoing or incoming control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/18 : based on predicted events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Techniques for using instant messaging preferences and settings are used for predictive communications, including routing of data traffic, are provided. A voice call can be routed over a packet-based network if a voice network is not available, or for other reasons. In addition to voice calls, embodiments of the invention can route video calls, multimedia communications and other communications. In some implementations, an instant message presence can be queried for in determining how to route a voice-over-IP or PSTN telephone call. Thus, a call might be routed to a computer or computing device unrelated to the location of the PSTN telephone line being called, if an associated instant messenger presence is detected on that computer or computing device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at an instant message IM server, a voice call for a telephone number from a PSTN telecommunications device;

determining, via the IM server, routing preferences for the telephone number, the routing preferences indicating if the voice call should be routed to one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number based upon a status of the one or more IM usernames;

determining, via the IM server, if any of the one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number that satisfy the routing preferences are on-line;

causing, via the IM server for each of the one or more IM usernames that are online and satisfy the routing preferences, an IM client on a user device associated with the respective IM username to ring the respective on-line IM username for the voice call;

routing, via the IM server, the voice call to one of the IM clients that answers the ring for the voice call;

determining, via the IM server, if the IM client answers the call using an IM username; and

causing, via the IM server, a change of the status of the IM username associated with the IM client that answered the ringing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the voice call is automatically forwarded from the PSTN telecommunications device to the IM server.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing ringing of a PSTN phone for the telephone number in addition to the ringing of the on-line IM usernames.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing suppression of the ringing of on-line IM usernames other than the on-line IM client that answered the ringing.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising causing suppression of the ringing of a PSTN phone when the on-line IM client answers the ring for the voice call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

looking up a telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device in a personal address book (PAB) for the IM username;

determining a personal identifier for the telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device from the PAB; and

causing a display of the personal identifier on an IM client.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the PAB is located at the IM server.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

looking up a telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device in a personal address book (PAB) for the IM username;

if the number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device is not in the PAB, determining identification information for the number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device; and

adding the personal information to the PAB for the IM username.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if any IM usernames are on-line comprises determining a presence for the IM username and using the presence to determine if the IM username is on-line.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the change of the status comprises causing a change of the status of the IM username for one or more groups in a plurality of groups.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a voice call for a telephone number;

determining routing preferences for the telephone number, the routing preferences indicating if the voice call should be routed to one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number based upon a status of the one or more IM usemames;

if the preferences indicate the voice call should be routed to the one or more IM usemames, routing the voice call for the telephone number to an IM server, wherein the IM server is configured to determine if any of the one or more IM usemames associated with the telephone number are on-line and satisfy the routing preferences and if so, causing, for each of the IM usernames that are online, an IM client on a user device associated with the respective IM username to ring the on-line IM username for the voice call, and wherein the IM server is further configured to route the voice call to one of the IM clients that answers the ring for the voice calls;

determining if the IM client answers the call using an IM username; and

causing a change of the status of the IM username associated with the IM client that answered the ringing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the routing preferences indicate that voice calls for the telephone number should be forwarded to the IM server.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the routing preferences indicate that voice calls for the telephone number should be forwarded to the IM server if the telephone number is busy.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the voice call is a PSTN call.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the voice call is a VOIP call.

16. A system comprising:

a telecommunications device configured to receive a PSTN voice call; and

an IM server comprising logic configured to;

determine routing preferences for a telephone number, the routing preferences indicating if the voice call should be routed to one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number based upon a status of the one or more IM usernames;

determine if any of the one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number are on-line and satisfy the routing preferences;

cause, for each of the one or more IM usernames that are online and satisfy the routing preferences, an IM client on a user device associated with the respective IM username to ring the respective on-line IM username for the voice call;

route the voice call to one of the IM clients that answers the ring for the voice call;

determine if the IM client answers the call using an IM username; and

cause a change of the status of the IM username associated with the IM client that answered the ringing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the IM client is configured to receive the voice call.

18. The system of claim 16, further comprising a PSTN telephone configured to receive the voice call from the telecommunications device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice call is sent through a PSTN network using the PSTN telecommunications device.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the voice call is sent through a packet-based network using the IM server.

21. Computer readable storage medium tangibly comprising program code for routing voice calls for a telephone number using an instant message (IM) server, the program code for:

receiving a voice call for the telephone number from a PSTN telecommunications device;

determining routing preferences for the telephone number, the routing preferences indicating if the voice call should be routed to one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number based upon a status of the one or more IM usernames;

determining if any of the one or more IM usernames associated with the telephone number are on-line;

causing, for each of the one or more IM usernames that are online, an IM client on a user device associated with the respective IM username to ring the respective on-line IM username for the voice call;

routing the voice call to one of the IM clients that answers the ring for the voice call;

determining if the IM client answers the call using an IM username; and

causing a change of the status of the IM username associated with the IM client that answered the ringing.

22. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the voice call is automatically forwarded from the PSTN telecommunications device to the IM server.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising program code for causing ringing of a PSTN phone for the telephone number in addition to the ringing of the on-line IM usernames.

24. The computer readable storage medium claim 21, further comprising program code for:

causing suppression of the ringing of on-line IM usernames other than the on-line IM client that answered the ringing.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, further comprising program code for causing suppression of the ringing of a PSTN phone when the on-line IM client answers the ring for the voice call.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising program code for:

looking up a telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device in a personal address book (PAB) for the IM username;

determining a personal identifier for the telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device from the PAB; and

causing a display of the personal identifier on an IM client.

27. The computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the PAB is located at the IM server.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, further comprising program code for:

looking up a telephone number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device in a personal address book (PAB) for the IM username;

if the number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device is not in the PAB, determining identification information for the number associated with the PSTN telecommunications device; and

adding the personal information to the PAB for the IM username.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein determining if any IM usernames are on-line comprises determining a presence for the IM username and using the presence to determine if the IM username is on-line.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 21 wherein causing the change of the status comprises causing a change of the status of the IM username for one or more groups in a plurality of groups.