Techniques for integrating instant messaging with telephonic communication
First Claim
1. A method for escalating an instant message (IM) session to an audio or audiovisual session, comprising:
- (a) automatically discovering for a first participant of an IM session on a first communication device what other communication devices are proximate to such first communication device, wherein the one or more proximate other communication devices differ from the first communication device of the first participant, wherein the first communication device and other communication devices pertain to different physical devices;
(b) from the one or more proximate other communication devices that were automatically discovered to be proximate to the first communication device, selecting an optimum communication device for use by the first participant in an audio or audiovisual session; and
(c) in response to a request for escalating the IM session to an audio or audiovisual session being received from a selected one of the participants of the IM session, escalating from the first communication device being used for the IM session by the first participant to the selected optimum communication device being used for the audio or audiovisual session by the first participant.
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Abstract
Disclosed are apparatus and techniques for escalating an instant messaging (IM) session between two or more users to an audio session so that a communication device (by one or more users) that will optimize the audio session is selectively and intelligently utilized. In one embodiment, if an IP (Internet Protocol) phone is connected to the computer on which an IM session is being escalated, the IP telephone may be used instead of the computer device'"'"'s own soft telephone so as to maximize audio clarity and quality. In another embodiment, a user'"'"'s cell phone may be utilized for a mobile user who is using a laptop that is not coupled to an IP telephone or who is communicating from a hotel room in which a telephone call is typically more expensive than a cell phone call. Numerous embodiments for optimizing such audio sessions are described herein.
45 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for escalating an instant message (IM) session to an audio or audiovisual session, comprising:
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(a) automatically discovering for a first participant of an IM session on a first communication device what other communication devices are proximate to such first communication device, wherein the one or more proximate other communication devices differ from the first communication device of the first participant, wherein the first communication device and other communication devices pertain to different physical devices; (b) from the one or more proximate other communication devices that were automatically discovered to be proximate to the first communication device, selecting an optimum communication device for use by the first participant in an audio or audiovisual session; and (c) in response to a request for escalating the IM session to an audio or audiovisual session being received from a selected one of the participants of the IM session, escalating from the first communication device being used for the IM session by the first participant to the selected optimum communication device being used for the audio or audiovisual session by the first participant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer system for escalating an instant message (IM) session to an audio or audiovisual session, comprising:
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one or more processors; one or more memory, wherein at least one of the processors and memory are configured for; (a) automatically discovering for a first participant of an IM session on a first communication device what other communication devices are proximate to the first communication device, wherein the one or more proximate other communication devices differ from the first communication device of the first participant, wherein the first communication device and other communication devices pertain to different physical devices; (b) from the one or more proximate other communication devices that were automatically discovered to be proximate to the first communication device, selecting an optimum communication device for use by the first participant in an audio or audiovisual session; and (c) in response to a request for escalating the IM session to an audio or audiovisual session being received from a selected one of the participants of the IM session, escalating from the first communication device being used for the IM session by the first participant to the selected optimum communication device being used for the audio or audiovisual session by the first participant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for escalating an instant message (IM) session to an audio or audiovisual session, comprising:
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means for automatically discovering for a first participant of an IM session on a first communication device what other communication devices are proximate to the first communication device, wherein the one or more proximate other communication devices differ from the first communication device of the first participant, wherein the first communication device and other communication devices pertain to different physical devices; means for selecting an optimum communication device for use by the first participant in an audio or audiovisual session, wherein the optimum communication device is selected from the one or more proximate other communication devices that were automatically discovered to be proximate to the first communication device; and means for, in response to a request for escalating the IM session to an audio or audiovisual session being received from a selected one of the participants of the IM session, escalating from the first communication device being used for the IM session by the first participant to the selected optimum communication device being used for the audio or audiovisual session by the first participant.
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Specification