System and method for providing single click enterprise communication

• US 8,499,246 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sangoma US, Inc. (Sangoma Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fonality Incorporated (NetFortris, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lyman, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US12/075,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20080222549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 715/751, 715/752, 715/753, 715/758, 715/759
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing single click enterprise communication are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a profile is associated with each individual of an enterprise. A single click selection of a communication type from a plurality of communication types for a particular individual may then be received. The profile associated with the individual is then reviewed to determine one or more contact identifiers associated with the selected communication type. Using the determined contact identifiers a communication may be established with the individual.

Claims

1. A method for providing single click communication, comprising:

providing access to a plurality of communication types of a plurality of individuals on a single user interface that provides a plurality of blocks, at least one block being associated with at least one icon depicting availability of an individual of the plurality of individuals;

receiving a user selection of the individuals to be displayed in the single user interface;

receiving a single click selection of an available communication type for the individual, the availability of the communication type determined based on an ability of the individual to accept the communication type;

reviewing a profile associated with the individual to determine one or more contact identifiers associated with the selected communication type; and

initiating the selected communication type between a user and the individual using the one or more contact identifiers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating the profile.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact identifier comprises at least one of:

a phone number for the individual;

an e-mail address; and

a chat identifier.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the contact identifier comprises an extension number.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein providing access to the plurality of communication types comprises providing icons associated with the communication types, whereby the single click selection may occur via selection of an icon.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the one or more contact identifiers for the individual and updating the profile accordingly.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the profile in a database at a server level.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising broadcasting data in the profiles to client devices periodically.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising broadcasting data in the profiles to client devices when a change in the profile occurs.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending data in the profile to client devices when pinged by the client devices.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending data in the profile to client devices upon start-up of the client devices.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing communication status on the user interface.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a select group of individuals in the single user interface.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining presence status of at least some of the plurality of individuals and providing the presence status information to the client devices; and

broadcasting a plurality of profiles to a plurality of client devices for storage by the respective client devices, the plurality of profiles including the profile associated with the individual.

15. A system for providing single click communication to a user, comprising:

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in memory;

an interface module executable by the processor and configured to provide a single user interface providing access to a plurality of communication types of a plurality of individuals, the single user interface enabling a user to select some of the individuals for display in the single user interface, the single user interface also providing a plurality of blocks, at least one block being associated with at least one icon depicting availability of an individual of the plurality of individuals;

a database configured to store profiles of the plurality of individuals;

a selection module configured to receive a single click selection of an available communication type for the individual, an available communication type comprising a communication type that the individual is able to accept at the time of the single click selection;

a profile lookup module configured to review a profile associated with the individual to determine a contact identifier associated with the selected available communication type; and

a communication request module configured to initiate the selected available communication using the contact identifier.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a profile module configured to receive one or more contact identifiers for the individual and maintain the profile accordingly.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising a data module configured to provide updates in one or more profiles to client devices.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a communication initiation module configured to send instructions to establish the communication.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the user or individual are located remote from an enterprise central location.

20. A non-transitory machine readable medium having embodied thereon a program, the program providing instructions for a method for providing single click communication, the method comprising:

providing access to a plurality of communication types of a plurality of individuals on a single user interface that provides a plurality of blocks, at least one block being associated with at least one icon depicting availability of an individual of the plurality of individuals;

receiving a user selection of the individuals to be displayed in the single user interface;

receiving a single click selection of an available communication type for the individual;

reviewing a profile associated with the individual to determine one or more contact identifiers associated with the selected available communication type; and

initiating the selected available communication type using the one or more contact identifiers.