Communications system

• US 9,210,143 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Talko Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Ozzie, Raymond E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eskandarnia, Arvin
• Application Number:
  US13/472,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20120297451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,301 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0884 by delegation of authentication, e.g. a proxy authenticates an entity to be authenticated on behalf of this entity vis-à-vis an authentication entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communication real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM] H04L51/04; selective video distribution H04N21/00

Abstract

Methods and systems for integrated communications are provided. In one embodiment, a request to initiate a call via a channel is received. A call participant set associated with the channel is identified. A sequence of communications associated with the call is received. The sequence of communications includes at least a real-time media data type and a posted data type. The sequence of communications is transmitted to the call. Other methods and systems are described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, on a processor, a request to initiate a call via a channel;

identifying, on the processor, a call participant set associated with the channel;

receiving, on the processor, a sequence of communications associated with the call, the sequence of communications including at least a real-time media data type, including real-time voice communications, and a posted data type, including one or more defined pieces of content for consumption by members of the call participant set, as communication exchanges between the call participant set; and

transmitting, on the processor, the sequence of communications to the call, including transmitting the posted data type during the course of at least a portion of the real-time voice communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes defining a channel participant set based on, at least in part, an implicit association of individuals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set includes synchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the sequence of communication to each member of the call participant set includes asynchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

12. The method of claim 1, further including recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each of the communications of the sequence of communications and the call.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each member of the call participant set and the channel.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.

17. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations including:

receiving a request to initiate a call via a channel;

identifying a call participant set associated with the channel;

receiving a sequence of communications associated with the call, the sequence of communications including at least a real-time media data type, including real-time voice communications, and a posted data type, including one or more defined pieces of content for consumption by members of the call participant set, as communication exchanges between the call participant set; and

transmitting the sequence of communications to the call, including transmitting the posted data type during the course of at least a portion of the real-time voice communication.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes defining a channel participant set based on, at least in part, an implicit association of individuals.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

24. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

25. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set includes synchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

27. The computer program product of claim 25, wherein transmitting the sequence of communication to each member of the call participant set includes asynchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

28. The computer program product of claim 17, further including instructions for recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

29. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each of the communications of the sequence of communications and the call.

30. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

31. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each member of the call participant set and the channel.

32. The computer program product of claim 28, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.

33. A computing system comprising a processor and a memory coupled with the processor, the processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a call via a channel;

identifying a call participant set associated with the channel;

receiving a sequence of communications associated with the call, the sequence of communications including at least a real-time media data type, including real-time voice communications, and a posted data type, including one or more defined pieces of content for consumption by members of the call participant set, as communication exchanges between the call participant set; and

transmitting the sequence of communications to the call, including transmitting the posted data type during the course of at least a portion of the real-time voice communication.

34. The computing system of claim 33, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

35. The computing system of claim 33, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes defining a channel participant set based on, at least in part, an implicit association of individuals.

36. The computing system of claim 33, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

37. The computing system of claim 33, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

38. The computing system of claim 37, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

39. The computing system of claim 37, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

40. The computing system of claim 33, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

41. The computing system of claim 33, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

42. The computing system of claim 41, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set includes synchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

43. The computing system of claim 41, wherein transmitting the sequence of communication to each member of the call participant set includes asynchronously transmitting the sequence of communications to at least a portion of the call participant set.

44. The computing system of claim 33, wherein the processor and memory are further configured for recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

45. The computing system of claim 44, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each of the communications of the sequence of communications and the call.

46. The computing system of claim 44, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

47. The computing system of claim 44, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between each member of the call participant set and the channel.

48. The computing system of claim 44, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.