Methods and systems for call connecting calls

• US 9,253,319 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2014
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Leland W., Trandal, David S., Kelley, Colin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHGOZAR, OMEED DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US14/482,819
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2094 Proximity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• 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 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to telecommunications and in particular to systems and methods for routing telephone calls. By way of example, a first address, such as a first phone number, can be associated with a telephonic terminal, such as a mobile phone. Incoming calls to the first address can be routed to the telephonic terminal or to other destinations based on telephonic terminal status.

Claims

1. A method of connecting calls, the method comprising:

enabling a software program to be installed on a plurality of communication devices, including;

a communication device associated with a first user wherein the first user is a user of a first communication service, and

a communication device associated with a second user wherein the second user is a user of the first communication service;

facilitating, by a networked computing system, a first call connection between a caller and the first user, wherein the caller and the first user can communicate over a voice path, or a video path, or both a voice path and a video path of the first call connection;

during the first call connection, determining an availability of the second user,

wherein the availability of the second user is determined at least in part on detection of an online presence of the communication device associated with the second user having the software program installed thereon, and

wherein a contact record correlated with the second user is stored on the communication device associated with the first user;

based at least in part on a determination that the second user is unavailable, causing, at least in part, a user interface of the software program to be displayed by the communication device associated with the first user, the user interface comprising an indication that the second user is not available;

based at least in part on a determination that the second user is available, facilitating, by the networked computing system, the caller, the first user, and the second user to communicate via a bridged call connection,

determining the second user has not answered the bridged call connection, and

based at least in part on a no answer determination of the second user, causing, at least in part, the communication device associated with the first user to display a second user no answer condition indication.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the networked computing system comprises a softswitch.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising providing the first user with account details of an account of the first user with the communication service.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprise smart phones.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprises mobile devices.

6. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices including a network-based server computing device;

a network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

enabling a software program to be installed on a plurality of communication devices, including;

a communication device associated with a first user wherein the first user is a user of a first communication service;

a communication device associated with a second user wherein the second user is a user of the first communication service;

facilitating a first call connection between a caller and the first user wherein the caller and the first user can communicate over a voice path, or a video path, or both a voice path and a video path of the first call connection;

during the first call connection, determining an availability of the second user,

wherein the availability of the second user is determined at least in part on detection of an online presence of the communication device associated with the second user having the software program installed thereon, and

wherein a contact record correlated with the second user is stored on the communication device associated with the first user;

based at least in part on a determination that the second user is unavailable, causing, at least in part, a user interface of the software program to be displayed by the communication device associated with the first user, the user interface comprising an indication that the second user is not available; and

based at least in part on a determination that the second user is available, enabling the caller, the first user, and the second user to communicate via a bridged call connection,

determining the second user has not answered the bridged call connection, and

based at least in part on a no answer determination of the second user, causing, at least in part, the communication device associated with the first user to display a second user no answer condition indication.

7. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the software program comprises a telecommunication client application.

8. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the caller is a user of the first communication service.

9. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the second user is a plurality of users.

10. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the number of users which can be bridged by the first user is limited.

11. The system as defined in claim 6, the operations further comprising recording the first user'"'"'s connection usage subsequent to a termination of the first user'"'"'s connection.

12. The system as defined in claim 6, the operations further comprising providing the first user with account details of an account of the first user with the communication service.

13. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the plurality of communication devices comprises mobile devices.

14. A system comprising:

one or more computing devices including a network-based server computing device;

a network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

providing a software program for a communication device associated with a first user wherein the first user is a user of a first communication service;

facilitating a first call connection between a caller and the first user wherein the caller and the first user can communicate over a voice path, or a video path, or both a voice path and a video path of the first call connection;

during the first call connection, receiving an instruction from the first user to conference a second user via a selection of a contact in a contact data store of the software program on the communication device associated with the first user, wherein the second user is a user of the first communication service;

originating an outbound call connection to an address associated with the first user selected contact;

bridging the outbound call connection with the first call connection; and

enabling the caller, the first user, and the second user to communicate via the bridged call connection,

determining the second user has not answered the bridged call connection, and

based at least in part on a no answer determination of the second user, causing, at least in part, the communication device associated with the first user to display a second user no answer condition indication.

15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the selection of the contact comprises a voice selection.

16. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the selection of the contact comprises a visual display of the contact via a first user interface of the software program.

17. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the software program comprises a telecommunication client application.

18. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the caller is a user of the first communication service.

19. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the second user is a plurality of users.

20. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the number of users which can be bridged by the first user is limited.

21. The system as defined in claim 14, the operations further comprising recording the first user'"'"'s connection usage subsequent to a termination of the first user'"'"'s connection.

22. The system as defined in claim 14, the operations further comprising providing the first user with accounts details of an account of the first user with the communication service.

23. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein the communication device associated with the first user comprises a mobile device.