Web platform with select-to-call functionality

• US 9,374,446 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rincon, Lilian Dearith, Khanna, Alok, Soots, Jaanus
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US13/895,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20140341371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 379/355.04, 379/93.23, 379/201.01, 379/142.06, 379/114.13, 379/265.09
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services

Abstract

Web content is formatted to show an icon adjacent identified phone numbers to enable select-to-call, e.g., click-to-call functionality from within a web platform. The web platform can include various web browsers, web applications, and the like. The select-to call functionality can comprise an integral part of the web platform, such as comprising part of the web platform'"'"'s binary. Alternately, the select-to call functionality can be provided through a web plug-in that is downloaded and incorporated into the web platform. The select-to-call functionality can enable the user'"'"'s web platform context to be maintained during the call.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, with a web platform at an end-user terminal, web content that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

displaying a notification that the one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web platform;

receiving an indication of a user selection to place a call to an identified telephone number;

responsive to receiving the indication of the user selection, ascertaining whether the web platform includes call functionality to make the call to the identified telephone number from the web platform of the end-user terminal;

responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the web platform not including the call functionality, downloading a plug-in that embodies the call functionality; and

responsive to said downloading the plug-in, placing the call using the web platform of the end-user terminal and via the call functionality provided by the plug-in.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises displaying an icon next to the one or more telephone numbers.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving a mouse click.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving an input other than a mouse click.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the other input is one of:

a touch-selection, a natural user interface (NUI) selection, or a stylus selection.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising prior to said placing, and responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the downloading the plug-in, instantiating the call functionality in the web platform and via the plug-in.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the web platform comprises a web browser.

8. One or more computer readable storage memory devices of an end-user terminal comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed, implement a web platform configured to perform operations comprising:

receiving web content, at the end-user terminal, that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

displaying a notification that one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web platform;

receiving an indication of a user selection to place a call to an identified telephone number;

responsive to receiving the indication of the user selection, ascertaining whether the web platform includes call functionality to place a call to the identified telephone number from the web platform of the end-user terminal;

responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the web platform not including the call functionality, downloading a plug-in that embodies the call functionality; and

responsive to said downloading the plug-in, placing the call using the web platform of the end-user terminal and via the call functionality provided by the plug-in.

9. The one or more computer readable storage memory devices of claim 8, wherein said displaying comprises displaying an icon next to the one or more telephone numbers.

10. The one or more computer readable memory devices of claim 8, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving a mouse click.

11. The one or more computer readable memory devices of claim 8, wherein the web platform comprises a web browser.

12. The one or more computer readable storage memory devices of claim 8, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving an input other than a mouse click.

20. The one or more computer readable memory devices of claim 8, the instructions further executable to perform operations comprising:

prior to said placing, and responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the downloading the plug-in, instantiating the call functionality in the web platform and via the plug-in.

13. A user terminal comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

a web platform embodied on the one or more computer-readable storage media of the user terminal and configured to implement a method comprising;

receiving web content that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

displaying a notification that one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web platform;

receiving an indication of a user selection to place a call to an identified telephone number;

responsive to receiving the indication of the user selection, ascertaining whether the web platform includes call functionality to make the call to the identified telephone number from the web platform of the user terminal;

responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the web platform not including the call functionality, downloading a plug-in that embodies the call functionality; and

responsive to said downloading the plug-in, placing the call using the web platform of the user terminal and via the call functionality provided by the plug-in.

14. The user terminal of claim 13, wherein said displaying comprises displaying an icon next to the one or more telephone numbers.

15. The end user terminal of claim 13, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving a mouse click.

16. The user terminal of claim 13, wherein said receiving an indication comprises receiving an input other than a mouse click.

17. The user terminal of claim 16, wherein the other input is one of:

a touch-selection, a natural user interface (NUI) selection, or a stylus selection.

18. The user terminal of claim 13 further comprising prior to said placing, and responsive to the receiving the indication of the user selection and the downloading the plug-in, instantiating the call functionality in the web platform and via the plug-in.

19. The user terminal of claim 13, wherein the web platform comprises a web browser.