COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

• US 20120297451A1
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Original Assignee: Talko Inc. (Microsoft Corporation), Raymond E. Ozzie
• Inventors: Ozzie, Raymond E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/3
• 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 for authentication of a user;

generating, on the processor, an authentication communication via a third party application associated with the user; and

transmitting, on the processor, the authentication communication to an authentication system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for authentication includes a request for authentication associated with the third party application.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the third party application includes one or more of an email communication application, an SMS communication application, an instant messaging application, and a social networking application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the authentication communication includes transmitting an authentication request to the third party application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the authentication communication includes pre-populating a communication content including a user identification.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the authentication communication includes pre-populating a communication content including an authentication code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the authentication communication includes receiving a user credential associated with a communication application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the authentication communication includes pre-populating a communication recipient.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the user.

10. A computer program product comprising a 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 for authentication of a user;

generating an authentication communication via a third party application associated with the user; and

transmitting the authentication communication to an authentication system.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, on a processor, a request to initiate a communication with a third party;

providing, on the processor, a plurality of notification options;

receiving, on the processor, a selection of one of the plurality of notification options; and

transmitting, on the processor, a notification to the third party based on, at least in part, the selected one of the plurality of notification options.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, receiving context information associated with the third party;

and

wherein providing the plurality of notification options further includes providing the context information associated with the third party.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of notification options include one or more predefined dialog options.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more predefined dialog options include a suggested communication modality.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more predefined dialog options include a status request.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a reply to the notification from the third party.

19. The method of claim 11, further including initiating communication with the third party based on, at least in part, the reply to the notification.

13. The method of 12, wherein the context information includes one or more of a location and a trajectory information.

14. The method of 12, wherein the context information includes an activity information associated with a communication device associated with the third party.

20. A computer program product comprising a 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 communication with a third party;

providing a plurality of notification options;

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of notification options; and

transmitting a notification to the third party based on, at least in part, the selected one of the plurality of notification options.

21. 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 and a posted data type; and

transmitting, on the processor, the sequence of communications to the call.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

23. The method of claim 21, 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.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

30. The method of claim 29, 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.

31. The method of claim 29, 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.

32. The method of claim 21, further including recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

33. The method of claim 32, 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.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

35. The method of claim 32, 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.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.

37. A computer program product comprising a 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 and a posted data type; and

transmitting the sequence of communications to the call.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

39. The computer program product of claim 37, 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.

40. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

41. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

42. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

43. The computer program product of claim 41, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

44. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

45. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

46. The computer program product of claim 45, 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.

47. The computer program product of claim 45, 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.

48. The computer program product of claim 37, further including instructions for recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

49. The computer program product of claim 48, 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.

50. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

51. The computer program product of claim 48, 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.

52. The computer program product of claim 48, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.

53. 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 and a posted data type; and

transmitting the sequence of communications to the call.

54. The computing system of claim 53, wherein identifying the call participant set associated with the channel includes accessing a predefined channel participant set associated with the channel.

55. The computing system of claim 53, 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.

56. The computing system of claim 53, wherein receiving the sequence of communications includes receiving the sequence of communications as real-time packetized data transmissions.

57. The computing system of claim 53, wherein the real-time media data type includes real-time audio data.

58. The computing system of claim 57, wherein the real-time audio data includes voice over IP data.

59. The computing system of claim 57, wherein the real-time audio data includes a burst audio transmission.

60. The computing system of claim 53, wherein the posted media data type includes one or more of video, images, text, web data, location data.

61. The computing system of claim 53, wherein transmitting the sequence of communications to the call includes transmitting the sequence of communications to each member of the call participant set.

62. The computing system of claim 61, 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.

63. The computing system of claim 61, 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.

64. The computing system of claim 53, wherein the processor and memory are further configured for recording the sequence of communications associated with the call.

65. The computing system of claim 64, 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.

66. The computing system of claim 64, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an association between the call and the channel.

67. The computing system of claim 64, 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.

68. The computing system of claim 64, wherein recording the sequence of communications associated with the call includes defining an access control associated with the call.