Negotiated call delivery capability

• US 8,213,458 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2007
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norby, Steven E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NG, CHRISTINE Y
• Application Number:
  US11/767,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/252, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005

Abstract

According to the invention, a method for establishing a personal communication between an originating end and a terminating end of a communication system is disclosed. In one step, a first number of personal communication modes associated with the originating end is retrieved. A determination is made if a second number of personal communication modes associated with the terminating end comprises any personal communication modes compatible with the first number of personal communication modes. A compatible personal communication mode from the first number of personal communication modes and the second number of personal communication modes is chosen to indicate the compatible personal communication mode to the terminating end.

Claims

1. A computer system for establishing communication between a first party and a second party, the system comprising:

a first network interface unit in communication with a communication network, the first network interface unit being associated with the first party and configured to store a first prioritized ranking of personal communication modes associated with one or more originating communication devices;

a second network interface unit in communication with the communication network, the second network interface unit being associated with the second party and configured to store a second prioritized ranking of personal communication modes associated with one or more terminating communication devices; and

a decision unit, communicatively coupled with the communication network, and configured to;

receive, from the first network interface unit, the first prioritized ranking;

receive, from the second network interface unit, the second prioritized ranking;

compare the first prioritized ranking with the second prioritized ranking to generate a ranked listing of compatible matches based on the comparison;

facilitate a negotiation between the first network interface unit and the second network interface unit to determine a highest ranked compatible match for providing communication between the first party and the second party.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein, the first prioritized ranking is generated by the first network interface unit;

and

the second prioritized ranking is generated by the second network interface unit.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the decision unit is further configured to automatically generate a ranked listing of additional compatible matches based on the comparison of the prioritized rankings.

4. The computer system of claim 3, further comprising a transmitting unit, communicatively coupled with the decision unit, and configured to:

transmit the identified highest ranked compatible match and the ranked listing of additional compatible matches to the first network interface unit to allow selection of a personal communication mode.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first network interface unit is further configured to receive a selection from one of the originating communication devices of the identified highest ranked compatible match for personal communication.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein, the first network interface unit is further configured to receive a request from one of the originating communication devices for communication with the second party according to a desired personal communication mode;

and

the decision unit is further configured to;

determine that the desired personal communication mode is not available; and

trigger a transmission of a request for a list of offered personal communication modes.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein,

the first prioritized ranking is automatically generated based at least in part on cost, efficiency for a device, network load, or any combination thereof;

and

the second prioritized ranking of is entered manually by the second party.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein personal communication modes include wireless text messaging, wireless voice phone communication, wireless voice over internet protocol, electronic mail, instant messaging, voice over switched network communication, or any combination thereof.

9. A method of establishing communication between a first party and a second party, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first network interface unit associated with the first party, a first prioritized ranking of personal communication modes associated with one or more originating communication devices;

receiving, from a second network interface unit associated with a second party, a second prioritized ranking of personal communication modes associated with a set of one or more terminating communication devices;

comparing the first prioritized ranking with the second prioritized ranking to generate a ranked listing of compatible matches based on the comparison; and

facilitating a negotiation between the first network interface unit and the second network interface unit to determine a highest ranked compatible match for providing communication between the first party and the second party.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

identifying a plurality of compatible personal communication modes based at least in part on the comparison of the prioritized rankings; and

automatically generating a ranked listing of additional compatible matches in addition to the identified highest ranked match.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting the identified highest ranked compatible match and the ranked listing of additional compatible matches to the first network interface unit to allow selection of a personal communication mode.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transmitting the ranked listing of compatible matches including the identified highest ranked compatible match to the first network interface unit; and

receiving a selection of a personal communication mode from among the ranked listing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting information identifying the received selection to the second network interface unit.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first network interface unit for communication with the second party according to a first personal communication mode;

determining the first personal communication mode is not available; and

transmitting a request for a list of offered personal communication modes, based at least in part on the determining step.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

automatically connecting a selected originating communication device and a selected terminating communication device according to the identified highest ranked mode.

16. A computer system for identifying a personal communication mode for communication between a first party and a second party, the system comprising:

a decision unit communicatively coupled with a communication network and configured to;

receive, from a first network interface unit associated with the first party, a first prioritized ranking of personalized communication modes associated with one or more originating communication devices;

receive, from a second network interface unit associated with the second party, a second prioritized ranking of personalized communication modes associated with one or more terminating communication devices;

compare the first and second prioritized ranking of personal communication modes to generate a ranked listing of compatible matches based on the comparison; and

facilitate a negotiation between the first network interface unit and the second network interface unit to determine a highest ranked compatible match for providing communication between the first party and the second party.