Methods and systems for communications processing

• US 9,544,254 B1
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: D'Agruma, Daniel, Phillips, Chris, Burwell, Nicholas, Bland, Loren
• Primary Examiner(s): SERRAO, RANODHI N
• Application Number:
  US14/597,450
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/655 Combination of telephone service and social networking messaging within social networks H04L51/52
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012

Abstract

Communication systems and methods are described. In an illustrative embodiment, embeddable code is provided to a user to embed on a user web page. A communication request is received from a visitor via a user interface displayed on the user web page, the user interface including an address field configured to receive from the visitor an address associated with the visitor, and a text entry field configured to receive a text message from the visitor, wherein the user interface is generated at least in part by the code. If the visitor enters a phone address into the address field, a determination is made as to whether the phone address is valid at least partly in response to a first action by the visitor. If the visitor enters text into the text entry field, the text is transmitted to the user at least partly in response to a second action by the visitor.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a one or more computing servers;

a one or more network interfaces;

non-transitory computer readable memory storing program code that when executed by the one or more computing servers is configured to cause the system to at least;

provide a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

receive a verified phone address associated with the user, wherein the verification of the phone address comprises verification that a received set of digits is a valid phone address;

based at least in part on the receipt of the verified phone address, create a user account wherein the verified phone address is associated with the user account;

enable delivery of a voice message directed to the user to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the software program;

enable the user to play the voice message via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user; and

in response to a voice message deletion instruction received via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enable at least in part, synchronization of the deletion of the voice message stored on the first computing device associated with the user in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with of the user.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

enable the user to send a textual reply message to an originator of the voice message without entering an address of the originator of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the software program for download comprises a Flash object and the system is further configured to:

enable the user to send a textual reply message to an originator while the delivered voice message is played.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

receive via a network interface of the one or more network interfaces a presence indication transmission from the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online.

5. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

6. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

provide the user with access to a textual version of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

7. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

8. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

9. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user, of receipt of the voice message.

10. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, of receipt of the voice message.

11. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the voice message is received via the Internet at the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the voice message is transmitted via a network interface of the one or more network interfaces via the Internet to the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

13. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein a valid phone address is a North American numbering plan phone number.

14. The system as defined in claim 1, the system is further configured to:

determine the country of origin of a valid phone address from the received set of digits.

15. A system, comprising:

at least one computing server;

at least one network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory storing program code that when executed by the one or more computing servers is configured to cause the system to at least;

provide a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

enable delivery of a voice message directed to the user to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the software program;

display, via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user, a textual version of the voice message;

enable the user to send a textual reply message to an originator of the voice message without entering an address of the originator of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user;

in response to a voice message deletion instruction received via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enable at least in part, synchronization of the deletion of the voice message stored on the first computing device associated with the user in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the software program for download comprises a Flash object and the system is further configured to:

enable the user to send a textual reply message to an originator while the voice message is being played.

17. The system as defined in claim 15, the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

18. The system as defined in claim 15, the system is further configured to:

enable the user to search for a contact in a contact data store via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

19. The system as defined in claim 15, the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the software program that is executing on the first computing device associated with the user, of receipt of the voice message.

20. The system as defined in claim 15, the system is further configured to:

notify the user, via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, of the receipt of the voice message.

21. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the voice message is received via the Internet at the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

22. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the textual version of the voice message is transmitted via the at least one network interface via the Internet to the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user.

23. A system, comprising:

at least one computing server;

at least one network interface;

non-transitory computer readable memory storing program code that when executed by the one or more computing servers is configured to cause the system to at least;

provide a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

enable delivery of a voice message directed to the user to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the software program;

display, via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user, a textual version of the voice message;

receive via the at least one network interface a presence indication transmission from the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online;

in response to a voice message deletion instruction received via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enable at least in part, synchronization of the deletion of the voice message stored on the first computing device associated with the user in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

providing a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

based at least in part on the receipt of a verified phone address, creating a user account wherein the verified phone address is associated with the user account;

enabling delivery of a voice message directed to the user to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the first software program;

enabling the play the voice message via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user;

receiving via at least one network interface a presence indication transmission from the first computing device associated with the user, the presence indication transmission indicating that the first computing device associated with the user is online; and

in response to a voice message deletion instruction received via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enabling at least in part, synchronization of the deletion of the voice message stored on the first computing device associated with the user in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium as defined in claim 24, wherein the verification of the phone address comprises verification that a received set of digits is a valid phone address.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a processor perform operations comprising:

providing a software program for download to a first computing device associated with a user;

based at least in part on the receipt of a verified phone address, creating a user account wherein the verified phone address is associated with the user account;

enabling delivery of a voice message directed to the user to the first computing device associated with the user, wherein the delivered voice message is playable to the user via a user interface of the first software program;

enabling the play the voice message via a web browser of a second computing device associated with the user;

enabling the user to send a textual reply message to an originator of the voice message without entering an address of the originator of the voice message via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user; and

in response to a voice message deletion instruction received via the web browser of the second computing device associated with the user, enabling at least in part, synchronization of the deletion of the voice message stored on the first computing device associated with the user in cooperation with the software program on the first computing device associated with the user.