US20030112948A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for establishing a connection between parties based on their availability
Assignee: CALLCAST Inc
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Filing: 2001-12-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for establishing a voice (or data) connection between two parties based on their availability. The system receives from a first subscriber a call request involving a second subscriber. The second subscriber may be identified by telephone number or other identifier. The system automatically detects the availability of the second subscriber through subscriber input, proactive availability testing, a tool executing on the subscriber's computing or communication device, etc. When the first subscriber and second subscriber are determined to be available, the system signals a call processor to establish a voice connection between them. Subscribers may configure various preferences, including default rules regarding their availability for all or certain types of calls, how to classify calls (e.g., by caller identity, date, time, nature of call). The system may help establish anonymous calls or reach a party matching specified parameters (e.g., pizza shop, customer service department of an organization).
Inventors
- 👤 Wendell Brown
- 👤 William Trenchard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 07:03
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/487; H04M3/493; H04M3/42008; H04M3/4228; H04M3/436; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/18; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/10; H04M2203/105; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2072; H04M2203/60; H04M2203/6009; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42059; H04M3/42068; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42093; H04M3/42102; H04M3/4211; H04M3/42348; H04M3/42357; H04M3/42365; H04M3/42374; H04M3/56; H04M3/563; H04M3/565; H04M7/00; H04M7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 93
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
1 . An automated method of establishing a voice connection between a caller and a called party, comprising: receiving a voice connection request from a caller; determining the availability of a called party for a first voice connection with the caller; and automatically establishing said first voice connection between the caller and the called party when both the caller and the called party are available.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
1 . An automated method of establishing a voice connection between a caller and a called party, comprising: receiving a voice connection request from a caller; determining the availability of a called party for a first voice connection with the caller; and automatically establishing said first voice connection between the caller and the called party when both the caller and the called party are available.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an identifier of the called party.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said identifier comprises a telephone number of the called party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said receiving a voice connection request comprises: receiving a first connection from the caller, wherein said first connection indicates a desire for a voice connection; and receiving from the caller an identifier associated with the called party.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection is terminated before said automatically establishing said voice connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection comprises a telephone call from the caller.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection comprises a signal received through a communication network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection comprises an electronic message received from a computing device of the caller.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
9 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection comprises an electronic mail message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said first connection comprises an instant message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
11 . The method of claim 4 , wherein said receiving a first connection comprises receiving a telephone number of the caller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: notifying the called party of one or more pending voice connections involving the called party, including said first voice connection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said determining availability of the called party comprises receiving a response to said notifying.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining availability of the called party comprises applying a set of preferences configured by the called party.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining availability of the called party comprises receiving an availability update of the called party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said availability update comprises an electronic communication indicating an availability of the called party for a voice connection with the caller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said electronic communication comprises an instant message.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a telephone signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a telephone call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said electronic communication comprises an electronic mail message.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a communication transmitted from a computing device of the called party.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said availability update indicates an availability of the called party for a voice connection having a specified condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said specified condition is a priority of said voice connection.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said specified condition is an identity of another party to said voice connection.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein said specified condition is a nature of said voice connection, wherein said nature is either business or personal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining availability of the called party comprises determining the availability of the called party for instant messaging.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining availability of the called party comprises determining whether the called party is active within an instant message network.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining an availability of the caller for said first voice connection.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
29 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said automatically establishing said first voice connection comprises: detecting a change in availability of one or more of the caller and the called party.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
30 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said automatically establishing said first voice connection comprises: directing a call processing unit to initiate said first voice connection between the caller and the called party.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said call processing unit is selected by a party that will be billed for said voice connection.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
32 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said automatically establishing said first voice connection comprises: initiating a multi-legged voice connection between the caller and the called party.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
33 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said automatically establishing said first voice connection comprises: populating one or more caller id fields of connections to one or more of the called party and the caller.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein said populating comprises: placing an identifier associated with the caller in a first caller id field of a connection to the called party.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein said populating comprises: placing an identifier associated with the called party in a first caller id field of a connection to the caller.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
44 words
36 . The method of claim 33 , wherein said populating comprises: placing an identifier associated with an automated system establishing the first voice connection in a first caller id field of connections to one or more of the called party and the caller.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
29 words
37 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said receiving a voice connection request from the caller: verifying a telephone number associated with the caller.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
51 words
38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein said verifying comprises: receiving from the caller the telephone number for association with the caller; transmitting to the caller a code for confirming the telephone number; receiving a verification connection from the telephone number; and during said verification connection, receiving said code.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
39 . The method of claim 38 , wherein said transmitting comprises sending the code in an electronic mail message to the caller.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
40 . The method of claim 38 , wherein said transmitting comprises sending the code in an instant message to the caller.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
41 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said automatically establishing said first voice connection: verifying a telephone number associated with the called party.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
42 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: informing one of the caller and the called party of a fee requested by the other of the caller and the called party.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
43 . The method of claim 42 , wherein said voice connection request comprises a fee requested by the caller.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
44 . The method of claim 42 , further comprising, prior to said informing: notifying the called party of said voice connection request; and receiving a response to said notifying, wherein said response comprises a fee requested by the called party.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
45 . The method of claim 42 , wherein preferences established by the called party comprise a requested fee.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
84 words
46 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform an automated method of establishing a voice connection between a caller and a called party, the method comprising: receiving a voice connection request from a caller; determining availability of a called party for a first voice connection with the caller; and automatically establishing said first voice connection between the caller and the called party when both the caller and the called party are available.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
84 words
46 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform an automated method of establishing a voice connection between a caller and a called party, the method comprising: receiving a voice connection request from a caller; determining availability of a called party for a first voice connection with the caller; and automatically establishing said first voice connection between the caller and the called party when both the caller and the called party are available.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
82 words
47 . A method of automatically establishing a connection between two parties, comprising: receiving a first connection from a first party; receiving from the first party a request for a connection with a second party; receiving information indicating whether the second party is available for said connection; and after said first connection is terminated, automatically initiating said connection between the first party and the second party when the first party and the second party are determined to be available for said connection.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
82 words
47 . A method of automatically establishing a connection between two parties, comprising: receiving a first connection from a first party; receiving from the first party a request for a connection with a second party; receiving information indicating whether the second party is available for said connection; and after said first connection is terminated, automatically initiating said connection between the first party and the second party when the first party and the second party are determined to be available for said connection.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
48 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving a first connection comprises receiving a telephone call from the first party.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
49 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving a first connection comprises receiving an electronic message from a computing device operated by the first party.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
50 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving a request for a connection comprises receiving an identifier of the second party.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
20 words
51 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said identifier comprises a telephone number associated with the second party.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
21 words
52 . The method of claim 50 , wherein said identifier does not comprise a telephone number of the second party.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
21 words
53 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving information comprises receiving an availability update from the second party.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
32 words
54 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving information comprises querying a communication network serving the second party whether a communication device of the second party is in operation.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
55 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving information comprises receiving an electronic message from a computing device operated by the second party.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
25 words
56 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving information comprises receiving a signal from a communication device operated by the second party.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
21 words
57 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving information comprises examining a default availability of the second party.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
22 words
58 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said initiating said connection comprises signaling a call processor to establish said connection.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
27 words
59 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said initiating said connection comprises initiating a multi-legged telephone call including the first party and the second party.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
17 words
60 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising notifying the second party of said request.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
22 words
61 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising receiving information indicating whether the first party is available for said connection.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
22 words
62 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising determining whether the first party is active in an instant message system.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
26 words
63 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising configuring default availability rules for one or more of the first party and the second party.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
28 words
64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein said configuring comprises receiving default availability input regarding one or more of the first party and the second party.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
15 words
65 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said connection is a voice connection.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
36 words
66 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising, prior to said receiving from the first party a request for a connection with a second party: verifying a telephone number associated with the first party.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
26 words
67 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising, prior to said automatically initiating said connection: verifying a telephone number associated with the second party.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
40 words
68 . The method of claim 47 , wherein said receiving a request for a connection with a second party comprises receiving notification of a fee charged by the first party in conjunction with a connection with the second party.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
23 words
69 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising: receiving from the second party a fee charged in conjunction with said connection.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
40 words
70 . The method of claim 47 , further comprising: notifying one of the first party and the second party of a fee charged by the other of the first party and the second party in conjunction with said connection.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
102 words
71 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of automatically establishing a connection between two parties, the method comprising: receiving a first connection from a first party; receiving from the first party a request for a connection with a second party; receiving information indicating whether the second party is available for said connection; and after said first connection is terminated, automatically initiating said connection between the first party and the second party when the first party and the second party are determined to be available for said connection.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
102 words
71 . A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method of automatically establishing a connection between two parties, the method comprising: receiving a first connection from a first party; receiving from the first party a request for a connection with a second party; receiving information indicating whether the second party is available for said connection; and after said first connection is terminated, automatically initiating said connection between the first party and the second party when the first party and the second party are determined to be available for said connection.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
76 words
72 . An apparatus for establishing a voice connection between two parties, comprising: means for receiving from a first party a request for a voice connection with a second party, wherein said request comprises an identifier of the second party; availability determination means for determining a dynamic availability of one or more of the first party and the second party; and connection means for establishing said voice connection between the first party and the second party.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
76 words
72 . An apparatus for establishing a voice connection between two parties, comprising: means for receiving from a first party a request for a voice connection with a second party, wherein said request comprises an identifier of the second party; availability determination means for determining a dynamic availability of one or more of the first party and the second party; and connection means for establishing said voice connection between the first party and the second party.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
108 words
73 . A system for automatically establishing a voice connection between two parties based on their availability, comprising: a server configured to receive a call request from a first user, wherein said call request comprises an identifier of a second user; an availability determination module configured to automatically determine an availability of the second user for said requested call with the first user; and a connection to a call processor configured to establish said call between the first user and the second user; wherein said server signals the call processor to establish said call when both the first user and the second user are determined to be available.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
108 words
73 . A system for automatically establishing a voice connection between two parties based on their availability, comprising: a server configured to receive a call request from a first user, wherein said call request comprises an identifier of a second user; an availability determination module configured to automatically determine an availability of the second user for said requested call with the first user; and a connection to a call processor configured to establish said call between the first user and the second user; wherein said server signals the call processor to establish said call when both the first user and the second user are determined to be available.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
26 words
74 . The system of claim 73 , further comprising: an interface server configured to execute a user interface to facilitate a connection with a user.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
15 words
75 . The system of claim 74 , wherein said server comprises said interface server.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
31 words
76 . The system of claim 73 , wherein said availability determination module is configured to receive availability updates from one or more of the first user and the second user.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
25 words
77 . The system of claim 76 , wherein an availability update comprises an electronic communication indicating whether a user is available for a call.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
23 words
78 . The system of claim 77 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a communication from a computing device operated by the user.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
23 words
79 . The system of claim 77 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a communication from a communication device operated by the user.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
24 words
80 . The system of claim 77 , wherein said electronic communication comprises a communication from an instant message system used by the user.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
28 words
81 . The system of claim 77 , wherein said electronic communication comprises one or more of: an instant message, an electronic mail message and a telephone call.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
13 words
82 . The system of claim 73 , further comprising the call processor.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
33 words
83 . The system of claim 73 , further comprising a connection notifier configured to notify one or more of the first user and the second user, prior to establishment of said call.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
45 words
84 . The system of claim 73 , further comprising a fee notifier configured to notify one of the first user and the second user of a fee requested by the other of the first user and the first user for participating in said call.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
80 words
85 . A system for establishing a call between two parties, comprising: a server configured to receive a call request from a first user, wherein said call request comprises an identifier of a second user; a connection with a call processor configured to establish said requested call between the first user and the second user; and a pre-connection notifier configured to notify one or more of the first user and the second user prior to establishment of said requested call.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
80 words
85 . A system for establishing a call between two parties, comprising: a server configured to receive a call request from a first user, wherein said call request comprises an identifier of a second user; a connection with a call processor configured to establish said requested call between the first user and the second user; and a pre-connection notifier configured to notify one or more of the first user and the second user prior to establishment of said requested call.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
31 words
86 . The system of claim 85 , further comprising: an availability determination module configured to determine an availability of the second user for said requested call with the first user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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