IP Library Granted Patent US 11,580,469
Granted Patent B2
US 11,580,469 · App. 16/944,729 · Granted Feb 14, 2023

Methods and systems for directing communications

Inventors: JianWei Chen (Xiamen, CN); WeiMing Li (Xiamen, CN); YanRong Huang (Xiamen, CN)
Assignee: RingCentral, Inc.
G06Q10/06312G06F16/9035G06Q10/063118H04L51/043H04L67/535
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,580,469
App. No.
16/944,729
Filed
Jul 31, 2020
Granted
Feb 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3683
USPC
705/7.22
Abstract

A method for improving communications in a digital collaboration environment by receiving a communication directed to a first user, determining that the first user is unavailable, in response to determining that the first user is unavailable, determining a second user based on an attribute, and notifying the second user about the communication directed to the first user.

Claims (44)

1. A computer implemented method for improving communication in a digital collaboration environment the method comprising:

receiving a digital communication from a source device in the digital collaboration environment, wherein the digital communication is directed to a device associated with a first user, wherein the digital collaboration environment includes one or more of a voice communication, video communication, or a text messaging communication;

causing to determine, using the device associated with the first user, geographical locations associated with the first user over a period of time;

receiving the geographical locations associated with the first user over the period of time, from the device associated with the first user to form historical geographical locations associated with the first user;

causing to determine, using the device associated with the first user, a current geographical location associated with the first user;

determining that the first user is unavailable in the digital collaboration environment based on a setting in a software application that is different from the digital collaboration environment and further based on delineation of the current geographical location from the historical geographical locations;

in response to determining that the first user is unavailable, determining a second user based on an attribute; and

transmitting a notification signal to a device associated with the second user about the communication directed to the device associated with the first user.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the second user is additionally based on a content of the communication directed to the device associated with first user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication directed to the device associated with first user comprises a text message in the digital collaboration environment.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication is directed to the device associated with first user using a mention symbol.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the first user is unavailable is further based on at least one of: lack of electronic user activity associated with the first user, pattern of electronic activity associated with the first user, or a prior electronic communication associated with the first user with another user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attribute to determine the second user comprises relations between the first user and the second user, a project associated with the first user and with the second user, a title of the first user and of the second user, a position of the first user and the second user or past communication between the first user and the second user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether the first user is unavailable is further based on one or more, settings in software applications configured by the first user, a past communication of the first user, or information on the first user stored in a database, or activity in software applications.

8. A system for improving communication in a digital collaboration environment the system comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, operatively connected to the memory and configured to:

receive a digital communication from a source device in the digital collaboration environment, wherein the digital communication is directed to a device associated with a first user, wherein the digital collaboration environment includes one or more of a voice communication, video communication, or a text messaging communication;

cause the device associated with the first user to determine geographical locations associated with the first user over a period of time;

receive the geographical locations associated with the first user over the period of time, from the device associated with the first user to form historical geographical locations associated with the first user;

cause the device associated with the first user to determine a current geographical location associated with the first user;

determine that the first user is unavailable in the digital collaboration environment based on a setting in a software application that is different from the digital collaboration environment and further based on delineation of the current geographical location from historical geographical locations;

in response to determining that the first user is unavailable, determine a second user based on an attribute; and

transmit a notification signal to a device associated with the second user about the communication directed to the device associated with the first user.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the communication directed to the device associated with first user comprises a text message in the digital collaboration environment.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the communication is directed to the device associated with first user using a mention symbol.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining that the first user is unavailable is further based on at least one of: lack of electronic user activity associated with the first user, pattern of electronic activity associated with the first user, or a prior electronic communication associated with the first user with another user.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the attribute to determine the second user comprises relations between the first user and the second user, a project associated with the first user and with the second user, a title of the first user and of the second user, a position of the first user and the second user or past communication between the first user and the second user.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining the second user is additionally based on a content of the communication directed to the device associated with first user.

14. A web-based server for improving communication in a digital collaboration environment the server comprising:

memory; and

at least one processor, operatively connected to the memory and configured to:

receive a digital communication from a source device in the digital collaboration environment, wherein the digital communication is directed to a device associated with a first user, wherein the digital collaboration environment includes one or more of a voice communication, video communication, or a text messaging communication;

cause the device associated with the first user to determine geographical locations associated with the first user over a period of time;

receive the geographical locations associated with the first user over the period of time, from the device associated with the first user to form historical geographical locations associated with the first user;

cause the device associated with the first user to determine a current geographical location associated with the first user;

determine that the first user is unavailable in the digital collaboration environment based on a setting in a software application that is different from the digital collaboration environment and further based on delineation of the current geographical location from historical geographical locations;

in response to determining that the first user is unavailable, determine a second user based on an attribute; and

transmit a notification signal to a device associated with the second user about the communication directed to the device associated with the first user.

15. The server of claim 14 , wherein determining the second user is additionally based on a content of the communication directed to the device associated with first user.

16. The server of claim 14 , wherein the communication directed to the device associated with first user comprises a text message in the digital collaboration environment.

17. The server of claim 14 , wherein the communication is directed to the device associated with first user using a mention symbol.

18. The server of claim 14 , wherein the attribute to determine the second user comprises relations between the first user and the second user, a project associated with the first user and with the second user, a title of the first user and of the second user, a position of the first user and the second user or past communication between the first user and the second user.

19. The server of claim 14 , wherein determining that the first user is unavailable is further based on at least one of: lack of electronic user activity associated with the first user, pattern of electronic activity associated with the first user, or a prior electronic communication associated with the first user with another user.