Integrated chat client with receiving party choice
View Patent ↗Phone systems for an integrated chat client service are provided. A representative phone system includes a call processing system operable to check a chat server for accessibility of a calling party chat client associated with a calling party and coupled to the internet, the call processing system being further operable to prompt a called party to select to talk or chat. Methods to connect telephone calls and answer telephone calls are also provided.
1. A method for inviting a sending party and a receiving party to conduct a chat communication comprising:
receiving a voice connection request from the sending party;
prompting the receiving party to select either a voice or chat connection type;
receiving a chat selection from the receiving party; and
inviting the sending and receiving parties to conduct a chat communication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication by a recorded voice message from an interactive voice recording system.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying the sending party of the receiving party's choice to conduct a chat communication using a voice call.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
checking for an accessible chat client associated with the sending party, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
starting a chat session between the receiving and sending parties.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
terminating a voice call after the receiving party accepts an invitation to conduct a chat communication.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a voice selection from the receiving party; and
making a voice connection between the receiving party and the sending party.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
checking a preference from the sending party on whether the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party and the preference from the sending party indicates that the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
checking a preference from the receiving party on whether the receiving party prefers to receive a chat invitation.
11. A computer readable storage medium having a program with instructions for inviting a sending party and a receiving party to conduct a chat communication, the program, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform:
receiving a voice connection request from the sending party;
prompting the receiving party to select either a voice or chat connection type;
receiving a chat selection from the receiving party; and
inviting the sending and receiving parties to conduct a chat communication.
12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication by a recorded voice message from an interactive voice recording system.
13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
notifying the sending party of the receiving party's choice to conduct a chat communication using a voice call.
14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
checking for an accessible chat client associated with the sending party, wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party.
15. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
starting a chat session between the receiving and sending parties.
16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:
terminating a voice call after the receiving party accepts an invitation to conduct a chat communication.
17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving a voice selection from the receiving party; and
making a voice connection between the receiving party and the sending party.
18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
checking a preference from the sending party on whether the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.
19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the receiving party is invited to conduct a chat communication if an accessible chat client is detected for the sending party and the preference from the sending party indicates that the sending party prefers to receive a chat invitation.
20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:
checking a preference from the receiving party on whether the receiving party prefers to receive a chat invitation.