Providing access to information of multiple types via coordination of distinct information services
View Patent ↗Techniques are described for providing users of client devices with coordinated access to information and/or functionality of multiple types, such as by using multiple types of connections to multiple information services of distinct types that exchange context information related to activities of the users and/or clients. The client devices can be, for example, wireless devices with multiple distinct modes (e.g., voice and data modes) for different types of connections with different types of servers (e.g., voice servers and data servers). In some situations, coordination between different servers allows multiple distinct interaction sessions of different types with different servers to remain synchronized or otherwise coordinated over time as the user performs interactions via the different sessions. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
1. A method for computer-assisted accessing of information of multiple types via coordination of distinct information services, comprising:
at a first client device having a coordinated multi-mode server access system executing in a memory of the first client device,
determining a type of connection to be established with a first server computer;
selecting a client device mode based on the type of connection determined;
retrieving information about the first client device, a user of the first client device, or a combination thereof;
utilizing the information retrieved and the client device mode selected to establish a first connection with the first server computer; and
initiating an interaction session with the first server computer for exchanging data in the client device mode selected.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining if a second connection is to be established with the first server computer or a second server compute in a different client device mode.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
causing the first client device to switch from a first client device mode connection to a second client device mode connection.
4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein switching from the first client device mode connection to the second client device mode connection is caused remotely by the first server computer or locally by the first client device or the user.
5. A method according to claim 3 , wherein switching from the first client device mode connection to the second client device mode connection is performed automatically.
6. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first client device mode connection is a data-based connection and the second client device mode connection is a voice-based connection.
7. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the first client device mode connection is a voice-based connection and the second client device mode connection is a data-based connection.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the coordinated multi-mode server access system comprises a voice mode and a data mode, wherein the voice mode supports voice-based communications with one or more voice servers, and wherein the data mode supports data-based communications with one or more data servers.
9. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by at least one processor to perform:
at a first client device, determining a type of connection to be established with a first server computer, wherein the first client device comprises a coordinated multi-mode server access system executing in a memory of the first client device;
selecting a client device mode based on the type of connection determined;
retrieving information about the first client device, a user of the first client device, or a combination thereof;
utilizing the information retrieved and the client device mode selected to establish a first connection with the first server computer; and
initiating an interaction session with the first server computer for exchanging data in the client device mode selected.
10. A computer program product according to claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
determining if a second connection is to be established with the first server computer or a second server compute in a different client device mode.
11. A computer program product according to claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
causing the first client device to switch from a first client device mode connection to a second client device mode connection.
12. A computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein switching from the first client device mode connection to the second client device mode connection is performed automatically.
13. A computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein the first client device mode connection is a data-based connection and the second client device mode connection is a voice-based connection.
14. A computer program product according to claim 11 , wherein the first client device mode connection is a voice-based connection and the second client device mode connection is a data-based connection.
15. A computer program product according to claim 9 , wherein the coordinated multi-mode server access system comprises a voice mode and a data mode, wherein the voice mode supports voice-based communications with one or more voice servers, and wherein the data mode supports data-based communications with one or more data servers.
16. A computing device, comprising:
a memory;
a coordinated multi-mode server access system executing in the memory;
at least one processor; and
at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
determining a type of connection to be established with a first server computer;
selecting a client device mode based on the type of connection determined;
retrieving information about the first client device, a user of the first client device, or a combination thereof;
utilizing the information retrieved and the client device mode selected to establish a first connection with the first server computer; and
initiating an interaction session with the first server computer for exchanging data in the client device mode selected.
17. A computing device according to claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
determining if a second connection is to be established with the first server computer or a second server compute in a different client device mode.
18. A computing device according to claim 16 , wherein the instructions are further translatable by the at least one processor to perform:
causing the computing device to switch from a first client device mode connection to a second client device mode connection.
19. A computing device according to claim 18 , wherein switching from the first client device mode connection to the second client device mode connection is performed automatically.
20. A computing device according to claim 16 , wherein the coordinated multi-mode server access system comprises a voice mode and a data mode, wherein the voice mode supports voice-based communications with one or more voice servers, and wherein the data mode supports data-based communications with one or more data servers.