Voice instant messaging
View Patent ↗Systems and techniques for transferring electronic data include enabling instant messaging communication between a sender an at least one recipient through an instant messaging host. In addition, voice communication is enabled between the sender and the recipient through the instant messaging host.
1. A method comprising:
enabling presentation of a first communication graphical user interface to a sender, the first communication graphical user interface comprising one or more communication options including a voice communication option;
enabling presentation of a second communication graphical user interface to a recipient;
determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient;
receiving, at a server, an indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option; and
establishing, based on the determined voice communication capabilities of the recipient and based on the indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option, a voice communication between the sender and the recipient using more than one channel including at least a generic signaling interface channel.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a list of users associated with the sender, wherein the list comprises indications of the voice communication capabilities of the users associated with the sender.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled a hardware device for voice communication.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled software for voice communication.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising enabling voice communication between the sender, the recipient, and a third identity.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reporting the voice communication capabilities of the recipient to the sender.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication graphical user interface comprises a display of a second voice communication option.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the second voice communication option indicates that the sender has voice communication capabilities.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the more than one channel further comprises a different communications channel than a control channel associated with instant message communications between the sender and the recipient.
10. A computer-based system comprising:
at least one processor; and
a storage device storing a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions being executable by the at least one processor for:
enabling presentation of a first communication graphical user interface to a sender, the first communication graphical user interface comprising one or more communication options including a voice communication;
enabling presentation of a second communication graphical user interface to a recipient;
determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient;
receiving an indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option; and
establishing, based on the determined voice communication capabilities of the recipient and based on the indication that the sender has selected the voice communication option, a voice communication between the sender and the recipient using more than one channel including at least a generic signaling interface channel.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for providing a list of users associated with the sender, wherein the list comprises indications of the voice communication capabilities of the users associated with the sender.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled a hardware device for voice communication.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein determining voice communication capabilities of the recipient comprises determining whether the recipient has enabled software for voice communication.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for enabling voice communication between the sender, the recipient, and a third identity.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the storage device further comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor for reporting the voice communication capabilities of the recipient to the sender.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second communication graphical user interface comprises a display of a second voice communication icon.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second voice communication icon indicates that the sender has voice communication capabilities.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the more than one channel further comprises a different communications channel than a control channel associated with an instant message communications between the sender and the recipient.