Method and apparatus for performing multiple forms of communications in one session
View Patent ↗An approach is provided for performing multiple and hybrid forms of communication in the same communication session. A communication manager receives a to establish a communication session using a first form of communication, wherein the communication session supports multiple and simultaneous forms of communication. Next, the communication manager selects a second form of communication to conduct the communication session. Then, the communication manager transcodes the second form of communication to the first form of communication. The different forms can be converted to facilitate and enrich the communication capability, according to an embodiment of the invention.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a request to establish a communication session using a first form of communication, wherein the communication session supports multiple and simultaneous forms of communication;
determining, by a processor, to select, independent of the first form of communication, a second form of communication to conduct the communication session; and
transcoding the second form of communication to the first form of communication.
2. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transcoding the first form of communication to the second form of communication.
3. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an input for selecting the second form of communication,
wherein the determining to select the second form of communication is based, at least in part, on the input.
4. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining contextual information for the second form of communication to conduct the communication session,
wherein the determining to select the second form of communication is based, at least in part, on the contextual information, the contextual information including an address of the incoming communication, status, time, location, environment condition, or combination thereof.
5. A method of claim 4 , further comprising:
generating one or more communication templates based on the contextual information and the second form of communication;
causing, at least in part, presentation of the communication templates;
receiving an input for selecting or customizing one or more of the communication templates; and
causing, at least in part, transmission of the selected communication templates during the communication session.
6. A method of claim 4 , wherein the contextual information is determined from one or more sensors, services, applications, information databases, or a combination thereof.
7. A method of claim 1 , further comprising:
switching among the first and second forms of communication during the communication session.
8. A method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple and simultaneous forms of communication include voice, text messaging, instant messaging, multimedia messaging, e-mail, video, or a combination thereof.
9. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
receive a request to establish a communication session using a first form of communication, wherein the communication session supports multiple and simultaneous forms of communication;
determine to select, independent of the first form of communication, a second form of communication to conduct the communication session; and
transcode the second form of communication to the first form of communication.
10. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:
transcode the first form of communication to the second form of communication for presentation.
11. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:
cause, at least in part, a display of a user interface; and
receive an input via the user interface for selecting the second form of communication,
wherein the determination to select the second form of communication is based, at least in part, on the input and the user interface displays one or more options that are configured to be dragged and dropped in the user interface.
12. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:
determine contextual information for the second form of communication to conduct the communication session,
wherein the determination to select the second form of communication is based, at least in part, on the contextual information, the contextual information including an address of the incoming communication, status, time, location, environment condition, or combination thereof.
13. An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:
generate one or more communication templates based on the contextual information and the second form communication;
present the communication templates;
receive an input for selecting or customizing one or more of the communication templates; and
perform transmission of the selected communication templates during the communication session.
14. An apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the contextual information is determined from one or more sensors, services, applications, information databases, or a combination thereof.
15. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:
switch among the first and second forms of communication during the communication session.
16. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the multiple and simultaneous forms of communication include voice, text messaging, instant messaging, multimedia messaging, e-mail, video, or a combination thereof.
17. An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the apparatus is a mobile phone further comprising:
user interface circuitry and user interface software configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone through use of a display and configured to respond to user input; and
a display and display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile phone, the display and display circuitry configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile phone.
18. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause an apparatus to at least perform the following steps:
receiving a request to establish a communication session using a first form of communication, wherein the communication session supports multiple and simultaneous forms of communication;
determining to select, independent of the first form of communication, a second form of communication to conduct the communication session; and
transcoding the second form of communication to the first form of communication.
19. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
determining contextual information for the second form of communication to conduct the communication session,
wherein the determining to select the second form of communication is based, at least in part, on the contextual information, the contextual information including an address of the incoming communication, status, time, location, environment condition, or combination thereof.
20. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the apparatus is caused to further perform:
generating one or more communication templates based on the contextual information and the second form communication;
causing, at least in part, presentation of the communication templates;
receiving an input for selecting or customizing one or more of the communication templates; and
causing, at least in part, transmission of the selected communication templates during the communication session.