Techniques for integrating voice control into an active telephony call

1. An IP based communications server for responding to voice commands within an existing telephony call between two or more end user communication devices mediated by the IP based communications server, comprising:

a memory unit for storing code;

at least one processor for executing the stored code to:

mediate a telephony call among the two or more end user communication devices, each end user communication device with its own communication link to the IP based communications server;

detect a user initiated trigger event within the existing telephony call from one of the end user communication devices;

upon detecting the user initiated trigger event: (i) causing the end user communication device that generated the trigger event to enter a temporary mute mode with respect to the existing telephony call; and (ii) receive voice input over the communication link from the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event;

parse the received voice input into one or more voice commands; and

cause the one or more voice commands to be executed.

2. The communications server of claim 1 , further comprising:

cause a first acknowledgment to be presented to the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event so as to inform an end user that voice input entered into the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event will be processed as command input while in temporary mute mode.

3. The communications server of claim 2 , the first acknowledgment comprising an audible tone.

4. The communications server of claim 2 , the first acknowledgment comprising a haptic feedback or a vibration.

5. The communications server of claim 2 , further comprising:

determine if any end user voice input has been received since the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event was placed into temporary mute mode;

if no end user voice input has been received since the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event was placed into temporary mute mode within a pre-determined time-out period, exiting temporary mute mode and resuming normal communications for the existing telephony call; and

cause a second acknowledgment to be delivered to the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event so as to inform an end user that the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event has exited temporary mute mode.

6. The communications server of claim 2 , further comprising:

determine if any end user voice input has been received since the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event was placed into temporary mute mode;

if end user voice input has been received since the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event was placed into temporary mute mode, exiting temporary mute mode and resuming normal communications for the existing telephony call following a pre-determined time-out period after the end of the voice input; and

cause a second acknowledgment to be delivered to the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event so as to inform an end user that the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event has exited temporary mute mode.

7. The communications server of claim 1 , the user initiated trigger event comprising a non-verbal acoustic signature comprising sounds made when tapping the external housing of the end user communication device.

8. The communications server of claim 7 , the non-verbal acoustic signature comprising a time constrained pattern of the tap sounds.

9. The communications server of claim 1 , the communication link between the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event and the IP based communications server comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) connection over an 802.11 WiFi access point.

10. The communications server of claim 1 , the communication link between the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event and the IP based communications server comprising an Internet Protocol (IP) connection over a cellular network.

11. The communications server of claim 1 , the communication link between the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event and the IP based communications server comprising a circuit switched connection over a cellular network.

12. The communications server of claim 11 , the circuit switched connection over a cellular network comprising at least one of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network.

13. The communications server of claim 1 , the communication link between the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event and the IP based communications server comprising a circuit switched connection over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

14. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

compose a short message service (SMS) message, the SMS message including at least one recipient identifier and SMS content; and

send the SMS message on behalf of an end user that generated the user initiated trigger event to the at least one recipient identifier.

15. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

compose a calendar entry comprised of one or more of an event name, a date, any participants, and a time; and

enter the calendar entry into a calendar application on behalf of an end user that generated the user initiated trigger event.

16. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

record a portion of the existing telephony call for a specified period of time; and

perform at least one of storing or delivering the recorded portion of the existing telephony call to at least one of the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event, another end user communication device, the communications server, or an external server or resource accessible to the end user.

17. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are further comprised of instructions to:

transcribe a portion of the existing telephony call; and

perform at least one of storing or delivering the transcription of the portion of the existing telephony call to at least one of the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event, another end user communication device, the communications server, or an external server or resource accessible to the end user.

18. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

map an address, location, or landmark using a mapping application on the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event.

19. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

mute or un-mute the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event with respect to the ongoing telephony call.

20. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

create an additional call leg to another end user communication device; and

join the additional call leg with the existing telephony call.

21. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

create an additional call leg to another end user communication device;

join the additional call leg with the existing telephony call; and

terminate the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event from the existing telephony call.

22. The communications server of claim 1 wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

compose an email message, the email message including at least one recipient email address; and

send the email message on behalf of an end user that generated the user initiated trigger event to the at least one recipient email address.

23. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

compose one of a short message service (SMS) or multimedia messaging service (MMS) location message, the location message including at least one recipient identifier and one of a location link or map indicative of the current physical location of the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event; and

send the location message on behalf of an end user that generated the user initiated trigger event.

24. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

perform a financial transaction comprising:

identifying a source for withdrawal of funds;

identifying a destination for deposit of funds;

determining an amount to transfer;

authenticating the transaction; and

causing the transfer of funds to occur.

25. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

engage a translation feature that:

captures audio from at least one end user communication device in a first language;

translates the captured audio to a second language;

plays the translated audio to another end user communication device.

26. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

enter speakerphone mode on the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event.

27. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

remotely engage one or more end point devices connected to a network;

cause one or more of the end point devices connected to the network to perform a function, the function including at least one of:

unlocking a door;

opening a garage door;

arming or disarming an alarm system;

switching a light; and

controlling a thermostat.

28. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

add a new contact to a contact database on behalf of an end user that generated the user initiated trigger event.

29. The communications server of claim 1 , wherein the one or more voice commands are comprised of instructions to:

apply an overlay to audio coming from the end user communication device that generated the user initiated trigger event to modify the natural sound of one of a user's voice or a background.