Methods and systems for notifying callee availability
Exemplary embodiments relate to techniques for connecting two users when a caller places a call but a callee rejects the call or fails to answer in a predetermined period of time. The calling application may terminate the call attempt and request status updates regarding the called party to determine when the callee is available for a follow-up call. The system may gain insight into when a user is available based on the user's presence in a messaging or social networking app, activity in a third-party application unrelated to the call, or the power status of the user's device. When it is determined that the callee is available, a notification may be sent to the caller informing the caller that it is a good time to call back. The techniques may also be used in reverse, informing the callee of when the caller is available for a return call.
1. A method, comprising:
transmitting a call request from a caller client device to a callee client device, the call request to connect the caller client device and the callee client device in a video communication;
determining that the request has been rejected;
transmitting a monitoring request to monitor the callee client device to determine when the callee is using the callee client device, wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for a predetermined period of time;
receiving an indication that the callee is using the callee client device in response to the monitoring request; and
generating a notification on the caller client device that the callee is available in response to the indication.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the call request is determined to be rejected when the callee client device fails to respond to the call request within a predetermined period of time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for at least one of presence in a social networking application providing a capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a messaging application providing the capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a third-party application unrelated to the capability to engage in the video communication, or a detection that the callee client device is turned on.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the video communication is a synchronous video communication.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring request is suspended at predefined times.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting a reverse indication to the callee client device when the caller is using the caller client device; and
receiving a request to engage in the video communication in response to the reverse indication.
7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions configured to cause one or more processors to:
transmit a call request from a caller client device to a callee client device, the call request to connect the caller client device and the callee client device in a video communication;
determine that the request has been rejected;
transmit a monitoring request to monitor the callee client device to determine when the callee is using the callee client device, wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for a predetermined period of time;
receive an indication that the callee is using the callee client device in response to the monitoring request; and
generate a notification on the caller client device that the callee is available in response to the indication.
8. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the call request is determined to be rejected when the callee client device fails to respond to the call request within a predetermined period of time.
9. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for at least one of presence in a social networking application providing a capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a messaging application providing the capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a third-party application unrelated to the capability to engage in the video communication, or a detection that the callee client device is turned on.
10. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the video communication is a synchronous video communication.
11. The medium of claim 7 , wherein the monitoring request is suspended at predefined times.
12. The medium of claim 7 , further storing instructions for:
transmitting a reverse indication to the callee client device when the caller is using the caller client device; and
receiving a request to engage in the video communication in response to the reverse indication.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store instructions for facilitating video communications; and
a processor configured to execute the instructions, the instructions configured to cause the processor to:
transmit a call request from a caller client device to a callee client device, the call request to connect the caller client device and the callee client device in a video communication;
determine that the request has been rejected;
transmit a monitoring request to monitor the callee client device to determine when the callee is using the callee client device, wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for a predetermined period of time;
receive an indication that the callee is using the callee client device in response to the monitoring request; and
generate a notification on the caller client device that the callee is available in response to the indication.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the call request is determined to be rejected when the callee client device fails to respond to the call request within a predetermined period of time.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring request is a request to monitor the callee client device for at least one of presence in a social networking application providing a capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a messaging application providing the capability to engage in the video communication, presence in a third-party application unrelated to the capability to engage in the video communication, or a detection that the callee client device is turned on.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring request is suspended at predefined times.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
transmitting a reverse indication to the callee client device when the caller is using the caller client device; and
receiving a request to engage in the video communication in response to the reverse indication.