Method and apparatus for controlling sessions from one or more devices
An apparatus and mechanism to manage multi-modal real-time or quasi real-time sessions such as voice, video, instant messaging, or web-conferencing across multiple devices through a simple subscription to a session management service. A user can subscribe to the service from many devices (e.g. mobile device, desk phone, personal computer, internet appliance, internet TV, communication terminal, etc.) and through the service seamlessly move sessions back and forth between subscribed devices. In a preferred embodiment, a user utilizes a “virtual slider” in a simple “two touch” procedure to effectuate the movement of a communication session from one device to another device via the service.
1. A method of controlling a communication session comprising:
a first communication device displaying an indicator identifying an active communication session between a second communication device and a third communication device, the second communication device associated with a user, the first communication device having a processor connected to a non-transitory computer readable medium;
the first communication device displaying an indicator identifying the second communication device and an indicator identifying a fourth communication device associated with the user that is available for participating in the active communication session to replace the second communication device; and
in response to receiving input identifying the fourth communication device, the first communication device sending a message to a server to request that the active communication session be moved from the second communication device to the fourth communication device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first communication device is not the second communication device and is not the third communication device; and the method comprises:
the first communication device receiving the input identifying the fourth communication device while the indicator identifying the fourth communication device as being available for participating in the active communication session for participating in the active communication session to replace the second communication device is displayed by the first communication device.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication device is one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the second communication device is one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television;
the third communication device is one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television; and
the fourth communication device is one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first communication device sending the message to the server to request that the active communication session be moved from the second communication device to the fourth communication device is performed such that moving of the communication session from the second communication device to the fourth communication device occurs such that the move is seamless so that the communication session is automatically answered by the fourth communication device such that there is no interruption in a media path defining the connection with the third communication device, no change in a display provided by the third communication device occurs, and no user action is required on the second or third communication device to effect the move of the communication session.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the server is comprised of at least one computer device and wherein the server is connected to the first communication device via a network connection and the server and the second communication device are connected via a network connection and the server and the fourth communication device are connected via a network connection.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
the server offering a service to the first communication device, wherein the server has a database that associates the user with the first communication device, the second communication device, and the fourth communication device.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
the server periodically receiving location data from the first communication device that identifies a location of the first communication device;
the server periodically receiving location data from the second communication device that identifies a location of the second communication device; and
the server periodically receiving location data from the fourth communication device that identifies a location of the fourth communication device.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first communication device displaying the indicator identifying the active communication session between the second communication device and the third communication device in response to receiving a first input effected by a user touching a display of the first communication device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input identifying the fourth communication device is provided via the user making a sliding motion on a display of the first communication device to effect a sliding of a first displayed icon to a second displayed icon.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first displayed icon represents the fourth communication device.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first displayed icon represents the third communication device or the second communication device.
13. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
moving the communication session, wherein the communication session involves an exchange of a same type of media during the communication session prior to the moving of the communication session and after the communication session is moved.
14. A communication apparatus, comprising:
a first communication device associated with a user, the first communication device having hardware comprising non-transitory memory;
the first communication device configured to display an indicator identifying an active communication session between a second communication device and a third communication device, the second communication device associated with a user;
the first communication device configured to display an indicator identifying the second communication device and an indicator identifying a fourth communication device associated with the user that is available for participating in the active communication session to replace the second communication device; and
the first communication device configured to send a message to a server to request that the active communication session be moved from the second communication device to the fourth communication device in response to receiving input identifying the fourth communication device as being a target device for moving of the active communication session.
15. The communication apparatus of claim 14 , comprising:
the server communicatively connectable to the first communication device.
16. The communication apparatus of claim 14 , wherein:
the first communication device is configured to send the message in response to receiving the input while the indicator identifying the fourth communication device as being available for participating in the active communication session for participating in the active communication session to replace the second communication device is displayed by the first communication device; and
the first communication device is one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television.
17. The communication apparatus of claim 16 , comprising the second communication device and the fourth communication device;
the second communication device being one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television; and
the fourth communication device being one of a cellular phone, a mobile phone, a desktop phone, a computer, a mobile computer device, and a television.
18. The communication apparatus of claim 17 , comprising:
the server communicatively connectable to the first communication device, the second communication device, and the fourth communication device, the server comprised of at least one computer device.
19. The communication apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first communication device is configured to display indicia to facilitate receipt of the input identifying the fourth communication device by the user making a sliding motion on a display of the first communication device to effect a sliding of a first displayed icon to a second displayed icon.
20. The communication apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the first displayed icon represents one of: the second communication device, the third communication device, and the fourth communication device; and
wherein the message is configured to actuate the moving of the communication session such that the active communication session is moved by the server such that the communication session involves an exchange of a same type of media during the communication session prior to the moving of the communication session and after the communication session is moved.