Domain communication system
Systems and methods for conducting direct peer-to-peer real time communications are disclosed. The system comprises a domain communication server. The system includes logic to receive a request on behalf of a first user, to initiate a direct peer-to-peer communication session specifying a domain name of a second user. The second user is a registered and authorized user having the domain name registered with a domain name server and authorized by the domain communication server to participate in the direct peer-to-peer real time communication with other users using the domain name. The system includes logic to offer to the second user based upon the domain name specified in the request, to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user. The system includes logic to, upon acceptance from the second user, initiate the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user.
1. A method for conducting direct peer-to-peer real time communications, comprising a domain communication server performing actions including:
receiving a request on behalf of a first user, to initiate a direct peer-to-peer communication session specifying a domain name of a second user; wherein the second user is a registered and authorized user having the domain name registered with a domain name server and authorized by the domain communication server to participate in the direct peer-to-peer real time communication using the domain name to conduct the direct peer-to-peer real time communications with other users;
initiating, the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
if the domain communication server determines that the first user is unauthorized:
generating for the first user (i) an evanescent domain name, that expires after a pre-defined duration, registered on behalf of the first user with the domain name server, and (ii) an authorization by sending an authorization code that was generated with a pseudo-random number to the first user for creating an authorization record with the domain name server wherein the authorization record includes the authorization code; and
authorizing the first user based upon the evanescent domain name, when the authorization code in the authorization record of the first user with the domain name server matches the authorization code sent to the first user; otherwise, if the domain communication server determines the first user is authorized:
using the domain name of the first user to conduct the direct peer-to-peer communication session without generating an evanescent domain name for the first user;
generating a call identifier for the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
offering to the second user based upon the domain name specified in the received request, to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user; wherein the offering includes sending the call identifier to the second user for acceptance of the direct peer-to-peer communication session with the first user and upon an indication of acceptance from the second user, sending the call identifier to the first user; and
completing setup of the direct peer-to-peer communication session.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the domain name of the second user is an address string that identifies an Internet Protocol resource such as a server to access services provided by the server on behalf of the second user.
3. The method of claim 1 , further including: implementing customer relationship management (CRM) functionality that identifies the first user to the second user based upon the domain name registered with the domain name server and providing to the second user, user information of the first user; wherein the user information includes at least one of a username, user address, date and time of a last communication with the first user, and any products and services purchased by the first user.
4. The method of claim 1 , further including implementing a pre-call assistant that indicates to the second user an intent of the call.
5. The method of claim 1 , further including the domain communication server removing expired domain name records.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received request includes a request to conduct a voice call.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received request includes a request to conduct a video call.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received request includes a request to conduct a data call.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received request includes a request to conduct messaging.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein authorizing, by the domain communication server, users to participate in the direct peer-to-peer real time communications using the domain name further includes authorizing users to conduct (i) initiating direct peer-to-peer real time communications; and (ii) receiving direct peer-to-peer real time communications.
11. The method of claim 1 , further including implementing a schedule function enabling the direct peer-to-peer real time communications to be scheduled.
12. The method of claim 1 , further including implementing an Out-of-office mode thereby enabling the second user to establish availability to attend calls.
13. The method of claim 1 , further including implementing a reward system for users that compensates for waiting in picking up calls, by: tracking wait times using a timer started upon receipt of an incoming call and stopped upon initiating the direct peer-to-peer communication session; determining a reward; and providing the reward to a waiting user.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is received via a first instance of a web page.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein offering to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user is offered via at least one of (i) a second instance of a web page and (ii) a first instance of a mobile application.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request is received via a first instance of a mobile application.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein offering to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user is offered via at least one of: (i) a second instance of a mobile application and (ii) a first instance of a web page.
18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for conducting direct peer-to-peer real time communications, which instructions when executed by at least one processor, implement a domain communication server that performs actions of:
receiving a request on behalf of a first user, to initiate a direct peer-to-peer communication session specifying a domain name of a second user; wherein the second user is a registered and authorized user having the domain name registered with a domain name server and authorized by the domain communication server to participate in the direct peer-to-peer real time communication using the domain name to conduct the direct peer-to-peer real time communications with other users;
initiating, the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
if the domain communication server determines that the first user is unauthorized:
generating for the first user (i) an evanescent domain name, that expires after a pre-defined duration, registered on behalf of the first user with the domain name server, and (ii) an authorization by sending an authorization code that was generated with a pseudo-random number to the first user for creating an authorization record with the domain name server wherein the authorization record includes the authorization code; and
authorizing the first user based upon the evanescent domain name, when the authorization code in the authorization record of the first user with the domain name server matches the authorization code sent to the first user; otherwise,
if the domain communication server determines the first user is authorized:
using the domain name of the first user to conduct the direct peer-to-peer communication session without generating an evanescent domain name for the first user;
generating a call identifier for the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
offering to the second user based upon the domain name specified in the request, to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user; wherein the offering includes sending the call identifier to the second user for acceptance of the direct peer-to-peer communication session with the first user and upon an indication of acceptance from the second user, sending the call identifier to the first user; and
completing setup the direct peer-to-peer communication session.
19. A data processing system comprising a domain communication server including at least one processor coupled with a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for conducting direct peer-to-peer real time communications, which instructions when executed by the at least one processor perform:
receiving a request on behalf of a first user, to initiate a direct peer-to-peer communication session specifying a domain name of a second user; wherein the second user is a registered and authorized user having the domain name registered with a domain name server and authorized by the domain communication server to participate in the direct peer-to-peer real time communication using the domain name to conduct the direct peer-to-peer real time communications with other users;
initiating, the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
if the domain communication server determines that the first user is unauthorized:
generating for the first user (i) an evanescent domain name, that expires after a pre-defined duration, registered on behalf of the first user with the domain name server, and (ii) an authorization by sending an authorization code that was generated with a pseudo-random number to the first user for creating an authorization record with the domain name server wherein the authorization record includes the authorization code, and;
authorizing the first user based upon the evanescent domain name, when the authorization code in the authorization record of the first user with the domain name server matches the authorization code sent to the first user; otherwise,
if the domain communication server determines the first user is authorized:
using the domain name of the first user to conduct the direct peer-to-peer communication session without generating an evanescent domain name for the first user;
generating a call identifier for the direct peer-to-peer communication session between the first user and the second user;
offering to the second user based upon the domain name specified in the request, to initiate direct peer-to-peer communications with the first user; wherein the offering includes sending the call identifier to the second user for acceptance of the direct peer-to-peer communication session with the first user and upon an indication of acceptance from the second user, sending the call identifier to the first user; and
completing setup of the direct peer-to-peer communication session.