Devices, systems and methods for communications that include social media clients
Devices, systems and methods for communications that include social media clients are provided. In particular, a server operates a virtual client for communicating with clients of a social media server. The server receives a call request associated with a directory number of a call server, the call request to initiate a call associated with the directory number and a given client of the social media server. The server conducts the call by controlling: the virtual client to communicate with the given client, via the social media server; and the virtual client to communicate with a communication device associated with the directory number, via the call server. The server may also facilitate exchange of status updates between a given client of the social media server and the call server. The server may also facilitate calls between respective clients of different social media servers.
1. A server comprising:
a communication unit configured to communicate with: a first social media server; and a second social media server;
a controller communicatively coupled to the communication unit, the controller configured to:
operate a first virtual client for communicating with first clients of the first social media server;
operate a second virtual client for communicating with second clients of the second social media server;
receive, via the communication unit, a call request to initiate a call between a first given client of the first social media server and a second given client of the second social media server;
conduct, via the communication unit, the call between the first given client and the second given client by controlling:
the first virtual client to communicate with the given first client via the first social media server;
the second virtual client to communicate with the given second client via the second social media server; and
the first virtual client to communicate with the second virtual client.
2. The server of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: operate an interface application for translating between a first communication format associated with the first social media server and a second communication format associated with the second social media server, wherein, during the call, the controller translates between the first communication format and the second communication format using the interface application.
3. The server of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to: control the first virtual client and the second virtual client to communicate with each other via the interface application during the call.
4. The server of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, prior to conducting the call, one or more of:
associate the first virtual client with first information associated with the first given client, such that the second given client identifies the first virtual client according to the first information associated with the first given client; and
associate the second virtual client with second information associated with the second given client, such that the first given client identifies the second virtual client according to the second information associated with the second given client.
5. The server of claim 1 , wherein the communication unit is further configured to communicate with a call server, and the controller is further configured to:
operate an interface application for translating communications between the call server and one or more of: the first virtual client; and the second virtual client; and
include, on the call, via the call server, the communication unit and the interface application, a communication device.
6. The server of claim 1 , wherein the call request is received from one of: the first given client and the second given client.