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 social media server; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the communication unit, the controller configured to:
operate a virtual client for communicating with clients of the social media server,
receive, via the communication unit, 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;
prior to conducting the call, associate the virtual client with information associated with the directory number, such that the given client identifies the virtual client according to the information associated with the directory number; and
conduct, via the communication unit, 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.
2. The server of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, prior to conducting the call:
establish an association between the virtual client and the given client.
3. The server of claim 1 , wherein the virtual client is temporarily associated with the information associated with the directory number, and the controller is further configured to, after the call ends:
disassociate the virtual client with the information associated with the directory number.
4. The server of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
operate an interface application for translating communications between the virtual client and the call server, the call server and the virtual client communicating with each other via the interface application.
5. The server of claim 1 , wherein:
the communication device associated with the directory number comprises a communication device associated with the directory number at the call server,
the call request comprises a call initiation call request received, via the call server, from the communication device; and
the call is conducted between the communication device and the given client.
6. The server of claim 1 , wherein:
the communication device associated with the directory number comprises a communication device associated with the directory number at the call server,
the call request comprises a social media call initiation call request received, via the social media server, from the given client; and
the call is conducted between the communication device and the given client.
7. The server of claim 1 , wherein:
the communication device associated with the directory number comprises a calling communication device calling the directory number via the call server,
the call request comprises a call server call request received from the call server in response to the calling communication device calling the directory number via the call server;
the given client is associated with a user also associated with the directory number; and
the call is conducted between the calling communication device and the given client.
8. The server of claim 1 , further comprising the call server.
9. The server of claim 8 , wherein the call server comprises a private branch exchange (PBX) server.
10. A system comprising:
a communication device associated with a directory number; and
a server, the server comprising:
a communication unit configured to communicate with a social media server; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the communication unit, the controller configured to:
operate one or more virtual clients for communicating with clients of the social media server;
receive, via the communication unit, a call request associated with the directory number, the call request to initiate a call associated with the directory number and a given client of the social media server,
prior to conducting the call, associate a virtual client of the one or more virtual clients with information associated with the directory number, such that the given client identifies the virtual client according to the information associated with the directory number; and
conduct, via the communication unit, the call by controlling the virtual client to communicate with the communication device associated with the directory number.
11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising the social media server.
12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising another social media server operatively coupled to the server.
13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a call server.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the server comprises an interface application for translating communications between the virtual client and the call server.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein a virtual client of the one or more virtual clients is at least temporarily associated with the communication device.
16. A communication method comprising the steps of:
using a controller, operating a virtual client for communication with a client of a social media server;
receiving, via a communication unit, a call request;
initiating a call associated with a directory number between a communication device associated with the directory number and the client;
prior to conducting the call, associate the virtual client with information associated with the directory number, such that a given client identifies the virtual client according to the information associated with the directory number; and
conducting the call by controlling the virtual client to communicate with the client and the communication device.
17. The communication method of claim 16 , wherein the call request is received from the client.
18. The communication method of claim 16 , wherein the call request is received from the communication device.
19. The communication method of claim 16 , further comprising one or more of:
a step of routing the call when another communication device does not answer the call request;
a step of routing the call using a personal ring group; and
cascade calling.