Claims
- 1. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
means for determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity; means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and means for performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.
- 2. A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
means for receiving from the communication system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity; means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; and means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and means for sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.
- 3. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity; identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.
- 4. A method of controlling usage of a communications system comprising:
receiving from the communication system indication that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client; and determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity; identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; and determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and sending to the communications system indication of whether the activity is authorized responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge.
- 5. A method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves the first party establishing communications with the communications system.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity is establishing communications between the first party and the second party.
- 8. The method of claim 5 wherein the charge is determined based upon the duration of a communications session between the first party and the second party.
- 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the charge is determined based upon a quantity of data transported in the communications system in the course of a communications session between the first party and the second party.
- 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a translator to convert textual input from the second party into audio information for reception by the first party.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the charge is determined based upon selection of a specific spoken language according to which the translator converts audio information into text.
- 12. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a translator to convert audio information from the first party into textual information for transmitting to the instant communications client used by the second party.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the charge is determined based upon selection of a specific written language according to which the translator converts textual information into audio information.
- 14. The method of claim 5 wherein the parties are associated with identifiers in the communications system and wherein the activity involves determining that a first identifier and a second identifier are both associated with a common party.
- 15. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature relates to selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator acting to translate textual information from the second party into audio information.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party.
- 18. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of an account balance.
- 19. The method of claim 15 wherein the feature involves notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session.
- 20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
- 21. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves using a presence-determining element to determine whether the second party is available to communicate with the first party.
- 22. The method of claim 5 wherein the activity involves affecting profile data in the communications system pertaining to at least one of the first party and the second party.
- 23. The method of claim 5 further comprising:
determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and applying the charge to the account.
- 25. The method of claim 23 wherein the account comprises at least one of a calling card account, a credit card account, a telephone subscriber account, an account with a business, and an account with a banking institution.
- 25. The method of claim 23 wherein information specifying the account is provided by the first party.
- 26. The method of claim 23 wherein information specifying the account is provided by the second party.
- 27. The method of claim 23 further comprising reporting an amount of the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.
- 28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:
receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.
- 29. A system for assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
means for receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and means for determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.
- 30. The system of claim 29 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party and the system further comprises:
means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and means for notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
- 31. The system of claim 29 further comprising:
means for determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and means for applying the charge to the account.
- 32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:
means for reporting the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.
- 33. The system of claim 32 further comprising:
means for receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and means for performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.
- 34. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes a processor to perform a method of assessing charges for usage of a communications system comprising:
receiving indication of activity of the communications system relating to communication between a first party via a telephony connection and a second party via an instant communications client; and determining a charge to be assessed for the activity of the communications service responsive to the indication.
- 35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the activity relates to invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party and the second party and the method further comprises:
determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and notifying at least one of the first party and the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.
- 36. The computer-readable medium of claim 34 wherein the method further comprises:
determining an account to which the charge is to be applied; and applying the charge to the account.
- 37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36 wherein the method further comprises:
reporting an amount of the usage charge to at least one of the first party and the second party.
- 38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the method further comprises:
receiving indication from at least one of the first party and the second party that the usage charge is acceptable; and performing the activity responsive to whether the usage charge is acceptable.
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/369,271 (Atty. Docket CDR-02-002PR), filed Apr. 2, 2002, entitled “Chat-Accessible Services in a Communication System,” assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference its entirety.
[0002] The present application is also related to the following co-pending applications, which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and incorporated herein by reference in their entireties:
[0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-012), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Billing System for Services Provided via Instant Communications;”
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-013), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Messaging Response System;”
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-014), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Communications Gateway with Messaging Communications Interface;”
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-015), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Media Translator;”
[0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-017), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Call Completion via Instant Communications Client;”
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-018), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Enhanced Services Call Completion;”
[0009] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-019), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Providing of Presence Information to a Telephony Services System;” and
[0010] U.S. patent application Ser. No. __/______ (Docket No. CDR-02-020), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Telephony Services System with Instant Communications Enhancements.”
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60369271 |
Apr 2002 |
US |