Claims
- 1. A method for controlling usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service; determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises engaging an intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 11. A method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service.
- 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the service comprises engaging an intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 14. The method of claim 11 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 15. The method of claim 11 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 17. The method of claim 15 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 18. The method of claim 11 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 21. A method of controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client; determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service; determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 23. A method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 25. A system for controlling usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
means for receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service; means for determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and means for conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 26. The system of claim 25 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 27. The system of claim 25 wherein the service comprises engaging an intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 28. The system of claim 25 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 29. The system of claim 25 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 30. The system of claim 29 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 31. The system of claim 29 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 32. The system of claim 25 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 33. The system of claim 32 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 34. The system of claim 32 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 35. A system for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
means for receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service.
- 36. The system of claim 35 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 37. The system of claim 35 wherein the service comprises engaging an intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 38. The system of claim 35 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 39. The system of claim 35 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 40. The system of claim 39 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 41. The system of claim 39 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 42. The system of claim 35 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 43. The system of claim 42 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 44. The system of claim 42 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 45. A system for controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
means for receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client; means for determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service; means for determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and means for causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 46. The system of claim 45 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 47. A system for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the system comprising:
means for receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and means for determining, responsive to the indication, a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service.
- 48. The system of claim 47 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 49. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method for controlling usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service; determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the performing the service; and conditionally causing the service providing system to perform the service responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 50. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 51. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the service comprises engaging a intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 52. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 53. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 54. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 55. The computer-readable medium of claim 53 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 56. The computer-readable medium of claim 49 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 57. The computer-readable medium of claim 56 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 58. The computer-readable medium of claim 56 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 59. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party, via an instant communications client communicating to the service providing system in a first communications session, is requesting that the service providing system perform a service; and responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the performing the service.
- 60. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party engaging in instant communications addressed to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 61. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the service comprises engaging a intelligent media translator which performs at least one of:
translating audio information from the second party into corresponding textual information to be received by the first party; and translating textual information from the first party to be translated into corresponding audio information to be received by the second party.
- 62. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the service comprises establishing a second communications session in a communications system.
- 63. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the first party and a second party using a communications system.
- 64. The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the communications between the first party and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 65. The computer-readable medium of claim 63 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 66. The computer-readable medium of claim 59 wherein the service comprises establishing communications between the instant communications client and a second party.
- 67. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the communications between the instant communications client and the second party comprises communicating of audio information through a packet data network.
- 68. The computer-readable medium of claim 66 wherein the second party communicates via a telephony connection.
- 69. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of controlling usage of a service providing system, comprising:
receiving indication that a first party is attempting to access the service providing system using an instant communications client; determining a usage charge to be assessed for the first party accessing the communications service; determining whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge pertaining to the first party accessing the service providing system; and causing the service providing system to conditionally allow access by the first party responsive to whether payment can be obtained for the usage charge.
- 70. The computer-readable medium of claim 69 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 71. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, implement a method of assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; and responsive to the indication, determining a usage charge to be assessed for the accessing the communications service.
- 72. The computer-readable medium of claim 71 wherein the receiving indication is responsive to the first party addressing instant communications to a screen name associated with the service providing system.
- 73. A method for assessing charges for usage of a service providing system, the method comprising:
receiving indication that a first party is accessing the service providing system using an instant communications client; receiving first information pertaining to an identity of the first party; receiving second information pertaining to an identity of a messaging service by which the first party is accessing the service providing system; responsive at least to a combination of the first information and the second information, identifying an account to which charges are to be applied; and performing at least one of applying the charges to the account and determining whether the account will bear the charges.
- 74. The method of claim 73 further comprising:
receiving third information indicating an instant communications screen name by which the first party is accessing the service providing system, wherein the identifying the account is further responsive to the instant communications screen name.
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. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-013), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Messaging Response System;”
[0004] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-014), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Communications Gateway with Messaging Communications Interface;”
[0005] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-015), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Media Translator;”
[0006] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-016), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Billing System for Communications Services involving Telephony and Instant Communications;”
[0007] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-017), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Call Completion via Instant Communications Client;”
[0008] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-018), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Enhanced Services Call Completion;”
[0009] U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. ______ (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. Nos. ______ (Docket No. CDR-02-020), filed concurrently herewith and entitled “Telephony Services System with Instant Communications Enhancements.”
[0011] The present application relates to subject matter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,464. The present application also relates to subject matter described in Internet Engineering Task Force document RFC 2778, “A Model for Presence and Instant Messaging” by Day, M., Rosenberg, J. and H. Sugano, February 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60369271 |
Apr 2002 |
US |