Call establishment based on presence

摘要

An apparatus and methods are disclosed that enable a caller to specify a condition of availability for a return call when the caller is unable to reach the called user. A condition might indicate a time interval in which the caller is willing to accept a return call, a location, or some other constraints. In the illustrative embodiments, when a caller places a call and is unable to reach the called user, the caller is prompted via an interactive voice response (IVR) system for one or more conditions of availability for a return call. As soon as the called user's terminal becomes available, a software application checks whether the condition of availability is satisfied, and if so, establishes a call between the caller's terminal and the called user's terminal.

主权项

1. A method comprising: receiving, at a data-processing system, a first signal that indicates an unsuccessful call attempt from a first telecommunications terminal associated with a first user, the unsuccessful call attempt being addressed directly to a wireless telecommunications terminal associated with a second user, wherein the data-processing system is separate from the wireless telecommunications terminal;
transmitting, in response to the first signal, a second signal that prompts the first user for a multi-modal condition of availability for a future call with the second user; receiving, at the data-processing system, a third signal that indicates that a second telecommunications terminal associated with the second user is available for the future call; upon receiving the third signal and while the multi-modal condition of availability is satisfied, transmitting, to the second telecommunications terminal, a fourth signal that (i) indicates that the first user previously called, and (ii) requests, prior to establishing a call between the first telecommunications terminal and the second telecommunications terminal, an indication from the second telecommunications terminal that the call be established; and in response to receiving, from the second telecommunications terminal, a fifth signal that comprises the indication, establishing the call between the first telecommunications terminal and the second telecommunications terminal.