Method and system for multi-modal communications

Abstract

A system and method for provisionable, multi-modal communications, including detecting a provisioning condition, selecting a communications mode based on the provisioning condition from a first usage mode, a second usage mode, and a third usage mode, and displaying an interface corresponding to the selected communications mode. The first usage mode includes a first communications channel supporting a first communication data consisting of instant messages (IM) and in-network voice data. The second usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a second communication data consisting of IM, in-network voice data and out-of-network voice data. The third usage mode includes a second communications channel supporting a third communication data comprising video data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing for selectively provisionable, multi-modal communications, comprising:
 providing a first set of communications capabilities upon detection of an initial provisioning condition;   receiving an upgrade signal;   determining an updated provisioning condition based on the upgrade signal; and   providing a second set of communications capabilities corresponding to the updated provisioning condition, the second set providing additional communications capabilities not included in the first set.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a first set of communications capabilities comprises unlocking existing but previously restricted communication function using an authentication mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a first set of communications capabilities comprises restricting sets of communication functions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a second set of communications capabilities comprises unlocking existing but previously restricted communication function using an authentication mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a second set of communications capabilities comprises restricting a set of communication functions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of communications capabilities provides communications only within a defined domain and the second set of communications capabilities provides communications within the defined domain and further provides out-of-domain communications capability. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of communications capabilities provides communications within a defined domain and out-of-domain communications capability and the second set of communications capabilities provides communications within the defined domain, out of domain communications capability and further provides video-enhanced communications capability out-of-domain communications capability. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying an interface corresponding to the second set of communications capabilities. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing for provisioning, multi-modal communications, comprising:
 providing a plurality of communications capability sets to a communication device, wherein the plural sets of communications capabilities comprise:
 a first set of communications capabilities for a defined domain; 
 a second set of communications capabilities for out of the defined domain communications; and, 
 a third set of communications capabilities for enhanced video communications; 
   receiving a provisioning signal;   determine a provisioning condition based on the provisioning signal; and   providing an authentication mechanism to unlock one or more of the plural sets of communications capabilities on the communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of providing a plural sets of communications capabilities comprises restricting one or more of the plural sets of communication functions. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second set of communications capabilities provides communications within the defined domain. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the third set of communications capabilities provides communications within a defined domain and out-of-domain communications capability. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising displaying an interface corresponding to the unlocked one or more plural sets of communications on the communication device. 
     
     
         14 . A computer program product for use with a device on a communications network for providing for provisioning, multi-modal communications, comprising:
 a plurality of computer readable program code modules embodied on computer readable non-transitory medium;   a first one of the plurality of computer readable program code modules for causing a computer to provide a plurality of communications capability sets to a communication device, wherein the plural sets of communications capabilities comprise:
 a first set of communications capabilities for a defined domain; 
 a second set of communications capabilities for out of the defined domain communications; and, 
 a third set of communications capabilities for enhanced video communications; 
   a second one of the plurality of computer readable program code modules for causing the computer to receive a provisioning signal and to determine a provisioning condition based on the provisioning signal; and;   a third one of the plurality of computer readable program code modules for causing the computer to provide an authentication mechanism to unlock one or more of the plural sets of communications capabilities on the communication device.