Method and system for facilitating mediated communication

Abstract

One embodiment of the disclosures made herein is a method for facilitating mediated communication. In such an embodiment of the disclosures made herein, a voice-based communication request transmitted from a first communication device is received by a mediation system. The voice based communication request is requesting voice-based communication between the first communication device and a second communication device. In response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, a capability of the first communication device for communicating via a prescribed text messaging protocol is determined. Facilitating presentation of a text messaging follow-through action at the second communication device is performed in response to determining that the first communication device is capable of communicating via the prescribed text messaging protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for voice-based communication from a first communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the first communication device of the calling party and a second communication device of a called party;   in response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, automatically determining whether the first communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol;   in response to determining that the first communication device supports communication via the text messaging protocol, causing a response option to be displayed on a display of the second communication device of the called party, for selection by the called party, wherein the response option allows the called party to request transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication; and   in response to selection by the called party of the response option requesting transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication, transmitting a text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party via the text messaging protocol.   
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of transmitting the text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party comprises:
 transmitting the text-based response from a mediation system to the first communication device of the calling party.   
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of transmitting the text-based response to the first communication device of the calling party comprises:
 transmitting the text-based response from the second communication device of the called party to the first communication device of the calling party.   
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining whether the first communication device supports communication via a text messaging protocol comprises:
 determining whether the first communication device supports a protocol selected from the group of text messaging protocols consisting essentially of a Short Text Messaging protocol, an Internet Address Messaging protocol, a Multi Messaging Service protocol, an Enhanced Messaging Service protocol and an instant text messaging protocol.   
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of determining whether the first communication device supports communication via a text messaging protocol comprises:
 identifying at least a portion of a device identifier associated with the first communication device on a list of device identifiers capable of communicating via the text messaging protocol.   
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving, at the mediation system, a mediation bypass notification from the second communication device; and   facilitating presentation of a mediation bypass follow-through notification at the first communication device in response to receiving the mediation by-pass notification, wherein the mediation bypass follow-through notification informs the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.   
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 facilitating a mediation bypass time-out operation for limiting a duration of time for providing mediation bypass for the calling party.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation of causing a response option to be displayed on a display of the second communication device of the called party comprises:
 causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options for selection by the called party.   
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options comprises:
 causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a call-back from the calling party; and   causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a text message response from the calling party.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:
 causing the second communication device to display an option for the called party to request a specified informational response from the calling party.   
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:
 causing the second communication device to display an option to notify the calling party that the called party intends to initiate a voice-based return call at a later point in time.   
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options further comprises:
 causing the second communication device to display an option to notify the calling party of an alternate contact number for the called party.   
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the operation of causing the second communication device to display a list of system-defined text message follow-through options comprises:
 displaying an option to request transmission of a predefined text message to the calling party.   
     
     
       14. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:
 receiving input from a calling party at a first communication device;   in response to receiving input from the calling party at the first communication device, initiating a telephone call from the first communication device of the calling party to a second communication device of a called party;   after initiating the telephone call, receiving at the first communication device, a voice-based response from a mediation system, wherein the voice-based response notifies the calling party to expect to receive a text-based response at the first communication device;   after initiating the telephone call, receiving, at the first communication device, the text-based response; and   displaying the text-based response on a display of the first communication device for the calling party.   
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the operation of receiving a voice-based response from a mediation system, at the first communication device of the calling party, further comprises:
 receiving notification at the first communication device of the calling party of a procedure for leaving a voice-based mail message for the called party.   
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the operation of receiving a voice-based message from a mediation system, at the first communication device of the calling party, further comprises:
 receiving a mediation notification at the first communication device, wherein the mediation bypass notification informs the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.   
     
     
       17. A method for facilitating mediated communication between users of communication devices, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for voice-based communication from a first communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the first communication device of the calling party and a second communication device of a called party   in conjunction with receiving the request for voice-based communication from the first communication device of the calling party, displaying a text messaging follow-through option on a visual display of the second communication device, wherein the text messaging follow-through option allows the called party to request transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication; and   in response to selection by the called party of the text messaging follow-through option requesting transition from voice-based communication to text-based communication, automatically causing a text-based response to be transmitted to the first communication device of the calling party.   
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the operation of displaying a text messaging follow-through option on a visual display of the second communication device comprises:
 displaying a mediation bypass follow-through option on the visual display of the second communication device, for selection by the called party to inform the calling party that the called party may accept a subsequent telephone call from the calling party.   
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 facilitating a mediation bypass time-out operation for limiting a duration of time for providing mediation bypass for the calling party.   
     
     
       20. A wireless mobile device comprising:
 a display screen;   memory containing program code; and   at least one processor, coupled to the display screen and the memory, configured to execute the program code to:
 receive a request for voice-based communication from a communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the communication device of the calling party and the wireless mobile device; 
 in response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, cause a response option to be displayed on the display screen of the wireless mobile device, and enable selection of the response option by a user of the wireless mobile device to allow the user to request transmission of a text-based response to the communication device of the calling party; and 
 based at least on selection of the response option and a confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol, cause the text-based response to be transmitted to the communication device of the calling party via the text messaging protocol, wherein the confirmation is received at the wireless mobile device from a remote server. 
   
     
     
       21. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to receive confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports communication via a designated text messaging protocol. 
     
     
       22. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to cause the wireless mobile device to transmit the text-based response to the communication device of the calling party. 
     
     
       23. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to receive confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports a protocol selected from a group of text messaging protocols consisting of: a Short Text Messaging (SMS) protocol, an Internet Address Messaging (IAM) protocol, a Multi Messaging Service (MMS) protocol, an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS) protocol and an instant text messaging (ITM) protocol. 
     
     
       24. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to receive confirmation from a remote server capable of identifying at least a portion of a device identifier associated with the communication device of the calling party in a database of device identifiers associated with devices capable of communicating via the text messaging protocol. 
     
     
       25. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to receive confirmation from a remote server capable of referencing a telephone number associated with the communication device of the calling party in a database to determine whether the communication device of the calling party supports communication via the text messaging protocol. 
     
     
       26. The wireless mobile device of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to cause a set of one or more predefined text message follow-through options to be displayed on the display screen of the wireless mobile device, to cause a response option to be displayed on the display screen of the wireless mobile device. 
     
     
       27. The wireless mobile device of claim 26, wherein the set of one or more predefined text message follow-through options comprises one or more of:
 an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a call-back from the calling party;   an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a text message response from the calling party;   an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a specified informational response from the calling party;   an option to notify the calling party that the user of the wireless mobile device intends to initiate a voice-based return call at a later point in time; and   an option to notify the calling party of an alternate contact number for the user of the wireless mobile device.   
     
     
       28. A method comprising:
 receiving a request for voice-based communication from a communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the communication device of the calling party and a wireless mobile device of a user;   in response to receiving the request for voice-based communication, causing a response option to be displayed on a display screen of the wireless mobile device, and enabling selection of the response option by the user to allow the user to request transmission of a text-based response to the communication device of the calling party; and   based at least on selection of the response option and a confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol, transmitting the text-based response to the communication device of the calling party via the text messaging protocol, wherein the confirmation is received at the wireless mobile device from a remote server.   
     
     
       29. A wireless mobile device comprising:
 a display screen;   memory containing program code; and   at least one processor, coupled to the display screen and the memory, configured to execute the program code to:
 receive a particular request for voice-based communication from a communication device of a calling party, wherein the particular request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the communication device of the calling party and the wireless mobile device; 
 in response to receiving the particular request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, cause a text messaging follow-through option to be displayed on the display screen of the wireless mobile device, and enable selection of the text messaging follow-through option to allow a user of the wireless mobile device to request transmission of a text-based response; and 
 based at least on selection of the text messaging follow-through option and a confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol, cause the text-based response to be transmitted to the communication device of the calling party, wherein the confirmation is received at the wireless mobile device from a remote server. 
   
     
     
       30. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured, in response to selection of the text messaging follow-through option, to execute the program code to cause the particular request for voice-based communication to be denied. 
     
     
       31. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to, in response to selection of the text messaging follow-through option, execute the program code to cause the particular request for voice-based communication to be forwarded to a voice mail system. 
     
     
       32. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to cause a set of one or more Short Message Service (SMS) text message options to be displayed on the display screen for selection by the user. 
     
     
       33. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to cause a set of one or more redefined text message follow-through options to be displayed on the display screen for selection by the user. 
     
     
       34. The wireless mobile device of claim 33, wherein the set of one or more predefined text message follow-through options comprises one or more of:
 an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a call-back from the calling party;   an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a text message response from the calling party;   an option for the user of the wireless mobile device to request a specified informational response from the calling party;   an option to notify the calling party that the user of the wireless mobile device intends to initiate a voice-based return call at a later point in time; and   an option to notify the calling party of an alternate contact number for the user of the wireless mobile device.   
     
     
       35. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to:
 receive, before the particular request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, a preceding request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, the preceding request being for commencement of a telephone call between the communication device of the calling party and the wireless mobile device;   cause the preceding request for voice-based communication to be denied; and   process a rule that will affect handling of the particular request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party.   
     
     
       36. The wireless mobile device of claim 35, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to modify the rule a given time after defining the rule. 
     
     
       37. The wireless mobile device of claim 35, wherein the rule causes the at least one processor to cause the text messaging follow-through option to be displayed on the display screen of the wireless mobile device in response to receiving the particular request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party. 
     
     
       38. The wireless mobile device of claim 29, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to:
 determine, in response to receiving the particular request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, a context associated with the particular request; and   perform a particular follow-through action of a plurality of follow-through actions based on the determined context;   wherein one of the plurality of follow-through actions comprises displaying the text messaging follow-through option.   
     
     
       39. The wireless mobile device of claim 38, wherein at least one additional follow-through action of the plurality of follow-through actions comprises one or more of:
 denying the particular request for voice-based communication;   forwarding the particular request for voice-based communication to a different party;   forwarding the particular request for voice-based communication to a voice mail system; and   requesting the calling party to leave a message.   
     
     
       40. The wireless mobile device of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the program code to determine the context based on one or more of:
 a time the calling party is in;   an identity of the calling party;   an identity of the calling party being on a pass-through list;   an assignment of the calling party to a group;   a location of one or both of the calling party and the wireless mobile device; and   a rule affecting handling of subsequent requests for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, the rule being processed based on a preceding request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party.   
     
     
       41. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a wireless mobile device of a user, a request for voice-based communication from a communication device of a calling party, wherein the request for voice-based communication requests commencement of a telephone call between the communication device of the calling party and the wireless mobile device;   in response to receiving the request for voice-based communication from the communication device of the calling party, displaying a text messaging follow-through option on a display screen of the wireless mobile device, and enabling selection of the text messaging follow-through option to allow the user to request transmission of a text-based response; and   based on at least selection of the text messaging follow-through option and a confirmation that the communication device of the calling party supports communication via a text messaging protocol, transmitting the text-based response to the communication device of the calling party, wherein the confirmation is received at the wireless mobile device from a remote server.