RingCentral, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160134689 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INITIATING A PEER-TO-PEER COMMUNICATION SESSION - Systems and methods are disclosed for initiating a peer-to-peer communication session. According to certain embodiments, at least one peer device is identified. A first request is sent to the at least one peer device for an inventory of service capabilities of the at least one peer device. The requested inventory of service capabilities of the at least one peer device is received from the at least one peer device. A second request is sent to the at least one peer device to initiate a communication session with the at least one peer device using at least one service from the requested inventory of service capabilities. | 05-12-2016 |
20150222572 | CONVERSATION TIMELINE FOR HETEROGENEOUS MESSAGING SYSTEM - A conversation timeline for a heterogeneous messaging system. In one embodiment, a method performed by one or more computing devices comprises: maintaining a conversation among users, the conversation comprising a plurality of messages between the users, each of the plurality of messages being a member of one of a plurality of predefined message classes, one of the plurality of messages being a member a different predefined message class of the plurality of predefined message classes than at least one other of the plurality of messages; causing display of a graphical representation of the conversation to one of the users; selecting a reply message class of the plurality of predefined message classes based on one or more reply control selection factors; and causing display, in association with display of the graphical representation of the conversation, reply message controls for adding a new message to the conversation in the reply message class. | 08-06-2015 |
20140280100 | CLOUD-BASED PHONE SYSTEM WITH METHODOLOGIES FOR SUGGESTING ACCOUNT CONFIGURATION SETTINGS - A cloud-based phone system with methodologies for suggesting account configuration settings is provided. In one embodiment, for example, techniques are provided for suggesting how a particular user should configure a particular account configuration parameter of a plurality of account configuration parameters available to the particular user. One or more parameters of the plurality of account configuration parameters that are related to the particular parameter are identified. One or more other users are identified that have configured the one or more parameters similar to how the particular user has configured the one or more parameters. A suggestion of how the particular user should configure the particular parameter is made based on settings for the particular parameter made by the one or more other users. | 09-18-2014 |
20140270132 | USER PARTITIONING IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - Systems and methods for routing an incoming service request to one of a plurality of pod units are described. A communication system can be provided that includes a plurality of pods each having a first pod serving a first subset of user accounts associated with a hosted PBX system. The first pod can include a first pod unit in a first data center and a second pod unit in a second data center. A global user directory (GUD) can be used to store a plurality of user keys that are mapped to the plurality of pods. A router can be provided to identify a user key from an incoming service request, query the GUD to identify the first pod as being associated with the user key, and route the incoming service request to one of the first and second pod units. | 09-18-2014 |
20140258887 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR TRANSFERRING CALLS - Telephonic computing devices having touch screen displays with new and improved methods and user interfaces for performing actions related to selected messages in a message in-box and for transferring calls, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods, devices, and interfaces may complement or replace existing methods, devices, and interfaces for performing actions related to selected messages in a message in-box and for transferring calls. | 09-11-2014 |
20140258559 | Persistent Format Conversions - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium for persistent format conversions. One of the methods includes receiving an original communication to be routed from a first user to a second user, wherein the original communication is received in a first format; converting, based a format conversion rule, the original communication into a second, different format; routing the original communication to the recipient in the second format; receiving a response communication related to the original communication and to be routed from the second user to the first user; and based on determining that the response communication is responsive to the original communication, converting the response communication into the first format prior to routing the communication to the first user. | 09-11-2014 |
20140162665 | CALL MANAGEMENT FOR LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICES - A positioning system (e.g., GPS) integrated in, or coupled to, a mobile device determines the position of the mobile device. An availability status manager (ASM) in a vPBX acquires the position of the mobile device. The ASM can contain rules on how to route or otherwise control incoming phone calls based on availability status of one or more mobile devices in the vPBX network. When a call is received by the vPBX, the ASM determines the availability status of the receiving mobile device based on the geographic location of the receiving mobile device. The ASM then routes the call to the receiving mobile device, to another mobile device, or to a landline based on the availability status of the receiving mobile device and the availability status based rules. | 06-12-2014 |
20140149919 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES FOR PERFORMING ACTIONS RELATED TO SELECTED MESSAGES IN A MESSAGE IN-BOX AND FOR TRANSFERRING CALLS - Telephonic computing devices having touch screen displays with new and improved methods and user interfaces for performing actions related to selected messages in a message in-box and for transferring calls, thereby increasing the effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with such devices. Such methods, devices, and interfaces may complement or replace existing methods, devices, and interfaces for performing actions related to selected messages in a message in-box and for transferring calls. | 05-29-2014 |
20140133644 | TECHNIQUES FOR BYPASSING CALL SCREENING IN A CALL MESSAGING SYSTEM - Techniques for bypassing call screening in a call messaging system. In one embodiment, for example, a method performed by one or more computing devices comprises: receiving an incoming call from a device of a caller; determining whether a bypass condition exists for the incoming call; and in response to determining that the bypass condition exists, causing the incoming call to be connected to a device of a callee without performing a call screening action of a call screening rule that, based at least in part on one or more conditions of the call screening rule, applies to the incoming call. | 05-15-2014 |
20140093058 | PHONE SYSTEM WITH METHODOLOGY FOR CALL PARKING - A phone system with a methodology for call parking is described. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user of a communications endpoint device can use a user interface at the communications endpoint device to select persons to notify of a parked call. Upon successfully parking the call, the phone system notifies the selected persons in the manner specified in their account profiles. Such manner can include sending an e-mail to the selected person or sending a text message to the selected person. Advantageously, the manner for notifying the selected persons of the parked call is determined by the selected persons themselves through configuration of their account profiles thereby alleviating the user parking the call from having to determine the manner for notifying the selected persons. | 04-03-2014 |
20140089488 | HIGH AVAILABILITY FOR CLOUD-BASED SERVICES - High availability mechanisms are described for cloud-based services such as voice-over-IP (VoIP) services. | 03-27-2014 |
20140082524 | USER INTERFACE FOR ACCESSING MESSAGES - Described herein are systems and methods for providing a message UI engine for accessing messages on a message system. The message system may comprise a message storage system (that store messages of varying types and formats, such as fax, text, voice/audio, video, and picture messages) and a message access system. The message UI engine is configured by a Flash media UI file for accessing messages and associated message information by interacting with the message access system. The Flash media UI file does not comprise any markup language and comprises only Flash® instructions. The Flash media UI file also comprises a plurality of embedded applications for presenting the plurality of different message types, each embedded application comprising only Flash instructions. The associated message information may be stored and transmitted in a non-markup language format, such as comma-delimited format. The messages and message information may be transmitted using a non-HTTP protocol. | 03-20-2014 |
20140057605 | SYNCHRONIZATION IN UNIFIED MESSAGING SYSTEMS - Techniques for synchronization of fax and/or voice messages in a client-server arrangement are disclosed. In one embodiment, for example, a synchronization method in a phone includes: initiating synchronization of a set of fax and/or voice messages on the phone with a set of fax and/or voice messages on a server; sending a request to the server to receive state of the set of messages on the server; identifying state of the set of messages on the phone; performing a discrepancy assessment between the state of the set of messages on the server and the state of the set of messages on the phone; based on results of the discrepancy assessment, creating a list of synchronization actions to perform for synchronizing the set of messages on the phone with the set of messages on the server; and performing the synchronization actions in the list. | 02-27-2014 |
20140038576 | BRIDGE LINE APPEARANCE FOR LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICES - A vPBX server manages calls in a bridged line appearance (BLA) group. A BLA group can include extensions for location-aware mobile devices. The vPBX server contains location based forwarding rules that can be applied together with BLA redirection rules in managing incoming calls. A single extension can appear as a user interface element (e.g., an icon or button) on multiple mobile devices. Using the user interface element, a primary user can view a secondary user's status, including the secondary user's location information. The vPBX server allows the primary user to redirect the incoming calls to devices in accordance with the forwarding rules and the redirection rules. | 02-06-2014 |
20140031009 | FRAUD PREVENTION TECHNIQUES - System, apparatus, computer program products and methods for preventing fraud attacks (e.g., on a virtual PBX service provider) are disclosed. In some implementations, a set of fraud evaluation processes are performed, an overall fraud evaluation score is incremented as each of the set of fraud evaluation processes are performed and a step result is obtained. A user request (e.g., account activation) can be denied or accepted based on the overall fraud evaluation score. In some implementations, the set of fraud evaluation processes can include one or more of: an internal fraud evaluation process, a process for checking multiple trial accounts associated with a common account parameter, a process for geolocation verification of multiple account parameters, a process for device type verification for a contact phone number, a process for credit card verification, and a process for placing a contact number verification call. | 01-30-2014 |
20130189942 | Call Management Interfaces - Systems, methods and computer program products for generating and displaying various user interfaces for configuring one or more call handling rules associated with managing virtual PBX services rendered at an extension are described. The user interfaces can be used to configure virtual PBX services for a single- or multi-extension environment. The virtual PBX services can provide, for example, a main number, and calls made to the main number can be managed according to one or more sets of call handling rules associated with the virtual PBX services and which can be configured through the user interfaces. The user interfaces can be web-based interfaces accessible through a browser, and can be accessed only after a user or administrator has setup and activated the virtual PBX services. | 07-25-2013 |
20130016822 | INBOUND CALL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT - Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria. | 01-17-2013 |
20120134355 | User Partitioning in a Communication System - Systems and methods for routing an incoming service request to one of a plurality of pod units are described. A communication system can be provided that includes a plurality of pods each having a first pod serving a first subset of user accounts associated with a hosted PBX system. The first pod can include a first pod unit in a first data center and a second pod unit in a second data center. A global user directory (GUD) can be used to store a plurality of user keys that are mapped to the plurality of pods. A router can be provided to identify a user key from an incoming service request, query the GUD to identify the first pod as being associated with the user key, and route the incoming service request to one of the first and second pod units. | 05-31-2012 |
20120042011 | SYNCHRONIZATION IN UNIFIED MESSAGING SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, a server maintains a plurality of fax messages associated with a user. Each fax message of the plurality of fax messages has a state that indicates at least a status of read or unread for the fax message. A HTTP connection is established between the server and a phone that serves as a client through which the plurality of fax messages are viewable. States of one or more fax messages are identified at the server and at the phone that serves as the client. One or more synchronization actions are performed, using the HTTP connection, to synchronize the one or more fax messages at the server and the one or more corresponding fax messages at the phone that serves as the client. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039449 | SYNCHRONIZATION IN UNIFIED MESSAGING SYSTEMS - In one embodiment, a HTTP connection is established from a phone that serves as a client to a server that maintains a mailbox. The mailbox includes fax messages each having properties that indicate a sender and a state that indicates at least a status of read or unread. The phone that serves as the client permits a user to view one or more of the fax messages. The states of fax messages at the server are received at the phone that serves as the client using the HTTP connection. The states of corresponding fax messages are identified at the phone that serves as the client. One or more synchronization actions are performed to synchronize the states of fax messages at the server and the states of the corresponding fax messages at the phone that serves as the client. | 02-16-2012 |
20120021730 | INBOUND CALL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT - Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria. | 01-26-2012 |
20110177797 | PROVISIONING INTERFACES FOR ACCESSING VIRTUAL PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SERVICES THROUGH A MOBILE DEVICE - Systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the provisioning of a single and multi-line virtual private branch exchange (PBX) including automated call distribution via a mobile device are described. In some implementations, the provisioning of the single and multi-line virtual PBX can be achieved using one or more unique provisioning interfaces. The unique provisioning interfaces can enable the setup and configuration of a virtual PBX service account instantaneously from any geographical location at anytime. Changes made to the virtual PBX service account can be immediately reflected back (e.g., in real-time) to the system providing the core operating environment. | 07-21-2011 |
20110130168 | UNIVERSAL CALL MANAGEMENT PLATFORM - Systems, methods and computer program products for enabling integration between various internet- or non-internet based communication services (e.g., as provided by different communications platforms and service providers) using a universal platform are described. In some implementations, a service manager is provided that can integrate call management capabilities with multiple communications platforms using the universal platform to enable seamless communication between the various platforms. For example, interactions between individual users on one or more platforms can be tracked in a single conversation history as a threaded interface. The universal platform can integrate with various platforms and third party protocols and services to provide call features that include, for example, call forwarding, call handling, multiple greeting prompts, call screening rules, ring-out rules, international calling, caller ID rules, after hours, and announcement prompts. | 06-02-2011 |
20110110511 | Call Management Interfaces - Systems, methods and computer program products for generating and displaying various user interfaces for configuring one or more call handling rules associated with managing virtual PBX services rendered at an extension are described. The user interfaces can be used to configure virtual PBX services for a single- or multi-extension environment. The virtual PBX services can provide, for example, a main number, and calls made to the main number can be managed according to one or more sets of call handling rules associated with the virtual PBX services and which can be configured through the user interfaces. The user interfaces can be web-based interfaces accessible through a browser, and can be accessed only after a user or administrator has setup and activated the virtual PBX services. | 05-12-2011 |
20100184408 | LINE NUMBER PORTING FOR MOBILE DEVICES - Methods, systems, apparatus including computer program products having instructions for porting numbers are provided. In one example system and method, a vPBX system can receive a request from a user to port an existing phone number to the vPBX system. The vPBX server can identify a porting authentication template, based on the requirements of an existing service provider. The vPBX server generate a fax document on the retrieved template. The vPBX server can populate the generated fax document with user information. The vPBX server can receive a user's hand signature from a touch-screen interface of a mobile device. The vPBX server can authenticate the fax document with the received signature, and transmit the authenticated fax document to the existing service provider. The vPBX server can provide the user with a temporary line number with forwarding functions until porting is completed. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183134 | CENTRALIZED STATUS SERVER FOR CALL MANAGEMENT OF LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICES - Systems, methods and computer program products for utilizing location information in a virtual private branch exchange (vPBX) system are described. In some implementations, the vPBX system can use the location information to determine an availability status of a user of a mobile device (e.g., out of the office, in the office, at home, busy, and the like). The vPBX system can obtain the geographic coordinates of the mobile device and correlate these coordinates with known coordinates for locations associated with the user (e.g., the user's office, home, or other predefined locations). An inference of the user's availability can then be determined based on the correlation (e.g., whether the user is currently out of the user's office, at the user's home, or at another location). The user's availability can be made available to other users associated with the vPBX system, and can be used for call management (e.g., routing). | 07-22-2010 |
20100130228 | BRIDGE LINE APPEARANCE FOR LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICES - A vPBX server manages calls in a bridged line appearance (BLA) group. A BLA group can include extensions for location-aware mobile devices. The vPBX server contains location based forwarding rules that can be applied together with BLA redirection rules in managing incoming calls. A single extension can appear as a user interface element (e.g., an icon or button) on multiple mobile devices. Using the user interface element, a primary user can view a secondary user's status, including the secondary user's location information. The vPBX server allows the primary user to redirect the incoming calls to devices in accordance with the forwarding rules and the redirection rules. | 05-27-2010 |
20100130172 | FRAUD PREVENTION TECHNIQUES - System, apparatus, computer program products and methods for preventing fraud attacks (e.g., on a virtual PBX service provider) are disclosed. In some implementations, a set of fraud evaluation processes are performed, an overall fraud evaluation score is incremented as each of the set of fraud evaluation processes are performed and a step result is obtained. A user request (e.g., account activation) can be denied or accepted based on the overall fraud evaluation score. In some implementations, the set of fraud evaluation processes can include one or more of: an internal fraud evaluation process, a process for checking multiple trial accounts associated with a common account parameter, a process for geolocation verification of multiple account parameters, a process for device type verification for a contact phone number, a process for credit card verification, and a process for placing a contact number verification call. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128867 | CALL QUEUING FOR LOCATION-AWARE MOBILE DEVICES - A mobile device can be assigned to an extension configured as a Queue Agent (“QA”) in a call-queuing enabled virtual private branch exchange (vPBX). This and other mobile or fixed devices can be interconnected to form a virtual call center. Each extension can be assigned various rules, which specify how the incoming calls are answered at the extension and how calls in the call queue are selected for answering by the QA. As part of the rules, the vPBX system forwards calls from a call queue to the QA based on QA's availability status. If a location-aware mobile device is associated with the QA, the vPBX system can determine the QA's availability status based on a geographic location of the mobile device. A most geographically proximate agent can be selected for answering the call. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128861 | DATABASE FAILURE DETECTION AND RECOVERY FOR CALL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products for managing calls using a call management system are described. The call management system can receive a call from a communication device and directs the call to a call database containing configuration information for supporting outbound calls. If the call management system detects or obtains notification of a failure associated with the call database, the system automatically bypasses the call database and makes the outbound call using default configuration and call routing information. A second or backup database is used to log call details which can be copied or moved to the call database after the call database is back in service. | 05-27-2010 |
20090086953 | ACTIVE CALL FILTERING, SCREENING AND DISPATCHING - An examples of active call filtering, screening and dispatching is described, including receiving data representing a call from a first communication endpoint; presenting at a second communication endpoint, prior to connecting to the call, a subset of prompts that specify dispatching actions for the call, at least one of the dispatching actions including transmitting a response via a communications network, detecting selection of a prompt that specifies a dispatching action for the call, and transmitting an instruction from the second communication endpoint to a call messaging system to perform the dispatching action. In some embodiments, a determination is made as to whether a bypass condition exists, the bypass condition specifying that one or more customized screening rules are to be bypassed. If the bypass condition exists, then a call messaging system can bypass the use of a subset of prompts. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086950 | Active call processing and notifications - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to processing active calls and stored calls in a communication network for packetized and/or synchronous communications, and to generating notifications relating to active calls and stored calls. Other embodiments relate to creating and implementing bypass rules that allow a party to bypass a set of default prompts to a the party's communication device while enabling the caller device to access functions of a call processing system. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086947 | INBOUND CALL IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT - Examples of inbound call identification and management are described including a call management system that includes one or more repositories that can include data representing call action policies and data representing attributes associated with the caller devices and the callee devices. Further, the call management system can include one or more computing devices that include a call identifier (“IDer”) configured to characterize the attributes of the caller devices to form characterized attributes, a call management system controller configured to match the characterized attributes against routing criteria specified in the data representing the call action policies, and a call management system router configured to route calls from the caller devices to the callee devices responsive to a match between the characterized attributes and the routing criteria. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086278 | ELECTRONIC FACSIMILE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to delivering electronic messages, including electronic facsimiles, in a communication network including packetized and/or synchronous communications, so that the electronic messages are delivered according to their relative priorities. The relative priorities can be set according to at least one attribute of the electronic messages, and these attributes can be provided by at least one of a sender of an electronic message, an intended recipient of an electronic message, and a messaging system The information determining a priority of a message also can include information about priorities of other messages, information regarding whether a message has been scheduled for delivery, information as to whether a message should be cancelled, and information concerning an optimal transmitting device. | 04-02-2009 |
20090080029 | USER INTERFACES AND METHODS TO PROVISION ELECTRONIC FACSIMILES - Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and user interfaces, and more particularly, to provisioning electronic fax messages in a communication network including packetized and/or synchronous communications. According to one embodiment, a messaging can receive data representing an electronic document in a file format into a messaging system, convert fax components to a fax compatible format including the electronic document in the file format to form converted fax components, determine whether to generate an electronic facsimile to include the fax components as a pre-rendered electronic facsimile, and transmit the electronic facsimile as the pre-rendered electronic facsimile. | 03-26-2009 |