Integrating multiple communication modes

Abstract

A system that includes a computer device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail. The interactions can include the following. Creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user. Viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons. Selecting the person from the set of persons. Selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person, and retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, where the identifying characteristic is selected by the user from a display. Communicating with the person.

1 - 33 . (canceled)  
   
   
       34 . A method comprising: 
 providing to a first person a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and two or more communication modes available to communicate with each person;    enabling the first person to select a second person from the set of persons; and    enabling the first person to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the second person.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising retrieving one or more first letters of a name of the second person, matching the one or more first letters of the name to names of a second set of persons, and presenting the second set of persons to the first person.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising enabling the first person to select the second person from the second set of persons.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person using the selected communication mode by interfacing with a computer program.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by voice.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein communication by voice uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by voice and video.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person by text-based conversation.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41  wherein the text-based conversation comprises Instant Messaging.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising enabling the first person to communicate with the second person via an e-mail message.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the communication modes comprise at least two of a voice conversation mode, an e-mail mode, a graphic text-based conversation mode, and an voice/video conversation mode.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the presence information comprises an indicator indicating that the second person is (i) logged into a computer, (ii) at work but not logged into the computer, or (iii) out of the office.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the listing further comprises status information comprising an indicator indicating that the second person is currently engaged in conversation with a third person.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the indicator indicates that the second person is currently engaged in conversation using one of a voice conversation mode, a voice/video conversation mode, and a graphic text-based conversation mode.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising querying a database for information about the set of persons.  
   
   
       49 . A system comprising: 
 a user interface module configured to:    generate a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;    enable a user to select a person from the set of persons; and    enable the user to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the selected person.    
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the user interface is further configured to interface with a computer program providing at least one of the communication modes.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the user interface is further configured to interface with a computer program providing at least a portion of the presence information.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 49  further comprising a database including information about the set of persons.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 49  wherein the user interface module further comprises a user interface hook to detect when the user is interacting with the computing device.  
   
   
       54 . An article comprising a machine-readable medium that stores executable instruction signals that cause a machine to: 
 provide to a first person a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;    enable the first person to select a second person from the set of persons; and    enable the first person to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the second person.    
   
   
       55 . A communication integration environment comprising: 
 an integration module configured to interact with at least two of voice conversation software, voice-video conversation software, graphic text-based conversation software, fax software, and electronic mail software, and to automatically perform an action determined by a rule created by the user based on the received request; and    a user interface module configured to:    generate a listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available to communicate with each person;    enable a user to select a person from the set of persons; and    enable the user to select a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the selected person.    
   
   
       56 . A system comprising: 
 a computer device;    a user interface that is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail; wherein the interaction comprises:    creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user;    viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons;    selecting the person from the set of persons;    selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person;    retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, and the identifying characteristic being selected by the user from a display; and    communicating with the person.    
   
   
       57 - 89 . (canceled)