# US 2018/0324290 A1 · System and method for managing calls > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0324290 A1 - Document ID: US20180324290A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/037,177 - Filed: 2018-07-17 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-29 - Assignees: RingCentral, Inc. - Applicants: RingCentral, Inc. - Inventors: Vlad VENDROW - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180324290A1 ## CPC - H04M 1/72436: for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails - H04L 65/403: Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences (data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15) - H04M 1/72469: for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons - H04M 3/02: Calling substations, e.g. by ringing (selective calling H04Q) - H04M 3/563: {User guidance or feature selection} - H04M 3/564: {whereby the feature is a sub-conference} - H04M 7/0027: {Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication} - H04W 4/08: User group management - H04W 68/005: {Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication} - H04M 7/0057: {Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network} - H04M 2201/38: Displays - H04M 2203/2038: Call context notifications - H04M 2203/2088: Call or conference reconnect, e.g. resulting from isdn terminal portability - H04M 2250/62: user interface aspects of conference calls - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A computer-implemented method for managing calls in a collaboration environment is provided. The method includes receiving, by a processor, a call into a collaboration session of the collaboration environment. The method also includes identifying, by the processor, a user from a plurality of users associated with the collaboration session, based on at least one of contextual information regarding the call and information regarding the plurality of users. The method further includes providing, by the processor, an interface on a device associated with the identified user, wherein the interface enables the identified user to instruct the device to handle the call within the collaboration session. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-21. (canceled) ### Claim 22 A computer-implemented method for managing calls in a collaboration environment, comprising: detecting, by a processor, receipt of a call associated with a collaboration session or to a user associated with the collaboration session from a caller associated with an external device not currently connected to the collaboration session; and providing, by the processor, an interface on the device associated with the user, wherein the interface enables the user to instruct the device to handle the call within the collaboration session, and wherein the user is identified based on contextual information regarding the caller. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further including: receiving at least one of an email message or a text message from the caller, and determining the contextual information based on the received email message or the received text message. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the collaboration session is one of a plurality of collaboration sessions, and the method further includes selecting the collaboration session from the plurality of collaboration sessions based on identification information included in the call. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The computer-implemented method of claim 24, wherein the identification information is at least one of a phone number or an identification number associated with the collaboration session. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the collaboration session is one of a plurality of collaboration sessions, and the method further includes selecting the collaboration session from the plurality of collaboration sessions based on contextual information regarding the caller and information regarding users participating in the collaboration sessions. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The computer-implemented method of claim 26, further including: receiving content of communications exchanged between the users; identify characteristics of the collaboration sessions based on the received content; and select the collaboration session based on a comparison of the contextual information and the identified characteristics. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The computer-implemented method of claim 27, wherein the communications exchanged between the users include at least one of electronic mail messages or text messages. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The computer-implemented method of claim 26, wherein the information regarding the users includes availability data of the users, and the user is selected based on the availability data. ### Claim 30 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further including obtaining the contextual information based on prior communication records related to the caller. ### Claim 31 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further including: receiving a text message from the device associated with the user; converting the received text message into at least one of an audio message or a voice message; and directing the audio message or the voice message to the external device associated with the caller. ### Claim 32 (depends on 22) The computer-implemented method of claim 22, further including displaying a notification on the interface on the device associated with the user. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further including displaying contextual information associated with the call on the interface on the device associated with the user. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The computer-implemented method of claim 33, further including placing the call in a queue of calls, the queue being displayed on the interface. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The computer-implemented method of claim 34, further including removing the call from the queue when the user has handled the call. ### Claim 36 A server for managing calls in a collaboration session, the server comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to execute the stored instructions to: detect receipt of a call associated with a collaboration session or to a user associated with the collaboration session from a caller associated with an external device not currently connected to the collaboration session; and provide an interface on the device associated with the user, wherein the interface enables the user to instruct the device to handle the call within the collaboration session, and wherein the user is identified based on contextual information regarding the caller. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is configured to: receive at least one of an email message or a text message from the caller; and determine the contextual information based on the received email message or the received text message. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The server of claim 37, wherein the collaboration session is one of a plurality of collaboration sessions, and the processor is configured to select the collaboration session from the plurality of collaboration sessions based on contextual information regarding the caller and information regarding the users participating in the collaboration sessions. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The server of claim 38, wherein the processor is configured to: receive content of communications exchanged between the users; identify characteristics of the collaboration sessions based on the received content; and select the collaboration session based on a comparison of the contextual information and the identified characteristics. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive a text message from the device associated with the user; convert the received text message into at least one of an audio message or a voice message; and direct the audio message or the voice message to the external device associated with the caller. ### Claim 41 (depends on 36) The server of claim 36, wherein the processor is further configured to: cause a notification regarding the call to be displayed on the interface on the device associated with the user; and cause the contextual information to be displayed adjacent the notification.