# US 8,751,571 B2 · Methods and systems for CPN triggered collaboration

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- Number: US 8,751,571 B2
- Document ID: US8751571B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/720,933
- Filed: 2003-11-24
- Published: 2005-04-21
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2001-02-27
- Assignees: Verizon Data Services Inc.
- Applicants: Mahesh Rajagopalan; Nagendra Kunuturi; Afshin Moshrefi
- Inventors: Mahesh Rajagopalan; Nagendra Kunuturi; Afshin Moshrefi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751571B2

## CPC

- H04M 7/0027: {Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication}
- G06F 3/00: Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F 9/00: Arrangements for program control, e.g. control units (program control for peripheral devices G06F13/10)
- G06F 15/16: Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs {(coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B)}
- H04L 51/214: using selective forwarding
- H04L 51/224: providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
- H04M 3/436: Arrangements for screening incoming calls {, i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it (based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54)}
- H04M 2203/4509: Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Methods and systems for initiating a collaboration between users are disclosed. An application server receives information pertaining to a call to a first user placed by a second user. A notification server sends notification of the call to a device associated with the first user. A network access server may then receive a response to the notification. Thereafter, the notification server sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the second user based on the response, and the application server initiates a collaboration between the first user and the second user based on a determination that the second user accepts the collaboration request.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
receiving information pertaining to a call to a called party placed by a calling party;
sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receiving a response to the notification;
sending a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
receiving a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
connecting the call between the calling party and the called party when the calling party denies the collaboration request.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the information pertaining to the call comprises at least one of called number data, calling name data, and calling number data.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sending a notification of the call comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the called party using the information pertaining to the call;
selecting a device associated with the called party to receive the notification of the call based on the data corresponding to the called party; and
providing the notification of the call to the selected device for display on the selected device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the notification of the call comprises a user-selectable collaboration option.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the notification of the call is displayed on the device associated with the called party.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
providing the notification of the collaboration request to a device used to place the call for display on the device used to place the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the calling party using the information pertaining to the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested;
selecting a device associated with the calling party to receive the notification of the collaboration request based on the data corresponding to the calling party; and
providing the notification of the collaboration request to the selected device associated with the calling party for display on the selected device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the notification of the collaboration request comprises user-selectable options for accepting and declining the collaboration request.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to sending the notification of the collaboration request:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the called party.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request; and
connecting the call between the called party and calling party.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a voice connection.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a videoconferencing connection.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, the connecting comprising:
ceasing the collaboration launched from the perspective of the called party based on a determination that the calling party declines the collaboration request; and
connecting the call to the called party between the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
receiving information pertaining to a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receiving, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
sending a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response;
receiving a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiating the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein sending a notification of the call comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the called party using the information pertaining to the call;
selecting a device associated with the called party to receive the notification of the call based on the data corresponding to the called party; and
providing the notification of the call to the selected device for display on the selected device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the notification of the call comprises a user-selectable collaboration option.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the notification of the call is displayed on the device associated with the called party.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
providing the notification of the collaboration request to a device used to place the call for display on the device used to place the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the calling party using the information pertaining to the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested;
selecting a device associated with the calling party to receive the notification of the collaboration request based on the data corresponding to the calling party; and
providing the notification of the collaboration request to the selected device associated with the calling party for display on the selected device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the notification of the collaboration request comprises user-selectable options for accepting and declining the collaboration request.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a voice connection.

### Claim 22 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a videoconferencing connection.

### Claim 23 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, comprising:
connecting the call to the called party between the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 24

An apparatus comprising:
an application component, including a computer, for receiving information pertaining to a call to a called party placed by a calling party;
a notification component for sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party; and
a network component for receiving a response to the notification,
wherein the notification component sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
the notification component receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
the application component connects the call between the calling party and the called party when the calling party denies the collaboration request.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information pertaining to the call comprises at least one of called number data, calling name data, and calling number data.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein sending a notification of the call comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the called party using the information pertaining to the call;
selecting a device associated with the called party to receive the notification of the call based on the data corresponding to the called party; and
providing the notification of the call to the selected device for display on the selected device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the notification of the call comprises a user-selectable collaboration option.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the notification of the call is displayed on the device associated with the called party.

### Claim 29 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the notification component:
provides the notification of the collaboration request to a device used to place the call for display on the device used to place the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested.

### Claim 30 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the notification component:
retrieves data corresponding to the calling party using the information pertaining to the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested;
selects a device associated with the calling party to receive the notification of the collaboration request based on the data corresponding to the calling party; and
provides the notification of the collaboration request to the selected device associated with the calling party or display on the selected device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 31 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the notification of the collaboration request comprises user-selectable options for accepting and declining the collaboration request.

### Claim 32 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the application component launches the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the called party.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the application component launches the collaboration by:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request; and
connecting the call to the called party between the called party and calling party.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the application component launches the collaboration by:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a voice connection.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the application component launches the collaboration by:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a videoconferencing connection.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the application component ceases the collaboration launched from the perspective of the called party based on a determination that the calling party declines the collaboration request; and connects the call to the called party between the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 37

An apparatus comprising:
an application component, including a computer, for receiving information pertaining to a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
a notification component for sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party; and
a network component for receiving, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call,
wherein the notification component sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response;
the notification component receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
the application component initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein sending a notification of the call comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the called party using the information pertaining to the call;
selecting a device associated with the called party to receive the notification of the call based on the data corresponding to the called party; and
providing the notification of the call to the selected device for display on the selected device.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the notification of the call comprises a user-selectable collaboration option.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the notification of the call is displayed on the device associated with the called party.

### Claim 41 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the notification component provides the notification of the collaboration request to a device used to place the call for display on the device used to place the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested.

### Claim 42 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the notification component:
retrieves data corresponding to the calling party using the information pertaining to the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested;
selects a device associated with the calling party to receive the notification of the collaboration request based on the data corresponding to the calling party; and
provides the notification of the collaboration request to the selected device associated with the calling party for display on the selected device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 43 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the notification of the collaboration request comprises user-selectable options for accepting and declining the collaboration request.

### Claim 44 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a voice connection.

### Claim 45 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a videoconferencing connection.

### Claim 46 (depends on 37)

The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the application component connects
the call to the called party between the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 47

An apparatus comprising:
a memory having a program that:
receives information pertaining to a call to a called party placed by a calling party;
sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receives a response to the notification;
sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
connects the call between the calling party and the called party when the calling party denies the collaboration request; and
a processor that runs the program.

### Claim 48

An apparatus comprising:
a memory having a program that:
receives information pertaining to a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receives, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response;
receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request; and
a processor that runs the program.

### Claim 49

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
receiving information pertaining to a call to a called party placed by a calling party;
sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receiving a response to the notification;
sending a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
receiving a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
connecting the call between the calling party and the called party when the calling party denies the collaboration request.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the information pertaining to the call comprises at least one of called number data, calling name data, and calling number data.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein sending a notification of the call comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the called party using the information pertaining to the call;
selecting a device associated with the called party to receive the notification of the call based on the data corresponding to the called party; and
providing the notification of the call to the selected device for display on the selected device.

### Claim 52 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the notification of the call comprises a user-selectable collaboration option.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the notification of the call is displayed on the device associated with the called party.

### Claim 54 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
providing the notification of the collaboration request to a device used to place the call for display on the device used to place the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested.

### Claim 55 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein sending a notification of a collaboration request comprises:
retrieving data corresponding to the calling party using the information pertaining to the call, based on a determination that the response to the notification of the call indicates that the collaboration is requested;
selecting a device associated with the calling party to receive the notification of the collaboration request based on the data corresponding to the calling party; and
providing the notification of the collaboration request to the selected device associated with the calling party for display on the selected device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 56 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the notification of the collaboration request comprises user-selectable options for accepting and declining the collaboration request.

### Claim 57 (depends on 49)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, further comprising, prior to sending the notification of the collaboration request:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the called party.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request; and
connecting the call to the called party between the called party and calling party.

### Claim 59 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a voice connection.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, the connecting comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the calling party, based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request, wherein the collaboration includes a data connection and a videoconferencing connection.

### Claim 61 (depends on 57)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, the connecting comprising:
ceasing the collaboration launched from the perspective of the called party based on a determination that the calling party declines the collaboration request; and
connecting the call to the called party between the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 62

A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:
receiving information pertaining to a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receiving, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
sending a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response;
receiving a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiating the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 63

A method comprising:
receiving, at a device associated with a called party, notification of a call incoming to the called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
receiving input from the called party indicative of a response to the notification; and
sending, to a service center, response information reflective of the response to the notification while the call is available to be answered by the called party, wherein, based on the response, the service center:
sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response information, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party in addition to the call;
receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 64

A method comprising:
receiving, from a service center, notification of a collaboration request at a device associated with the calling party, wherein prior to the receiving the service center:
receives notification of a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by the calling party;
sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receives, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification of the call from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call; and
sends the notification of the collaboration request based on the response to the notification of the call;
receiving from the calling party a response to the notification of the collaboration request, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
sending, to the service center, response information reflective of the response to the notification of the collaboration request, wherein the service center initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 65

A device comprising:
a memory having a program that:
receives notification of a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
receives input from the called party indicative of a response to the notification; and
sends, to a service center, response information reflective of the response to the notification while the call is available to be answered by the called party, wherein, based on the response, the service center:
sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response information, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party in addition to the call;
receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiates the collaboration between the called party and the based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request;
a user interface that displays the notification of the call; and
a processor that runs the program.

### Claim 66

A device comprising:
a memory having a program that:
receives, from a service center, notification of a collaboration request at a device associated with a calling party, wherein prior to the receiving the service center:
receives notification of a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by the calling party;
sends a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receives, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification of the call from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call; and
sends the notification of the collaboration request based on the response to the notification of the call;
receives from the calling party a response to the notification of the collaboration request, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
sends, to the service center, response information reflective of the response to the notification of the collaboration request, wherein the service center initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request;
a user interface that displays the notification of the collaboration request; and
a processor that runs the program.

### Claim 67

A system comprising:
a voice network;
a data network;
a device associated with a called party;
a device associated with a calling party; and
a service center operable to:
receive information pertaining to a call incoming to the called party, the call being placed by the calling party;
send a notification of the call to the device associated with the called party;
receive while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call, send a notification of a collaboration request to the device associated with the calling party based on the response;
receive a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
initiate the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 68

An apparatus comprising:
an application server operable to receive information pertaining to a call incoming to a called party, the call being placed by a calling party;
a notification server operable to send a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party; and
a network access server operable to receive, while the call is available to be answered by the called party, a response to the notification from the called party indicating that the called party requests a collaboration to share data interactively with the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call, wherein
the notification server sends a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response;
the notification server receives a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request; and
the application server initiates the collaboration between the called party and the calling party based on a determination that the calling party accepts the collaboration request.

### Claim 69

A method comprising:
receiving information pertaining to a call to a called party placed by a calling party;
sending a notification of the call to a device associated with the called party;
receiving a response to the notification of the call;
sending a notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party based on the response, the collaboration request being a request for a collaboration to share data interactively between the called party and the calling party, the collaboration being in addition to the call;
receiving a response to the collaboration request from the calling party, the response at least in part indicating whether the calling party accepts or denies the collaboration request;
connecting the call between the calling party and the called party when the calling party denies the collaboration request; and
conducting the collaboration between the called party and the calling party when the calling party accepts the collaboration request,
wherein conducting the collaboration comprises using application software that provides multiparty communication between at least the called party and the calling party.

### Claim 70 (depends on 69)

The method according to claim 69, further comprising:
launching the collaboration between the called party and the calling party from the perspective of the called party, prior to sending the notification of the collaboration request.

### Claim 71 (depends on 1, 14, 63, 64, 69)

The method according to any one of claims 1, 14, 63, 64 and 69 further comprising:
inquiring whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, processing said call without sending the notification of collaboration.

### Claim 72 (depends on 24, 37)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 24 and 37 wherein:
the application component inquires whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, the call is processed without the notification component sending the notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 73 (depends on 68)

The apparatus according to claim 68 wherein:
the application server inquires whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, the call is processed without the notification server sending the notification of a collaboration request to a device associated with the calling party.

### Claim 74 (depends on 47, 48)

The apparatus according to any one of claims 47 and 48 including the memory having the program that further comprises:
inquiring whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, processing said call without sending the notification of collaboration request.

### Claim 75 (depends on 49, 62)

The computer-readable medium according to any one of claims 49 and 62 wherein the method further comprises:
inquiring whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, processing said call without sending the notification of collaboration request.

### Claim 76 (depends on 65, 66)

The device according to any one of claims 65 and 66 wherein the program further comprises:
inquiring whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, processing said call without sending the notification of collaboration request.

### Claim 77 (depends on 67)

The system of claim 67 wherein the service center is further operable to:
inquire whether the called party is logged into a device capable of a collaborative connection and, if negative, process said call without sending the notification of collaboration request.