Patent ID: 7990954
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for initiating a voice communication using a call assistant program associated with a communications service providing voice communications, comprising the steps of: initiating execution of the call assistant program on a computing system; registering the call assistant program for a first user with the communications service, wherein status/control packets are periodically exchanged between the call assistant program and the communications service; displaying at least one icon on the computing system that presents status information regarding the first user; displaying content on the computing system with a program running on the computing system that is different from the call assistant program; parsing the displayed content with the call assistant program to determine a telephone number of a second user contained within the displayed content; in response to user activation, determining target information associated with a telephone of the second user; sending a voice communications initiation control packet from the call assistant program to the communications service; and initiating a voice communication via the communications service between the first user and the second user.