Patent ID: 8947490
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A method of initiating a communication between two parties, comprising: storing characteristic information of first and second parties each associated with a computing device; receiving characteristic information from a computing device; comparing the received characteristic information to the stored characteristic information to determine whether the received characteristic information matches the characteristic information of one of the first and second party; if the received characteristic information matches the characteristic information of one of the first and second party, establishing a first communication link between the computing device at which the received characteristic information was received and the computing device associated with the party for which the received characteristic information matches; receiving images of the first and second parties as part of the first communication link; detecting the absence of the first party; and in response to detecting the absence of the first party, establishing a second communication link between the computing device associated with the second party and a second computing device associated with the first party.