Patent ID: 7412040

Claim:
A method for providing real-time conversation between disparate communication devices, the method comprising: providing a list of second communication devices associated with a second user to a first user of a first communication device, wherein at least one of the listed second communication devices operates in a second communication mode that is different from the other listed second communication devices; receiving a selection by the first user of one of the listed second communication devices; receiving a first communication from the first communication device operating in a first communication mode; determining if a translation is necessary; if a translation is necessary and prior to translating the first communication into a second communication that is suitable for processing by the selected second communication device operating in the second communication mode, attempting to establish a connection in the second communication mode; if a connection is established then translating the first communication into a second communication that is suitable for processing by the selected second communication device operating in the second communication mode, wherein the second communication mode is different from the first communication mode, extracting a message from the second communication, and providing the second communication to the selected second communication device, wherein the second communication provides the second communication device with an opportunity to respond; and if a connection is not established then notifying the first user with a return message in the first communication mode.