Patent ID: 8260967

Claim:
A system for controlling usage of a communications system comprising: means for determining that an activity has been requested of the communications system relating to communication between a first party using a telephone and a second party using an instant communications client, wherein the first party requests communication with the second party based on a telephone identifier of the second party, the communication system determining, by a presence identifier, presence of the second party on the instant communications client if the second party is unavailable via a telephone, the activity comprising verifying the presence of the second party; means for providing an up-to-date indication of the presence of the second party on a continual basis at a user interface to offer alternatives for communication between the first party and the second party by transmitting an inquiry to the first party if the second party is unavailable via a telephone; means for selecting a language for the activity from a plurality of languages; means for determining whether a usage charge applies to the activity, the usage charge is based on the selected language; means for identifying an account to which the usage charge is to be applied; means for determining whether the account can accommodate the usage charge; and means for performing the activity responsive to whether the account can accommodate the usage charge, wherein the activity further comprises conducting an interactive communication session between the first party telephone and the second party via the instant communications client, and invoking an optional feature elected by at least one of the first party or the second party, the feature comprising one of selection of desired speech characteristics in a text-to-speech translator for translation of textual information from the second party into audio information, translating audio information into arrangements of symbols having conventionalized meaning in the context of textual communications between the first party and the second party, notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of an account balance, or notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of applicable charges pertaining to a communications session, wherein a connection between the first party telephone and the instant communications client is made based on the presence identifier; means for determining a charge associated with the use of the feature; and means for notifying at least one of the first party or the second party of the charge associated with the use of the feature.