System and method to facilitate team communication

US6771756B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Paul Bao-Luo Chou · Montvale, US
• Ted A. Habeck · Fishkill, US
• Steve Moimann · Portland, US
• Jennifer Lai · Garrison, US
• Stella J. Mitchell · Pleasantville, US
• Cezar Pendus · Yardley, US
• Jung-Mu Tang · South Salem, US
• David A. Wood · Hartsdale, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 1, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 3, 2004
• Expiry date: Jun 15, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W8/18
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method to facilitate communications among team members or subscribers using a virtual assistant and a derived points of contact (POC) list to initiate contacts. The virtual assistant automates the task of reaching a party to be contacted through trying a variety of POC options until a connection is established or the options are exhausted. The system takes advantage of the POC provided by a person to be contacted, reducing the burden of maintaining a complete personal contact list by each team member or subscriber. The virtual assistant uses the derived POC list to establish a preferred method for contacting a team member or subscriber.