US Patent 8103725 Communication using delegates

A facility allows for automatic delegation of incoming real-time communications based on a delegation scheme. The delegation scheme may be rules-based and may be applied to a single real-time communication channel or multiple communication channels, including both real-time and non-real-time communication channels. The delegate information may include rules that indicate under what circumstances a communication should be rerouted, which delegate the communication should be rerouted to, and whether other associated actions should be taken in connection with the rerouting (or lack thereof). In some cases, the context of the incoming communication may play a role in how or whether a communication is rerouted to a delegate.