System and method for responding to telephone calls and written communications

• US 10,057,423 B1
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Babak Sheikh
• Original Assignee: Babak Sheikh
• Inventors: Sheikh, Babak
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US14/957,703
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 37920102, 37914204, 37926509, 3792661, 379 9301, 379 8808
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply

Abstract

A computer implemented method for communicating with contacts preferably responds to both telephone calls and written text documents, with calls being handled as they are received, and with written documents being temporarily stored before responding. Calls and written documents are monitored to determine the communication styles of the contacts and of the user in dealing with the contacts, with these styles then being applied to the responses, which include answers to questions from the contacts. Connections to other components and systems provide answers regarding the location and scheduling of the user, product inventories, etc.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for communicating with contacts, comprising:

receiving a telephone call from a first contact;

in response to receiving the telephone call, starting a telephone answering subroutine;

receiving a first contact identifier identifying the first contact;

waiting to receive an audio segment;

receiving an audio segment beginning when the first contact starts talking and ending when the first contact stops talking for a predetermined length of time;

while the audio segment is being received, determining if a question is being asked and determining a response to each question asked during the audio segment;

following an end of the audio segment, generating and transmitting a response segment including a response to each question asked in the audio segment;

determining whether the telephone call has ended; and

in response to determining that the telephone call has not ended, returning to receive an audio segment;

in response to determining that the telephone call has ended, ending, the telephone answering subroutine;

monitoring a telephone call between the first contact and a user of the computer implemented method;

while the telephone call is being monitored, determining when the first contact is speaking and when the user is speaking;

in response to determining that the first contact is speaking, developing a plurality of first contact telephone scores indicating a telephone communication style of the first contact;

in response to determining that the user is speaking, developing a plurality of user with first contact telephone scores indicating a telephone communication style for the user in communication with the first contact;

determining that the telephone call being monitored has ended;

determining whether data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is stored in a first data field of a data record associated with the first contact;

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is not Stored in the first data field, staring the plurality of first contact telephone stores in the first data field;

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is stored in the first data field, combining the data stored in the first data field with the plurality of first contact telephone scores to form combined user telephone scores and storing the combined user telephone scores in the first data field;

determining whether data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is stored in a second data field of a data record associated with the first contact;

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is not stored in the second data field, storing the plurality of user in communication with the first contact telephone stores in the first data field; and

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is stored in the second data field, combining the data stored in the second data field with the plurality of user in communication with the first contact telephone scores to form combined user in communication with the first contact telephone scores and storing the combined user telephone scores in the second data field, wherein the telephone communication style first contact and the telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact are emulated in generating the response to each question asked.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, additionally comprising:

receiving a first user input indicating that the computer implemented method is to be enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a telephone call to a data record associated with the first contact in response to receiving the first user input

receiving a second user input indicating that the computer implemented method is not to be enabled for answering a telephone call for the first contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is not enabled for answering a telephone call to a data record associated with the first contact in response to receiving the second user input; and

determining whether the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact by reading data stored in the data record associated with the first contact, wherein the steps of determining if a question is being asked, determining a response to each question asked, and generating and transmitting a response to each question asked occur only following an additional determination that the first contact is enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, additionally comprising, during operation of the telephone answering subroutine:

receiving a user input requesting information regarding the first contact;

causing a menu to be displayed showing types of available information; and

causing information described by the menu to be displayed.

4. A computer implemented method for communicating with contacts, comprising:

receiving a telephone call from a first contact;

in response to receiving the telephone call, starting a telephone answering subroutine;

receiving a first contact identifier identifying the first contact;

waiting to receive an audio segment;

receiving an audio segment beginning when the first contact starts talking and ending when the first contact stops talking for a predetermined length of time;

while the audio segment is being received, determining if a question is being asked and determining a response to each question asked during the audio segment;

following an end of the audio segment, generating and transmitting a response segment including a response to each question asked in the audio segment;

determining whether the telephone call has ended; and

in response to determining that the telephone call has not ended, returning to receive an audio segment;

in response to determining that the telephone call has ended, ending the telephone answering subroutine;

receiving text data from a written text document transmitted by a second contact;

storing the text data in a work-in-process file;

determining that the text data is stored in the work-in-process file;

in response to determining that the text data is stored in the work-in-process file, starting a text data answering subroutine;

while the text data answering subroutine is running, determining whether a question is asked within the written text document and determining that an end of the written text document has been reached;

preparing an answer for each question asked within the written text document; and

in response to determining that an end of the written text document has been reached, preparing a written text response including answers to all questions in the written text document and transmitting data from the written text response to the second contact.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein the text data answering subroutine is started only while the telephone answering subroutine is not running.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the text data answering subroutine is interrupted in response to receiving a telephone call and started in response to determining that the telephone call has ended.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

receiving a third user input indicating that an AUTO mode is to be turned on;

turning the AUTO mode on in response to receiving the first user input;

receiving a second user input indicating that the AUTO MODE is to be turned off;

turning the AUTO mode off in response to receiving the second user input; and

determining whether the AUTO MODE is turned on or off, wherein steps within the telephone answering subroutine of determining if a question is being asked;

determining a response to each question asked, and generating and transmitting a response to each question asked occur only following an additional determination that the AUTO mode is turned on, and wherein the determination of whether a question is asked within the written text document, the preparation of an answer for each question asked within the written text document, the preparation of preparing a written response, and the transmission of the written response to the second contact occur only following an additional determination that the AUTO mode is turned on.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

receiving a first user input indicating that the computer implemented method is to be enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a telephone call to a data record associated with the first contact in response to receiving the first user input receiving a second user input indicating that the computer implemented method is not to be enabled for answering a telephone call for die first contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is not enabled for answering a telephone call to a data record associated with the first contact in response to receiving the second user input; and

determining whether the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact by reading data stored in the data record associated with the first contact, wherein the steps of determining if a question is being asked, determining a response to each question asked, and generating and transmitting a response to each question asked occur only following an additional determination that the first contact is enabled for answering a telephone call from the first contact.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, additionally comprising:

receiving a fourth user input indicating that the computer implemented method is to be enabled for answering a written text document from the second contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a written text document from the second contact to a data record associated with the second contact in response to receiving the fourth user input

receiving a fifth user input indicating that the computer implemented method is not to be enabled for answering a written text document from the first contact;

writing data indicating that the computer implemented method is not enabled for answering a written text document from the second contact to a data record associated with the second contact in response to receiving the fifth user input; and

determining whether the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a written text document from the second contact, wherein the steps of determining if a question is being asked, wherein the determination of whether a question is asked within the written text document;

the preparation of an answer for each question asked within the written text document, and the preparation of preparing a written response occur only following an additional determination that the that the computer implemented method is enabled for answering a written text document from the second contact.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein

the computer implemented method is implemented in accordance with steps of a routine executing within a computing device, and

the routine is controlled by user inputs through a remote device connected to the computing system through a network.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

monitoring a telephone call between the first contact and a user of the computer implemented method;

while the telephone call is being monitored, determining when the first contact is speaking and when the user is speaking;

in response to determining that the first contact is speaking, developing a plurality of first contact telephone scores indicating a telephone communication style of the first contact;

in response to determining that the user is speaking, developing a plurality of user with first contact telephone scores indicating a telephone communication style for the user in communication with the first contact;

determining that the telephone call has ended;

determining whether data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is stored in a first data field of a data record associated with the first contact;

in response to determining, that data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is not stored in the first data field, storing the plurality of first contact telephone stores in the first data field;

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the first contact is stored in the first data field, combining the data stored in the first data field with the plurality of first contact telephone scores to form combined user telephone scores and storing the combined user telephone scores in the first data field;

determining whether data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is stored in a second data field of a data record associated with the first contact;

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is not stored in the second data field, storing the plurality of user in communication with the first contact telephone stores in the first data field; and

in response to determining that data describing a telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is stored in the second data field, combining the data stored in the second data field with the plurality of user in communication with the first contact telephone scores to form combined user in communication with the first contact telephone scores and storing the combined user in communication with the first contact telephone scores in the second data field, wherein the telephone communication style first contact and the telephone communication style of the user in communication with the first contact are emulated in generating the response to each question asked.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

monitoring a written text communication between the second contact and a user of the computer implemented method;

determining whether the second contact or the user sent the document;

in response to determining that the second contact sent the written text communication, developing a plurality of second contact text scores indicating a text communication style of the second contact;

in response to determining that the user sent the document, developing a plurality of user with second contact text scores indicating a text communication style for the user in communication with the second contact;

determining that an end of the written text document has been reached;

determining whether data describing a text communication style of the first contact is stored in a third data field of a data record associated with the second contact;

in response to determining, that data describing a text communication style of the second contact is not stored in the third data field, storing the plurality of second contact text stores in the third data field;

in response to determining that data describing a text communication style of the second contact is stored in the third data field, combining the data stored in the third data field with the plurality of second contact text scores to form combined user text scores and storing the combined user text scores in the third data field;

determining whether data describing a written text communication style of the user in communication with the second contact is stored in a fourth data field of a data record associated with the second contact;

in response to determining that data describing a text communication style of the user in communication with the second contact is not stored in the fourth data field, storing the plurality of user in communication with the first contact telephone stores in the first data field; and

in response to determining that data describing a text communication style of the user in communication with the first contact is stored the fourth data field, combining the data stored in the fourth data field with the plurality of user in communication with the second contact data scores to form combined user in communication with the second contact data scores and storing the combined user in communication with the second contact data scores in the fourth data field, wherein the text communication style of the second contact and the text communication style of the user in communication with the second contact are emulated in preparing the written text response to the second contact.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

receiving a sixth user input indicating that a document responding to a written text communication from the second user is to be reviewed;

in response to receiving the sixth user input, storing required review data in a fifth data field within the data record associated with the second contact;

in response to determining that an end of the written text document has been reached, determining whether required review data is stored in the fifth data field; and

in response to determining that required review data is stored in the fifth data field, sending data from the written text response to an inbox of the user, wherein data from the written text response is transmitted to the second contact only in response to determining that the required review data is not stored in the fifth data field.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein

a process of determining if a question is being asked during the telephone answering subroutine includes determining if the question relates to finding a location of the user,

following a determination that the question relates to finding a location of the user, a process for generating a response segment includes finding information from a calendar app and a GPS system,

a process of preparing an answer for each question asked within a written text document includes determining whether a question within the written document relates to finding a location of the user, and, in response to determining that a question within the written text document relates to finding a location of the user, finding information from a calendar app and a GPS system.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein

a process of determining, if a question is being asked during the telephone answering subroutine includes determining if the question relates to scheduling a meeting with the user,

following a determination that the question relates to scheduling a meeting with the user, a process for generating a response segment includes finding, information from a calendar app,

a process of preparing an answer for each question asked within a written text document includes determining whether a question within the written document relates to scheduling a meeting with the user, and, in response to determining that a question within the written text document relates to scheduling a meeting with, finding information from a calendar app.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 4, wherein

a process of determining if a question is being asked during the telephone answering subroutine includes determining if the question relates to finding information about products for sale,

following a determination that the question relates to finding information about products for sale, a process for generating a response segment includes finding information from an inventory control routine,

a process of preparing an answer for each question asked within a written text document includes determining whether a question within the written document relates to finding information about products for sale, and, in response to determining that a question within the written text document relates to finding information about products for sale, finding information from an inventory contra routine.

17. The computer implemented method, of claim 4, additionally comprising

receiving a user input requesting information regarding a contact;

causing a menu to be displayed types of available information regarding the contact; and

causing information described by the menu to be displayed.

18. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising

while the audio segment is being received, determining that information for the user is being received and saving text data representing the audio information for the user, and in response to additionally determining that the telephone call has ended, preparing and saving a document including the text data representing the audio information for the user to an inbox file for the user;

and

while the text data answering subroutine is running, determining that text information for the user is stored within the text document and saving the text information for the user, and, in response to determining that an end of the text document has been reached, preparing and sending a document including the text information for the user to an inbox file of the user.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising:

after preparing an answer for each question asked within the written text document, determining a level of certainty regarding the probable correctness of the answer;

in response to determining that an end of the written text document has been reached, combining levels of certainty determined while preparing an answer to each question within the written text document to form a combined level of certainty, and sending information from the text document and the written text response to an in inbox file of the user in response to determining that combined level of certainty is below a predetermined level, wherein data from the written text response is sent to the second contact only following a determination that the combined level of certainty is not below the predetermined level.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, additionally comprising, during operation of the telephone answering subroutine:

receiving a user input requesting information regarding the first contact;

causing a menu to be displayed showing types of available information; and

causing information described by the menu to be displayed.