Method and apparatus to manage different options of communication using one user identifier based on internet protocol

• US 10,142,810 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioShare, LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheung, Kwok Wai, Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet M
• Application Number:
  US15/469,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20170201872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 455466, 4554561, 4554141, 455557, 4554261, 4554351, 455424, 455455, 455423, 455 39, 455417, 379 8804, 379268, 379 8825, 37921001, 340 722, 340 742, 709206, 709247, 704235
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods to manage electronic communications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus, using at least a network-based portal based on Internet protocol, receives a message with a user identifier from a person'"'"'s wireless device; receives a communication option from the person based on options provided to the person, with all the options using the user identifier, in view of the portal being based on the Internet protocol; permits the user to block the person from accessing the user; enables the message to be received by the user if the person is not blocked by the user; and determines user availability to receive the message. In the embodiment, the apparatus requires user contact information for the user to receive messages, with the user contact information not provided to the person, and with the user contact information being distinct from the user identifier.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user,

wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and

wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol;

receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from an electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided;

permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; and

enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user,

wherein the method comprises determining availability of the second user,

wherein the method requires contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal,

wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, and

wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user.

2. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication options include multimedia messaging using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol.

3. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication options include group messaging using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol.

4. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3, wherein the one identifier associated with the second user includes a digital identity of the second user.

5. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the contact information associated with the second user includes at least one of a phone number or an email address of the second user.

6. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5,

wherein the electronic device associated with the second user is a wireless electronic device, and

wherein the electronic device associated with the first user is a wireless electronic device.

7. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the enabling the message to be received by the second user depends on a time.

8. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 7, wherein the enabling the message to be received by the second user depends on a period of time.

9. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 8, wherein the method comprises not presenting the message to the second user depending on the period of time.

10. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 4, wherein the enabling the message to be received by the second user enables leaving a voice mail.

11. A computing apparatus for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, the computing apparatus comprising:

at least one computing device; and

one or more storage devices coupled to the at least one computing device, with the one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing apparatus to;

providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified by the computing apparatus at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user,

wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and

wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol;

receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from an electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided;

permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; and

enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user,

wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing apparatus to determine availability of the second user, and to require contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal,

wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, and

wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user.

12. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of communication options include multimedia messaging using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol.

13. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the plurality of communication options include group messaging using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol.

14. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the one identifier associated with the second user includes a digital identity of the second user.

15. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the contact information associated with the second user includes at least one of a phone number or an email address of the second user.

16. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein the enabling the message to be received by the second user includes not presenting the message to the second user depending on a period of time.

17. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 15,

wherein the electronic device associated with the second user is a wireless electronic device, and

wherein the electronic device associated with the first user is a wireless electronic device.

18. A computing apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the enabling the message to be received enables leaving a voice mail.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored therein for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user,

wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and

wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol;

computer program code for receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from the electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided;

computer program code for permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal;

computer program code for enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user;

computer program code for determining availability of the second user; and

computer program code for requiring contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal,

wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user does not have to be provided to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user,

wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user,

wherein the plurality of communication options include multimedia messaging and group messaging, all of which using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol,

wherein the one identifier associated with the second user includes a digital identity of the second user, and

wherein the contact information associated with the second user includes at least one of a phone number or an email address of the second user.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 19,

wherein the electronic device associated with the second user is a wireless electronic device, and

wherein the electronic device associated with the first user is a wireless electronic device.