Method and apparatus for content presentation in association with a telephone call

• US 10,182,163 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vusura Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Wendell D. Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Wendell D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Htun, San
• Application Number:
  US14/951,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8083 involving reduced rates or discounts, e.g. time-of-day reductions or volume discounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/83 Notification aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8351 before establishing a communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8353 during the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8355 after the end of the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/846 optical, e.g. icon
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/848 Tone, e.g. beeper
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/85 characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7231 by SIM, e.g. smart card account in SCP, SDP or SN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 : based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 : Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0051 : where the data service is a multimedia messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 : Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 : for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/23 : for mobile advertising

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for presenting multimedia content to a caller and/or a called party in association with a telephone call. Content may be presented pre-ring (before the called party'"'"'s telephone rings), in-call, and/or post-call. Content presented to a party may be related to or selected by another party participating in the call, or may be related to or selected by a third party (e.g., an advertiser that paid for the ability to have its content presented). Presented content may be actuable, and allow a caller to change the destination of a call, take advantage of an offer presented to him, redeem a coupon, schedule or queue a subsequent call, etc. To find a desired destination party, a caller may initiate a manual or automatic search of his local contacts (on his telephone) and/or a central or global directory or contact list.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating presentation of content on multiple communication devices in association with a communication connection between operators of the communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first communication device operated by a first operator, a signal indicating initiation of the communication connection to a second communication device operated by a second operator;

in response to the signal, and prior to establishment of the communication connection, transmitting a signal to the first communication device to delay the communication connection without soliciting action by the first operator;

identifying initial content displayed on the first communication device at a time of the initiation of the communication connection;

causing the initial content to be displayed on the second communication device in association with the communication connection, while simultaneously displayed on the first communication device;

during the communication connection, receiving from the second communication device updated content generated at the second communication device, wherein the updated content includes an annotation to the initial content by the second operator; and

causing the updated content to be displayed on the first communication device while simultaneously displayed on the second communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting final content to be presented on one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device;

wherein the final content is displayed after the communication connection is terminated; and

wherein the final content is different than the updated content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the signal comprises receiving notification of activation, by the first operator of the first communication device, of a control displayed with the initial content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the initial content comprises:

receiving from the first communication device an identification of the initial content.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial content was not displayed on the second communication device prior to initiation of the communication connection.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated content comprises a modification to the initial content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of the initial content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of an application associated with the initial content.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, causing the first communication device to display an image of the second operator of the second communication device.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, causing the first communication device to display, in addition to the first content;

a first control for terminating the communication connection; and

a second control for controlling a visual portion of the communication connection.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further causing the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling an audio portion of the communication connection.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further causing the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control, the second control, and the third control;

a fourth control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further causing the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of facilitating presentation of content on multiple communication devices in association with a communication connection between operators of the communication devices, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first communication device operated by a first operator, a signal indicating initiation of the communication connection to a second communication device operated by a second operator;

in response to the signal, and prior to establishment of the communication connection, transmitting a signal to the first communication device to delay the communication connection without soliciting action by the first operator;

identifying initial content displayed on the first communication device at a time of the initiation of the communication connection;

causing the initial content to be displayed on the second communication device in association with the communication connection, while simultaneously displayed on the first communication device;

during the communication connection, receiving from the second communication device updated content generated at the second communication device, wherein the updated content includes an annotation to the initial content by the second operator; and

causing the updated content to be displayed on the first communication device while simultaneously displayed on the second communication device.

15. An apparatus for facilitating presentation of content on multiple communication devices in association with a communication connection between operators of the communication devices, the apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;

a communication mechanism comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a first communication device operated by a first operator, a signal indicating initiation of the communication connection to a second communication device operated by a second operator;

in response to the signal, and prior to establishment of the communication connection, transmit a signal to the first communication device to delay the communication connection without soliciting action by the first operator; and

during the communication connection, receive from the second communication device updated content generated at the second communication device, wherein the updated content includes an annotation to the initial content by the second operator;

a selection mechanism comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

identify initial content displayed on the first communication device at a time of the initiation of the communication connection; and

a presentation mechanism comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

cause the initial content to be displayed on the second communication device in association with the communication connection, while simultaneously displayed on the first communication device; and

cause the updated content to be displayed on the first communication device while simultaneously displayed on the second communication device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

select final content to be presented on one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device;

wherein the final content is displayed after the communication connection is terminated; and

wherein the final content is different than the updated content.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of the initial content.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of an application associated with the initial content.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, cause the first communication device to display an image of the second operator of the second communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first content;

a first control for terminating the communication connection; and

a second control for controlling a visual portion of the communication connection.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling an audio portion of the communication connection.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the memory further stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control, the second control, and the third control;

a fourth control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.

24. A system for facilitating presentation of content on multiple communication devices in association with a communication connection between operators of the communication devices, the system comprising:

a communication server comprising;

a communication mechanism for;

receiving, from a first communication device operated by a first operator, a signal indicating initiation of the communication connection to a second communication device operated by a second operator;

in response to the signal, and prior to establishment of the communication connection, transmitting a signal to the first communication device to delay the communication connection without soliciting action by the first operator; and

during the communication connection, receiving from the second communication device updated content generated at the second communication device, wherein the updated content includes an annotation to the initial content by the second operator;

a selection mechanism for identifying initial content displayed on the first communication device at a time of the initiation of the communication connection; and

a presentation mechanism for causing the updated content to be displayed on the first communication device while simultaneously displayed on the second communication device; and

the second communication device comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the second communication device to;

display the initial content in association with the communication connection, while the initial content is simultaneously presented on the first communication device; and

generate the updated content.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

identify final content to be presented on one or more of the first communication device and the second communication device;

wherein the final content is displayed after the communication connection is terminated; and

wherein the final content is different than the updated content.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of the initial content.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the updated content comprises assistance to the first operator of the first communication device regarding use of an application associated with the initial content.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, cause the first communication device to display an image of the second operator of the second communication device.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first content;

a first control for terminating the communication connection; and

a second control for controlling a visual portion of the communication connection.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling an audio portion of the communication connection.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control, the second control, and the third control;

a fourth control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the communication server further stores instructions that, when executed, cause the system to:

upon establishment of the communication connection, further cause the first communication device to display, in addition to the first control and the second control;

a third control for controlling a written portion of the communication connection.