Methods and Systems For Providing Marketing Information

• US 20030065778A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Application Number:
  US10/184,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065778A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 : Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13338 : Do-not-disturb
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement

Abstract

Methods for providing contextual information about communication devices and/or services. Profile information indicating a user'"'"'s communication devices and/or services is stored. When profile information or a message log is displayed, the user may identify a communication device and/or service. A query inquires whether the user would like contextual information. The contextual information may be obtained from a gateway in a data network or a telecommunications manager in a telecommunication network. The contextual information is displayed. Profile information about a user'"'"'s communicating partner may be stored. When the user makes an effort to communicate with the partner, a check may be made of the partner'"'"'s profile information for a preferred communication device and/or service. If the user does not have a communication device and/or service corresponding to that of the communicating partner, a query may inquire whether the user would like contextual information. If so, the contextual information is presented.

Claims

1. With respect to a communications manager that stores profile information about a user, a method to provide the user with information when interest of the user is heightened in the information, the method comprising:

causing the profile information to indicate communication devices of the user;

displaying the profile information about the user on a computer screen;

noting heightened interest of the user in an entry in the profile information;

determining the entry identifies a communication device;

displaying a query on the computer screen with the query inquiring whether the user would like contextual information about the communication device;

receiving a positive response to the query; and

presenting the contextual information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the profile information indicates communication services of the user;

wherein the entry identifies a communication service of the user; and

wherein the query inquiries whether the user would like contextual information about the communication service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a gateway in a data network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a telecommunications manager in a communications network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the communication device comprises a type of the communication device;

and

wherein determining the entry identifies the communication device comprises determining the entry identifies the type of the communication device; and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like contextual information about the type of the communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the communication device comprises a brand of the communication device;

and

wherein determining the entry identifies the communication device comprises determining the entry identifies the brand of the communication device; and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information about the brand of the communication device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the communication device comprises a feature of the communication device;

and

wherein determining the entry identifies the communication device comprises determining the entry identifies the feature of the communication device; and

wherein determining the entry displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information about the feature of the communication device.

8. With respect to a communications manager that provides a message log of communications of a user, the message log including entries, respectively, for the communications of the user, and with each entry including types of data relating to a communication, a method to provide the user with contextual information, the method comprising:

displaying the message log of the user on a computer screen;

noting activation of a type of data in an entry relating to a communication;

displaying a query on the computer screen with the query inquiring whether the user would like contextual information based on the activated type of data in the entry;

receiving a positive response to the query; and

presenting the contextual information to the user.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a gateway in a data network.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a telecommunications manager in a communications network.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the activated type of data in the entry comprises an identification of a communicator;

and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information based on the identification of the communicator.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the activated type of data in the entry comprises an identification of a communication device or a communication service;

and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information based on the identification of the communication device or the communication service.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the activated type of data in the entry comprises an identification of a subject;

and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information based on the identification of the subject.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the activated type of data in the entry comprises an identification of a date;

and

wherein displaying the query comprises displaying the query inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information based on the identification of the date.

15. With respect to a communications manager that stores profile information about a user and about communicating partners of the user, a method to provide the user with contextual information, the method comprising:

causing the profile information of the user to identify communication devices of the user;

causing the profile information of a communicating partner to indicate a preferred communication device of the communicating partner;

noting an effort by the user to communicate with the communicating partner with the effort including an identification of the communicating partner;

using the identification of the communicating partner to check the profile information of the communicating partner for the preferred communication device of the communicating partner;

comparing the preferred communication device of the communicating partner with the communicating devices of the user;

based on the comparison, determining the user has a communication device corresponding to the preferred communication device of the communicating partner;

inquiring whether the user would like contextual information on the preferred communication device of the communicating partner;

receiving a positive response to the query; and

presenting the contextual information to the user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the profile information of the user identifies communication services of the user;

wherein the profile information of the communicating partner indicates a preferred communication service of the communicating partner;

wherein the identification of the communicating partner is used to check the profile information of the communicating partner for the preferred communication service of the communicating partner;

wherein the preferred communication service of the communicating partner is compared with the communication services of the user;

wherein the comparison determines the user does not have a communication service corresponding to the preferred communication service of the communicating partner; and

wherein the inquiry inquires whether the user would like the contextual information on the preferred communication service of the communicating partner.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a gateway in a data network.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein presenting the contextual information comprises obtaining the contextual information from a telecommunications manager in a communications network.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the profile information of the user indicates, respectively, configurations of the communication devices of the user;

wherein the profile information of the communicating partner indicates a configuration of the preferred communication of the communicating partner;

wherein comparing the preferred communication device of the communicating partner with the communication devices of the user comprises comparing the configuration of the preferred communication device of the communicating partner with the configurations of the communication devices of the user;

wherein, based on the comparison, determining the user does not have the communication device corresponding to the preferred communication device of the communicating partner comprises determining the user does not have the communication device corresponding to the configuration of the preferred communication device of the communicating partner; and

wherein inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information on the preferred communication device of the communicating partner comprises inquiring whether the user would like the contextual information on the configuration of the preferred communication device of the communicating partner.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein noting the effort by the user to communicate with the communicating partner comprises noting a heightened interest in the user.