Network based archiving of user-specific information in a communication system

• US 20040203579A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Comp, Lynn A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,280,817 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/406
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/28 with meter at substation or with calculation of charges at terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42178 by downloading data to substation equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing

Abstract

User-specific information (e.g., call log information, contact information, etc.) normally stored within a mobile user device associated with a user is also maintained at one or more network storage locations within a communication system. The information may thereafter be easily transferred from the network storage location(s) to a new user device associated with the user.

Claims

1. A communication system for providing communication services to mobile users, comprising:

a network billing manager to maintain call information associated with a first mobile user at a first network storage location for use in billing the first mobile user; and

a call log manager to maintain call log information for the first mobile user at a second network storage location, said call log manager to transfer said call log information to a user device associated with the first mobile user in response to an appropriate command.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said call log information includes information relating to a predetermined number of previous calls associated with the first mobile user.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said call log manager retrieves information from said first network storage location to be stored in said second network storage location as call log information.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said second network storage location is located within a memory associated with a network server.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said first network storage location and said second network storage location are within a common memory.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said first network storage location and said second network storage location are within different memories.

7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said network billing manager and said call log manager are implemented within a common network server.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein:

said network billing manager maintains call information for multiple different mobile users and said call log manager maintains call log information for multiple different mobile users.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein:

said call log manager maintains call log information for mobile users that subscribe to a call log service.

10. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising:

an address book manager to facilitate transfer and storage of contact information from a user device associated with a mobile user to a third network storage location.

11. A mobile telephone for use in a communication system, comprising:

a data storage medium to store contact information for a user associated with the mobile telephone; and

an information transfer module to automatically transfer contact information from said data storage medium to a network storage location in the communication system at one or more predetermined times.

12. The mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein:

said information transfer module can be activated and deactivated by the user.

13. The mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein:

said one or more predetermined times are user programmable.

14. The mobile telephone of claim 11, wherein:

said remote network storage location is within a memory associated with a network server.

15. A method for providing a service in a cellular communication system, comprising:

maintaining user-specific information at a network storage location in the cellular communication system for a user; and

transferring said user-specific information from the network storage location to a user device associated with the user when an appropriate request is received.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said user-specific information includes user call log information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein:

said user-specific information includes contact information associated with the user.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising:

charging said user an extra fee for transferring said user-specific information.

19. The method of claim 15, comprising:

charging said user an extra fee for maintaining said user-specific information.

20. A method for providing a service in a cellular communication system, comprising:

providing storage of contact information for a user at a network storage location in the cellular communication system; and

transferring contact information from the network storage location to a user device associated with the user when an appropriate request is received.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

maintaining a dedicated network storage space within the cellular communication system in which to store said contact information for the user.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein:

providing storage includes facilitating transfer of contact information from a user device associated with the user to the network storage location.

23. A method for providing a service in a cellular communication system, comprising:

maintaining a call log for a user at a network storage location in the cellular communication system; and

transferring call log information from the network storage location to a user device associated with the user when an appropriate request is received.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising:

maintaining a dedicated network storage space within the cellular communication system in which to store said call log for the user.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein:

maintaining a call log includes retrieving information from billing entries associated with said user for use in updating said call log.

26. A method for supporting a call log service within a communication system supporting mobile users, comprising:

sensing a call in the communication system;

determining whether the call is valid; and

when the call is determined to be valid;

adding call information to a billing database for a mobile user associated with the call; and

when the mobile user associated with the call subscribes to a call log service, updating a call log associated with the mobile user that is stored at a network storage location.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

determining whether the call is valid includes determining whether the call is associated with an authorized user in the communication system.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transferring call log information from the network storage location to a user device associated with the mobile user when an appropriate command is received.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein:

said network storage location is within a memory associated with a network server in the communication system.

30. A method for supporting an address book storage and retrieval service within a communication system that services mobile users, comprising:

receiving a call from a user device requesting storage, at a network storage location, of user-specific contact information;

determining whether a user associated with the user device is a subscriber to an address book service; and

facilitating transfer of user-specific contact information from the user device to a network storage location when it is determined that the user is a subscriber to the address book service.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein:

determining whether the user subscribes to the address book service is performed as part of a call authentication process.

32. The method of claim 30, comprising:

transferring contact information from the network storage location to another mobile user device associated with the user when an appropriate request is received.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein:

said appropriate request is received from said another mobile user device during an initial programming of said another mobile user device by a vendor.

34. A method for configuring a cellular telephone for a user for use within a cellular communication system, comprising:

assigning a telephone number to the cellular telephone;

associating the telephone number with an identification number of the cellular telephone; and

downloading user-specific information associated with the user from a remote network storage location in the cellular communication system and storing the user-specific information within the cellular telephone.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the user-specific information includes user call log information.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the user-specific information includes contact information associated with the user.

37. The method of claim 34, comprising:

charging said user a fee for downloading said user-specific information.