Method and system for multi-mode communication with sender authentication

• US 20060018445A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Mittal, Ajay
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.170
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/52 Telephonic communication in combination with fax communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Enabling control over multiple forms of communication to a recipient, such as email, instant messages, cell phone calls, conventional phone calls, faxes, and the like. The recipient defines rules for authenticating senders and for determining when, where, and how communication from the senders is transmitted to the recipient'"'"'s preferred receiving device(s). The rules are stored in a database of a central service. The central service applies the rules to incoming email, instant messages, calls, faxes, etc. The central service screens unauthentic senders according the recipients rules associated with each form of communication, requiring the sender to provide some proof of identification. If authenticated, the central service enables a sender to communicate with the recipient via the recipient'"'"'s currently preferred receiving device. If necessary, the central service converts incoming communications to the recipient'"'"'s preferred form of communication for transmission to the recipient'"'"'s preferred voice mail, cell phone, instant message service, etc.

Claims

1. A method for communication control, comprising:

receiving a communication;

authenticating a sender of the communication;

determining a recipient'"'"'s preferred form of receiving the communication from among a plurality of forms of receiving communications; and

enabling the recipient to receive the communication in the preferred form.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is received as one of:

a voice mail message;

an email message;

an instant message;

a short message service message;

a fax; and

a postal message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating the sender comprises confirming at least one of a password, a personal identification number (pin), a digital certificate, a public key, and the sender'"'"'s return address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an authentication method to use based on the form of the communication received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication is one of forwarded from a third party and received directly from the sender.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling the recipient to predefine at least one rule to determine the recipient'"'"'s preferred form of receiving the communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one rule is based on at least one of an identity of the sender, a time the communication is received, a day the communication is received, a location of the recipient, and a cost of each of the plurality of forms of receiving the communication.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the communication from a received form to the recipient'"'"'s preferred form.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of forms of receiving the communication by the recipient include:

as a voice mail message;

as an email message;

as an instant message;

as a short message service message;

as a fax; and

as a postal message.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface through which the recipient selects the predefined form of receiving the communication.

11. A system for communication control, comprising:

a processor;

a communication interface in communication with the processor and in communication with a sender and a recipient through at least one of a plurality of forms of communication; and

a memory in communication with the processor and storing data and instructions that cause the processor to perform a plurality of operations, including;

receiving a communication;

authenticating a sender of the communication;

determining a recipient'"'"'s preferred form of receiving the communication from among a plurality of forms of receiving communications; and

enabling the recipient to receive the communication in the preferred form.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the communication is received as one of:

a voice mail message;

an email message;

an instant message;

a short message service message; and

a fax.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of confirming at least one of a password, a personal identification number (pin), a digital certificate, a public key, and the sender'"'"'s return address.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of determining an authentication method to use based on the form of the communication received.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of enabling the recipient to predefine at least one rule to determine the recipient'"'"'s preferred form of receiving the communication.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one rule is based on at least one of an identity of the sender, a time the communication is received, a day the communication is received, a location of the recipient, and a cost of each of the plurality of forms of receiving the communication.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform the operation of converting the communication from a received form to the recipient'"'"'s preferred form.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a user interface through which the recipient selects the predefined form of receiving the communication.

19. A system for communication control, comprising:

a request handler that receives a communication from a sender in one form of a plurality of communication forms;

an authenticator in communication with the request handler, and authenticating the sender;

a converter in communication with the request handler, and converting the communication from the sender to a form preferred by a recipient; and

a transmitter in communication with the converter, and transmitting the converted communication to the recipient.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a database in communication with the authenticator and the converter, and storing rules for at least one authenticating the sender and converting the communication.