Context based action

• US 20070027921A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seven Networks LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Seven Networks Inc
• Inventors: Ariel, Ido, Alvarado, Billy, Gent, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/166 at the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Means for allowing users to manage and make productive use of PIM data are provided. User status is determined by certain contextual indicia whereby other parties may contact the user through the most appropriate means as reflected by that contextual indicia. Information concerning presence, status, location, availability and so forth are aggregated from various PIM sources and communicated to other parties who initiate contact with the user in light of the aggregated information. Various groups and permissions may be implemented with regard to the collection and sharing of information.

Claims

1. A method for managing user-to-user contact, comprising:

identifying a preferred contact method of a first user, the preferred contact method associated with a presence of the first user;

distributing information indicative of the preferred contact method associated with the presence of the first user to a second user;

identifying the presence of the first user;

distributing information indicative of the presence of the first user to the second user; and

displaying information indicative of the presence of the first user to the second user and further displaying to the second user a preferred contact method of the first user associated with the presence of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the first user is identified by the first user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the first user is inferred.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the presence of the first user is inferred from calendar data.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the presence of the first user is inferred from contact status with a communication device associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the communication device is a mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning a permission setting to the presence data of the first user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising sharing personal information management data of the first user with the second user if the second user meets the permission setting.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the permission setting is associated with a groups list.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising sharing location information of the first user with the second user if the second user meets the permission setting.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising assigning an expiration date to the permission setting.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the permission setting does not expire.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the display of the preferred contact method comprises displaying an icon associated with a particular contact method.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the preferred contact method is e-mail.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the preferred contact method is telephony.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the preferred contact method is via an instant messenger network.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the user is reflected by an emoticon.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence of the user is reflected by a text message.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information concerning recent communications from the first user simultaneously with the information concerning the presence of the first user.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying information concerning an event associated with the first user simultaneously with the information concerning the presence of the first user.

21. A system for managing user-to-user contact, comprising:

a data aggregation server configured to aggregate preferred contact information from a plurality of users, the preferred contact information associated with presence information of each of the plurality of users, the data aggregation server further configured to aggregate presence information of each of the plurality of users; and

a communications device configured to communicate with the data aggregation server and to access presence information of at least one of the plurality of users, the communications device further configured to display the contact information of the at least one of the plurality of users associated with the presence information of the at least one of the plurality of users.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the data aggregation server delivers the presence information and the preferred contact information to the communications device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the communications device requests the presence information and the preferred contact information from the data aggregation server.