Methods and systems for a communications and information resource manager

• US 20070130338A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• 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, Anderson, Richard, Koch, Robert, Hill, Peter
• Application Number:
  US11/638,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20070130338A1
• 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 and systems are disclosed for managing the communications and information resources of a user. Identity information relating to the user is received. The user'"'"'s preference for withholding an incoming communication is obtained. An entry is created in a message log for the withheld communication. The user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log.

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method for managing communications and data relating to the communications of a user, the method comprising:

receiving identity information relating to the user;

obtaining the user'"'"'s preference for withholding an incoming communication; and

creating an entry in a message log for the withheld communication,

wherein the user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the message log tracks each communication sent by the user and each communication received by the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ignoring an incoming communication and yet adding a corresponding entry for the incoming communication in the message log.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising i) ignoring an incoming call such that the call is not terminated, and ii) adding a corresponding entry for the incoming call in the message log.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising presenting an indicator of the incoming call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting a map box that maps locations of a sender and a recipient of the communication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the user'"'"'s preference comprises withholding an incoming call, and further comprising presenting a map box that maps locations of a caller number and a called number.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an automatic response to a sender of the communication.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining information correlated to the communication, the correlated information comprising a history of communications between a sender and a recipient.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising configuring a “

Do Not Disturb”

mode of operation in which notifications of incoming communications are withheld from the user, yet the message log creates entries for the incoming communications.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising accessing the message log and presenting a list of withheld communications that were received while operating in the “

Do Not Disturb”

mode.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising accessing the message log and presenting a list of withheld communications that were attempted while operating in the “

Do Not Disturb”

mode.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising accessing the message log and presenting a list of withheld communications that have taken place in a chat room while operating in the “

Do Not Disturb”

mode.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein obtaining the user'"'"'s preference comprises providing a notification of a specific type of communication, such that the notifications of the incoming communications are withheld from the user, unless an incoming communication is of the specific type selected by the user for notification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein providing the notification of the specific type of communication comprises providing the notification for priority emails.

16. A method for managing communications and data relating to the communications of a user, the method comprising:

maintaining information about the user;

periodically accessing a service provider'"'"'s records for other information about the user;

if the other information about the user is available, then retrieving the other information; and

storing the other information with the information about the user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising accessing the service provider'"'"'s records that list new wireless customers, obtaining data related to the user'"'"'s new wireless service, and updating the information about the user with the data related to the user'"'"'s new wireless service.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the data related to the user'"'"'s new wireless service comprises a new mobile phone number.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein when the data related to the user'"'"'s new wireless service involves a charge, then prompting the user before obtaining the data.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising presenting a log of wireless calls that were