Metadata collection

• US 20070280204A1
• Filed: 05/31/2006
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Howell, David A., Milstein, David, Wang, Kuansan, Criddle, Linda, Malueg, Michael D., Chou, Philip A., Forbes, Scott C., Moore, Timothy M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,983,247 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method and system for collecting and communicating contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation is provided. Structured hierarchies are utilized for efficient communications of various amounts and types of contextual information relating to a VoIP conversation. Information identifying at least one structured hierarchy, which will be used to carry the contextual information, is transmitted during establishment of a conversation between two VoIP enhanced devices. The structured hierarchy is selected from a set of predefined and declared structured hierarchies. Subsequently transmitted contextual information exchanged between two VoIP enhanced devices is represented in accordance with the identified structural hierarchy. VoIP clients, network infrastructure, and various service providers can collect the contextual information based on the identified structured hierarchy, update the contextual information by adding, deleting and/or modifying the contextual data. The updated contextual information will be transmitted to other clients, network infrastructure, and service providers.

Claims

1. A method for collecting and transmitting contextual information, comprising:

identifying a set of contextual information to be included as part of a conversation;

obtaining the identified set of contextual information; and

transmitting as part of the conversation the obtained contextual information in a hierarchical format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted contextual information is transmitted at a beginning of the conversation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted contextual information is transmitted during the conversation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the contextual information is transmitted at predetermined time intervals.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the contextual information is transmitted in response to a change in the contextual information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes device related information describing the capabilities of a device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes user specific information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes conversation related information describing the basics of the communication channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes information identifying a subject of the conversation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the conversation and the contextual information are transmitted over a Voice-over-Internet Protocol communication channel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the hierarchical format is structured as an Extensible Markup Language.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the contextual information includes a document file and a media document file generated by application software.

13. A computer readable medium having computer executable components for collecting and transmitting contextual information comprising:

a conversation channel component for initializing and establishing a communication channel for a conversation;

an information managing component for identifying a set of contextual information related to the conversation and collecting the identified set of contextual information; and

a contextual information component for defining a structured hierarchy to include the collected contextual information.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the structured hierarchy is a predefined namespace including a call basic class, a call context class, a device type class, and a client class.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the call basic class includes a plurality of attributes containing service provider related information, call type related information, and call priority related information.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the client class includes a plurality of attributes containing biometric information, location information, and client rule related information.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the call contexts class includes a plurality of attributes containing subject information, keywords relating to the conversation, and document files.

18. A system for collecting and transmitting contextual information between at least one receiving party and a sending party wherein the contextual information relates to an exchange of a conversation on a communication channel, comprising:

the sending party identifying a set of contextual information related to the conversation, collecting the identified contextual information, transmitting the obtained contextual information to the at least one receiving party; and

receiving a set of contextual information from the at least one receiving party; and

wherein the sending party initiates and establishes the communication channel.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sending party includes at least one VOIP device and a service provider;

and

wherein the at least one VoIP device is in communication with the service provider.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the service provider obtains contextual information provided from the at least one VoIP device.