Devices, Methods and Computer Program Products for Providing Subject Matter Reminders for Telephone Calls

• US 20080037754A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US11/428,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20080037754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party

Abstract

A telephone call between a first party and a second party is facilitated by presenting to the first party, previously generated notes that relate to subject matter of a future telephone call with the second party, in response to initiation of an outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party and/or receipt of an incoming telephone call from the second party by the first party. A reminder is thereby provided to the first party as to the subject matter of the telephone call between the first party and the second party. A delay may be implemented in order to allow the first party to review the notes.

Claims

1. A computer program product for facilitating a telephone call between a first party and a second party, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to present to the first party, previously generated notes related to subject matter of a future telephone call with the second party, in response to initiation of an outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party and/or receipt of an incoming telephone call from the second party by the first party, so as to remind the first party of the subject matter of the telephone call between the first party and the second party.

2. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to accept input of the notes and an identification of the second party and to store the notes and the identification that were accepted.

3. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to delay connection of the incoming telephone call from the second party to the first party or of the outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party, so as to allow the first party to review the notes before beginning the incoming/outgoing telephone call.

4. A computer program product according to claim 3 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to delay connection of the incoming telephone call from the second party to the first party by extending a ring cycle for the incoming telephone call beyond the ring cycle for an incoming telephone call that does not include notes associated therewith.

5. A computer program product according to claim 3 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to delay connection of the incoming telephone call from the second party to the first party by presenting a hold message to the second party while the connection of the incoming call is being delayed.

6. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to present notes that were previously generated by the first party, by the second party and/or by a third party, related to the future telephone call with the second party.

7. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to selectively delete the notes after they are presented, to save the notes to provide a recurring reminder and/or to log the notes.

8. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to present the notes in response to initiation of an outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party and/or receipt of an incoming telephone call from the second party by the first party, and in further response to an indication by the first party to accept presentation of notes.

9. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code executes on a telephone of the first party, on a computer of the first party and/or on a network.

10. A computer program product according to claim 1 wherein the computer-readable program code is further configured to present the notes by displaying the notes on a display and/or by audibly presenting the notes as speech.

11. An apparatus for facilitating a telephone call between a first party and a second party comprising hardware that is loaded with the computer-readable program code of claim 1.

12. A method for facilitating a telephone call between a first party and a second party, the method comprising:

presenting to the first party, previously generated notes related to subject matter of a future telephone call with the second party, in response to initiation of an outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party and/or receipt of an incoming telephone call from the second party by the first party, so as to remind the first party of the subject matter of the telephone call between the first party and the second party.

13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

accepting input of the notes and an identification of the second party; and

storing the notes and the identification that were accepted.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

delaying connection of the incoming telephone call from the second party to the first party or of the outgoing telephone call to the second party by the first party, so as to allow the first party to review the notes before beginning the incoming/outgoing telephone call.

15. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

accepting the notes from the first party, from the second party and/or from a third party.

16. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:

selectively deleting the notes after they are presented, saving the notes to provide a recurring reminder and/or logging the notes.

17. A method according to claim 12 wherein presenting the notes is performed in further response to an indication by the first party to accept presentation of notes.

18. An apparatus for facilitating a telephone call between a first party and a second party comprising hardware that is configured to execute the method of claim 12.

19. A computer program product for facilitating a real time communications session between a first party and a second party, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that is configured to present to the first party, previously generated notes related to subject matter of a future real time communications session with the second party, in response to initiation of an outgoing real time communication to the second party by the first party and/or receipt of an incoming real time communication from the second party by the first party, so as to remind the first party of the subject matter of the real time communications session between the first party and the second party.

20. A computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the real time communications session comprises a text message and/or instant message session.