Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing an Event Alert

• US 20090058632A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Granted Patent: US 8,331,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing an event alert. According to embodiments, a method for providing an event alert is provided. According to the method, an incoming communication from a first device is detected. An initiating party associated with the first device is identified. Whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with an alert tag is determined. The alert tag may include an identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device. In response to determining that the initiating party associated with the first device is associated with the alert tag, the identifying alert is provided as the event alert on a second device.

Claims

1. A method for providing an event alert, comprising:

detecting an incoming communication from a first device;

identifying an initiating party associated with the first device;

determining whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with an alert tag, the alert tag comprising an identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device; and

in response to determining that the initiating party associated with the first device is associated with the alert tag, providing the identifying alert as the event alert on a second device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the alert tag from the first device or a network computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating party associated with the first device is identified based on a detected phone number associated with the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying alert identifies a name of the initiating party associated with the first device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the identifying alert as the event alert comprises providing the identifying alert in replacement of a ringing announcement or a vibration announcement.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device comprises a cellular telephone or a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the identifying alert as the event alert on a second device comprises providing an initial warning prior to providing the identifying alert as the event alert on the second device.

8. A system for providing an event alert, comprising:

a memory for storing a program containing code for providing the event alert;

a processor functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program and operative to;

detect an incoming communication from a first device,

identify an initiating party associated with the first device,

determine whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with an alert tag, the alert tag comprising an identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device, and

in response to determining that the initiating party is associated with the alert tag, transmit the alert tag over a network to a second device, wherein the second device is configured to provide the identifying alert as the event alert.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the alert tag is stored on a network computing device operatively coupled to the first device and the second device via the network.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the initiating party associated with the first device is identified based on a detected phone number associated with the first device.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the identifying alert identifies a name of the initiating party associated with the first device.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the second device is configured to provide the identifying alert as the event alert in replacement of a ringing announcement or a vibration announcement.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second device comprises a cellular telephone or a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone.

14. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for providing an event alert, the method comprising:

detecting an incoming communication from a first device;

receiving, from the first device, an identity of a contacted party associated with a second device;

determining whether the contacted party associated with the second device is further associated with a first alert tag, the first alert tag comprising a first identifying alert identifying the contacted party associated with the second device;

identifying an initiating party associated with the first device;

determining whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device; and

in response to determining that the contacted party is associated with the first alert tag and determining that the initiating party is associated with the second alert tag, transmitting the first alert tag and the second alert tag over a network to the second device, wherein the second device is configured to provide the first identifying alert and the second identifying alert as the event alert.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the alert tag is stored on a network computing device operatively coupled to the first device and the second device via the network.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the second device is further configured to provide an initial warning prior to providing the first identifying alert and the second identifying alert as the event alert.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, the method further comprising:

transmitting, to the first device, a plurality of parties from which to select the contacted party.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first identifying alert identifies a name of the contacted party associated with the second device, and wherein the second identifying alert identifies a name of the initiating party associated with the first device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the second device is configured to provide the first identifying alert and the second identifying alert as the event alert in replacement of a ringing announcement or a vibration announcement.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the second device comprises a cellular telephone or a voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone.