ORDERING TELEPHONE MESSAGES LEFT FOR A USER
First Claim
1. A method of ordering telephone messages left for a first user having a first telephone number, the method comprising:
- associating the first telephone number with a second telephone number of a second user that has a relationship with the first user;
tracking incoming and outgoing telephone calls to and from the first and second telephone numbers;
storing a plurality of telephone messages received by the first user in response to a plurality of missed incoming telephone calls to the first telephone number, wherein each telephone message is associated with an originating user;
for each telephone message among the plurality of telephone messages, assigning such telephone message to one of first, second, and third groups, including;
assigning such telephone message to the first group in response to determining that no incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left;
assigning such telephone message to the second group in response to determining that an incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left, but that the second user has not been in contact with the associated originating user since such telephone message was left; and
assigning such telephone message to the third group in response to determining that an incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left, and that the second user has been in contact with the associated originating user since such telephone message was left; and
sorting the plurality of telephone messages for playback such that each telephone message in the first group is ordered earlier than each telephone message in the second group, and such that each telephone message in the second group is ordered earlier than each telephone message in the third group.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method that associates the first telephone number of a first user with a second telephone number of a second user that has a relationship with the first user; tracks incoming and outgoing telephone calls; and stores a plurality of telephone messages received by the first user. For each telephone message, the method assigns such telephone message to one of first, second, and third groups; and sorts the plurality of telephone messages for playback. By doing so, the telephone messages may be prioritized such that the first user may be able to more quickly determine whether or not the first user should return a telephone message, often reducing the number of unnecessary telephone calls and improving efficiency.
23 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of ordering telephone messages left for a first user having a first telephone number, the method comprising:
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associating the first telephone number with a second telephone number of a second user that has a relationship with the first user; tracking incoming and outgoing telephone calls to and from the first and second telephone numbers; storing a plurality of telephone messages received by the first user in response to a plurality of missed incoming telephone calls to the first telephone number, wherein each telephone message is associated with an originating user; for each telephone message among the plurality of telephone messages, assigning such telephone message to one of first, second, and third groups, including; assigning such telephone message to the first group in response to determining that no incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left; assigning such telephone message to the second group in response to determining that an incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left, but that the second user has not been in contact with the associated originating user since such telephone message was left; and assigning such telephone message to the third group in response to determining that an incoming telephone call was placed to the second user from the associated originating user at a similar time as such telephone message was left, and that the second user has been in contact with the associated originating user since such telephone message was left; and sorting the plurality of telephone messages for playback such that each telephone message in the first group is ordered earlier than each telephone message in the second group, and such that each telephone message in the second group is ordered earlier than each telephone message in the third group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification