COMMUNICATION REMINDERS

• US 20090290696A1
• Filed: 05/20/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: K. N., Giridhar
• Granted Patent: US 8,798,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2473 Telephone terminals interfacing a personal computer, e.g. using an API (Application Programming Interface) details of API H04M7/0021
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Embodiments are configured to provide reminders associated with communications and other events. In an embodiment, components of a communication system can operate to generate, maintain, and implement reminders associated with communications and other events. A reminder can be automatically generated and scheduled for one or more users of the communication system when a user is unavailable or unable to take a call. Reminders can be generated to include information which can be used to establish a communication event for a subsequent communication associated with each reminder.

Claims

1. A method of communicating in an integrated communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a calling signal associated with a device communication, wherein the calling signal includes an identifier to identify a first party;

receiving a status signal associated with a status of the first party, wherein the status signal includes information associated with a call reminder;

creating the call reminder for the communication using the call reminder information, wherein the call reminder includes one of a reminder type and a reminder time; and

;

scheduling a subsequent communication based in part on the call reminder information associated with the call reminder.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a diagnostic signal as a result of an unavailable status of the first party.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving the diagnostic signal as a result of a declining action associated with the first party, wherein the declining action includes a reschedule request including a reschedule time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the call reminder for the first party.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the call reminder for the first party, wherein the first party is a called party, and creating a second call reminder for the calling party, wherein the second call reminder includes identification details of the called party.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier associated with the calling signal includes one of a caller ID number, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Uniform Resource Identifier (URI), and an alphanumeric caller identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the status signal further comprises receiving a diagnostic signal that includes a call reminder request.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the call reminder to each communication device operable to communicate with a server maintaining the call reminder.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the call reminder as part of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the call reminder as a result of a receiving a voicemail signal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating the call reminder for the communication including creating one of a call reminder subject, an importance level, and a call endpoint.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the first party to call with a toast including contact details and a contact endpoint.

13. A computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon for facilitating communications in an integrated telephony system by:

determining an availability of a called party for a communication including determining an identifier that is associated with the called party;

creating a reminder for a subsequent communication if the called party is unavailable, wherein the reminder includes a URI, contact details, and a time for the subsequent communication; and

;

generating a notification associated with the reminder for the subsequent communication upon a reminder triggering event.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions facilitate communication by automatically creating the call reminder upon reaching a voicemail signal.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions facilitate communication by creating the reminder for a subsequent telephony call if the called party declines a VoIP communication.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions facilitate communication by creating a call reminder for the calling party which includes a called party URI, called party contact details, a scheduled time, and a reminder type.

17. A communication system for facilitating user communications, the system comprising:

a communication device operable to transmit and receive communication signals including a calling signal which includes an identifier to identify a communication party and a status signal associated with a status of the communication party, the communication device further comprising a reminder application which operates to create a reminder for a subsequent communication based in part on information associated with the status signal and a party schedule; and

,

a serving device operable to manage each reminder, wherein the serving device also includes call reminder information for inclusion in the reminder.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the serving device includes contact, scheduling, and identity information for inclusion in the reminder.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the serving device comprises a server configured to manage contact, calendar, messaging, and email information.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the communication device is one of wireless device and a wired device.