METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AND CONVEYING A ROLE ASSOCIATED WITH USERS IN A COMMUNICATION

• US 20100161728A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: CHRISTENSEN, LAURA A., DROZT, PETER M., KELLER, MATTHEW C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,473,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/35 containing special prefixes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A method for identifying and conveying a role of a first user relative to a second user in a communication comprises using a communication server to determine an identity of the first user, determine an identity of the second user, determine a relationship between the first user and the second user, determine an associated role with the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user, and convey the associated role of the first user relative to the relationship to the second user. The communication server receives an indication that a communication between the users is initiated. The communication server and/or a source are configured for tracking one or more of the identities, relationships, and roles of the first and second users. Each user may have a plurality of roles and the identity and roles may by fixed or dynamically assigned.

Claims

1. A method for identifying and conveying a role of a first user relative to a second user in a communication, the method comprising at a communication server:

determining an identity of the first user;

determining an identity of the second user;

determining a relationship between the first user and the second user;

determining an associated role of the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user; and

conveying the associated role of the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user to the second user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprises receiving an indication that a communication between the first user and the second user is initiated.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprises tracking the identity of the first and second user.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises tracking the relationship between the identity of the first user and the identity of the second user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second user is also a different first user.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the first user is also a different second user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprises accessing at least one sources the at least one source configured for tracking at least one of the identity, the relationship between, and the role of the first and second users.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the role conveyed is a default role.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the identities of the first user and the role associated with the first user is statically assigned.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the identities of the first user and the role associated with the first user is dynamically assigned.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the identities of the second user and the role associated with the second user statically assigned.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the identities of the second user and the role associated with the second user is dynamically assigned.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the role of the first user relative to the second user is conveyed to the second user on a communication device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the role of the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user is conveyed over a communication network.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the role of the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user conveyed is controlled by the first user.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of roles are associated with the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and a second user, and less than all of the plurality of roles is conveyed to the second user.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of relationships between the first user and the second user.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of second users and a different relationship between the first user and each of the plurality of second users, wherein the first user is associated with a different role in each of the different relationships.

19. An apparatus for conveying at least one role to a plurality of users in a communication, the apparatus comprising:

a communication server, the communication server configured for determining at least one identity of each of a plurality of users, determining a relationship between at least two of the plurality of users based on the identities, determining at least one role for at least one of the plurality of users based on the relationship between the at least two of the plurality of users, and conveying the at least one role to each of the at least two of the plurality of users.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the communication server is configured for accessing at least one source.

21. A method for receiving a role of a first user relative to a relationship between the first user and a second user in a communication, the method comprising:

at a communication device of the second user;

participating in the communication with the first user; and

receiving at least one role of the first user relative to the relationship between the first user and the second user in the communication, as determined by a server, on the communication device.