Method, Apparatus, and Computer Program Product for Context-Based Contact Information Management

• US 20100199287A1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Guang, Boda, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/108
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2038 Call context notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00

Abstract

An apparatus for context-based contact information management may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive contact information and associated sender-based context information. In this regard, the contact information and sender-based context information may have been transmitted from a sending device. The processor may also be configured to associate receiver-based context information with the contact information and identify a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information. Further, the processor may be configured to link the contact information to the historical context. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving contact information and associated sender-based context information at a receiving device;

the contact information and sender-based context information having been transmitted from a sending device; and

associating receiver-based context information with the contact information via a processor of the receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the contact information includes receiving the contact information in the form of an electronic business card.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information via a processor of the receiving device; and

linking the contact information to the historical context.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment includes identifying the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment, the historical multi-dimensional context environment having been generated based on context information previously captured by a receiving device.

5. An apparatus comprising a processor, the processor configured to:

receive contact information and associated sender-based context information;

the contact information and sender-based context information having been transmitted from a sending device; and

associate receiver-based context information with the contact information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor configured to receive the contact information includes being configured to receive the contact information in the form of an electronic business card.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor configured to associate the receiver-based context information includes being configured to receive indications of the receiver-based context information via user input on a receiving device.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

identify a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information; and

link the contact information to the historical context.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment includes being configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment, the historical multi-dimensional context environment having dimensions for at least two of time, location, event, or people.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the contact information to be stored in a contact directory with a link to the historical context.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment includes being configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment, the historical multi-dimensional context environment having been generated based on context information previously captured by a receiving device.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a memory device, the memory device storing computer-readable program code instructions accessible to the processor for configuring the processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile terminal.

14. A computer program product comprising at least one computer-readable storage medium having executable computer-readable program code instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program code instructions configured to:

receive contact information and associated sender-based context information;

the contact information and sender-based context information having been transmitted from a sending device; and

associate receiver-based context information with the contact information.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer-readable program code instructions are further configured to:

identify a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information; and

link the contact information to the historical context.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code instructions configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment include being configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment, the historical multi-dimensional context environment having dimensions for at least two of time, location, event, or people.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code instructions are further configured to cause the contact information to be stored in a contact directory with a link to the historical context.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the computer-readable program code instructions configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment include being configured to identify the historical context within the historical multi-dimensional context environment, the historical multi-dimensional context environment having been generated based on context information previously captured by a receiving device.

19. A apparatus comprising:

means for receiving contact information and associated sender-based context information at a receiving device;

the contact information and sender-based context information having been transmitted from a sending device; and

means for associating receiver-based context information with the contact information.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

means for identifying a historical context within a historical multi-dimensional context environment based at least in part on the sender-based context information and the receiver-based context information; and

means for linking the contact information to the historical context.