SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR RECIPIENT CONTROLLED COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20120264404A1
• Filed: 02/17/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Great Adventure Series 103 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Gross, Erwin Gross
• Inventors: Gross, Daniel, Gross, Erwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,402,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/413
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A communication system is provided in which users associate handling data identifying how messages are to be processed with contact data. Handling data for the identified contacts in the contact data is then dispatched to those contacts. Subsequently when messages are dispatched from the locations identified by the contact data a sender of a message selects handling data to be associated with a message being dispatched. Upon receipt of a message associated with handling data the message is then processed in the manner identified by the handling data.

Claims

1. An electronic communication system for controlling processing of electronic communications of a call between a specific caller and a recipient among a plurality of caller electronic communication devices, the system comprising:

means for generating by the recipient a group of processing criteria;

means for selecting by the recipient a first sub-set of processing criteria from the group of processing criteria, wherein the first sub-set of processing criteria is selected based on the specific caller, and wherein the means for selecting the first sub-set of processing criteria is adapted to identify which processing criteria are to be allocated to which one or more specific callers among the plurality of caller electronic communication devices;

means for associating contact data with the recipient, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising contact information of one of the specific callers and a list of one or more said processing criteria that are allocated to the one of the specific callers, the means for associating the contact data comprising means at the recipient for storing or accessing the contact data, wherein one contact record of the plurality of contact records corresponds to the specific caller;

means for selecting a second sub-set of processing criteria from the first sub-set of processing criteria by the specific caller; and

means for processing a voicemail in accordance with the selected second sub-set of processing criteria.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for associating a current status with the recipient; and

means for processing the call in accordance with the second sub-set of processing criteria responsive to the current status of the recipient.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for processing the call comprises connecting the call if the current status of the recipient satisfies the second sub-set of processing criteria.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for processing the call comprises storing the voicemail if the current status of the recipient does not satisfy the second sub-set of processing criteria.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for associating the current status is operable at a mobile electronic communications device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising retrieving the voicemail responsive to the second sub-set of processing criteria.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting the second sub-set of processing criteria includes providing the specific caller with a menu.

8. A system for controlling processing of data communicated between a first computer and a group of second computers among a plurality of computers connected to a communication network, said system comprising:

means for generating at the first computer a group of processing criteria for recipient controlled communication;

means for selecting at the first computer the group of second computers from among the plurality of computers connected to the communication network;

means for selecting at the first computer a first sub-set of processing criteria from the group of processing criteria, wherein the means for selecting the first sub-set of processing criteria is adapted to identify which processing criteria are to be available to the group of second computers;

means for associating contact data with the first computer, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising a list of one or more addresses of specific ones of the plurality of computers and a list of one or more said processing criteria that are allocated to the specific ones of the plurality of computers, the associating means comprising means at the first computer for storing or accessing the contact data, wherein one contact record of the plurality of contact records corresponds to the group of second computers;

means for utilizing the one contact record to allocate said first sub-set of processing criteria to the group of second computers;

means for selecting a second sub-set of processing criteria from said first sub-set of processing criteria at one of the group of second computers;

means for associating a communication dispatched by the one of the group of second computers with said second sub-set of processing criteria; and

means for processing said communication associated with said second sub-set of processing criteria in accordance with said second sub-set of processing criteria.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the means for selecting a second sub-set of processing criteria comprises selecting the second sub-set after the dispatch of the communication.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first sub-set of processing criteria is dispatched from the first computer to the group of second computers using tag data associated with the group of second computers.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for the first computer to update the first sub-set of processing criteria allocated to the group of second computers.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for distributing the first sub-set of processing criteria to the group of second computers.

13. An electronic receiving unit for receiving and processing an electronic communication dispatched from one of a specific group of remote electronic dispatching units among a plurality of remote electronic dispatching units, said electronic receiving unit comprising:

generation means for generating a group of processing criteria, the processing criteria indicative of processes to be performed on electronic communications;

allocation means for allocating to the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units a sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria from the group of processing criteria;

selection means adapted to identify which processing criteria are to be available to which one or more specific remote electronic dispatching units among the plurality of remote electronic dispatching units;

association means for associating contact data with the electronic receiving unit, the contact data comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record comprising a list of one or more addresses of specific ones of the plurality of remote electronic dispatching units and a list of one or more said processing criteria that are allocated to the specific ones of the plurality of remote electronic dispatching units, the associating means comprising means at the electronic receiving unit for storing or accessing the contact data, wherein;

one contact record of the plurality of contact records corresponds to the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units; and

the allocation means is configured to utilize the one contact record to allocate the sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria to the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units;

receiving means for receiving the electronic communication associated with any selected processing criteria, said selected processing criteria being selected from the sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria by the one of the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units; and

processing means for processing the electronic communication in accordance with said selected processing criteria.

14. The electronic receiving unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the selection means is operable to enable a user of the electronic receiving unit to select the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units and the sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria.

15. The electronic receiving unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising input means used to define processing definition data indicative of the processes to be performed on the electronic communications, wherein the input means is operable to establish the processing criteria based on the processing definition data to enable the processing means to process the electronic communications in accordance with the processing definition data.

16. The electronic receiving unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising output means for outputting processing definition data indicative of the processes to be performed on the electronic communications prior to receipt of the electronic communications, wherein second generation means is arranged to generate, at the one of the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units, means for processing the electronic communication in accordance with the selected processing criteria corresponding to the processing definition data prior to dispatching the electronic communication.

17. The electronic receiving unit as claimed in claim 13,

wherein said allocation means is arranged to allocate one of the processing criteria to indicate forwarding of the electronic communication to another location, and

wherein said processing means is arranged to forward the electronic communication to the other location.

18. The electronic receiving unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processing criteria comprises items of control data indicative of the processes to be performed on the electronic communications.

19. The electronic receiving unit of claim 13,

wherein the electronic receiving unit is configured to receive and process a second electronic communication dispatched from a second one of the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units,

wherein the receiving means is configured to receive the second electronic communication associated with any second selected processing criteria, said second selected processing criteria being selected from the sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria by the second one of the specific group of remote electronic dispatching units, and

wherein the processing means is configured to process the second electronic communication in accordance with said second selected processing criteria.

20. The electronic receiving unit of claim 13,

wherein the electronic receiving unit is configured to receive and process a second electronic communication dispatched from one of a second specific group of remote electronic dispatching units among a plurality of remote electronic dispatching units,

wherein the allocation means is configured to allocate to the second specific group of remote electronic dispatching units a second sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria from the group of processing criteria,

wherein a second contact record of the plurality of contact records corresponds to the second specific group of remote electronic dispatching units,

wherein the allocation means is configured to utilize the second contact record to allocate the second sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria to the second specific group of remote electronic dispatching units,

wherein the receiving means is configured to receive the second electronic communication associated with any second selected processing criteria, said second selected processing criteria being selected from the second sub-set of one or more particular processing criteria by the one of the second specific group of remote electronic dispatching units, and

wherein the processing means is configured to process the second electronic communication in accordance with said second selected processing criteria.