Methods, Systems, and Computer-Readable Media for Providing an Event Alert

• US 20130009776A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Granted Patent: US 8,711,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing an event alert. According to embodiments, a method for providing an event alert is provided. According to the method, an incoming communication from a first device is detected. An initiating party associated with the first device is identified. Whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with an alert tag is determined. The alert tag may include an identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device. In response to determining that the initiating party associated with the first device is associated with the alert tag, the identifying alert is provided as the event alert on a second device.

Claims

1. A method for providing an event alert, the method comprising:

detecting, at a first device, a communication from a second device;

identifying an initiating party associated with the communication;

determining whether the initiating party is associated with an alert tag, the alert tag comprising an identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device; and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the alert tag, playing the alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

responsive to determining that the initiating party is not associated with the alert tag, playing a default alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein playing the alert tag as the event alert via the first device comprises:

playing an initial warning via the first device prior to playing the alert tag; and

upon playing the initial warning, playing the alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

determining whether the communication contains the alert tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

establishing a session with an alert tag store via a communications network, the alert tag store configured to store a plurality of alert tags; and

determining whether the plurality of alert tags in the alert tag store contains the alert tag.

6. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

identifying a contacted party associated with the communication;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the first device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, playing the second alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert tag distinguishes the initiating party over other potential initiating parties.

8. A device for providing an event alert, the device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

detecting a communication from a second device,

identifying an initiating party associated with the communication,

determining whether the initiating party is associated with an alert tag, the alert tag comprising an identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device, and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the alert tag, playing the alert tag as the event alert via the device.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

responsive to determining that the initiating party is not associated with the alert tag, playing a default alert tag as the event alert via the device.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein playing the alert tag as the event alert via the device comprises:

playing an initial warning via the device prior to playing the alert tag; and

upon playing the initial warning, playing the alert tag as the event alert via the device.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

determining whether the communication contains the alert tag.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

establishing a session with an alert tag store via a communications network, the alert tag store configured to store a plurality of alert tags; and

determining whether the plurality of alert tags in the alert tag store contains the alert tag.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a contacted party associated with the communication;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, playing the second alert tag as the event alert via the device.

14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting, at a first device, a communication from a second device;

identifying an initiating party associated with the communication;

determining whether the initiating party is associated with an alert tag, the alert tag comprising an identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device; and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the alert tag, playing the alert tag as an event alert via the first device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

responsive to determining that the initiating party is not associated with the alert tag, playing a default alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein playing the alert tag as the event alert via the first device comprises:

playing an initial warning via the first device prior to playing the alert tag; and

upon playing the initial warning, playing the alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

determining whether the communication contains the alert tag.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the initiating party is associated with the alert tag comprises:

establishing a session with an alert tag store via a communications network, the alert tag store configured to store a plurality of alert tags; and

determining whether the plurality of alert tags in the alert tag store contains the alert tag.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

identifying a contacted party associated with the communication;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the first device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, playing the second alert tag as the event alert via the first device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the alert tag distinguishes the initiating party over other potential initiating parties.