SIMULTANEOUS VISUAL AND TELEPHONIC ACCESS TO INTERACTIVE INFORMATION DELIVERY

• US 20140254437A1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: KOCH, Robert A., CALDWELL, Hamish M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,186 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/38 Telephone uniform resource identifier [URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/65 Telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/252 where a voice mode is enhanced with visual information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0027 Collaboration services where a computer is used for data transfer and the telephone is used for telephonic communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A server, method, and system for providing information to an electronic device are provided. An audio-based connection is established with the electronic device. A first identifier of the electronic device is determined in association with the audio-based connection. The electronic device is detected as being able to support a visual-based connection based on the first identifier. A second identifier of the electronic device is determined based on the first identifier. Visual information is provided to the electronic device via the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection and determining the second identifier. The visual information is provided to the electronic device based on the second identifier.

Claims

1. A server for providing information to an electronic device, the server comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

establishing an audio-based connection with the electronic device;

determining a first identifier of the electronic device in association with the audio-based connection;

detecting that the electronic device is able to support a visual-based connection based on the first identifier;

determining a second identifier of the electronic device based on the first identifier; and

providing visual information to the electronic device via the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection and determining the second identifier, the visual information being provided to the electronic device based on the second identifier.

2. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the processor detects that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection by detecting a session identifier in a database, the session identifier including the first identifier and the second identifier.

3. The server as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the session identifier is created and stored in the database when the electronic device establishes an internet-based connection with a predetermined website.

4. The server as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the session identifier is created during a log in procedure by the electronic device with the predetermined website.

5. The server as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the session identifier is removed from the database when the internet-based connection is terminated.

6. The server as set forth in claim 5, wherein the operations further include:

continuing the audio-based connection with the electronic device when the internet-based connection is terminated, after the session identifier is removed from the database.

7. The server as set forth in claim 3, wherein

the visual information is provided to the electronic device via the internet-based connection.

8. The server as set forth in claim 2, wherein

the session identifier comprises an internet protocol address, a voice directory number, and an internet directory number.

9. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein

the processor detects that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection by detecting that the electronic device has an active Internet connection.

10. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

simultaneously providing audio information to the electronic device via the audio-based connection and the visual information to the electronic device via the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection and determining the second identifier.

11. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

prompting, via the audio-based connection, the electronic device to initiate the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection; and

providing the visual information to the electronic device in response to receiving a request from the electronic device, via the audio-based connection, for the visual-based connection.

12. The server as set forth in claim 1, wherein the operations further include:

receiving an audible message from the electronic device via the audio-based connection;

processing the audible message; and

delivering a content of the audible message to the electronic device via the visual-based connection.

13. A method for providing information to an electronic device, the method comprising:

establishing an audio-based connection with the electronic device;

determining, by a processor, a first identifier of the electronic device in association with the audio-based connection;

detecting, by the processor, that the electronic device is able to support a visual-based connection based on the first identifier;

determining, by the processor, a second identifier of the electronic device based on the first identifier; and

providing, via a network interface, visual information to the electronic device after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection and determining the second identifier, the visual information being provided to the electronic device based on the second identifier.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

accessing, by the processor, a database for detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection, the database comprising a session identifier that includes the first identifier and the second identifier.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein

the session identifier is removed from the database when the internet-based connection is terminated, and

the method further comprises:

continuing the audio-based connection with the electronic device when the internet-based connection is terminated, after the session identifier is removed from the database.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein

the processor detects that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection by detecting that the electronic device has an active Internet connection.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

simultaneously providing audio information to the electronic device via the audio-based connection and the visual information to the electronic device via the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection and determining the second identifier.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

prompting, via the audio-based connection, the electronic device to initiate the visual-based connection after detecting that the electronic device is able to support the visual-based connection; and

providing the visual information to the electronic device in response to receiving a request from the electronic device, via the audio-based connection, for the visual-based connection.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving an audible message from the electronic device via the audio-based connection;

processing the audible message; and

delivering a content of the audible message to the electronic device via the visual-based connection.

20. A system for providing information to an electronic device, the system comprising:

a database that includes a plurality of session identifiers, one of the plurality of session identifiers including a first identifier and a second identifier of the electronic device;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

establishing an audio-based connection with the electronic device;

determining the first identifier of the electronic device in association with the audio-based connection;

accessing the database and detecting the session identifier that includes the first identifier, based on the first identifier;

determining the second identifier of the electronic device based on the session identifier for detecting that the electronic device is able to support a visual-based connection; and

providing visual information to the electronic device via the visual-based connection after determining the second identifier, the visual information being provided to the electronic device based on the second identifier.