Social Networking and Network Connectivity

• US 20170070472A1
• Filed: 11/18/2016
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stankey, John Thomas, Malik, Dale W., Mikan, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/355,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20170070472A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1078 Resource delivery mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

Social networking is used to enhance content delivery to mobile devices. Sometimes a mobile device lacks network connectivity, such as when the mobile device is off or offline. Content cannot be sent to the mobile device when lacking network connectivity. A social network, however, may be retrieved for interim storage of the content. When the mobile device lacks network connectivity, the content may be routed to a member device of the social network. The member device stores the content until the mobile device resumes network connectivity. The member device may then send or forward the content to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

processing, by a server, a communication associated with a recipient'"'"'s address;

determining, by the server, a device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address is unresponsive;

determining, by the server, a social network associated with a user of the device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address; and

generating, by the server, an instruction to route the communication to a member of the social network as an alternate recipient of the communication.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying an electronic database for the recipient'"'"'s address, the electronic database electronically associating addresses to social networks.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising identifying the social network of the social networks that is electronically associated in the electronic database with the recipient'"'"'s address.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a network address associated with the member of the social network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising sending the communication to the network address associated with the member of the social network.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the communication to the member of the social network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an electronic notification to the recipient'"'"'s address, the electronic notification notifying of the alternate recipient.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an electronic notification to the member of the social network, the electronic notification notifying of the alternate recipient.

9. A system, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing instructions, the instructions when executed by the hardware processor facilitate a performance of operations, the operations comprising;

processing a communication associated with a recipient'"'"'s address;

determining a device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address is unresponsive;

determining a social network associated with a user of the device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address; and

generating an instruction to route the communication to a member of the social network as an alternate recipient of the communication.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise querying an electronic database for the recipient'"'"'s address, the electronic database electronically associating addresses to social networks.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise identifying the social network of the social networks that is electronically associated in the electronic database with the recipient'"'"'s address.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise determining a network address associated with the member of the social network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise sending the communication to the network address associated with the member of the social network.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending the communication to the member of the social network.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending an electronic notification to the recipient'"'"'s address, the electronic notification notifying of the alternate recipient.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise sending an electronic notification to the member of the social network, the electronic notification notifying of the alternate recipient.

17. A memory device storing code that when executed causes a hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

determining a recipient'"'"'s address associated with a communication;

determining a device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address is unresponsive;

determining a social network associated with a user of the device associated with the recipient'"'"'s address; and

generating an instruction to route the communication to a member of the social network as an alternate recipient of the communication.

18. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise determining a network address associated with the member of the social network.

19. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise routing the communication to the member of the social network.

20. The memory device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise sending an electronic notification to the recipient'"'"'s address, the electronic notification notifying of the alternate recipient.