Interactive telephone networking service

• US 6,088,435 A
• Filed: 11/10/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parekh, Kalpesh P., Kung, Chih Chiang, Yousry, Mona A., Barber, James Stewart
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/328,600
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/88.25, 379/90.01, 379/201, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/205, 379/206, 379/214, 379/216, 379/242, 379/243, 379/244, 379/245
• US Class Current: 379/205.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enabling parties with similar interests to speak with one another through connections automatically established by equipment within the telephone network. A party seeking to join a conversation or obtain information (referred to as a "requesting subscriber") is connected automatically with an appropriate individual, conference call, or voice messages on the basis of information provided by the requesting subscriber and information about other prospective parties to the call (other "subscribers" to the interactive telephone network service). The requesting subscriber need not know the identities or telephone numbers of the other subscribers. The identities and telephone numbers of the other subscribers are maintained in a database and may be held in secrecy. Similarly, a requesting subscriber may create or retrieve telephone messages stored in a database according to the subject matter of the message.

Claims

1. A method for processing a call in a network comprising the steps of:

receiving from a subscriber a request to establish a telephone connection with another party on a topic specified by the subscriber;

comparing the subscriber-specified topic with information stored in a database for other subscribers to identify a prospective party to the telephone connection;

determining whether the prospective party is actively connected to the network; and

based on the determination, automatically initiating the telephone connection between at least the subscriber and the prospective party.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information stored in the database comprises a subscriber profile for each of a plurality of subscribers, each subscriber profile comprising:

information about a selected subscriber'"'"'s identity;

the selected subscriber'"'"'s telephone number; and

at least one subject matter identifier, the subject matter identifier being indicative of subject matter topics of interest to the selected subscriber.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the subscriber profile further comprises an indication of whether the selected subscriber will accept in-bound telephone calls.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the subscriber profile further comprises an indication of whether the selected subscriber has video telephone capability.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically initiating the telephone connection comprises bridging the subscriber onto an existing telephone call if it is determined that the prospective party is active.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically initiating the telephone connection comprises initiating the telephone connection to a second subscriber using a telephone number obtained from the database if it is determined that the prospective party is inactive.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the request further specifies at least one personal characteristic of the prospective party to the telephone connection.

8. A method for processing a call in a network comprising the steps of:

receiving from a subscriber a request to establish a telephone connection with another party, the request including profile information specifying at least one personal characteristic of the other party;

comparing the profile information provided in the request with information stored in a database for other subscribers to identify a prospective party to the telephone connection;

determining whether the prospective party is actively connected to the network; and

based on the determination, automatically initiating the telephone connection between at least the subscriber and the prospective party.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the personal characteristic comprises an indication of the subscriber'"'"'s preference for the age of the other party.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the personal characteristic comprises an indication of the subscriber'"'"'s preference for the gender of the other party.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically initiating the telephone connection comprises bridging the subscriber onto an existing telephone call if it is determined that the prospective party is active.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of automatically initiating the telephone connection comprises initiating the telephone connection to a second subscriber using a telephone number obtained from the database if it is determined that the prospective party is inactive.