Method for adding context to communications

• US 6,310,944 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Mahan, Laura, St-George, Marilyn F., Brisebois, Michel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC MINH
• Application Number:
  US08/992,003
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.35, 379/142, 379/215-216, 379/354, 379/93.23, 379/88-9-, 379/127.01, 379/142.01, 379/142.06, 455/38.4, 455/550, 455/566-567, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2038 Call context notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53341 Message reply

Abstract

A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting communication over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of:

receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party;

gathering context information known to the communications network;

gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party;

gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party;

automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party;

receiving an indication from the called party as to whether to establish the communications link; and

establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of

gathering information indicating whether the calling party is using a network or service provider custom calling feature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of

gathering information indicating the location and local time of the calling party.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options includes the step of

gathering information indicating the media expectation of the calling party.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of

gathering a custom name in place of the subscriber name associated with the calling party.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of

gathering a topic header.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of

gathering a computer file to be attached to the communication.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of

gathering information indicating the expected demand on the called party.

9. A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of:

receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party;

gathering context information known to the communications network;

automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party;

receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and

establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication,

wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of

gathering information indicating whether the calling party is returning a communication from a called party.

10. A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of:

receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party;

gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party;

automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party;

receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and

establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication,

wherein the step of gathering context information from a selection of predetermined options includes the step of

gathering information indicating the synchronicity of the communication.

11. A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of:

receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party;

gathering context information;

providing the gathered context information directly to the calling party;

receiving an indication from the calling party as to whether to establish the communications link; and

establishing or not establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party based on the indication;

wherein the step of gathering context information includes the step of gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the called party including gathering information indicating media preferences of the called party.