Method and apparatus for communicating with an entity automatically identified in an electronic communication

• US 6,772,188 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cloutier, Jocelyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Tam T.
• Application Number:
  US09/616,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 709/204, 709/206, 709/245, 709/225, 709/223, 709/224, 709/226, 709/229, 707/3, 707/6
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/06 Message adaptation to terminal or network requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for receiving an electronic communication containing an identifier or indicia of an entity and, in response to a user'"'"'s selection of the identifier, initiating communication between the user and the entity. Upon receipt of the electronic communication (e.g., document, electronic mail message, sound file), the system scans or parses it to locate one or more entity identifiers. An entity identifier may be a telephone number, electronic mail address, network address, name or virtually any other indicia that may serve to identify the entity. When a user selects an entity identifier, the system offers one or more methods of communicating with the associated entity, which methods may depend on the form of the entity identifier (e.g., a telephone number) and/or a preference specified by the user. The system initiates the selected form of communication in response to the user'"'"'s selection.

Claims

1. A method of assisting a user with initiating follow-up communications responsive to a received electronic message, comprising operations of:

responsive to receiving an electronic message, a user'"'"'s computer determining whether the message contains any party-specific indicia representing candidates for potential follow-up communications, the determining operation performed by scanning the message for at least one of the following;

(1) message content matching one or more prescribed codes, (2) message content exhibiting one or more prescribed formats;

responsive to the message containing any party-specific indicia, the user'"'"'s computer prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications by performing operations including displaying a representation of one or more parties associated with each item of party-specific indicia contained in the message;

responsive to user selection of one or more displayed parties, initiating communications with each selected party.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said received electronic message comprises at least one of the following:

a text document, an e-mail message, a sound file, a video file, a machine-readable data file.

3. The method of claim 1, the operation of the user'"'"'s computer prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications additionally comprising:

attempting to resolve any ambiguity in associating parties with party-specific indicia by considering one or more of the following;

other content of the electronic message, historic activity of the user in initiating past electronic communications, historical activity of the user in receiving electronic messages.

4. The method of claim 1, the operation of the user'"'"'s computer prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications additionally comprising:

obtaining user input to resolve ambiguity as to which party is associated with an item of party-specific indicia.

5. The method of claim 1, the operation of initiating communications with the selected party comprising at least one of the following:

the user'"'"'s computer initiating a voice-over-internet-protocol (IP) call to the party;

the user'"'"'s computer utilizing three-way calling to form a telephone connection between the party and the user;

the user'"'"'s computer placing a telephone call to the party, and when the call is answered, playing a voice message;

transmitting an e-mail to the party;

sending a facsimile message to the party.

6. The method of claim 1, where:

the operations further include, in association with each displayed party, the user'"'"'s computer additionally displaying one or more one user-selectable modes for initiating communications with the displayed party;

the operation of initiating communications with the selected party is performed utilizing the selected communications mode.

7. The method of claim 1, where:

the operations further comprise, before receiving the electronic message, the user'"'"'s computer receiving user preferences indicating preferred modes of communication for each of various parties;

the operation of initiating communications with the selected party is performed utilizing the preferred communications mode for that party.

8. The method of claim 1, where:

the operations further comprise, before receiving the electronic message, the user'"'"'s computer receiving user preferences as to a form of identifying the user in future communications;

the operation of initiating communications with the selected party is performed so as to identify the user utilizing the preferred form.

9. The method of claim 1, where:

the operations further comprise, before receiving the electronic message, the user'"'"'s computer receiving user pre-designation of one or more payment sources for future communications;

the operation of initiating communications with the selected party employs one of the pre-designated payment sources in the event payment is required to conduct the communications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each item of party-specific indicia comprises at least one of the following:

a telephone number, an e-mail address, a uniform resource locator, an instant messaging identifier, a network address.

11. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a user'"'"'s computer to perform operations for assisting the user with initiating follow-up communications responsive to a received electronic message, the operations comprising:

responsive to receiving an electronic message, a user'"'"'s computer determining whether the message contains any party-specific indicia representing candidates for potential follow-up communications, the determining operation performed by scanning the message for at least one of the following;

(1) message content matching one or more prescribed codes, (2) message content exhibiting one or more prescribed formats;

responsive to the message containing any party-specific indicia, the user'"'"'s computer prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications by performing operations including displaying a representation of one or more parties associated with each item of party-specific indicia contained in the message;

responsive to user selection of one or more displayed parties, initiating communications with each selected party.

12. Logic circuitry comprising multiple interconnected electrically conductive elements configured to perform operations for assisting a user with initiating follow-up communications responsive to a received electronic message, the operations comprising:

responsive to receiving an electronic message, a user'"'"'s computer determining whether the message contains any party-specific indicia representing candidates for potential follow-up communications, the determining operation performed by scanning the message for at least one of the following;

(1) message content matching one or more prescribed codes, (2) message content exhibiting one or more prescribed formats;

responsive to the message containing any party-specific indicia, the user'"'"'s computer prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications by performing operations including displaying a representation of one or more parties associated with each item of party-specific indicia contained in the message;

responsive to user selection of one or more displayed parties, initiating communications with each selected party.

13. A communications apparatus, comprising:

means for storage;

means for communications;

processing means for assisting a user with initiating follow-up communications responsive to a received electronic by performing operations comprising;

responsive to receiving an electronic message, determining whether the message contains any party-specific indicia representing candidates for potential follow-up communications, the determining operation performed by scanning the message for at least one of the following;

(1) message content matching one or more prescribed codes, (2) message content exhibiting one or more prescribed formats;

responsive to the message containing any party-specific indicia, prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications by performing operations including displaying a representation of one or more parties associated with each item of party-specific Indicia contained in the message;

responsive to user selection of one or more displayed parties, initiating communications with each selected party.

14. A communications apparatus, comprising:

digital data storage;

one or more communications modules;

coupled to the storage and communications modules, a processor programmed to assist a user with initiating follow-up communications responsive to a received electronic by performing operations comprising;

responsive to receiving an electronic message, determining whether the message contains any party-specific indicia representing candidates for potential follow-up communications, the determining operation performed by scanning the message for at least one of the following;

(1) message content matching one or more prescribed codes, (2) message content exhibiting one or more prescribed formats;

responsive to the message containing any party-specific indicia, prompting the user to initiate follow-up communications by performing operations including displaying a representation of one or more parties associated with each item of party-specific indicia contained in the message;

responsive to user selection of one or more displayed parties, initiating communications with each selected party.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a database containing the prescribed codes, the prescribed formats, and identities of parties associated with the party-specific indicia.