Message log for wireline, voice mail, email, fax, pager, instant messages and chat

• US 7,007,085 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLETT, STEPHAN F
• Application Number:
  US10/109,909
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/223, 709/224, 370/252
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• 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 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/53 Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages , i.e. mailbox systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing information about a user'"'"'s communications. The inventions allow a user to obtain information correlated or corresponding to a communication. In addition, the inventions allow a user to take action based on the information about a communication or the correlated or corresponding information. An exemplary system includes a telecommunications (telecom) manager connected to a telecommunications network; a gateway connected to a data network; and a communications manager that may communicate with the telecom manager and the gateway. In addition, the communications manager may store information about a user'"'"'s communication preferences. The preferences may include a preference for presentation of information correlated or corresponding to a communication. The communications manager obtains information correlated or corresponding to a communication from its own resources, from the telecom manager, or from the gateway. The communications manager allows the user to act on the correlated or corresponding information.

Claims

1. A system for making information correlated to a communication automatically available to a user, comprising:

a processor communicating with memory; and

a communications manager stored in the memory, the communications manager comprising computer-readable instructions for storing an entry in a message log for each communication sent by and received by the user, the message log tracking

wireline communications sent by and received by the user,

voice mail communications sent by and received by the user,

email communications sent by and received by the user,

facsimile communications sent by and received by the user,

pager communications sent by and received by the user,

instant messages sent by and received by the user,

electronic chat room communications sent by and received by the user, and

unanswered telephone call attempts to contact the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager receives information correlated to the communication.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the correlated information is the substance of the communication.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the correlated information is an Internet link.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the correlated information is an electronic file.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the correlated information is another communication in the message log.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the correlated information is a result of a database lookup.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager receives an indication of the user'"'"'s selection of the entry.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein in response to the indication the communications manager checks for a preference for displaying the information correlated to the communication.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in response to finding the preference the communications manager obtains the correlated information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the communications manager causes the message log to be displayed.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications manager comprises a request for display of information corresponding to an initiated communication by the user;

and

wherein the communications manager is operative

to note initiation of the communication by the user,

to check for the request for the display of the information corresponding to the initiated communication, and

based on the request, to use communication information regarding the initiated communication to obtain and present the corresponding information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications manager is also operative to make the communication information regarding the initiated communication available in the message log.

14. A method for making information correlated to a communication automatically available to a user subscriber, comprising:

storing a preference for presentation of information correlated to a communication;

receiving information about the communication;

using the information to create an entry corresponding to the communication;

including the entry in a message log for each communication sent by and received by the subscriber, the message log tracking wireline and wireless communications sent by and received by the subscriber, voice mail communications sent by and received by the subscriber, email communications sent by and received by the subscriber, facsimile communications sent by and received by the subscriber, pager communications sent by and received by the subscriber, instant messages sent by and received by the subscriber, electronic chat room communications sent by and received by the subscriber, and unanswered telephone call attempts to contact the subscriber;

causing the message log to be displayed to the subscriber;

receiving an indication of selection of the entry;

in response to the indication, checking for the preference for the presentation of the information correlated to the communication;

in response to finding the preference, obtaining the correlated information; and

presenting the correlated information.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the preference for the presentation of the information comprises a request for display of information corresponding to a communication initiated by the subscriber.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

noting initiation of the communication by the subscriber;

checking for the request for the display of the information corresponding to the initiated communication; and

based on finding the request, using communication information regarding the initiated communication to obtain and present the corresponding information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

making the communication information regarding the initiated communication available in the message log.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the communication comprises a non-record communication to the subscriber;

and

wherein the initiated communication comprises an initiated non-record communication by the subscriber.