System and method for storing and transferring information tokens in a low network communication

• US 7,149,290 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: SBC Properties, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heinmiller, Wayne Robert, Stuckman, Bruce Edward, Bennett, III, Raymond Walden, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Griffith, Laura Marie, Pickard, Michael Steven, Light, Jordan Howard, Bossemeyer, Jr., Robert Welsey, Israelski, Edmond W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US11/061,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20050141685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 379/90.01, 379/110.01, 379 9101- 9308, 379/93.12, 379/93.28, 379/93.25, 379/114.01, 379/93.23
• US Class Current: 379/93.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/553 Data upload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13134 Coin boxes, payphone, prepaid
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13402 Data transmission out of voice frequency band
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

A system (10) and method (40) are provided permitting cookie files to be used with telephonic customer premises equipment (CPE) (12). The caller CPE (12) can be an intelligent telephone adapted to generate, store, transmit and receive cookie files. The cookie files can include information tokens describing a caller profile. The CPE (12) can provide a template cookie file upon request from a called party during a conversation between the caller and called party. The template file can then be transmitted to the called party and modified. The modified cookie file can then be returned to the caller CPE (12) for future use during subsequent calls to the called party. The cookie file can reduce the processing time of calls placed to automated dial-up service centers and also reduces its computer resources required by the service system.

Claims

1. A method of providing caller information for use in telecommunications system, the method comprising:

in conjunction with a first telephone call from a caller;

obtaining caller information associated with the caller;

placing the caller information in a data file; and

providing the data file to the caller for storage;

in conjunction with a subsequent telephone call;

obtaining the data file from the caller to determine the caller information;

updating the data file if the caller information is modified; and

providing the undated data file to the caller for storage;

wherein the data file comprises a cookie file.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a data file template from the caller in conjunction with the first telephone call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first telephone call and the subsequent telephone call comprise voice communication sessions; and

the providing the data file to the caller, the obtaining the data file from the caller, and the providing the updated data file to the caller comprise data transfer sessions established concurrently with respective voice communication sessions.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the voice communication sessions and the data transfer sessions are established using a common telecommunications line.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the voice communications sessions and the data transfer sessions are established using separate telecommunications lines.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller information comprises caller profile information.

7. A computer readable medium tangibly embodying a program of instructions, said program of instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to obtain caller information associated with a caller in conjunction with a first telephone call;

at least one instruction to place the caller information in a data file in conjunction with the first telephone call;

at least one instruction to provide, in conjunction with the first telephone call, the data file to the caller for storage;

at least one instruction to obtain, in conjunction with a subsequent telephone call, the data file from the caller to determine the caller information;

at least one instruction to update the data cookie file in conjunction with the subsequent telephone call if the caller information is modified; and

at least one instruction to provide the updated data file to the caller in conjunction with the subsequent telephone call;

wherein the data file comprises a cookie file.

8. The computer readable medium of claim 7, further comprising at least one instruction to obtain a data file template from the caller in conjunction with the first telephone call.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the first telephone call and the subsequent telephone call comprise voice communication sessions, the computer readable medium further comprising:

at least one instruction to establish a data transfer session concurrently with respective voice communication sessions.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction to establish a data transfer session is configured to establish the data transfer session over the same telecommunications line used for the respective voice communication session.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the at least one instruction to establish a data transfer session is configured to establish the data transfer session over a telecommunications line separate from the telecommunications line used for the respective voice communication session.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein the caller information comprises caller profile information.

13. A call servicing system comprising:

a voice subsystem operable to communicate, via a voice communications channel, voice information between an operator and customer premises equipment;

a data subsystem operable to transfer a data file between the call servicing system and the customer premises equipment; and

a program of instructions comprising;

at least one instruction to obtain information associated with a customer in conjunction with a first telephone call;

at least one instruction to store the customer information in a cookie file in conjunction with the first telephone call;

at least one instruction to provide, in conjunction with the first telephone call, the cookie file to the caller for storage in the customer premises equipment; and

at least one instruction to retrieve, in conjunction with a subsequent telephone call, the cookie file from the caller to determine the caller information.

14. The call servicing system of claim 13, wherein the voice subsystem and the data subsystem are coupled to a common telecommunications line.

15. The call servicing system of claim 14, wherein the data subsystem comprises a digital subscriber link modem.

16. The call servicing system of claim 15, wherein the voice subsystem and the data subsystem are coupled to separate telecommunications lines.

17. The call servicing system of claim 13, wherein the program of instructions further comprises at least one instruction to route a call to an operator based on the cookie file obtained from the caller.

18. Customer premises equipment operable to communicate voice information between a caller and an operator;

wherein the customer premises equipment is further operable to transfer and receive a data file;

wherein the customer premises equipment is further operable to receive, in conjunction with a first phone call, a cookie file containing customer information from a call servicing system;

wherein the customer premises equipment is further operable to transmit, in conjunction with a second phone call, the cookie file to the call servicing system to identify the customer.

19. A computer readable medium of a customer premises equipment device tangibly embodying a program of instructions, said program of instructions comprising:

at least one instruction to receive from a call servicing system, in conjunction with the first telephone call from the customer premises equipment device, a data file containing customer information;

at least one instruction to store the data file containing customer information in the customer premises equipment;

at least one instruction to transmit, in conjunction with a subsequent telephone call, the data file from the customer premises equipment to the call servicing system to provide the caller information to the call servicing system; and

at least one instruction to receive an updated data file from the call servicing system in conjunction with the subsequent telephone call;

wherein the data file comprises a cookie file.