Method and apparatus for mixed media contact notification service
First Claim
1. A method attempt communication with a called party comprising:
- determining two or more contacts associated with the called party from a contact list associating one or more contacts with each of a plurality of called parties;
determining a first contact method associated with a first contact of the two or more contacts, and a second contact method associated with a second contact of the two or more contacts;
automatically sending a message using the first contact method to the first contact and automatically sending the message using the second contact method to the second contact, said message requesting a contact method associated with the called party;
receiving a response to said message from the first contact, said response indicating a third contact method associated with said called party; and
automatically using the third contact method to attempt to communicate with said called party.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for providing an automatic called party locator service by intelligently managing lists of contacts. The apparatus includes a contact list manager (10) where lists of contacts are stored, and a locator (60) capable of sending out location request messages and receiving and handling responses. In some embodiments, the current invention may be integrated with call messaging systems, fax and or e-mail systems. In some cases, advanced features such as message delivery method selection, message customization, contact message retrieval or expiration and automatic call dialing may be enabled. In embodiments which support caller identification capabilities, the invention may be configured to have different behaviors based on the identification of the caller.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method attempt communication with a called party comprising:
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determining two or more contacts associated with the called party from a contact list associating one or more contacts with each of a plurality of called parties; determining a first contact method associated with a first contact of the two or more contacts, and a second contact method associated with a second contact of the two or more contacts; automatically sending a message using the first contact method to the first contact and automatically sending the message using the second contact method to the second contact, said message requesting a contact method associated with the called party; receiving a response to said message from the first contact, said response indicating a third contact method associated with said called party; and automatically using the third contact method to attempt to communicate with said called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus to attempt communication with a called party comprising:
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a contact list manager comprising a list associating one or more contacts with each of a plurality of called parties, the contact list manager to determine two or more contacts associated with the called party, to determine a first contact method associated with a first contact of the two or more contacts, and to determine a second contact method associated with a second contact of the two or more contacts; and a locator to automatically send a message using the first contact method to the first contact, and to automatically send the message using the second contact method to the second contact, said message requesting a contact method associated with the called party, to receive a response to said message from the first contact, said response indicating a third contact method associated with said called party; and
to automatically use the third contact method to attempt to communicate with said called party. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification