Active user registry

• US 7,408,920 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rabiner, Lawrence Richard, Sumner, Eric E. Jr., Berkley, David Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Orgad; Edan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARK, JUNG H
• Application Number:
  US10/090,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20020131573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,345 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/357, 370/389, 370/351, 370/353, 370/354, 370/355, 370/356, 370/401, 370/466, 370/467, 370/471, 370/473, 370/474, 370/402, 370/403, 370/404, 370/405, 370/465, 370/229, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/237, 709/201, 709/202, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 379/201.01, 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/220, 379/219, 379/221, 379/229, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• 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 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

An Active User Registry system includes a database which is integrated with the POTS network and a packet network to exploit the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents. The Active User Registry database is a dynamic data structure of all the ways in which one or more users can be reached via some type of communication network. A key feature of the Active User Registry is the ability to broker between a subscriber'"'"'s request for communications contact information corresponding to a user and the user'"'"'s preferences of being reached by various communications alternatives.

Claims

1. An active user registry system responsive to a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user, comprising:

a. a computer;

b. a database, linked to the computer, containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein the system determines a communications address for contacting the user in accordance with a comparison between a communications option accompanying the request and the user'"'"'s preferred communications options; and

c. a cache coupled to the database for storing information, for a particular subscriber, corresponding to an entry point to communications information for contacting the user stored in the database;

wherein the information stored in the cache for a particular subscriber is updated in accordance with a pattern of communications options utilized over time by the subscriber upon access to the database.

2. An active user registry system responsive to a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user, comprising:

a. computer, and;

b. a database, linked to the computer, containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein the system determines a communications address for contacting the user in accordance with a comparison between a communications option accompanying the request and the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options is automatically learned in accordance with how the user interacts with communication attempts from other persons.

3. An active user registry system responsive to a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user, comprising:

a. a computer; and

b. a database, linked to the computer, containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options is automatically learned in accordance with how the user interacts with communication attempts from other persons.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the user identifier includes information representing at least one of the user'"'"'s identity, the user'"'"'s title, the user'"'"'s occupation or personal information corresponding to the user.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of communications addresses includes an address for contacting the user by telephone, an address for contacting the user by e-mail, an address for contacting the user by facsimile, and a current address for making direct communications contact with the user.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by videophone.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by voice messaging.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by real-time IP messaging.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes a URL-compatible address for linking to a Web page associated with the user.

10. The system according to claim 3, wherein the information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options includes a communications option and at least one of the time of day, the day of the week, or information representing the identity of a person attempting to contact the user.

11. The system according to claim 3, wherein the information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options includes information received over a communications link from a personal information source associated with the user.

12. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a voice interface for enabling interaction with, and control and management of, the system from any available voice-compatible communication interface.

13. The system according to claim 3, further comprising a cache coupled to the database for storing information, for a particular subscriber, corresponding to an entry point to communications information for contacting the user stored in the database.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the information stored in the cache for a particular subscriber is updated in accordance with a pattern of communications options utilized over time by the subscriber upon access to the database.

15. A method of operating an active user registry service accessible over a communications network, comprising the steps of

a. receiving a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user;

b. searching a database containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options; and

c. determining a communications address for contacting the user in accordance with a comparison between a communications option accompanying the request and the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein the step of receiving a request for a communications address for contacting the user includes the step of retrieving from a cache maintained for a subscriber information corresponding to an entry point to communications information for contacting the user stored in the database;

and wherein the information stored in the cache maintained for a subscriber is updated in accordance with a pattern of communications options utilized over time by the subscriber upon access to the database.

16. A method of operating an active user registry service accessible over a communications network, comprising the steps of

a. receiving a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user;

b. searching a database containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options; and

c. determining a communications address for contacting the user in accordance with a comparison between a communications option accompanying the request and the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein the information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options is automatically learned in accordance with how the user interacts with communication attempts from other persons.

17. A method of operating an active user registry service accessible over a communications network, comprising the steps of:

a. receiving a request for communications contact information corresponding to a user;

b. searching a database containing communications information for contacting the user including a user identifier, a plurality of communications addresses and information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options;

wherein the user'"'"'s preferred communications options are automatically learned in accordance with how the user interacts to communications from other persons; and

c. determining from the database a communications address for contacting the user.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the user identifier includes information representing at least one of the user'"'"'s identity, the user'"'"'s title, the user'"'"'s occupation or personal information corresponding to the user.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of communications addresses includes an address for contacting the user by telephone, an address for contacting the user by e-mail, an address for contacting the user by facsimile, and a current address for making direct communications contact with the user.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by videophone.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by voice messaging.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes an address for contacting the user by real-time IP messaging.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of communications addresses further includes a URL-compatible address for linking to a Web page associated with the user.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options includes at least one of the time of day, the day of the week, or information representing the identity of a person attempting to contact the user.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information corresponding to the user'"'"'s preferred communications options includes information received over a communications link from a personal information source associated with the user.

26. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the provision of a voice interface for enabling interaction with, and control and management of, the service from any available voice-compatible communication interface.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of receiving a request for a communications address for contacting the user includes the step of retrieving from a cache maintained for a subscriber information corresponding to an entry point to communications information for contacting the user stored in the database.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the information stored in the cache maintained for a subscriber is updated in accordance with a pattern of communications options utilized over time by the subscriber upon access to the database.