Integrated instant messaging, routing and telephone services billing system

• US 7,634,072 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yarlagadda, Madhu, Wan, Warren
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/056,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,769 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.22, 379/88.28, 379/126, 379/133, 455/412.01, 455/414.1, 709/204, 709/206
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/6443 Network Node Interface, e.g. Routing, Path finding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2026 Wireless network, e.g. GSM, PCS, TACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/32 Involving wireless systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 : Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13335 : Simulation, emulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 : Store & forward, messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/76 : Translation from the called subscriber's number to the outgoing or incoming control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 : Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/18 : based on predicted events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 : Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 : Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

Techniques for using billing services to manage a personal address book are provided. The techniques comprise receiving a call detail record (CDR) for a plain old telephone system (POTS) or a voice-over-IP (VOIP) call by a user. The CDR is created by a telecommunication carrier that routed the call. The CDR may be stored on a telecommunications server associated with the telecommunications carrier. Address information for the call is determined from the CDR. This address information is added to the personal address book for the user. This address information may be available for the user when using an IM client.

Claims

1. A method for updating address book information in an address book for an IM client, the method comprising:

employing the IM client to determine if additional address information is available from a telecommunications carrier that corresponds to a call of a user of the address book;

receiving a signal from an IM client indicating that the address book for the IM client is to be updated with additional address information;

retrieving a call detail record (CDR) for a call by a user, the CDR being created by the telecommunications carrier;

determining additional address information for the call based on the CDR; and

adding the additional address information to the address book for the user, the additional address information being subsequently available for the user when using the IM client.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a POTs call from the user; and

creating the CDR for the POTS call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a VOIP call from the IM client; and

creating the CDR for the VOIP call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing the CDR using a VOIP call manager; and

sending the CDR to an IM server, wherein the IM server adds the address information in the address book.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the address book is automatically updated.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the address information in the address book is synched with a second address book for the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the address book is located on a server side.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least part of the address book is cached at a client side.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the address book is located on a client side.

10. A method for updating address book information, the method comprising:

employing an IM client to determine if additional address information is available from a telecommunications carrier that corresponds to a call of a user of an address book;

retrieving one or more call detail records (CDRs) for one or more plain old telephone system (POTS) calls made by a user, the CDRs being created by a telecommunications carrier that routed the calls;

determining additional address information for the one or more calls based on the CDRs; and

adding the additional address information to the address book for the user, the address information being subsequently available for the user when using an IM client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the personal address book is automatically updated.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more call detail records are for a certain number of calls made during a period of time.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the address information in the address book is synched with a second address book for the user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the address book is located on a server side.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least part of the address book is cached at a client side.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the address book is located on a client side.

17. A system for managing an address book, the system comprising:

a PSTN telecommunications device of a telecommunications carrier configured to create call detail records (CDRs) for calls made from or received for a number of a user of the address book;

an IM server configured to access the CDRs and further comprising logic to;

determine if additional address information is available from the telecommunications carrier that corresponds to the calls of the user;

determine additional address information for the calls based on the CDRs; and

add the additional address information to the address book for the user, the additional address information being subsequently available for the user when using an IM client.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

the IM client, wherein the IM client is associated with the number, and a PSTN telephone receiving calls for and making calls from the number.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a PSTN telephone associated with the number, the PSTN telephone receiving calls and making calls from the number.

20. An information storage medium storing instructions to direct an information processing device to perform steps for updating address book information in an address book for an IM client, comprising:

employing the IM client to determine if additional address information is available from a telecommunications carrier that corresponds to one or more calls of a user of the address book;

receiving a signal from the IM client indicating that the address book for the IM client is to be updated with additional address information;

retrieving one or more call detail records (CDRs) for the one or more calls by the user, the CDRs being created by the telecommunications carrier;

determining additional address information for the one or more calls based on the one or more CDRs; and

adding the additional address information to the address book for the user, the additional address information being subsequently available for the user when using the IM client.