Updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communication networks

• US 7,941,481 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tellme Networks Incorporated ([24]7.ai, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koh, Eugene, Giannandrea, John, McCue, Michael S., Stifelman, Lisa J., Davis, Angus Macdonald, Partovi, Hadi, Luong, Daphne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MIRZA, ADNAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/579,965
• Time in Patent Office: 4,001 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/202, 709/201, 709/219, 709/229, 709/21, 709/217, 709/218, 705/27, 705/1
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2061 Language aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4878 Advertisement messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4938 comprising a voice browser which renders and interprets, e.g. VoiceXML

Abstract

A method of accessing and updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communications networks such as a telephone and computer networks is described. The creation of a voice portal is supported by the invention. Embodiments of the invention use telephone identifying information such as the calling party'"'"'s number to identify, or create, user profiles for customization. The user profile can include personalized phonebook entries that include names and telephone numbers of relevance to the user. Additionally, the voice portal can connect the user to numbers contained in the personalized phonebook in response to spoken commands. The profile can also be updated with additional phonebook entries over the interne using a web browser.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a second user to permit a first user to add to, an electronic phonebook of the first user, contact information of the second user, the method, comprising:

providing, by the second user, to the first user, a link or URL, clickable by the first user via a user device, the link or URL referencing a web application for updating the electronic phonebook;

wherein the link or URL includes a unique identifier uniquely associated with the second user and used for accessing the contact information of the second user;

detecting a selection or click of the link or URL via the user device;

in response to detection of the selection or click of the link or URL, invoking the web application for updating electronic phone book referenced by the link or URL;

requesting that the first user present authenticating information to identify the electronic phonebook of the first user;

identifying the electronic phonebook of the first user based on the authenticating information;

identifying the contact information of the second user based on the unique identifier that is uniquely associated with the second user;

adding the contact information of the second user to the electronic phonebook of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact information comprises a name and a telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact information is a vCard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises a user-ID corresponding to the second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier comprises telephone identifying information corresponding to the second user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the URL is comprised in a signature file of the sender attached in the email sent by the sender to the recipient.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a new user profile for the first user; and

adding the contact information of the second user to the new user profile of the first user.