Numeric based addressing for enhanced telephony and multimedia services

• US 8,116,808 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WorldRelay, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WorldRelay, Inc.
• Inventors: Amine, Gilbert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean Pierre, Peguy
• Application Number:
  US12/423,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20090258634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/551, 455/403, 455/415, 455/414.1, 455/407
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An end user device includes an application processor, a baseband processor, and a radio transceiver, storage accessible to the application processor, and computer executable instructions, embedded in the storage, for a user agent application. The user agent application includes instructions for transmitting a directory server inquiry in response to entry of a numeric sequence followed by a data termination sequence, wherein the directory server inquiry is indicative of the numeric sequence and the numeric sequence is associated with a targeted entity. The instructions further include instructions for receiving information indicative of at least one service associated with the targeted entity in response to the directory server inquiry and generating a display indicating the associated service or services when the mobile device includes a suitable display.

Claims

1. An end user device, comprising:

an application processor;

tangible computer readable storage accessible to the processor, the storage including processor executable instructions for a numeric addressing application user agent;

a keypad suitable for inputting a numeric string and a terminating entry;

a display screen; and

a wired or wireless transceiver configured to communicate via a broadband communications network;

wherein the numeric addressing application user agent includes instructions for;

initiating the establishment of a telephony connection in response to detecting entry of a numeric sequence followed by a first type of terminating entry; and

initiating a data query in response to detecting entry of the numeric sequence terminating with a second type of terminating entry.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second type of terminating entry comprises a “

#”

key.

3. The device of claim, 1, wherein initiating the data query includes:

determining if the numeric sequence comprises an abbreviated number based on an abbreviated number plan and, if so, determining a super number corresponding to the abbreviated number based on an abbreviated number plan; and

determining if the numeric sequence or a super number corresponding to the abbreviated number is recognized by a super number server and, if so, determining information and services associated with an entity corresponding to the numeric sequence and presenting the information and services to the user agent.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the user agent is configured to present a set of selectable objects to a display screen wherein the selectable objects corresponds to services associated with the numeric sequence.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein one of the selectable objects comprises a VOICEMAIL object and wherein selecting the VOICEMAIL object enables the user to leave a voice mail message with the entity without ringing through to a telephone of the entity and without navigating a voice mail message system.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the set of selectable objects is determined by an entity associated with the numeric sequence based on a relationship between a user and the entity.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein determining if the numeric sequence comprises an abbreviated number includes prepending a country code, an area code, or both to the numeric sequence, wherein the prepended codes are selectable by the user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the abbreviated number corresponds to a broadcast frequency or station number of a multimedia content provider and wherein determining if the numeric sequence is recognized by the super number directory server comprises determining if a broadcaster is associated with the broadcast frequency or station number within a geographic area defined by the prepended codes.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the numeric addressing application user agent includes instructions for:

after the establishment of a telephony connection to a called party, responding to detecting assertion of a predetermined control element, by displaying information associated with the called party.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the numeric addressing application user agent includes instructions for:

selecting a targeted advertisement selected based on user information indicative of a user of the end user device;

inserting the targeted advertisement into a content stream, the content stream selected from a radio stream and a television stream, to create a targeted stream; and

displaying the targeted stream on the display screen.

11. A method of providing enhanced telephony service, comprising:

enabling an end user device (EUD) to establish a telephony connection, suitable for accommodating a real-time voice communication, with an entity in response to entry of a numeric sequence associated with the entity followed by a first type of termination; and

enabling the EUD to transmit a directory inquiry, in response to entry of the numeric sequence followed by a second type of termination, wherein the directory inquiry is associated with the entity.

12. The method of claim 11, enabling the EUD to receive a response to the directory inquiry wherein the response includes a set of selectable objects and display the objects on a display screen of the EUD wherein the selectable objects are associated with services pertaining to the entity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the entity is an individual and the objects include an object for leaving voice mail for the individual without ringing through to a telephone or navigating a voice message system.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the entity is a business and the objects include and object for receiving navigable directions, in conjunction with GNSS functionality of the EUD, for navigating to a location of the entity.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the entity is a business and the objects include an object displaying a map or directions to the business.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the entity is a broadcast radio station and the objects include an audio object that enables the EUD to receive the broadcasted content via an internet connection.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the data inquiry is transmitted to a directory server via IP communication resources of a 2.75G, 3G, or 4G wireless communication network or a wired broadband communication network.

18. A method of offering a data service employing numeric addressing, the method comprising provisioning a communication device to:

detect a dialed input comprising a numeric sequence followed by a specified termination sequence;

respond to detecting said dialed input by transmitting a message indicative of the numeric sequence to a first directory server; and

detect and process information responsive to the message, wherein said processing of the information includes displaying at least one icon for taking an action pertaining to an entity associated with the targeted number.

19. A dialed number directory server (DNDS) suitable for use in a communication network,

wherein the DNDS is configured to detect a DNDS inquiry from an electronic device, wherein the DNDS inquiry is indicative of a numeric sequence, and wherein the DNDS is further configured to determine whether enhanced directory information or services are available for an entity associated with the numeric sequence, and wherein the DNDS is further configured to return to the electronic device information indicative of any such information or services;

wherein the numeric sequence is (a) an abbreviated number indicative of an entity according to a specified numbering plan or (b) indicative of a telephone number associated with the entity; and

wherein the abbreviated number, under the specified numbering plan, for a radio station is the broadcast frequency of the station or the abbreviated number for a television station is the channel number of the station.

20. The DNDS server of claim 19, wherein the server is configured to determine a super number corresponding to the abbreviated number when the numeric sequence is an abbreviated number, wherein the super number is indicative of a telephone number associated with the entity.

21. The DNDS server of claim 20, wherein the server is configured to determine the super number by querying an abbreviated number directory server (ANDS), wherein the ANDS implements the specified numbering plan.

22. A dialed number directory server (DNDS) suitable for use in a communication network,

wherein the DNDS is configured to detect a DNDS inquiry from an electronic device, wherein the DNDS inquiry is indicative of a numeric sequence, and wherein the DNDS is further configured to determine whether enhanced directory information or services are available for an entity associated with the numeric sequence, and wherein the DNDS is further configured to return to the electronic device information indicative of any such information or services;

wherein the numeric sequence is (a) an abbreviated number indicative of an entity according to a specified numbering plan or (b) indicative of a telephone number associated with the entity; and

wherein the DNDS server is further configured to determine if an entity associated with the abbreviated number or the telephone number is registered with a Super Number Directory Server (SNDS), wherein the SNDS is configured to identify services and information provided by an entity associated with the numeric sequence that are compatible with a services profile of a user of the electronic device as well as the capabilities of the electronic device.

23. A mobile device comprising an application processor, a baseband processor, and a radio transceiver, the mobile device further including storage accessible to the application processor and computer executable instructions, embedded in the storage, for a user agent application, the user application including instructions for:

transmitting a directory server inquiry in response to entry of a numeric sequence followed by a data termination sequence, wherein the directory server inquiry is indicative of the numeric sequence and the numeric sequence is associated with a targeted entity;

receiving information indicative of at least one service associated with the targeted entity in response to the directory server inquiry; and

generating a display indicating the associated service or services when the mobile device includes a suitable display.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a WiMax radio, an IP set top box, a wireless MP3 player or other suitable type of audio player, or a VoIP telephone or videophone.

25. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for initiating a telephony session with the targeted party.

26. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for:

establishing a peer to peer communication with a mobile device of the targeted party, wherein the peer to peer communication facilitates services including media sharing services enabling the mobile device to access media content on the targeted device, see-what-I-see service enabling the mobile device to display video content captured by a camera associated with the targeted device, and GNSS location services enabling the mobile device to access GNSS information received by the targeted device.

27. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for:

enabling the mobile device to receive content accessed from a website by a directory server in response to the mobile device terminating a numeric sequence input with a data termination sequence.

28. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for:

enabling the mobile device to initiate a query in response to an incoming call from a calling party, wherein, in response to the query, the mobile device receives and displays enhanced directory information associated with the calling party.

29. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for:

enabling the mobile device to initiate a query during an existing call with a calling party, wherein, in response to the query, the mobile device receives and displays enhanced directory information associated with the calling party.

30. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the user agent application further includes instructions for:

enabling the mobile device to invoke the directory server query via a contacts list accessible to the mobile device.