Concierge for portable electronic device

• US 8,270,954 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Breau, Jeremy R., Miller, Eric E., Persson, Carl J., Ng, Sei Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US12/698,513
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.2, 704/270.1
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/306 Prerecordings to be used during a voice call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/351 Pre or post-call/conference information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service

Abstract

A system is provided. The system comprises a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory. When executed by the processor, the application activates a concierge function in response to a first trigger, and deactivates the concierge function in response to a second trigger. While the concierge function is active, the application analyzes a first digital signal encoding voice content from the portable electronic device to identify a context and, in response to identifying the context, transmits a second digital signal encoding a voice message to be presented by the portable electronic device based on the context keyword.

Claims

1. A method of generating a message based on an association of a communication device to stored calendar information, the method comprising:

storing calendar information associated with a portable electronic device, wherein the calendar information comprises a significant date of a user associated with a communication device;

activating a concierge function based on identifying a first word string in a voice content received from the portable electronic device, wherein the word string comprises at least one word;

detecting a call origination to the communication device while the concierge function is active;

determining an association of the communication device to the stored calendar information;

identifying the significant date of the user associated with the communication device based on the association;

comparing whether the significant date falls within a time window of the current date that is before or after the current date;

generating a first voice message about the identification of the significant date when the significant date falls within the time window of the current date that is before or after the current date;

transmitting the first voice message to the portable electronic device;

while the concierge function is active, analyzing both voice content transmitted by the portable electronic device and voice content transmitted by the communication device during a voice call between the portable electronic device and the communication device to identify a context;

receiving profile information associated with the portable electronic device, wherein the profile information comprises at least one of restaurant preferences, demographic information, and entertainment tastes;

analyzing the context and the profile information;

generating a second voice message based on analyzing the context and the profile information and transmitting the second voice message to the portable electronic device based on the context and the profile information, wherein the second voice message comprises one of a recommendation of entertainment, a restaurant, a traffic report, a sports report, and a flight status; and

deactivating the concierge function based on identifying a second word string in a voice content received from the portable electronic device, wherein the second word string comprises at least one word.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voice message comprises an indication of a birth date of a user associated with the communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein transmitting the first voice message to the portable electronic device is based further on a correlation of a current date when the call origination occurs and the birth date.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from an information subscription service; and

based on the information from the information subscription service, transmitting a third voice message related to the information from the information subscription service.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on a current time of day and based on calendar information about a commuting schedule, transmitting a third voice message identifying current commuting conditions.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving information about a current location of the portable electronic device, wherein sending the third voice message identifying current commuting conditions is further based on the current location of the portable electronic device.