Method and apparatus for enhancing discoverability and usability of data network capability of a mobile device

• US 8,321,572 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Great Elm Capital Corp. (f/k/a Unwired Planet, Inc.) (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Vandermeijden, Tom R., La Fleur, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Salad, Abdullahi
• Application Number:
  US13/236,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20120009911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/227, 709/203, 379/88.18, 455/421.2, 455/466
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

In a technique for enhancing discoverability and increasing usage of a web browser in a mobile device on a wireless network, a server system coupled to the wireless network receives a signal representing initiation of a voice call from the mobile device. In response, the server system performs a lookup to determine whether a website is associated with the telephone number being called. If a website is associated with the telephone number being called and the mobile device has the capability to access and display the website, the server system sends an Alert to the mobile device, causing the mobile device to notify its user about the website. The user may then input a selection to either access the website instead of completing the call or to proceed with the voice call.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

at a server system having memory and one or more processors;

receiving a telephone call from a telephony device, the telephone call being for accessing a destination, wherein the telephony device is operable on a wireless network and has both voice capability and data capability;

establishing a voice connection between the server system and the telephony device;

returning a voice response to a user of the telephony device through the voice connection, wherein the voice response includes a plurality of voice options for the user of the telephony device to choose;

receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of voice options in association with the telephone call;

determining whether the user-selected voice option is a first one of the plurality of voice options or a second one of the plurality of voice options;

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is said first one of the plurality of voice options, returning a data response to the user of the telephony device through a data connection between the server system and the telephony device, the data response including a link to a network-based resource associated with said destination; and

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is said second one of the plurality of voice options, providing a voice call connection between the telephony device and a party associated with the destination.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data response causes the telephony device to display an alert that prompts the user of the telephony device to launch an application program on the mobile device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the alert is in one format selected from the group consisting of a short messaging service (SMS) message and a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the application program is one selected from a group consisting of a web browser application and a telephony application exclusively associated with the destination.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the voice connection between the server system and the telephony device is terminated after the application program is launched on the telephony device.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the voice connection between the server system and the telephony device is maintained after the application program is launched on the telephony device.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the telephone call is initiated by a telephony control system that is communicatively coupled to the telephony device in response to a signal from the telephony device, the signal including a set of numeric digits identifying a destination telephone number, and the telephony control system is responsible for forwarding the voice response from the server system to the telephony device.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the voice response from the server system is configured to be played to the user of the telephony device through the voice connection.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a second signal from the telephony device through the voice connection, the second signal including the the first one of the plurality of voice options;

determining a digital content associated with the second signal;

preparing the data response based on the digital content; and

sending the data response to the telephony device through the data connection.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the digital content includes a web page.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the digital content is associated with a hyperlink and the data response includes the hyperlink.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the server system comprises an automated call answering system.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

at a telephony device having memory, one or more processors, and a display;

receiving a telephone number from a user;

establishing a voice connection between the telephony device and a destination identified by the telephone number;

playing, to the user, a voice response provided by the destination through the voice connection, wherein the voice response includes a plurality of voice options for the user to choose;

in response to a user selection of a first one of the plurality of voice options;

sending the first one of the plurality of voice options to the destination through the voice connection;

receiving a data response from the destination through a data connection between the telephony device and the destination, wherein the data response is associated with the first one of the plurality of voice options and includes a link to a network-based resource associated with said destination;

displaying an alert associated with the data response on the display, wherein the alert prompts the user to launch an application program on the telephony device;

in response to a user selection of a second one of the plurality of voice options, wherein the second one of the plurality of voice options is different from the first one of the plurality of voice options;

sending the second one of the plurality of voice options to the destination through the voice connection; and

establishing a voice call connection between the telephony device and a party associated with the destination.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to a user action on the alert;

launching the application program on the telephony device, wherein the application program is configured to provide the user access to the destination through the data connection; and

terminating the voice connection with the destination.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the application program is configured to perform one or more operations associated with a commercial transaction between the user and the destination according to instructions provided the user.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the application program is one selected from a group consisting of a web browser and a dedicated mobile application.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein a telephony control system is configured to establish the voice connection between the telephony device and the destination after the telephony control system receives a signal from the telephony device that includes the telephone number and the telephony control system forwards the voice response from the destination back to the telephony device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising:

in response to a user action on the alert;

launching the application program on the telephony device, wherein the application program is configured to provide the user access to the destination through the data connection with the destination while maintaining the voice connection with the destination.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the alert is in one format selected from the group consisting of a short messaging service (SMS) message and a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising:

at a server system having memory and one or more processors;

receiving a signal including a set of numeric digits identifying a destination telephone number from a telephony device, wherein the telephony device is operable on a wireless network and has both voice capability and data capability;

after receiving the signal, establishing a voice connection between the telephony device and a destination identified by the destination telephone number;

in response to a first user instruction from the telephony device through the voice connection;

receiving a data message from the destination, wherein the data message is provided by the destination;

forwarding the data message to the telephony device in a format consistent with the telephony device'"'"'s data capability, wherein the data message includes a link to an application program running on the telephony devices; and

in response to a second user instruction from the telephony device through the voice connection;

providing a voice call connection between the telephony device and a party associated with the destination.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the data message causes the telephony device to display an alert that prompts the user of the telephony device to launch the application program on the telephony device.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the alert is in one format selected from the group consisting of a short messaging service (SMS) message and a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20, wherein the application program is one selected from a group consisting of a web browser and a dedicated mobile application.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the set of numeric digits is a sequence of numeric digits in a standard telephone number format.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the server system includes a telephony control system for establishing the voice connection between the telephony device and the destination.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, further comprising:

before receiving the data message from the destination;

forwarding a voice response to the user of the telephony device through the voice connection, wherein the voice response includes a plurality of voice options for the user of the telephony device to choose; and

forwarding a third signal from the telephony device to the destination through the voice connection, the third signal including a user-selected voice option, wherein the data message is a response prepared by the destination based on the user-selected voice option.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the voice connection between the server system and the telephony device is terminated after the application program is launched on the telephony device.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the voice connection between the server system and the telephony device is maintained after the application program is launched on the telephony device.

31. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the server system comprises an automated call answering system.

28. A server system comprising a memory and one or more processors, the server system being configured to:

receive a telephone call from a telephony device, the telephone call being for accessing a destination, wherein the telephony device is operable on a wireless network and has both voice capability and data capability;

establish a voice connection between the server system and the telephony device;

return a voice response to a user of the telephony device through the voice connection, wherein the voice response includes a plurality of voice options for the user of the telephony device to choose;

receive a user selection of a one of the plurality of voice options in association with the telephone call;

determine whether the user-selected voice option is a first one of the plurality of voice options or a second one of the plurality of voice options;

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is the first one of the plurality of voice options, return a data response to the user of the telephony device through a data connection between the server system and the telephony device, the data response including a link to a network-based resource associated with said destination; and

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is the second one of the plurality of voice options, provide a voice call connection between the second telephony device and a party associated with the destination.

29. The server system according to claim 28, comprising an automated call answering system.

32. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer readable instructions stored thereon, the computer readable instructions being executable by a server system to cause the server system to perform a method for processing a telephone call, the server system comprising a memory and one or more processors, the method comprising:

receiving a telephone call from a telephony device, the telephone call being for accessing a destination, wherein the telephony device is operable on a wireless network and has both voice capability and data capability;

establishing a voice connection between the server system and the telephony device;

returning a voice response to a user of the telephony device through the voice connection, wherein the voice response includes a plurality of voice options for the user of the telephony device to choose;

receiving a user selection of one of the plurality of voice options in association with the telephone call;

determining whether the user-selected voice option is a first one of the plurality of voice options or a second one of the plurality of voice options;

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is said first one of the plurality of voice options, returning a data response to the user of the telephony device through a data connection between the server system and the telephony device, the data response including a link to a network-based resource associated with said destination; and

in response to a determination that the user-selected voice option is said second one of the plurality of voice options, providing a voice call connection between the telephony device and a party associated with the destination.

33. The computer program product of claim 32, wherein the server system comprises an automated call answering system.