Methods and systems for providing contextual information on communication devices and services

• US 8,341,018 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale W., Anderson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIVECHA, KAMAL B
• Application Number:
  US10/184,588
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065768A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,833 Days
• Field of Search: 709/224, 709/203, 709/204, 709/232, 709/219, 705/14.49
• US Class Current: 705/14.49
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 : Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13338 : Do-not-disturb
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing contextual information regarding communication devices and/or services. Profile information relating to a user is stored by a communications manager. Data about a communication for the user may be received from a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network. A comparison is made between the profile information and the data about the communication. Based on the comparison, contextual information relating to the communication is presented. The contextual information may be presented while the user participates in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a communication device and/or service used in the communication. The contextual information may relate to a discrepancy between the profile information relating to the user and the originating communication device and/or service. Further, the contextual information may be obtained from a telecom manager in a telecommunications network or from a gateway in a data network.

Claims

1. A system for providing a recipient with contextual information relating to a call, comprising:

a processor;

memory; and

a customer and information resource manager stored in the memory, the customer and information resource manager centralizing communications activities and information so that when executed the customer and information resource manager causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

store profile information describing the recipient, the profile information comprising a list of communications devices used by the recipient, communications services used by the recipient, a service provider of each communications service, communicating partners of the recipient, and service providers used by the recipient;

display an information brief that presents customized information that greets the recipient and identifies others who are authorized to access the profile information;

access a database storing information on new wireless users and, when a calling name is present in the database, obtain a mobile phone number from the database that is associated with the calling name;

display a message center that provides a communication template for a preferred mode of communication;

display a message log that provides summaries of new and sent communications and an activity log that tracks communications activity of the recipient;

display a calendar and scheduler allowing the recipient to establish notifications regarding an electronic calendar;

receive the call at a recipient'"'"'s communications device;

receive data describing an originating device that originated the call;

compare the data describing the originating device to the profile information of the recipient;

determine from the comparison that the originating device is a wireless unit and that the recipient of the call lacks the wireless unit;

retrieve advertising information as the contextual information;

retrieve a voice message describing wireless devices;

present an audible signal during the call that indicates the advertising information is available;

receive a response to the audible signal from the recipient to save the advertising information for later review;

present a list of options for saving the advertising information for the later review;

receive another response to play the advertising information at the end of the call;

receive a hook-flash from the recipient to obtain the advertising information; and

after the hook-flash, present the voice message describing wireless services available to the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the code further causes the processor to determine an alternative communications path between the recipient and an originating party.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to describe an alternative communication path between the recipient and an originating party.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to present a list of options to format the contextual information.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query for the contextual information.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to receive a manufacturer of the originating device and an operational protocol of the originating device.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to receive a type of the originating device.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query a telecom manager in a telecommunications network.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to query a gateway in a data network.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the customer and information resource manager further causes the processor to save the contextual information for later review.