Performing automated event services to registered end users

• US 8,681,964 B1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Technology Group LLC (West Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Cordell, Jeffrey William, Mateer, Michael T., Hendren, Chad David
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/415,436
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.21, 379/158, 379/202.01, 379/203.01, 379/204.01, 379/205.01
• US Class Current: 379/204.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed of transmitting live event notification information to a user device. One example method may include retrieving event user preference information from an event user database based on prestored user preferences. The method may also include transmitting an initial event notification message to an end user communication device based on the event user preference information to notify the end user of an upcoming event and receiving a response message from the end user communication device indicating a current availability of the end user. The user device may receive notification information via more than one communication channel and respond in a number of different ways.

Claims

1. A method of providing customized event data to an end user communication device, the method comprising:

retrieving event user preference information from an event user database;

transmitting an initial event notification message to an end user communication device based on a primary communication preference of the event user preference information to notify the end user of an upcoming event, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least one primary communication contact preference and at least one secondary communication preference that has a lower priority than the primary communication preference, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least two of a mobile device preference, a computer device preference, a voice call preference, a text message preference and an email preference;

receiving a response message from the end user communication device indicating a current unavailability of the end user via the primary communication contact preference due to a current call in progress on the end user communication device;

transmitting another event notification to the end user communication device by another communication message format different from an initial communication message format of the initial event notification message and via a different communication medium from an initial communication medium used to transmit the initial event notification, and wherein the at least one secondary communication preference is used to select the different communication medium; and

receiving a confirmation message from the end user communication device to join the upcoming event via the different communication medium while the initial communication medium is currently being occupied via the current call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the another event notification comprises an indicator that the event is currently in progress and a user option to access the event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the another event notification comprises an indicator that the event is finished and a user option to access a replay of the event.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an automatic number identification (ANI) comparison to determine whether there is a match between an ANI associated with the end user communication device and an ANI stored in a user preference database; and

upon determining the match exists, connecting the user device to an active event session associated with the event and providing streaming audio and video to the end user device.

5. An apparatus configured to provide customized event data to an end user communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to retrieve event user preference information from an event user database;

a transmitter configured to transmit an initial event notification message to an end user communication device based on a primary communication preference of the event user preference information to notify the end user of an upcoming event, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least one primary communication contact preference and at least one secondary communication preference that has a lower priority than the primary communication preference, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least two of a mobile device preference, a computer device preference, a voice call preference, a text message preference and an email preference; and

a receiver configured to receive a response message from the end user communication device indicating a current unavailability of the end user via the primary communication contact preference due to a current call in progress on the end user communication device, and

wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit another event notification to the end user communication device by another communication message format different from an initial communication message format of the initial event notification message and via a different communication medium from an initial communication medium used to transmit the initial event notification, and wherein the at least one secondary communication preference is used to select the different communication medium, and

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a confirmation message from the end user communication device to join the upcoming event via the different communication medium while the initial communication medium is currently being occupied via the current call.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the another event notification comprises an indicator that the event is currently in progress and a user option to access the event.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the another event notification comprises an indicator that the event is finished and a user option to access a replay of the event.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to perform an automatic number identification (ANI) comparison to determine whether there is a match between an ANI associated with the end user communication device and an ANI stored in a user preference database, and upon determining the match exists, the processor is configured to connect the user device to an active event session associated with the event and providing streaming audio and video to the end user device.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform providing customized event data to an end user communication device, the processor being further configured to perform:

retrieving event user preference information from an event user database;

transmitting an initial event notification message to an end user communication device based on a primary communication preference of the event user preference information to notify the end user of an upcoming event, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least one primary communication contact preference and at least one secondary communication preference that has a lower priority than the primary communication preference, wherein the event user preference information comprises at least two of a mobile device preference, a computer device preference, a voice call preference, a text message preference and an email preference;

receiving a response message from the end user communication device indicating a current availability of the end user via the primary communication contact preference due to a current call in progress on the end user communication device;

transmitting another event notification to the end user communication device by another communication message format different from an initial communication message format of the initial event notification message and via a different communication medium from an initial communication medium used to transmit the initial event notification, and wherein the at least one secondary communication preference is used to select the different communication medium; and

receiving a confirmation message from the end user communication device to join the upcoming event via the different communication medium while the initial communication medium is currently being occupied via the current call.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the another event notification comprises at least one of an indicator that the event is currently in progress and a user option to access the event, and an indicator that the event is finished and a user option to access a replay of the event.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to perform:

performing an automatic number identification (ANI) comparison to determine whether there is a match between an ANI associated with the end user communication device and an ANI stored in a user preference database; and

upon determining the match exists, connecting the user device to an active event session associated with the event and providing streaming audio and video to the end user device.