Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing an event alert

• US 8,711,738 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T BLS Intelectual Property Inc (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hicks, John Alson III
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): CATTUNGAL, AJAY P
• Application Number:
  US13/617,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• US Class Current: 370/271
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72484 wherein functions are triggered by incoming communication events
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for providing an event alert. According to embodiments, a method for providing an event alert is provided. According to the method, an incoming communication from a first device is detected. An initiating party associated with the first device is identified. Whether the initiating party associated with the first device is further associated with an alert tag is determined. The alert tag may include an identifying alert identifying the initiating party associated with the first device. In response to determining that the initiating party associated with the first device is associated with the alert tag, the identifying alert is provided as the event alert on a second device.

Claims

1. A method for providing an event alert, the method comprising:

detecting, at a computing system comprising a processor, a communication from a second device to a first device;

identifying, by the computing system, an initiating party associated with the second device;

determining, by the computing system, whether the initiating party is associated with a first alert tag, the alert tag comprising a first identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device; and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the first alert tag,

determining, by the computing system, whether the first device can play the first identifying alert, and

in response to determining that the first device can play the first identifying alert, transmitting, by the computing system, the first alert tag associated with the initiating party to the first device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the first device can play the first identifying alert comprises determining whether the first device comprises an alert tag player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device plays the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, prior to the first device playing the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert, the first device plays an initial warning to inform a contacted party of the first device that the first identifying alert is forthcoming.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the initiating party with a fee associated with distributing the first alert tag.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an identity of a contacted party associated with the first device communication;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the first device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, further transmitting the second alert tag associated with the contacted party to the first device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising determining whether the first device is configured to play the second identifying alert.

8. A computing system for providing an event alert, the computing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising

detecting a communication from a second device to a first device,

identifying an initiating party associated with the second device,

determining whether the initiating party is associated with a first alert tag, the first alert tag comprising a first identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device, and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the first alert tag,

determining whether the first device can play the first identifying alert, and

in response to determining that the first device can play the first identifying alert, transmitting the first alert tag associated with the initiating party to the first device.

9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein determining whether the first device can play the first identifying alert comprises determining whether the first device comprises an alert tag player.

10. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the first device plays the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert.

11. The computing system of claim 10, wherein prior to the first device playing the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert, the first device plays an initial warning to inform a contacted party of the first device that the first identifying alert is forthcoming.

12. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising charging the initiating party with a fee associated with distributing the first alert tag.

13. The computing system of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises further instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an identity of a contacted party associated with the first device;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, further transmitting the second alert tag associated with the contacted party to the first device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

detecting a communication from a second device to a first device;

identifying an initiating party associated with the second device;

determining whether the initiating party is associated with a first alert tag, the first alert tag comprising a first identifying alert that identifies the initiating party using the second device; and

responsive to determining that the initiating party is associated with the first alert tag,

determining whether the first device can play the first identifying alert, and

in response to determining that the first device can play the first identifying alert, transmitting the first alert tag associated with the initiating party to the first device.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein determining whether the first device can play the first identifying alert comprises determining whether the first device comprises an alert tag player.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the first device plays the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein prior to the first device playing the first identifying alert of the first alert tag as the event alert, the first device plays an initial warning to inform a contacted party of the first device that the first identifying alert is forthcoming.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform operations comprising charging the initiating party with a fee associated with distributing the first alert tag.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving an identity of a contacted party associated with the first device;

determining whether the contacted party is associated with a second alert tag, the second alert tag comprising a second identifying alert that identifies the contacted party using the first device; and

responsive to determining that the contacted party is associated with the second alert tag, transmitting the second alert tag associated with the contacted party to the first device.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to perform operations comprising determining whether the first device is configured to play the second identifying alert.