Systems and methods for generating a calling list for a conference call

• US 8,867,719 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Gisby, Douglas, Labrador, Christopher, Andrewin, Kevin, Alfano, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khai N
• Application Number:
  US12/266,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20100111279A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,175 Days
• Field of Search: 379/202.01, 379/218.01, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.21, 379/157, 379/158, 379/201.01, 379/207.01, 370/259, 370/260, 370/261, 370/262, 455/414.1, 455/416
• US Class Current: 379/202.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2749 Automatic dialling or redialling systems, e.g. on off-hook or redial on busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72472 wherein the items are sorted according to specific criteria, e.g. frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/62 user interface aspects of conference calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that facilitate the generation of calling lists for use in planning or setting up conference calls. The system may include a communications module and a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact. Each contact record may include at least one contact address and at least one descriptor. For example, the descriptor may include a job title and/or expertise for the contact. The system may also include a selection module configured to select at least one of the contacts and also configured to compare the at least one descriptor to at least one qualifier criteria. The method may include: providing a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact; wherein each contact record comprises at least one contact address and at least one descriptor; determining at least one qualifier criteria; comparing the qualifier criteria to the at least one descriptor; determining a calling list corresponding to at least one contact.

Claims

1. A system for generating a calling list for a conference call, the system comprising:

a communications module;

a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact, wherein each contact record comprises a contact identifier, a contact address, and a descriptor that is different from the contact identifier and the contact address; and

a selection module configured to select at least one of the contact records by comparing the at least one descriptor to at least one qualifier criteria,

wherein the selection module selects the at least one contact record having a descriptor that meets the at least one qualifier criteria for inclusion on the calling list and ranks the at least one contact record in the calling list based on a degree of correspondence of the descriptor to the at least one qualifier criteria.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an input module operatively coupled to the selection module and configured to receive qualifier criteria.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the input module is further configured to receive at least one proposed call time.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the descriptor comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

job title;

seniority;

area of interest; and

expertise.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a calendar module operatively coupled to the selection module, wherein the calendar module comprises availability data corresponding to at least one contact.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selection module is configured to compare the availability data in selecting the at least one selected contact.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the selection module is configured to compare the availability data to the at least one proposed call time.

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selection module is configured to determine at least one proposed call time.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the contact identifier includes a name of a contact, and the contact address includes a phone number or email address of the contact.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the descriptor includes information describing characteristics of the contact.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the selection module is executable on a mobile device.

9. A computer-implemented method of generating a calling list for a conference call, the method comprising:

providing, by a processor, a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact, wherein each contact record comprises a contact identifier, a contact address, and a descriptor that is different from the contact identifier and the contact address;

determining, by the processor, a qualifier criteria;

comparing, by the processor, the qualifier criteria to the descriptor; and

determining, by the processor, at least one contact record, having a descriptor that meets the at least one qualifier criteria, for inclusion on the calling list; and

ranking, by the processor, the at least one contact record in the calling list based on a degree of correspondence of the descriptor to the at least one qualifier criteria.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

displaying the list of contacts in ranked order; and

selecting at least one contact record from the list.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

providing availability data corresponding to at least one of the contacts; and

comparing the availability data in determining a calling list.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

determining a proposed call time; and

wherein the calling list is determined corresponding to the proposed call time.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein determining the proposed call time comprises comparing the availability data of the at least one of the contacts.

14. A calling list generated in accordance with the method of claim 11.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that cause a computing device to generate a calling list for a conference call, the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for:

providing a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact, wherein each contact record comprises a contact identifier, a contact address, and a descriptor that is different from the contact identifier and the contact address;

determining a qualifier criteria;

comparing the qualifier criteria to the descriptor;

determining at least one contact record, having a descriptor that meets the at least one qualifier criteria, for inclusion on the calling list;

ranking the at least one contact record in the calling list based on a degree of correspondence of the descriptor to the at least one qualifier criteria;

providing availability data corresponding to at least one of the contacts; and

comparing the availability data in determining a calling list.

16. An apparatus for generating a calling list for a conference call, the system comprising:

a computing device programmed to;

provide a contact database comprising a plurality of contact records, each contact record corresponding to a different contact, wherein each contact record comprises a contact identifier, a contact address, and a descriptor that is different from the contact identifier and the contact address;

determine a qualifier criteria;

compare the qualifier criteria to the descriptor;

determine a calling list corresponding to at least one of the contacts;

rank the at least one contact record in the calling list based on a degree of correspondence of the descriptor to the at least one qualifier criteria;

provide availability data corresponding to at least one of the contacts; and

compare the availability data in determining a calling list.