Method allowing an exchange of context information within a group of users sharing one and the same identifier

• US 8,929,527 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Le Huerou, Emmanuel, Beaufils, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US13/876,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20130322611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.12, 379/156, 379/159, 379/177, 379/184, 379/201.1, 379/211.01
• US Class Current: 379/156
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party

Abstract

A method is provided for allowing an exchange of context information within a group of users sharing one and the same identifier. The method includes transmitting information between at least one first terminal and a second terminal associated with a common identifier. The method includes a step of sending by the first terminal a notification of state intended at least for the second terminal and carrying an item of information relating to the context in which a user of the first terminal finds himself. The method allows members of a community of users, which is identified by a unique telephone number, to avail themselves of context information relating to the other members of the community at any moment, and in particular at the precise moment at which a setup request for establishing a communication is presented to them.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information between at least one first terminal and one second terminal from a plurality of terminals associated with a common identifier, wherein the method comprises:

sending, through at least said first terminal, a state notification configured for at least said second terminal and carrying a piece of information relating to a context in which a user of the first terminal is situated,

at the reception of a request for setting up a communication, corresponding to said common identifier, presenting said request to said plurality of terminals and sending, by at least said first terminal to at least the second terminal, a notification of choice comprising;

a piece of information relating to the request presented for setting up a communication, and

a command designed to produce, in at least said second terminal of the plurality of terminals, a predetermined stimulus indicative of a designation, by the user of the first terminal, of the user of said second terminal, informing the user of said second terminal that the user of the second terminal must accept the communication being presented.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further includes receiving said notification by a management server and re-transmitting said notification towards at least the second terminal.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein presenting the communication includes a presentation of a duration at the end of which said communication will be transferred to a messaging service.

4. A telecommunications system including:

a plurality of terminals associated with a common identifier, wherein at least one first terminal includes means for sending a state notification configured for at least one second terminal and carrying a piece of information relating to a context in which a user of said first terminal is situated, and at least said first terminal includes means for sending a notification to at least said second terminal before a communication is accepted by any of the plurality of terminals, said notification being a carrier of a piece of information relating to a request for setting up a communication, corresponding to said common identifier and presented to said plurality of terminals, said notification further including a command designed to produce, in at least a second terminal of the plurality of terminals, a predetermined stimulus indicative of a designation, by the user of the first terminal, informing the user of said second terminal that the user of said second terminal must accept the communication being presented.

5. A telecommunications system associated with an identifier common to a plurality of terminals, wherein the system includes:

a first terminal comprising means for sending a state notification configured for at least one second terminal of the plurality of terminals and carrying a piece of information relating to a context in which a user of said first terminal is situated, and

the first terminal further comprising means for sending a notification of choice to at least one second terminal before a communication is accepted by any of the plurality of terminals, said notification of choice being a carrier of a piece of information relating to a request for setting up a communication, corresponding to said common identifier and presented to said plurality of terminals, said notification of choice also including a command intended for producing, in at least one second terminal, a predetermined stimulus indicative of a designation, by a user of said first terminal, informing the user of said second terminal that the user of said second terminal must accept the communication being presented.

6. A computer-readable hardware memory comprising a computer program stored thereon and comprising program code instructions to implement a method for transmitting information between at least one first terminal and one second terminal from a plurality of terminals associated with a common identifier, when this program is executed by a processor, wherein the method comprises:

sending, through at least said first terminal, a state notification configured for at least said second terminal and carrying a piece of information relating to a context in which a user of the first terminal is situated, and

at the reception of a request for setting up a communication, corresponding to said common identifier, presenting said request to said plurality of terminals and sending, by at least said first terminal to at least the second terminal, a notification of choice comprising;

a piece of information relating to the request presented for setting up a communication, and

a command designed to produce, in at least said second terminal of the plurality of terminals, a predetermined stimulus indicative of a designation, by the user of the first terminal, of the user of said second terminal, informing the user of said second terminal that the user of the second terminal must accept the communication being presented.