Smart capture

• US 8,964,965 B1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhigu Holdings Limited
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Kunins, Jeffrey Craig, Stifelman, Lisa, Caplener, Sarah, Surapaneni, Rao S., Khurana, Rajeev, David, Angus MacDonald, Weiden, David, Elman, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US11/285,394
• Time in Patent Office: 3,380 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8819- 8828, 37914201-14207, 379/355.04, 455/415
• US Class Current: 379/355.04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party

Abstract

A system for updating a network accessible address book for a user is disclosed. The system includes a network address reference detection agent that detects a network address reference resulting from user interaction with a network addressable device. Network address references include e-mail addresses, SMS addresses, and telephone numbers. After the network address reference detection agent detects an event, a user identity data store is accessed. The user identity data store provides a reverse-lookup of one or more profile elements based upon the network address reference detected by the network address reference detection agent. The system also includes a capture agent for evaluating a business rule based at least on the network address reference. If the business rule is satisfied, the capture agent provides a prompt as to whether the one or more profile elements should be added at least in part to the network accessible address book for the user.

Claims

1. A method for updating an address book for a user, the method comprising:

maintaining a data store that stores telephone billing information that includes call logs or billing records for multiple users;

maintaining a business rules database that stores business rules that are associated with certain users and that are modifiable by an associated user;

automatically parsing the data store on a periodic basis to identify and retrieve telephone numbers referenced in the call logs or billing records that are associated with the user to which a business rule associated with the user is to be applied to evaluate for incorporation into the address book of the user; and

when the evaluated business rule is satisfied,

performing a caller ID reverse lookup to obtain information regarding an identified telephone number;

sending an inquiry to the user as to whether the obtained information should be added to the address book; and

when the user indicates that the obtained information should be added to the address book, adding the obtained information to the address book.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the inquiry is provided to the user over a communication channel different from the telephone call.

3. A system for updating an address book for a user, the system comprising:

a data store that stores telephone billing information that includes call logs or billing records for multiple users;

business rules database that stores business rules that are associated with certain users and that are modifiable by an associated user; and

a capture agent that

automatically parses the data store on a periodic basis to identify and retrieve telephone numbers referenced in the call logs or billing records that are associated with the user to which a business rule associated with the user is to be applied to evaluate for incorporation into the address book of the user; and

when the evaluated business rule is satisfied,

performs a caller ID reverse lookup to obtain information regarding an identified telephone number;

sends an inquiry to the user as to whether the obtained information should be added to the address book; and

when the user indicates that the obtained information should be added to the address book, adds the obtained information to the address book.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the inquiry is provided to the user over a communication channel different from a telephone call.

5. A computer-readable storage device storing executable instructions for updating an address book for a user, the executable instructions comprising instructions that:

access a data store that stores telephone billing information that includes call logs or billing records for multiple users;

access a rules database that stores business rules that are associated with certain users and that are modifiable by an associated user;

automatically parse the data store on a periodic basis to identify and retrieve telephone numbers referenced in the call logs or billing records that are associated with the user to which a business rule associated with the user is to be applied to evaluate for incorporation into the address book of the user; and

when the evaluated business rule is satisfied,

perform a caller ID reverse lookup to obtain information regarding an identified telephone number;

send an inquiry to the user as to whether the obtained information should be added to the address book; and

when the user indicates that the obtained information should be added to the address book, add the obtained information to the address book.

6. The computer-readable storage device of claim 5 wherein the inquiry is provided to the user over a communication channel different from a telephone call.