Systems and processes to manage multiple modes of communication

• US 9,204,268 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioShare, LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheung, Kwok Wai, Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US14/272,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20140242956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 455/418, 455/414.1, 455/466, 455/432.1, 455/412.2, 455/435.3, 370/444, 370/336, 370/395.2, 370/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, when a person tries to electronically convey a message to the user, the status of the user, the identity of the person, and the urgency of the message can be identified. The access priority of the person can be determined based on the person'"'"'s identity. Then, the message can be managed using one or more rules and in view of the status of the user, the access priority of the person and the urgency of the message.

Claims

1. An article for managing the communication of a user, in view of a first device of a person trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the first device being a mobile communication device, the article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, when executed by a server, result in the server;

receiving, by the server, the message from the first device;

identifying, by the server, the person corresponding to the first device; and

setting a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on an activity, location or time associated with the user, and the access priority depending on the person,

wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the server, further result in the server;

even when the message is transmitted to the second device via contact information of the user of the second device, not providing the contact information of the user of the second device to the first device,

having access to contact information corresponding to the person of the first device,

being aware of an availability of the user of the second device, and

selecting one mode of communication at least based on the status associated with the user of the second device, and

wherein, when communication is established between the first device and the second device, the message is received by the second device, depending on the one mode of communication being selected, though the message can be sent by the first device via a plurality of modes of communication including instant message, and voice from a phone.

2. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein if information regarding the availability of the user is sent to the first device, the sending of the information depends on an identity of the person.

3. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the process for the message is also based on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

4. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the one mode of communication is selected at least from the list of voice from a communication device, SMS, online chat, text message, email and voice mail.

5. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, if executed by the server, further result in the server setting an appointment for the user with the person in view of information in an electronic calendar associated with the user.

6. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, if executed by the server, further result in the server setting the access priority associated with the person depending at least in part on a reaction of the user to a prior message from the person.

7. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, if executed by the server, further result in the server allowing the user to set the access priority associated with the person.

8. An article as recited in claim 1,

wherein the location of the user is identified at least via accessing information regarding location of the second device,

wherein the one mode of communication depends on the location of the user, and

wherein the one mode of communication is selected at least from the list of voice from a communication device and voice mail.

9. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the one mode of communication is instant message.

10. An article as recited in claim 1, wherein the one mode of communication is mobile phone.

11. A server for managing the communication of a user, in view of a first device of a person trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the first device being a mobile communication device, the server comprising:

at least one computing device; and

at least one storage device storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to;

receive the message from the first device;

identify the person corresponding to the first device; and

set a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on an activity, location or time associated with the user, and the access priority depending on the person,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device, further cause the computing device to;

even when the message is transmitted to the second device via contact information of the user of the second device, not provide the contact information of the user of the second device to the person of the first device,

have access to contact information corresponding to the person of the first device,

be aware of an availability of the user of the second device, and

select one mode of communication at least based on the status associated with the user of the second device, and

wherein, when communication is established between the first device and the second device, the message is received by the second device, depending on the one mode of communication being selected, though the message can be sent by the first device via a plurality of modes of communication including instant message, and voice from a phone.

12. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein if information regarding the availability of the user is sent to the first device, the sending of the information depends on an identity of the person.

13. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein the process for the message is also based on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

14. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein the one mode of communication is selected at least from the list of voice from a communication device, SMS, online chat, text message, email and voice mail.

15. A server as recited in claim 11 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device, further cause the computing device to set an appointment for the user with the person in view of information in an electronic calendar associated with the user.

16. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device, further cause the computing device to set the access priority associated with the person depending at least in part on a reaction of the user to a prior message from the person.

17. A server as recited in claim 11 wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one computing device, further cause the computing device to allow the user to set the access priority associated with the person.

18. A server as recited in claim 11,

wherein the location of the user is identified at least via accessing information regarding location of the second device,

wherein the one mode of communication depends on the location of the user, and

wherein the one mode of communication is selected at least from the list of voice from a communication device and voice mail.

19. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein the one mode of communication is instant message.

20. A server as recited in claim 11, wherein the one mode of communication is mobile phone.