Contact management in a communication environment with unified communication interfaces

• US 9,467,542 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hearsay Social, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mast Mobile, Inc. (Hearsay Social, Inc.)
• Inventors: Messenger, David, Lurie, Peter, Dawson, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US14/931,778
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2477 for selecting a function from a menu display H04M1/2474 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/32 Charging, billing or metering arrangements for satellites or concentrators which connect one or more exchange lines with a group of local lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/66 Policy and charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/45 related to voicemail messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5141 : Details of processing calls and other types of contacts in an unified manner unified messaging in packet-switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53333 : Message receiving aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53358 : Message preview
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 : Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/34 : Modification of an existing route
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for generating mobile phone contact records comprises, receiving at an intermediate server communicatively coupled to a mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first contact group and a second phone number corresponding to a second contact group, a request from the mobile phone to make an outgoing call. The intermediate server identifies whether a set of contact records associated with the mobile phone includes a contact record associated with the recipient based on the recipient phone number. The contact record comprises a contact type of the recipient corresponding to the first contact group or the second contact group. In response to determining that the set of contact records does not include the contact record associated with the recipient, the intermediate server determines the contact type of the recipient and creates the contact record associated with the recipient.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for generating mobile phone contact records, comprising:

receiving, at an intermediate server communicatively coupled to a mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first contact group and a second phone number corresponding to a second contact group, a request from the mobile phone to make an outgoing call, the request including a recipient phone number;

in response to receiving the request to make the outgoing call, identifying, by the intermediate server, whether a set of contact records associated with the mobile phone includes a contact record associated with the recipient based on the recipient phone number, the contact record associated with the recipient comprising a contact type of the recipient corresponding to the first contact group or the second contact group;

in response to determining that the set of contact records does not include the contact record associated with the recipient;

determining, at the intermediate server, the contact type of the recipient at least in part by, in response to determining that the intermediate server has previously received an incoming call from the recipient number, determining whether the first phone number or the second phone number is associated with a record of the incoming call;

creating, by the intermediate server, the contact record associated with the recipient, the created contact record comprising the contact type and the recipient phone number for the recipient; and

storing, by the intermediate server, the created contact record associated with the recipient; and

routing, by the intermediate server, the outgoing call request to a mobile service provider associated with the recipient phone number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone, and wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of one of the first contact group or the second contact group.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of the first phone number or the second phone number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining, by the intermediate server, whether there is a contact record associated with the recipient phone number in a contact database; and

identifying, by the intermediate server, the contact type of the contact record in the contact database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining, by the intermediate server, if the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within one of the first contact group or the second contact group;

wherein the contact type of the contact comprises the one of the first contact group or the second contact group in response to a determination that the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within the one of the first contact group or the second contact group.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable computer instructions for generating mobile phone contact records, the instructions, when executed by a hardware processor, configured to perform steps comprising:

receiving, at an intermediate server communicatively coupled to a mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first contact group and a second phone number corresponding to a second contact group, a request from the mobile phone to make an outgoing call, the request including a recipient phone number;

in response to receiving the request to make the outgoing call, identifying, by the intermediate server, whether a set of contact records associated with the mobile phone includes a contact record associated with the recipient based on the recipient phone number, the contact record associated with the recipient comprising a contact type of the recipient corresponding to the first contact group or the second contact group;

in response to determining that the set of contact records does not include the contact record associated with the recipient;

determining, at the intermediate server, the contact type of the recipient at least in part by, in response to determining that the intermediate server has previously received an incoming call from the recipient number, determining whether the first phone number or the second phone number is associated with a record of the incoming call;

creating, by the intermediate server, the contact record associated with the recipient, the created contact record comprising the contact type and the recipient phone number for the recipient; and

storing, by the intermediate server, the created contact record associated with the recipient; and

routing, by the intermediate server, the outgoing call request to a mobile service provider associated with the recipient phone number.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone, and wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of one of the first contact group or the second contact group.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of the first phone number or the second phone number.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining, by the intermediate server, whether there is a contact record associated with the recipient phone number in a contact database; and

identifying, by the intermediate server, the contact type of the contact record in the contact database.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining, by the intermediate server, if the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within one of the first contact group or the second contact group;

wherein the contact type of the contact comprises the one of the first contact group or the second contact group in response to a determination that the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within the one of the first contact group or the second contact group.

13. A system for managing generating mobile phone contact records, comprising:

an intermediate server communicatively coupled to a mobile phone associated with a first phone number corresponding to a first contact group and a second phone number corresponding to a second contact group, the intermediate server comprising one or more hardware processors configured to;

receive a request from the mobile phone to make an outgoing call, the request including a recipient phone number;

in response to receiving the request to make the outgoing call, identify whether a set of contact records associated with the mobile phone includes a contact record associated with the recipient based on the recipient phone number, the contact record associated with the recipient comprising a contact type of the recipient corresponding to the first contact group or the second contact group;

in response to determining that the set of contact records does not include the contact record associated with the recipient;

determining, at the intermediate server, the contact type of the recipient at least in part by, in response to determining that the intermediate server has previously received an incoming call from the recipient number, determining whether the first phone number or the second phone number is associated with a record of the incoming call;

creating, by the intermediate server, the contact record associated with the recipient, the created contact record comprising the contact type and the recipient phone number for the recipient; and

storing, by the intermediate server, the created contact record associated with the recipient; and

routing, by the intermediate server, the outgoing call request to a mobile service provider associated with the recipient phone number.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first phone number comprises a phone number corresponding to hardware of the mobile phone, and wherein the second phone number comprises a virtual phone number assigned to the mobile phone by the intermediate server.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of one of the first contact group or the second contact group.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises receiving the contact type from the mobile phone in response to a selection by a user of the mobile phone of the first phone number or the second phone number.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining whether there is a contact record associated with the recipient phone number in a contact database; and

identifying the contact type of the contact record in the contact database.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein determining the contact type of the contact comprises:

determining if the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within one of the first contact group or the second contact group;

wherein the contact type of the contact comprises the one of the first contact group or the second contact group in response to a determination that the recipient phone number is associated with more than a threshold number of other users within the one of the first contact group or the second contact group.