Methods, systems, and products for processing communications

• US 9,544,427 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Hensey, Robert G. Jr., Lin, Shiejye Geoffrey, Scott, David Archie
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US14/859,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 479 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• 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 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• 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

Users are provided control of their communications. Should a call be processed for a user, a text message may be automatically sent as a response to the call. The user may pre-compose different text messages. The user may also compose a custom text message. Regardless, the user'"'"'s text message is automatically sent as a response to the call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

pausing, by a network element, processing associated with a call prior to termination to a called address, the call associated with a calling address;

querying, by the network element, an electronic database for the calling address, the electronic database storing electronic associations between text messages and calling addresses including the calling address to retrieve a text message of the text messages that is electronically associated with the calling address; and

initiating, by the network element, the text message to the calling address as a response to the call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving an indication of activation associated with the text message.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a selection of different pre-composed text messages.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a profile associated with the calling address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a profile associated with the called address.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving an indication of deactivation associated with the called address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving a do not disturb setting.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device, the memory device storing code, the code when executed causing the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

pausing processing associated with a call from a calling address prior to termination at a called address;

querying an electronic database for the calling address, the electronic database storing electronic associations between text messages and calling addresses including the calling address;

retrieving a text message of the text messages from the electronic database, the text message having an electronic association with the calling address; and

initiating the text message to the calling address in response to the call.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving an indication of activation associated with the text message.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise providing a selection of different pre-composed text messages.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a profile associated with the calling address.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a profile associated with the called address.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving an indication of deactivation associated with the called address.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a do not disturb setting.

15. A method, comprising:

pausing processing, by a network element, of a call from a calling address prior to termination to a called address;

querying, by the network element, an electronic database for the calling address, the electronic database storing electronic associations between text messages and calling addresses including the calling address;

retrieving, by the network element, a text message of the text messages from the electronic database, the text message having an electronic association with the calling address; and

initiating, from the network element, the text message to the calling address in response to the call.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising retrieving an indication of activation associated with the text message.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing a selection of different pre-composed text messages.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising retrieving a profile associated with the calling address.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising retrieving a profile associated with the called address.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising retrieving a do not disturb setting.