Method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting

• US 9,553,999 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walter, Edward, Pearson, Larry B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Teshale, Akelaw
• Application Number:
  US13/114,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,072 Days
• Field of Search: 379/82, 379/179, 379/207.09, 379/207.16, 379/211.03, 379/252, 379/375.01, 379/911, 379/401, 379/567, 379/702, 379/110.01, 379/373.04, 379/76, 379/88.22, 379/102.02, 379/111, 379/112.01, 379/114.05, 379/142.04, 379/164, 379/167.08, 379/211.04, 379/231, 379/373.01, 379/67.1, 379/88.12, 379/88.13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/715 using two or more extensions per line cordless telephones H04M1/725
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier

Abstract

A method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a communication device which includes computer instructions at least for matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users, and identifying a plurality of parties to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A communication device, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a controller coupled with the memory, wherein the controller, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising;

downloading ring tones over a communication network coupled to the communication device;

associating the ring tones to a targeted user;

identifying a caller identifier associated with a messaging event that is directed to a terminal device, wherein the communication device and the terminal device are in a master-slave relationship;

determining a match between the caller identifier and an entry in a contact book of a plurality of contact books that are associated with the terminal device;

identifying the targeted user from a plurality of users of the terminal device based on the match of the contact book; and

transmitting the ring tones associated with the targeted user to the terminal device to enable the terminal device to indicate, by presenting the ring tones, that the messaging event is intended for the targeted user.

2. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the ring tones are indicated by identification information associated with the targeted user.

3. The communication device of claim 1, comprising a wireless transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the terminal device.

4. The communication device of claim 2, wherein the identification information is provided to the terminal device utilizing an IP multimedia subsystem.

5. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the ring tones are presented at the terminal device in an alternating pattern, and wherein the alternating pattern is selected by the communication device.

6. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the messaging event comprises a voicemail associated with a calling party when an incoming call is unanswered.

7. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the caller identifier comprises a number identification retrieved from an incoming call.

8. The communication device of claim 1, wherein the messaging event a short messaging system message and wherein the controller comprises a group of controllers operating in a distributed processing environment.

9. A non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by a processor of a communication device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

downloading ring tones over a communication network;

associating the ring tones to a targeted user;

matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event directed to a terminal device and an entry in a contact book of a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users of the terminal device to determine a matching contact book;

identifying the targeted user from the plurality of users to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching contact book; and

generating a ring tone command for directing the terminal device to present the ring tones associated with the targeted user, wherein the communication device is remote from the terminal device.

10. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising instructions which, responsive to being executed by the processor of the communication device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising presenting an indication of the targeted user by way of the ring tones that correspond to each party of the targeted user in an alternating pattern.

11. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the processor further performs operations comprising receiving the messaging event.

12. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the messaging event comprises an incoming call initiated by a calling party wherein the processor comprises a group of processors operating in a distributed processing environment.

13. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, further comprising computer instructions which, responsive to being executed by the processor of the communication device, cause the processor to perform operations comprising providing identification information to the terminal device, wherein the identification information indicates the targeted user, and wherein the identification information enables the terminal device to present an indication of the targeted user by way of the ring tones and a graphical symbol that corresponds to the targeted user.

14. The non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the messaging event comprises an email.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a terminal device comprising a processor, ring tones over a communication network coupled to the terminal device;

associating, by the terminal device, the ring tones to a targeted user;

receiving, by the terminal device, user identification information from a communication device, wherein the communication device is remote from and communicatively coupled to the terminal device, and wherein the user identification information corresponds to a plurality of contacts books associated with a plurality of users of the terminal device, and wherein each of the plurality of users is associated with a ring tone;

comparing, by the terminal device, a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and the user identification information to identify the targeted user to whom the messaging event is potentially directed; and

presenting, by the terminal device, the associated ring tones at the terminal device for the targeted user to whom the messaging event is potentially directed.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising presenting, by the terminal device, a corresponding graphical symbol for the targeted user to whom the messaging event is potentially directed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the messaging event comprises an incoming call initiated by a calling party.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the caller identifier comprises a number identification retrieved from an incoming call.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the messaging event comprises a short messaging system message.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the presenting of the associated ring tones at the terminal device is in an alternating pattern.