Method and apparatus to manage different options of communication using one user identifier based on internet protocol
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user,wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, andwherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol;
receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from an electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided;
permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; and
enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user,wherein the method comprises determining availability of the second user,wherein the method requires contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal,wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, andwherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
Computer-implemented systems and methods to manage electronic communications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus, using at least a network-based portal based on Internet protocol, receives a message with a user identifier from a person'"'"'s wireless device; receives a communication option from the person based on options provided to the person, with all the options using the user identifier, in view of the portal being based on the Internet protocol; permits the user to block the person from accessing the user; enables the message to be received by the user if the person is not blocked by the user; and determines user availability to receive the message. In the embodiment, the apparatus requires user contact information for the user to receive messages, with the user contact information not provided to the person, and with the user contact information being distinct from the user identifier.
102 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user, wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol; receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from an electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided; permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; and enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user, wherein the method comprises determining availability of the second user, wherein the method requires contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, and wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computing apparatus for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, the computing apparatus comprising:
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at least one computing device; and one or more storage devices coupled to the at least one computing device, with the one or more storage devices storing instructions that, when executed, cause the computing apparatus to; providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified by the computing apparatus at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user, wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol; receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from an electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided; permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; and enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the computing apparatus to determine availability of the second user, and to require contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, and wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored therein for managing electronic communications using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for providing a plurality of communication options to a first user to be selected as a selected option of communication for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, and with the plurality of communication options provided to the first user to send messages to the electronic device associated with the second user, wherein the plurality of communication options include text messaging and voice communication, and wherein all of the communication options use one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol; computer program code for receiving an indication regarding one of the plurality of communication options, via the network-based portal, from the electronic device associated with the first user, the indication indicating the selected option of communication for the message from the plurality of communication options provided; computer program code for permitting the second user to block the first user from reaching the second user via the network-based portal; computer program code for enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected option of communication, based on the one identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from reaching the second user, wherein a piece of information regarding the second user blocking the first user from reaching the second user is stored in a storage medium if the second user has blocked the first user from reaching the second user, with the piece of information being based on at least an input previously submitted by the second user; computer program code for determining availability of the second user; and computer program code for requiring contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user based on the one identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user does not have to be provided to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, wherein the one identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user, wherein the plurality of communication options include multimedia messaging and group messaging, all of which using the one identifier associated with the second user for the second user to receive messages, at least in view of the network-based portal being based on the Internet protocol, wherein the one identifier associated with the second user includes a digital identity of the second user, and wherein the contact information associated with the second user includes at least one of a phone number or an email address of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification