Technique for effective management of information and communications using a mobile device

• US 20030115288A1
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumar, Pankaj, Ljubicich, Philip A.
• Application Number:
  US10/017,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115288A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A user of a mobile device, e.g., a WAP enabled wireless telephone, may call an information service for assistance, e.g., requesting desired telephone numbers, event schedules, movie listings, restaurant recommendations, etc. In accordance with the invention, the requested information is organized and maintained for the user in a data location, e.g., a WAP site, which can be accessed by the user using the mobile device at the user'"'"'s convenience. For example, after accessing the previously requested listings on the WAP site, the user may utilize the mobile device to initiate calls to selected telephone numbers, make reservation for selected events, or obtain directions to selected venues in such listings. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, when a call is connected through the information service, the user is afforded a first set of options displayed on the mobile device for selection after the call is successfully completed. Otherwise, if the call cannot be successfully completed, the user is afforded a second set of displayed options to obtain further assistance from the information service.

Claims

1. A method for providing an information service to a user comprising:

receiving from the user a request through a first medium;

searching a database for information responsive to the request;

organizing the information at a data location; and

allowing access by the user to the data location to obtain therefrom at least part of the information through a second medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data location is identified by a uniform resource locator (URL).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data location includes a WAP site.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes a telephone number desired by the user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information concerns an event.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes an address.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the information is organized according to a preference of the user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least part of the information is obtained as a result of a search by the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the search is based on a location.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the search is based on a keyword.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the search is based on a date.

14. A method for providing a service to a user of a communications device, comprising:

receiving a request through a first medium afforded by the communications device;

obtaining information responsive to the request;

providing the user with access to the information;

receiving a message generated by the communications device based on at least part of the information, the message being received through a second medium afforded by the communications device; and

providing the service based on content of the received message.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the message includes a telephone number associated with the communications device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the message includes an address.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the message includes event information.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the service includes making reservation for the user.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the service includes providing travel directions to the user.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the information is accessible at a data location.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the data location is identified by a URL.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the data location includes a WAP site.

25. A method for providing a service to a user of a communications device, comprising:

receiving a request from the communications device;

searching a database for information responsive to the request, the information including a desired telephone number;

connecting the communications device to a station associated with the desired telephone number through a voice connection;

identifying a status condition of the voice connection; and

providing data through a data connection to the communications device in response to the status condition.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the data indicates the status condition.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the data concerns at least one service option.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to obtain the desired telephone number.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to connect the user to an operator of the service.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to leave a message for delivery to a party associated with the desired telephone number.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a ring-no-answer condition.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a busy condition.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a communication failure.

34. A method for use in a communications apparatus capable of communications in a plurality of media, the method comprising:

transmitting a request through a first medium;

accessing information responsive to the request through a second medium;

generating a message based on at least part of the information; and

transmitting the message to a system which provides a service based on content of the message.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the message includes a telephone number associated with the communications apparatus.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the message includes an address.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein the message includes event information.

38. The method of claim 34 wherein the service includes making reservation for a user of the communications apparatus.

39. The method of claim 34 wherein the service includes providing travel directions to a user of the communications apparatus.

40. The method of claim 34 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

41. The method of claim 34 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

42. A system for providing an information service to a user comprising:

an interface for receiving from the user a request through a first medium;

a device for searching a database for information responsive to the request; and

a server for organizing the information at a data location, thereby allowing access by the user to the data location to obtain therefrom at least part of the information through a second medium.

43. The system of claim 42 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

44. The system of claim 42 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

45. The system of claim 42 wherein the data location is identified by a URL.

46. The system of claim 42 wherein the data location includes a WAP site.

47. The system of claim 42 wherein the information includes a telephone number desired by the user.

48. The system of claim 42 wherein the information concerns an event.

49. The system of claim 42 wherein the information includes an address.

50. The system of claim 42 wherein the information is organized according to a preference of the user.

51. The system of claim 42 wherein the at least part of the information is obtained as a result of a search by the user.

52. The system of claim 51 wherein the search is based on a location.

53. The system of claim 51 wherein the search is based on a keyword.

54. The system of claim 51 wherein the search is based on a date.

55. A system for providing a service to a user of a communications apparatus, comprising:

an interface for receiving a request through a first medium afforded by the communications device;

a device for obtaining information responsive to the request, the user being provided with access to the information; and

a server for receiving a message generated by the communications apparatus based on at least part of the information, the message being received through a second medium afforded by the communications apparatus, the service being provided based on content of the received message.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein the message includes a telephone number associated with the communications device.

57. The system of claim 55 wherein the message includes an address.

58. The system of claim 55 wherein the message includes event information.

59. The system of claim 55 wherein the service includes making reservation for the user.

60. The system of claim 55 wherein the service includes providing travel directions to the user.

61. The system of claim 55 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

62. The system of claim 55 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

63. The system of claim 55 wherein the information is accessible at a data location.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the data location is identified by a URL.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein the data location includes a WAP site.

66. A system for providing a service to a user of a communications apparatus, comprising:

an interface for receiving a request from the communications device;

a device for searching a database for information responsive to the request, the information including a desired telephone number;

a switch for connecting the communications device to a station associated with the desired telephone number through a voice connection;

a processor for identifying a status condition of the voice connection; and

a server for providing data through a data connection to the communications device in response to the status condition.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the data indicates the status condition.

68. The system of claim 66 wherein the data concerns at least one service option.

69. The system of claim 68 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to obtain the desired telephone number.

70. The system of claim 68 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to connect the user to an operator of the service.

71. The system of claim 68 wherein the at least one service option includes an option to leave a message for delivery to a party associated with the desired telephone number.

72. The system of claim 66 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a ring-no-answer condition.

73. The system of claim 66 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a busy condition.

74. The system of claim 66 wherein the voice connection includes a telephone connection, and the status condition includes a communication failure.

75. Apparatus capable of communications in a plurality of media, the apparatus comprising:

a first interface for transmitting a request through a first medium;

a second interface for accessing information responsive to the request through a second medium;

a processor for generating a message based on at least part of the information; and

a transmitter for transmitting the message to a system which provides a service based on content of the message.

76. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the message includes a telephone number associated with the communications apparatus.

77. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the message includes an address.

78. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the message includes event information.

79. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the service includes making reservation for a user of the apparatus.

80. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the service includes providing travel directions to a user of the apparatus.

81. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the first medium includes a voice medium.

82. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the second medium includes a data medium.

83. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the first interface includes telephone circuitry.

84. The apparatus of claim 75 wherein the second interface includes a modem facility.

85. The apparatus of claim 75 comprising a WAP enabled mobile device.