Communication device interaction with a personal information manager

• US 20040203643A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh, Ishmael, Nizamudeen Jr., Sidhu, Mandeep Singh
• Application Number:
  US10/171,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203643A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for providing customized notification of an incoming communication, or other occurrence, directed toward a personal communication device according to data included in a personal information manager is disclosed. PIM data can include a predetermined schedule of events and also include reference to a source of a communication. The schedule of an event can include a time and date of a calendar event. Notification, such as a ring, or vibration, of a cellular phone, can be customized according to the PIM data. Customization can include modifying, delaying or negating a notification of an incoming communication according the PIM data, such as a source of a communication and a schedule of calendar events set forth by a user. A customized response can also be provided to the originator of the communication.

Claims

1. A method for automatically responding to an incoming communication on a personal communication device, comprising:

entering information descriptive of a communication originator into a data structure;

entering information relating to a calendar event into the data structure;

receiving an indication of an incoming communication; and

enabling a customized notification relating to the incoming communication, wherein the notification is customized according to a calendar event and a communication originator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication of an incoming communication comprises a designation of a communication originator associated with the incoming communication.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

associating a particular notification with a type of calendar event; and

enabling the customized notification according to the associated notification.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data structure comprises a personal information manager.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal communication device comprises a cellular phone.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the personal communication device comprises a personal digital assistant.

7. The method of claim of claim 1 wherein the customized notification generated comprises a ring with an adjustment to one or more of a) ring volume b) ring tone and c) ring pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of:

associating a customized response with the communication originator; and

providing a customized response subsequent to receiving an indication of an incoming communication.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the incoming communication comprises a voice call.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the customized response to an incoming communication comprises conveying to the originating party information stored in a personal information manager associated with a user to whom the incoming communication is directed.

11. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising the step of receiving a verification of a communication originator prior to conveying information stored in a personal information manager.

12. The method of claim of claim 1 wherein the customized notification generated comprises an audio message generated via a text to speech engine.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the text comprises at least one of an identifying name and telephone number.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the customized notification generated comprises withholding any indication of notification.

15. Computer executable program code residing on a computer-readable medium, the program code comprising instructions for causing a computerized device to:

receive information descriptive of a communication originator into a data structure;

receive information relating to a calendar event into the data structure;

receive an indication of an incoming communication; and

provide a customized response relating to the incoming communication, wherein the response is customized according to at least one of a) the calendar event or b) the communication originator.

16. The computer executable program code of claim 15 wherein the computerized device comprises a personal communication device.

17. The computer executable program code of claim 15 wherein the program code additionally comprises instructions for causing the computerized device to provide a customized notification signaling receipt of the incoming communication.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the customized response to an incoming communication comprises conveying to the originating party information stored in a personal information manager associated with a user to whom the incoming communication is directed.

19. A system for facilitating a wireless communication comprising:

a means for receiving data descriptive of a calendar event, wherein the data comprises a notification profile;

a means for storing the received data descriptive of the calendar event;

a means for receiving an indication of an incoming communication;

a means for generating a notification according the received data descriptive of a calendar event and one or more of a) time b) date and c) party originating the communication; and

a means for generating a response to a communication originator according to received data descriptive of a calendar event and one or more of a) time b) date and c) party originating the communication.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the communication comprises a voice call.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the communication comprises an alphanumeric text message.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the notification generated comprises one or more of a) a specified ring volume b) a specified ring tone c) a specified ring pattern d) a vibration and e) a visual indicator.