Smart answering machine

• US 20050197767A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Original Assignee: Edward H. Nortrup
• Inventors: Nortrup, Edward H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,522,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3407 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3608 using speech input, e.g. using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3694 Output thereof on a road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/022 Knowledge engineering; Knowledge acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0266 based on the position of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/012 : from other sources than vehicle or roadside beacons, e.g. mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 : for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 : Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 : Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 : where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096883 : where input information is obtained using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, a PDA
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 : to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 : including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 : Guidance services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 : using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 : for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Location technologies are combined with other information systems to provide augmented information for individuals such as a traveler in an automobile.

Claims

1. A method of providing information through an automated phone answering system, comprising:

receiving a phone call from a mobile communication facility;

presenting selectable options through the mobile communication facility; and

providing information through a data stream formatted to be received and stored in memory of the mobile communication facility in response to a selection from the selectable options.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the information comprises at least one of directions, store information, sale information, navigation information, coupon information, and inventory information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the information relates to an establishment associated with the automated phone answering system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the establishment is at least one of a store;

business; and

residence.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data stream comprises video, text message, email, graphics, and audio data.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication facility is at least one of a cell phone, pda, and combination pda phone.

7. A method of presenting information from an automated telephone answering facility, comprising:

receiving a phone call from a mobile communication facility;

presenting an option menu in audio format;

receiving a user selection from the option menu; and

redirecting the communication with the mobile communication facility to a web facility.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises the step of presenting an option through the web facility to redirect the communication back to the telephone answering facility.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the method further comprises the step of presenting an option through the web facility to redirect the communication to a human interaction facility.

10. A method of providing route information, comprising:

assessing a location of a user;

gathering route information relative to the user'"'"'s location;

providing the route information to the user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the route information is provided through a mobile communication facility.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile communication facility is an in-vehicle communication facility.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile communication facility is a mobile phone.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile communication facility is a pda.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the mobile communication facility is a combination pda mobile phone.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of assessing the location of the user is accomplished through cell phone triangulation.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of assessing the location of the user is accomplished through a gps facility.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of gathering the route information further comprises predicting the route the user is traveling and gathering route information associated with the predicted route.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the prediction of the route is determined at least in part based on the location of the user and the route the user is currently traveling.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the prediction of the route is further at least in part based on an assumption the user will continue on a roadway the user is currently traveling.