PERSONAL NOTIFICATION AND BROADCASTING

• US 20070036279A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BOMA Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BOMA Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Melchione, Dan, Tam, Kenneth, Larson, Alan
• Application Number:
  US11/423,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036279A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2748 by matching character strings
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/205 Broadcasting broadcasting in packet switching networks H04L12/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

While various communication systems permit one-on-one communication between users, it is difficult to contact multiple users at a time with little hassle. The personal notification and broadcasting system provides a solution for contacting a plurality of contacts in emergency and non-emergency contexts. The system receives a call from a caller attempting to reach the plurality of contacts. The system compares an identifier associated with the caller to identifiers stored in a database to authenticate identity of the caller. Responsive to a positive authentication of the identity of the caller, the system identifies which contacts on a contact list to be reached based on information provided by the caller. In some embodiments, the system retrieves from a database stored contact information for the identified contacts. The system contacts the identified plurality of contacts and selects an action to take (e.g., arranging a conference call, broadcasting a message from the caller, etc.) from a one or more actions, wherein the action to take is selected based on the identifier.

Claims

1. A method for contacting a plurality of contacts, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller attempting to reach the plurality of contacts;

comparing an identifier automatically associated with the caller to identifiers stored in a database to authenticate identity of the caller;

responsive to a positive authentication of the identity of the caller, identifying which group of contacts on a contact list to be reached based on information provided by the caller;

contacting the identified group of contacts; and

selecting an action to take from one or more actions, wherein the action to take is selected based on the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by caller identification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by automatic number identification

4. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying which group of contacts to be reached further comprises identifying based on a set of rules the group of contacts on the contact list to be reached based on time of day or day of week.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact list is a list of one or more groups of persons that the caller has previously identified to be contacted.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the list of one or more groups of persons is a list of emergency contacts that the caller has previously identified to be alerted in an emergency situation

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the action selected is taken in 30 seconds or less from when the call was received.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving contact information for identified contacts from the database.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a sound recording recorded by the caller.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a photo taken by the caller.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a video taken by the caller.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing location information for the caller to the identified group of contacts.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the action selected is broadcasting a message to the identified group of contacts.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the action selected is arranging a conference between the caller and the identified group of contacts.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising placing the caller into contact with the identified group of contacts through a conference call.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller is registered for a service for contacting a plurality of contacts, and the caller provides in advance contact information associated with the contacts.

17. A system for contacting a plurality of contacts, the system comprising:

a receiving module for receiving a call from a caller attempting to reach the plurality of contacts;

an authentication module for comparing an identifier automatically associated with the caller to identifiers stored in a database to authenticate identity of the caller;

an identification module for identifying which group of contacts on a contact list to be reached based on information provided by the caller, wherein the identification occurs responsive to a positive authentication of the identity of the caller;

a contact module for contacting the identified group of contacts; and

an action selection module for selecting an action to take from one or more actions, wherein the action to take is selected based on the identifier.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by caller identification.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by automatic number identification.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the contact list is a list of one or more groups of persons that the caller has previously identified to be contacted.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the list of one or more groups of persons is a list of emergency contacts that the caller has previously identified to be alerted in an emergency situation

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a retrieval module for retrieving contact information for identified contacts from the database.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the information provided by the caller includes identified groups of contacts to be contacted at certain times of day.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the information provided by the caller includes identified groups of contacts to be contacted on certain days of week.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the information provided by the caller includes identified groups of contacts with whom the caller wishes to speak simultaneously.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the action selected is broadcasting a message to the identified group of contacts.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein the action selected is arranging a conference between the caller and the identified group of contacts.

28. The system of claim 28, further comprising a conferencing module for placing the caller into contact with the identified group of contacts through a conference call.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the conferencing module is further adapted to leave a message for unavailable contacts through which the unavailable contacts can join the conference call after it has begun without requiring entry of an identification number.

30. A system for contacting a plurality of contacts, the system comprising:

means for receiving a call from a caller attempting to reach the plurality of contacts;

means for comparing an identifier automatically associated with the caller to identifiers stored in a database to authenticate identity of the caller;

means for identifying which group of contacts on a contact list to be reached based on information provided by the caller, wherein the identification occurs responsive to a positive authentication of the identity of the caller;

means for contacting the identified plurality of contacts; and

means for selecting an action to take from one or more actions, wherein the action to take is selected based on the identifier.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by caller identification.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the identifier is the caller'"'"'s phone number identified by automatic number identification.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein means for placing the caller into contact is automated and is adapted to place the caller into contact with the identified group of contacts automatically, without requiring the caller to speak to an operator.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the contact list is a list of one or more groups of persons that the caller has previously identified to be contacted.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the list of one or more groups of persons is a list of emergency contacts that the caller has previously identified to be alerted in an emergency situation

36. The system of claim 30, further comprising a means for retrieving contact information for identified contacts from the database.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the means for receiving a call is adapted to receive a call from any phone used by the caller and wherein the means for contacting is adapted for contacting the identified group of contacts on any phone used by the contacts.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein the action selected is broadcasting a message to the identified group of contacts.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the action selected is arranging a conference between the caller and the identified group of contacts.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising a means for placing the caller into contact with the identified plurality of contacts through a conference call