Systems and methods for controlling pre-communications interactions

• US 20090113005A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dougherty, Casey, Lee, Michael M., Sunder, Ashwin, Gregg, Justin
• Application Number:
  US11/981,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20090113005A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/041 Encoding the ringing signal, i.e. providing distinctive or selective ringing capability
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42017 Customized ring-back tones

Abstract

The present invention can permit a communications request initiator to control pre-communications interactions. For example, the present invention can permit a communications request initiator to instruct a recipient communications device to present specific information to a communications request recipient when the initiator sends the communications request to the recipient. The present invention also can permit a communications request initiator to control the information presented to the initiator when he is waiting for a communications request recipient to respond to the communications request.

Claims

1. A communications device comprising:

a communications module for receiving an electronic personal data file from another communications device, wherein the electronic personal data file is associated with a signature and an information asset;

storage for storing the electronic personal data file in a database of electronic personal data files; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether data from an incoming communications request matches the signature; and

automatically activate the information asset responsive to a positive match.

2. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the information asset is configured to cause the communications device to vibrate in a predetermined pattern.

3. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the information asset is configured to cause the communications device to announce a communications request using a user'"'"'s voice.

4. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the information asset is a link to information stored on a remote server.

5. The communications device of claim 4, wherein the communications module is configured to access the information stored on the remote server.

6. The communications device of claim 5, wherein the communications device is configured to:

download the information stored on the remote server; and

store the downloaded information in storage.

7. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically activate the information asset by presenting information related to the information asset to a communications request recipient.

8. The communications device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to automatically activate the information asset by sending the information asset to a central server.

9. A communications device comprising:

a controller configured to;

associate a signature to the electronic personal data file; and

accept user input to associate an information asset to the electronic personal data file, wherein the information asset is configured to cause a recipient communications device to automatically activate the information asset when the recipient communications device receives a communications request having data that matches the signature; and

a communications module for transmitting the electronic personal data file to the recipient communications device for storage in a database of electronic personal data files.

10. The communications device of claim 9, wherein the information asset is configured to cause a communications device to vibrate in a predetermined pattern.

11. The communications device of claim 9, wherein the information asset is configured to cause a communications device to announce a communications request using a user'"'"'s voice.

12. The communications device of claim 9, wherein the information asset is a link to information stored on a remote server.

13. A communications system comprising:

a first communications device having;

a first controller configured to associate a signature to an electronic personal data file and to accept user input to associate an information asset to the electronic personal data file; and

a first communications module for transmitting the electronic personal data file to a second communications device; and

a second communications device having;

a second communications module for receiving the electronic personal data file; and

a second controller configured to determine whether data from an incoming communications request matches the signature and to automatically activate the information asset responsive to a positive match.

14. The communications system of claim 13, wherein the second controller is configured to automatically activate the information asset by presenting information related to the information asset to a communications request recipient.

15. The communications system of claim 13, further comprising a central server system for facilitating communications between the first and second communications devices.

16. The communications system of claim 15, wherein the second controller is configured to automatically activate the information asset by sending the information asset to the central server system.

17. The communications system of claim 16, wherein the central server system is configured to present information related to the information asset to a communications request initiator.

18. A communications device comprising:

storage for storing a database of electronic personal data files, at least one electronic personal data file having;

an associated signature; and

an associated information asset, wherein the associated information asset is configured to cause a communications device to vibrate in a predetermined pattern;

a communications module for receiving a communications request; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether data from the communications request matches the associated signature; and

automatically activate the associated information asset responsive to a positive match.

19. The communications device of claim 18, wherein the information asset comprises instructions for the communications device to vibrate in a predetermined pattern.

20. The communications device of claim 18, wherein the information asset comprises a link to instructions for the communications device to vibrate in a predetermined pattern.

21. A communications device comprising:

storage for storing a database of electronic personal data files, at least one electronic personal data file having;

an associated signature; and

an associated information asset, wherein the associated information asset is configured to cause a communications device to announce a communications request using a user'"'"'s voice;

a communications module for receiving a communications request; and

a controller configured to;

determine whether data from the communications request matches the associated signature; and

automatically activate the associated information asset responsive to a positive match.

22. The communications device of claim 21, wherein the information asset is configured to instruct the communications device to use speech synthesis of a user'"'"'s voice to generate an announcement of the communications request.

23. The communications device of claim 22, wherein the information asset is configured to instruct the controller to:

analyze one or more voice samples recorded during one or more previous communications between a communications request initiator and a communications request recipient, and

generate the announcement based on the one or more voice samples.

24. The communications device of claim 21, wherein the information asset comprises an audio file recorded by a user.

25. The communications device of claim 21, wherein the information asset comprises a link to an announcement a user has recorded and stored on a remote server.