Systems and Methods for Providing a Personalized Communication Processing Service

• US 20100098231A1
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wohlert, Randolph
• Granted Patent: US 8,670,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing a personalized communication processing service are disclosed. In one embodiment, a personalized communication processing system (PCPS) can include a processor, an input/output interface, and a memory. The memory can be configured to store instructions, executable by the processor to intercept an incoming communication from a calling party, identify calling party information, determine a contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category, determine a user state of the called party that identifies conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to a personalized communication processing rule, apply the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category, and process the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.

Claims

1. A method for operating a personalized communication processing system (PCPS) to provide a personalized communication processing service, comprising:

intercepting an incoming communication from a calling party;

identifying calling party information if available, the calling party information comprising at least one of a calling party number and a calling party name;

determining at least one contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category;

determining a user state of the called party, the user state identifying conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to at least one personalized communication processing rule;

applying the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category; and

processing the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting at least one of a voice call, a text message, a multimedia message, an email message, a video message, a video call, an instant message, a chat request, and a video share request.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining that no calling party information is available and processing the incoming communication according to a default rule.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule comprises at least one of:

processing the incoming communication to route the incoming communication to voicemail;

providing response options to the calling party;

providing the called party with a personalized notification;

placing the calling party on hold;

routing the incoming communication to another destination; and

, performing alternative communications with the called party, according to the applied personalized processing rule.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising acquiring enabler information from at least one enabler source, the enabler information comprising at least one of presence information, location information, calendar information, and address book information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting the incoming communication at a mobile switching center.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting the incoming communication at a call session control function.

8. A personalized communication processing system (PCPS) configured to provide a personalized communication processing service, comprising:

a processor;

an input/output interface; and

a memory in communication with the processor and the input/output interface, the memory being configured to store instructions, executable by the processor to;

intercept an incoming communication from a calling party;

identify calling party information if available, the calling party information comprising at least one of a calling party number and a calling party name;

determine at least one contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category;

determine a user state of the called party, the user state identifying conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to at least one personalized communication processing rule;

apply the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category; and

process the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.

9. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the incoming communication comprises at least one of a voice call, a text message, a multimedia message, an email message, a video message, a video call, an instant message, a chat request, and a video share request.

10. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the instructions stored by the memory further comprise instructions, executable by the processor to:

determine that no calling party information is available and process the incoming communication according to a default rule.

11. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the instructions stored by the memory further comprise instructions, executable by the processor to:

process the incoming communication according to at least one of;

processing the incoming communication to route the incoming communication to voicemail;

providing response options to the calling party;

providing the called party with a personalized notification;

placing the calling party on hold;

routing the incoming communication to another destination; and

, performing alternative communications with the called party, according to the applied personalized processing rule.

12. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the instructions stored by the memory further comprise instructions, executable by the processor to:

acquire enabler information from at least one enabler source, the enabler information comprising at least one of presence information, location information, calendar information, and address book information.

13. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the PCPS is a network element.

14. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the PCPS is logically associated with a mobile switching center.

15. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the PCPS is logically associated with a call session control function.

16. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the PCPS is resident on a mobile device.

17. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the instructions stored by the memory further comprise instructions, executable by the processor to:

intercept the incoming communication from the calling party at a mobile switching center.

18. The PCPS of claim 8, wherein the instructions stored by the memory further comprise instructions, executable by the processor to:

intercept the incoming communication from the calling party at a call session control function.

19. A computer readable medium comprising computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform the steps of:

intercepting an incoming communication from a calling party;

identifying calling party information if available, the calling party information comprising at least one of a calling party number and a calling party name;

determining at least one contact category to which the calling party is logically associated based upon a recognized relationship between the called party and the calling party as defined in the contact category;

determining a user state of the called party, the user state identifying conditions under which a communication processing treatment is to be provided for the contact category according to at least one personalized communication processing rule;

applying the rule associated with the determined user state and the determined contact category; and

processing the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting at least one of a voice call, a text message, a multimedia message, an email message, a video message, a video call, an instant message, a chat request, and a video share request.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising instructions that, when executed, perform the step of:

determining that no calling party information is available and processing the incoming communication according to a default rule.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein processing the incoming communication according to the applied personalized processing rule comprises at least one of:

processing the incoming communication to route the incoming communication to voicemail;

providing response options to the calling party;

providing the called party with a personalized notification;

placing the calling party on hold;

routing the incoming communication to another destination;

and, performing alternative communications with the called party, according to the applied personalized processing rule.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 further comprising instructions that, when executed, perform the step of:

acquiring enabler information from at least one enabler source, the enabler information comprising at one of presence information, location information, calendar information, and address book information.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting the incoming communication at a mobile switching center.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein intercepting the incoming communication from the calling party comprises intercepting the incoming communication at a call session control function.