SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MUTUALLY SUPPORTED CAPABILITIES BETWEEN MOBILE DEVICES

• US 20100144325A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Roundtree, Brian, Russell, Jake A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/005 Transmission of information for alerting of incoming communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

A system and method for detecting mutually supported capabilities between two or more mobile devices is described. In some cases, the system transmits a message to a called device requesting information about the device. In some cases, the transmitted message is answered by a user of the device. In some cases, the transmitted message is automatically received and answered by the called device. In some cases, the system presents information about a service supported by a called party during a call placed to the party.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a service supported by a mobile device, the method comprising:

at a first mobile device associated with a first user, receiving an indication of a voice call placed to a called number for a second mobile device associated with a second user;

querying a database relating numbers for mobile devices with a service provided by the mobile devices;

determining based on the query that the called number is not contained within the database;

transmitting via the first mobile device a first message to the second mobile device, wherein the first message is configured to request information related to one or more services supported by the first mobile device and possibly supported by the second mobile device;

receiving at the first mobile device a second message from the second mobile device that indicates one or more services supported by the second mobile device; and

in response to the received second message, initiating communications between the first mobile device and the second mobile device using the one or more indicated services supported by the second mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message is automatically generated and transmitted from the second mobile device to the first mobile device in response to receiving the first message by the second mobile device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message includes information selected by a user associated with the second mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is stored with the first mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is stored with a network server in communication with the first mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message includes a unique identifier associated with the first mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating communications includes requesting a selection from the first user for the one or more indicated services.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating the database to relate the one or more indicated services to the called number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message and second message are text messages.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is from a group of two or more devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein initiating communications includes initiating an interactive application between the first mobile device and the second mobile device using the one or more indicated services supported by the second mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message includes information input by a user associated with the second mobile device.

13. A system for enhancing a phone call between two mobile devices, the system comprising:

an input component, wherein the input component is configured to receive input from a user associated with a first mobile device to initiate placement of a call to a party associated with a second mobile device;

a call component, wherein the call component is configured to receive the input and place a call to the party associated with the second mobile device;

a determination component, wherein the determination component is configured to determine whether the second mobile device supports one or more services supported by the first mobile device;

a display component, wherein the display component is configured to display to the user information about services supported by both mobile devices for selection by the user; and

an implementation component, wherein the implementation component is configured to implement one or more services selected by the user.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a message component, wherein the message component is configured to transmit a message to the second mobile device when the determine component does not determine any services supported by both devices, the message requesting information related to services supported by the second mobile device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the determination component queries a database relating phone numbers with services provided by devices associated with the phone numbers.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the display component displays a request to the user to implement one or more of the services supported by both mobile devices.

17. A method performed by a mobile device for determining capabilities of other mobile devices, the method comprising:

automatically transmitting a first message to a destination mobile device associated with a user, wherein the message is configured to request information related to a service supported by the destination mobile device; and

receiving a second message from the destination mobile device that answers the request.

18. A method performed by a cell phone associated with a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first message related to another cell phone in response to a communication received by the cell phone, wherein the message requests whether the user wishes to use a service supported by the other cell phone,

wherein the message includes at least two user-selectable options;

receiving user input selecting one of the at least two user-selectable options; and

,

wherein if the selected option includes declining to use the service supported by the other cell phone, and if a threshold number of times declining to use the service has not been reached, then providing a second message at another time again asking whether the user wishes to use the service in response to a later received call.