SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20100255815A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ashok, Immaneni, Heath, Pamela J., Pleyer, Sven, Goldthwaite, Flora P., Baumert, David W., Cluts, Jonathan, Woodman, Aaron F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources

Abstract

A method and system are provided for allowing a user to efficiently manage communications. A system for allowing a user having a unique identity is provided, wherein the unique identity is associated with a plurality of electronic devices. The system includes a service for assigning a reference to a user'"'"'s unique identity, wherein other identities can access the user'"'"'s unique identity only by using the reference. The system additionally includes permission controls for allowing the user to control access to the unique identity by restricting authorization to a selected set of other identities. Groups of individuals may receive different levels of authorization such that some individuals may be authorized to make live contact and others may be required to leave a message. Preference controls allow the system user to select at least one associated device from a plurality of associated devices for receiving communication upon an access attempt by an authorized user. The preference controls also allow a system user to select a preferred mode of receiving communication such as audio, video or text modes.

Claims

1. A method for providing electronic communications management capability for managing a unique identity owned by an identity owner, wherein the unique identity is accessible through an associated reference, the method comprising:

providing identity access tools in the form of a permission control for allowing the identity owner to select a set of authorized identities that have rights to communicate with the identity owner; and

providing device selection tools in the form of a preference control for allowing the identity owner to select at least one electronic device for reception of communications.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a look-up table for locating unique references at the request of a system user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the preference controls allow for the identity owner to select default methods for receiving communications.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the identity owner to select a communication delivery method for a selected group of individuals.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising allowing a message sender to control a sent message, utilizing a transmission control, until a receiver processes the message, such that a sender may delete a sent message prior to processing.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the method comprises allowing selection of a live communication delivery method for a first group of contacts and a message communication delivery method for a second group of contacts.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing the identity owner to block communication delivery from a third group of individuals.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing transmission of communication in a first mode and delivery of the communication in a second mode.

9. One or more computer storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, that when executed by a computing system having a processor and memory, cause the computing system to perform a method for facilitating electronic communications management by a system user, the method comprising:

permitting access to a unique identity belonging to the system user through a unique reference, wherein the unique identity comprises a plurality of components;

allowing the system user to alter any one of the identity components without altering the reference;

providing the system user with tools for regulating access to the identity components such that selected known identities have access to selected identity components; and

allowing the system user to select, utilizing a preference control, a particular communications delivery method for receiving communications from each of the selected known identities using at least one selected device associated with the unique identity.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising defining a plurality of electronic devices as identity components.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing the system user to select a communication delivery method for receiving communications from each known system user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising allowing the system user to select an additional communication delivery method for unknown system users.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising allowing a first system user to select a communication transmission mode and allowing a second system user to select a communication delivery mode.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising translating the communication transmission mode into the communication delivery mode if required.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing video, audio, and text communication delivery modes and communication transmission modes.

16. A system utilizing a processor and memory for allowing a user having a unique identity to manage communications, wherein the unique identity is associated with a plurality of electronic devices, the system comprising:

a service utilizing the processor and memory for assigning a reference to a user'"'"'s unique identity, wherein other identities can access the user'"'"'s unique identity only by using the reference;

permission controls that utilize the processor and memory for allowing the user to control access to the unique identity by restricting authorization to a selected set of other identities; and

preference controls that utilize the processor and memory for allowing the user to select at least one associated device from a plurality of associated devices for receiving communication upon an access attempt by an authorized user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the service is a centralized service comprising a directory for allowing system users to locate references for other system users.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the permission controls further comprise tools for restricting a communication delivery method to one of live, message and blocked for each system user.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the preference controls comprise tools for allowing selection of a communication reception mode and a communication transmission mode, wherein the communication reception and the communication transmission mode comprise at least audio and text modes.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising translation services for translating from a communication transmission mode to a communication reception mode.