Methods, Systems, and Products for Processing Communications

• US 20140171045A1
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Published: 06/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A., Hensey, Robert G. Jr., Lin, Shiejye Geoffrey, Scott, David Archie
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/548 with remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Users are provided control of their communications. Should a call be processed for a user, a text message may be automatically sent as a response to the call. The user may pre-compose different text messages. The user may also compose a custom text message. Regardless, the user'"'"'s text message is automatically sent as a response to the call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a call at a wireless communications device, the call from a calling address to a called address assigned to the wireless communications device;

storing, in memory of the wireless communications device, associations between different pre-composed text messages to different calling addresses;

querying the memory for the calling address;

retrieving one of the different text messages that is associated with the calling address; and

sending the one of the different text messages from the wireless communications device to the calling address as a response to the call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a selection of the one of the different text messages.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising answering the call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a selection of the different pre-composed text messages.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a do not disturb setting.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising passing a priority calling address.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a custom text composition.

8. A method, comprising:

pausing processing, by a server, of a call from a calling address prior to termination at a called address;

querying a profile for the calling address, the profile storing text messages associated with different calling address;

retrieving, by the server, one of the text messages associated with the calling address; and

sending, from the server, the one of the text messages to the calling address.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising resuming the processing of the call.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising routing the call to the called address.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising terminating the call to the called address.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising activating a do not disturb setting associated with the called address.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing options for the text messages.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a custom text composition.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a call from a calling number at a called number assigned to a wireless communications device;

storing associations in the memory between different pre-composed text messages and different calling numbers;

querying the associations for the calling number;

retrieving one of the different text messages that is associated with the calling number; and

sending the one of the different text messages from the wireless communications device to the calling number as a response to the call.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a selection of the one of the different text messages.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise answering the call.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise providing a selection of the different pre-composed text messages.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise activating a do not disturb setting.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise passing a priority calling number.