Exchange of information in a communication system

• US 6,922,721 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2000
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Phonepages of Sweden AB
• Inventors: Larsson, Nils Thomas Babtist, Pohjanvuori, Timo, Minborg, Per-Åke, Minborg, Lars Mats Jonas
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne, Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jacobs, LaShonda
• Time in patent office: 1743 Days
• Field of Search: 709/217, 709/219, 709/227, 709/229, 455/405, 455/414, 455/415, 455/422, 455/456, 455/461, 455/466, 455/566, 455/567, 455/433, 455/440, 455/412, 379/202.01, 379/215, 348/14.01, 348/14.02
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 adapted for terminals or networks with limited resources or for terminal portability, e.g. wireless application protocol [WAP] services or facilities specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer, i.e. layer seven network arrangements or network communication protocols for networked applications H04L67/00; data processing systems and methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial or managerial purposes G06Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation

Abstract

A technique for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system includes: (a) creating a data object intended for rendering at a first communication device (e.g., a subscriber'"'"'s communication device), the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of a second communication device (e.g., a “holder'"'"'s communication device); (b) storing the data object in a data server; (c) transferring, in a first transferring step, the data object from the data server to the second communication device (e.g., the holder'"'"'s communication device); (d) transferring, in a second transferring step, the data object from the second communication device to the first communication device (e.g., the subscriber'"'"'s communication device); (e) determining whether the triggering communication event has occurred; and (f) rendering the data object at the first communication device (e.g., the subscriber'"'"'s communication device) upon the occurrence of the communication event. In another embodiment, the data server may transfer the data object directly to the first communication device. A physical implementation of the above technique is also described.

Claims

1. A method for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, comprising the steps of:

creating a data object intended for rendering at a first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first communication device and a second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of the second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered,

storing the data object in a data server;

transferring, in a first transferring step, the data object from the data server to the second communication device;

transferring, in a second transferring step, the data object from the second communication device to the first communication device; and

wherein the data object is adapted such that upon a determination that the triggering communication event has occurred, the data object is rendered at the first communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data object includes a trigger component which indicates the nature of the triggering communication event.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and/or second communication devices comprise mobile station devices.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the triggering communication event comprises an event pertaining to a call initiated by a user of the first communication device or a call initiated by a user of the second communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the first and/or second transferring step transfer only the variable portion.

9. A method for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, comprising the steps of:

creating a data object intended for rendering at a first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first communication device and a second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of a second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

storing the data object in a data server;

transferring the data object from the data server to the first communication device; and

wherein the data object is adapted such that upon the first communication device determining that the triggering communication event has occurred, the data object is rendered at the first communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data object includes a trigger component which indicates the nature of the triggering communication event.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and/or second communication devices comprise mobile station devices.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the triggering communication event comprises an event pertaining to a call initiated by a user of the first communication device or a call initiated by a user of the second communication device.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the transferring step transfers only the variable portion to the first communication device.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the transferring step comprises:

transferring the data object over a data network to a computer device; and

transferring the data object from the computer device to the first communication device, via an interface unit.

18. A system for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, comprising:

a first communication device;

a second communication device;

wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are adapted to communicate via a communication system for conducting voice communication;

a data server;

wherein the data server is coupled to a data network;

wherein the data server includes;

(i) logic for creating a data object intended for rendering at the first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first and second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of the second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

(ii) a database;

(iii) logic for storing the data object in the database;

(iv) logic for transferring the data object from the data server to the second communication device;

wherein the second communication device includes;

(i) logic for transferring the data object to the first communication device;

wherein the first communication device includes;

(i) logic for determining whether the triggering communication event has occurred;

(ii) a rendering device; and

(iii) logic for rendering the data object on the rendering device upon the occurrence of the triggering communication event.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the data object includes a trigger component which indicates the nature of the triggering communication event.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the first and/or second communication devices comprise mobile station devices.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein triggering communication event comprises an event pertaining to a call initiated by a user of the first communication device or a call initiated by a user of the second communication device.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the logic for transferring in the data server and/or the logic for transferring in the second communication device is configured to transfer only the variable portion.

26. A system for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, comprising:

a first communication device;

a second communication device;

wherein the first communication device and the second communication device are adapted to communicate via communication system for conducting voice communication;

a data server;

wherein the data server is couple to a data network;

wherein the data server includes;

(i) logic for creating a data object intended for rendering at the first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first and second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of the second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

(ii) a database;

(iii) logic for storing the data object in the database;

(iv) logic for transferring the data object from the data server to the first communication device;

wherein the first communication device includes;

(i) logic for determining whether a triggering communication event has occurred which will trigger the rendering of the transferred data object;

(ii) a rendering device; and

(iii) logic for rendering the data object on the rendering device upon the occurrence of the triggering communication event.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the data object includes a trigger component which indicates the nature of the triggering communication event.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the first and/or second communication devices comprise mobile station devices.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein triggering communication event comprises an event pertaining to a call initiated by a user of the first communication device or a call initiated by a user of the second communication device.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the logic for transferring is configured to transfer only the variable portion to the first communication device.

34. The system of claim 26, further including a computer device, wherein the logic for transferring includes:

first logic for transferring the data object from the data server to the computer device; and

second logic for transferring the data object from the computer device to the first communication device.

35. A method for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, the communication system providing voice communication between a first communication device and a second communication device, comprising the steps of:

servicing, at a data server, the creation of a data object intended for rendering at the first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first communication device and a second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of the second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

storing the data object in the data server;

transferring the data object from the data server to the first or second communication device before the occurrence of the triggering communication event; and

wherein the data object is adapted such that upon a determination that the triggering communication event has occurred, the data object is rendered at the first communication device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the transferring step includes use a Short Message Service protocol to transfer the data object.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the transferring step is configured to transfer only the variable portion.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

38. A data server for supplying a data object to a user of a communication system, the communication system providing voice communication between a first communication device and a second communication device, the data server comprising:

logic for creating a data object intended for rendering at the first communication device, the rendering to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first communication device and a second communication device, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of the second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

a database;

logic for storing the data object in the database; and

logic for transferring the data object from the data server to the first or second communication device before the occurrence of the triggering communication event; and

wherein the data object is adapted such that upon a determination that the triggering communication event has occurred, the data object is rendered at the first communication device.

39. The data server of claim 38, wherein the logic for transferring in the data server includes use a Short Message Service protocol to transfer the data object.

40. The data server of claim 38, wherein the data object comprises a variable portion and a non-variable portion, and wherein the logic for transferring is configured to transfer only the variable portion.

47. The data server of claim 38, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

48. The data server of claim 38, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

49. The data server of claim 38, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

41. A method for rendering a data object within a communication system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a data object at a first communication device, the rendering of which is to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between the first communication device and a second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of a second communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

storing the data object at the first communication device;

determining whether the triggering communication event has occurred; and

rendering the data object at the first communication device upon the occurrence of the triggering communication event based upon a determination that the triggering communication event has occurred.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the data object is received via a Short Message Service protocol of the communication system.

50. The method of claim 41, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

51. The method of claim 41, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

52. The method of claim 41, wherein the user of the second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and the user of the first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.

43. A communication device for rendering a data object within a communication system, comprising:

logic for receiving a data object, the rendering of which is to take place upon the occurrence of a triggering communication event, the triggering communication event comprising a call trigger event associated with a telephone connection between a first communication device and a second communication devices, the data object providing information pertaining to a user of another communication device, the data object providing at least visual content upon being rendered;

logic for storing the data object;

logic for determining whether the triggering communication event has occurred; and

logic for rendering the data object upon the occurrence of the triggering communication event based upon a determination that the triggering communication event has occurred.

53. The communication device of claim 43, wherein a user of a second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and a user of a first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are call trigger event-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of the data object to the recipient that is specific to that call trigger event.

54. The communication device of claim 43, wherein a user of a second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and a user of a first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are holder-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the holder.

55. The communication device of claim 43, wherein a user of a second communication device comprises a holder of multiple data objects and a user of a first communication device comprises a data object recipient, and further wherein at least one of the holder'"'"'s data objects are recipient-specific such that a particular call trigger event results in the rendering of a data object to the recipient that presents information that is specific to the recipient.