Systems and methods for communicating across various communication applications using single address strings

• US 6,963,928 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Internet Management Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Internet Management Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Fearing, Roger N., Bagley, David T.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDELMAN, BRADLEY E
• Application Number:
  US09/579,947
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/206, 379/90.01, 379/93.01, 379/93.09, 379/93.24
• US Class Current: 709/245
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing addressing strings formats and associated system implementations to minimize the number of different addressing strings used for communicating across different communication applications. The systems and methods receive a valid address string that can be inputted into a communication applications selected from a collection of communication applications wherein the same address string can be input for any selected communication application from that collection.

Claims

1. A system for communicating across at least one communication medium, said system comprising:

a plurality of input subsystems to receive an address string, said address string having a valid format recognized by said input subsystems and inputted into at least one communication application selected from a collection of different types of communication applications wherein the same address string can be validly inputted for any selected communication application from said collection;

a translation subsystem to translate each component of said address string to a corresponding predetermined number;

a segmentation subsystem to segment said translated components into at least one subset according to a predetermined segmentation format;

a re-sequencing subsystem to re-sequence said segmented components into an output string of a different sequence format from said inputted address string wherein said output string is in a predetermined re-sequencing format; and

a resolver subsystem to resolve said re-sequenced string into a corresponding valid address format.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said address string is associated with at least one recipient entity.

3. The system of claim 2, where said address string is a registered domain name.

4. The system of claim 1, said input subsystem further comprising:

a recognition subsystem to recognize said inputted address string having a different format from a format utilized by said selected communication application; and

a mapping subsystem to convert said different format into at least one format utilized by said selected communication application.

5. The system of claim 1, said system further comprising:

a selector subsystem to determine at least one communication medium based on the selected communication application; and

a communication subsystem to establish communication based on the address string across said determined communication medium.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said at least one communication medium is selected from the group of homogenous and of heterogeneous mediums.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said collection of different communication applications include communication applications having different formats.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said corresponding valid address format is used to establish communication with a World Wide Web location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said collection of different communication applications include communication applications having diverse formats.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication application is a world wide web resource locator.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication application is a telephone service.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said communication application is an electronic mail application.

13. The system of claim 1, said mapping subsystem further comprising:

a transmission subsystem to transmit said inputted string to a matching subsystem based on said corresponding valid address format, said matching subsystem to match said inputted string to at least one valid email address wherein said valid email address is used to relay communication to said valid email address destination.

14. The system of claim 1, said mapping subsystem further comprising:

a convertor subsystem to convert said valid address format into a valid email address format, said valid email address format comprising of said valid address format preceded by an “

@”

symbol and at least one character.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said corresponding valid address format includes a top level domain name, where the top level domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said corresponding valid address format includes a top level domain name, where the top level domain is restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said corresponding valid address format includes a top level domain name, where the top level domain is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone Nos.

18. A method for a user communicating across at least two communication media, said method comprising:

receiving an address string comprising at least a telephone number of a target entity and terminating in a top level internet domain,

recognizing said inputted address string having a different format from a format utilized by said selected communication application; and

mapping said different format into at least one valid address format utilized by said selected communication application; and

translating each component of said address string to a corresponding predetermined number;

segmenting said translated components into at least one subset according to a predetermined segmenting format;

re-sequencing said segmented components into an output string of a different sequence format from said inputted address string wherein said output string is in a predetermined re-sequencing format;

and inputting said address string into any communication application selected from a plurality of diverse communication applications chosen from the group of a telephone, a web browser, and a voice over internet protocol telephone wherein the same address string can be validly inputted by the user for any selected communication application of the user to reach a respective communication application of a second user.

19. The method of claim 18, said method further comprising:

determining at least one communication medium based on the selected communication application; and

establishing communication across said determined communication medium.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one communication medium is a homogenous medium or a plurality of heterogeneous mediums.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said communication application is a world wide web resource locator.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said communication application is a telephone service.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said communication application is an electronic mail application.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said corresponding valid address format is an Internet website address format.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein said address string consists of a registered domain name.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of a top level domain dedicated to registering subdomains that include telephone numbers in the address string.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of an upper level domain dedicated to registering address strings each comprising at least a telephone No.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of a top level domain dedicated to registering domain names that comprise numeric telephone numbers.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of a top level domain dedicated to registering domain names in the form of “

tel”

.“

domain”

where “

tel”

is a telephone number consisting only of numeric digits from 0 to 9 and “

domain”

is the domain name.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of a top level domain dedicated to registering domain names in the form of “

tel”

.“

tld”

where “

tel”

is a telephone number consisting only of numeric digits from 0 to 9 and “

domain”

is the top level domain name.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain is a subdomain of a top level domain formed to register domain names in the form of “

tel”

.“

tld”

where “

tel”

is a telephone number consisting only of numeric digits from 0 to 9 and “

domain”

is the top level domain name.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein said registered domain name includes a top level domain dedicated solely to registering domain names in the form of “

tel”

.“

tld”

where “

tel”

is a telephone number consisting only of numeric digits from 0 to 9 and “

domain”

is the top level domain name.

33. The method of claim 18, said mapping further comprising:

transmitting said inputted string based on said corresponding valid address format; and

receiving said transmitted input string and matching said inputted string to at least one valid email address wherein said valid email address is used to relay communication to said valid email address destination.

34. The method of claim 18, said mapping further comprising:

converting said valid address format into a valid email address format wherein said valid email address format comprising of said valid address format preceded by an “

@”

symbol and at least one character.

35. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of resolving said re-sequenced string into a corresponding valid address format.

36. The method of claim 18, wherein said plurality of diverse communication applications include communication applications having the same or diverse formats.

37. The method of claim 18, wherein the top level internet domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

38. The method of claim 18, wherein the top level internet domain is substantially restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

39. The method of claim 18, wherein the top level internet domain is TLD is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

40. A method for communicating across at least one communication medium, said method comprising:

receiving an address string inputted into a plurality of communication applications selected from a collection of different types of communication applications, including an analogue telephone;

recognizing said inputted address string having a different format from a format utilized by said selected communication application; and

mapping said different format into at least one valid address format utilized by said selected communication application

translating each component of said address string to a corresponding predetermined number;

segmenting said translated components into at least one subset according to a predetermined segmenting format;

re-sequencing said segmented components into an output string of a different sequence format from said inputted address string wherein said output string is in a predetermined re-sequencing format; and

resolving said re-sequenced string into a corresponding valid address format;

wherein the same address string can be validly inputted for any selected communication application from said collection and can be interpreted by a telephone system and a domain name server.

41. The method of claim 40, said method further comprising:

determining at least one communication medium based on the selected communication applications; and

establishing communication across said determined communication medium.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein said corresponding valid address format is an Internet website address format.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein said corresponding valid address format is an Internet electronic mail address format.

44. The method of claim 40, wherein said address string is associated with at least one recipient entity.

45. The method of claim 40, said mapping further comprising:

transmitting said inputted string based on said corresponding valid address format; and

receiving said transmitted input string and matching said inputted string to at least one valid email address wherein said valid email address is used to relay communication to said valid email address destination.

46. The method of claim 40, said mapping further comprising:

converting said valid address format into a valid email address format wherein said valid email address format comprising of said valid address format preceded by an “

@”

symbol and at least one character.

47. The method of claim 40, wherein said address string is a validly registered domain name.

48. The method of claim 40, wherein said address string includes a top level domain name, and where the top level domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

49. The method of claim 40, wherein said address string includes a top level domain name, and where the top level domain is restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

50. The method of claim 40, wherein said address string includes a top level domain name, and where the top level domain is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

51. A method of connecting a user'"'"'s communication applications across at least two diverse communication media to a recipient'"'"'s respective communication applications using a common address string, the method comprising the steps of:

forming said common address string by combining the recipient'"'"'s telephone number with a top level domain name in the form of “

telno”

“

x”

“

tld”

, where “

telno”

is the recipient'"'"'s telephone number consisting only of numeric digits from 0 to 9, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

tld”

is the top level domain name;

inputting at least a portion of said common address string into at least two of the user'"'"'s communication applications;

the user'"'"'s said at least two communication applications using said inputted portion of said common address string to connect with said respective communication applications of the recipient;

wherein a first of said at least two said diverse communication media is chosen from the group of telephone systems, e-mail systems, world wide web resource locators and internet browsers; and

wherein a second of said at least two said diverse communication media is chosen from the group of e-mail systems, world wide web resource locators and internet browsers; and

converting said common address string into a valid email address format wherein said valid email address format comprises said common address string preceded by an “

@”

symbol and at least one character.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein said common address string forms a valid internet domain name or sub-level domain name.

53. The method according to claim 51, wherein said common address string also further includes a dot-delimited sub-level domain to further distinguish the final address.

54. The method according to claim 51, wherein said common address string also further includes a dot-delimited subdomain to determine the communication medium.

55. The method of claim 51, wherein said second of said at least two communication applications is a world wide web resource locator.

56. The method of claim 51, said second of said at least two communication applications is a telephone service.

57. The method of claim 51, said second of said at least two communication applications is an electronic mail application.

58. The method according to claim 51, wherein said common address string is a registered, internet domain name.

59. The method of claim 51, wherein the top level domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

60. The method of claim 51, wherein the top level domain is restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone Nos.

61. The method of claim 51, wherein the top level domain is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

62. A method of connecting a user'"'"'s communication applications across at least two diverse communication media to a recipient'"'"'s respective communication applications using a common address string, the method comprising the steps of:

forming said common address string by at least combining the recipient'"'"'s telephone number with a top level domain name;

inputting at least a portion of said common address string into at least two of the user'"'"'s communication applications;

the user'"'"'s said at least two communication applications using said inputted portion of said common address string to connect with said respective communication applications of the recipient, wherein a first of said at least one of said diverse communication media is chosen from the group of telephone systems, e-mail systems, world wide web resource locators and internet browsers;

providing a processor subsystem to differentiate between valid components and invalid components in said inputted portion of said common address string;

selectively stripping predetermined non-alphanumeric, invalid components of the inputted portion of said common address string to form a stripped input string;

selectively mapping predetermined non-numeric, invalid components of said inputted portion of said common address string to a corresponding number grouped in the format as represented by buttons of a telephone key pad to form a registered internet address;

wherein said registered internet address is used by said at least one of said at least two communication applications to connect with at least one of said respective communication applications of the recipient.

63. The method according to claim 62 wherein said registered internet address includes at least the form of “

telno.domain”

where “

telno”

is the recipient'"'"'s telephone number and “

domain”

is a valid internet domain name.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein said domain is a top level domain name.

65. The method according to claim 62 wherein said subsystem is incorporated into a internet domain name system denominated by said top level domain of said common address string.

66. The method according to claim 62 wherein said subsystem is incorporated into the user'"'"'s client software.

67. The method according to claim 62 wherein common address string is in the form of “

telno.x.domain”

where “

telno”

is the recipient'"'"'s numeric telephone number, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

domain”

is a valid, registered internet domain name.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said “

domain”

is a top level domain.

69. The method of claim 62, comprising the additional steps of:

converting said common address string into a valid email address format wherein said valid email address format comprises said common address string preceded by an “

@”

symbol and at least one character.

70. The method of claim 62, wherein the top level domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

71. The method of claim 62, wherein the top level domain is restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

72. The method of claim 62, wherein the top level domain is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

73. A method for a first user communicating to a second user over a plurality of communication media, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the second user a numeric telephone number string associated with the second user, wherein said telephone number string includes at least seven digits and said telephone number string consists only of the numeric digits from 0 to 9;

assigning the second user a user domain name which includes at least said telephone number string and a top level domain;

wherein the top level domain includes a plurality of sub-level domain names comprising telephone number strings, wherein said telephone number strings consist only of the numeric digits from 0 to 9;

wherein the first user can connect to the second user by telephone by dialing said telephone number string, and the first user can retrieve a webpage of said second user by entering said user domain name in a webbrowser; and

wherein said user domain name is in the form of “

telno.domain”

, where “

telno”

is said telephone number string and “

domain”

is a valid, registered internet domain name.

74. The method of communication of claim 73, wherein at least 80% of all of the second level domains of said top level domain comprise telephone number strings.

75. The method of communication of claim 74, wherein at least 90% all of the sub-level domains of said top level domain comprise telephone strings.

76. The method of communication of claim 73, wherein said user domain name is in the form of “

telno.domain”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string and “

domain”

is a valid, registered internet domain name.

77. The method of communication of claim 73, wherein said top level domain is dedicated to registering second level domains in the form of “

telno.tld”

where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, and “

tld”

is a valid, registered internet top level domain name.

78. The method of communication of claim 73, wherein said user domain name is in the form of “

telno.x.domain”

, where “

telno”

is said telephone number string, “

x”

is an ASCII string, and “

domain”

is a valid, registered internet domain name.

79. The method of communication of claim 73, comprising the further step of assigning the second user a text messaging address which includes at least said telephone number string, and wherein the second user can receive text messages addressed to said text messaging address.

80. The method of communication of claim 73, comprising the further step of assigning the second user an instant messaging address which includes at least said telephone number string, and wherein the second user can receive instant messages addressed to said instant messaging address.

81. The method of communication of claim 73, comprising the further step of assigning the second user a webphone address which includes at least said telephone number string, and wherein the second user can receive webphone calls addressed to said webphone address.

82. The method of communicating of claim 73, further comprising the step of:

assigning the second user a valid user e-mail address which includes at least said telephone number string, an “

@”

separator and a top level domain;

wherein the second user can receive an e-mail message from the first user at said user e-mail address.

83. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is an ASCII string, and “

tld”

is a valid, registered top level domain name.

84. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

tld”

is a valid, registered top level domain name.

85. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

y”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

tld”

is a valid, registered top level domain name.

86. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

y.tld”

is a valid, registered second level domain name.

87. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

y.tld”

is a valid, registered non-top level domain name.

88. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

x”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

y.tld”

is a valid, registered sub-level domain name.

89. The method of communication of claim 82, wherein said user e-mail address is in the form of “

[e-mail]”

, where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number string, “

y”

is a miscellaneous ASCII string, and “

tld”

is a valid, registered top level domain name.

90. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 10 second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

91. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 25 second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

92. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 100 second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

93. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 1000 second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

94. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 5000 second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

95. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain is dedicated to registering second level domain names comprising telephone strings.

96. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 10 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

97. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 25 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

98. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 100 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

99. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 1000 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

100. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain is dedicated to the registration of domain names comprising telephone number strings, having at least 1000 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

101. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain includes at least 5000 lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

102. The method of claim 73, wherein said top level domain is dedicated to registering lower level domain names comprising telephone strings.

103. The method of claim 73 wherein said numeric telephone number string is a valid, fully qualified telephone number.

104. The method of claim 73 wherein said numeric telephone number string is a valid, fully qualified telephone number according to any internationally recognized standard.

105. The method of claim 73 wherein said numeric telephone number string is a valid, fully qualified telephone number according to the International Telephone Union Standard E.164.

106. The method of claim 73, wherein at least one sub-level domain of the top level domain includes a plurality of lower-level domain names comprising telephone number strings, wherein said telephone number strings consist only of numeric digits between 0 and 9.

107. The method of communication of claim 73, wherein said top level domain is dedicated to registering sub-level domains in the form of “

telno.domain”

where “

telno”

is the second user'"'"'s numeric telephone number, and “

domain”

is a valid, registered internet domain name.

108. The method of claim 73, wherein the top level domain is dedicated to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

109. The method of claim 73, wherein the top level domain is substantially restricted to the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone numbers.

110. The method of claim 73, wherein the top level domain is sponsored for the purpose of registering domain names comprising telephone Nos.