Method for linking call log information to address book entries and replying using medium of choice

• US 7,221,748 B1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McQuaide, Arnold Chester Jr., Moore, Darryl Cynthia, Gao, Xiaofeng David
• Primary Examiner(s): Rones; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORTIZ DITREN, BELIX M
• Application Number:
  US10/291,845
• Time in Patent Office: 1,652 Days
• Field of Search: 379/196, 379/142, 379/88.21, 379/127, 707/3, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 379/142.15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method for utilizing the caller identification information stored in call logs to retrieve address book entries stored in a database, enabling a reply to each call in the call log using the communication medium and contact address of choice. Using this method, a customer can access the call logs for various phone numbers using a computer and can link to additional contact information associated with each entry. This additional contact information is stored in an address book database, either locally or on a network. Caller identification information in the call log can be used to search the address book and retrieve alternate addresses spanning a range of possible reply media, such as cell phones, E-mail, PDA, and telefacsimile.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing the contents of a call log containing a list of callers to a phone number the method comprising:

retrieving the call log associated with the phone number from a first database;

selecting at least one entry from the list of callers in the call log;

indicating a status of the at least one entry selected from the call log wherein the status at least one chosen from a group consisting of;

“

Answered”

, “

Hung Up” and

“

Left a Message”

wherein the “

Answered”

status indicates a phone call was received by a party, the “

Hung Up”

status indicates the phone call was disconnected before the phone call was answered by the party, and the “

Left a Message”

status indicates a caller left a voice mail message;

retrieving at least one address book for the selected entry from a second database, the address book comprising a plurality of contact addresses for the selected entry;

selecting one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry; and

contacting the selected entry using the selected contact addresses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving the address book comprises:

launching at least one computer executable address program having access to the address books stored in the second database;

searching the second database for address books associated with the selected entry;

retrieving at least one address book associated with the selected entry; and

displaying the contents of the retrieved address books.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein selecting one or more contact addresses comprises selecting one or more contact addresses from the displayed contents of the address books.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein contacting the selected entry comprises launching at least one computer executable communication program capable of utilizing the selected contact addresses.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the contact addresses comprise E-mail addresses, internet pager addresses, wire line phone numbers, internet protocol phone numbers, telefacsimile numbers, instant messaging addresses, personal digital assistant addresses, or combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the call log is associated with an internet protocol phone number.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first database is disposed at a customer premises associated with the internet protocol phone number.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry comprises selecting the one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry comprising one or more of the following:

contacting the party by dialing the party'"'"'s telephone;

contacting the party by sending the party a facsimile; and

contacting the party by sending the party an e-mail.

8. A method for utilizing the contents of a call log containing a list of callers to a phone number, the method comprising:

retrieving the call log associated with the phone number from a first database using a customer premises computer in communication with the first database, first database and the customer premises computer located at the premises of the customer associated with the phone number;

selecting at least one entry from the list of callers in the call log, at least one entry selected from the call log wherein the status at least one chosen from a group consisting of;

“

Answered”

, “

Hung Up” and

“

Left a Message”

wherein the “

Answered”

status indicates a phone call was received by a party, the “

Hung Up”

status indicates the phone call was disconnected before the phone call was answered by the party, and the “

Left a Message”

status indicates a caller left a voice mail message;

retrieving at least one address book for the selected entry from a second database, the address book comprising a plurality of contact addresses for the selected entry; and

selecting one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry; and

launching at least one computer executable communication program capable of utilizing the selected contact addresses to contact the selected entry.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the call log is associated with an internet protocol phone number.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the contact addresses comprise E-mail addresses, internet pager addresses, wire line phone numbers, internet protocol phone numbers, telefacsimile numbers, instant messaging addresses, personal digital assistant addresses, or combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein retrieving the address book comprises:

launching at least one computer executable address programs having access to the address books stored in the second database;

searching the second database for address books associated with the selected entry;

retrieving at least one address book associated with the selected entry; and

displaying the contents of the retrieved address books.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein selecting one or more contact addresses comprises selecting one or more contact addresses from the displayed contents of the address books.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein selecting the one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry comprises selecting the one or more contact addresses wherein the selected one or more contact addresses indicates a user selectable process for contacting the selected entry comprising one or more of the following:

contacting a party by dialing the party'"'"'s telephone;

contacting the party by sending the party a facsimile; and

contacting the party by sending the party an e-mail.

15. Method for replying to a communication comprising:

receiving a communication;

displaying a log containing an entry corresponding to the communication, the entry indicating a status wherein the status at least one chosen from a group consisting of;

of one of the following;

“

Answered”

, “

Hung Up” and

“

Left a Message”

wherein the “

Answered”

status indicates a phone call was received by a party, the “

Hung Up”

status indicates the phone call was disconnected before the phone call was answered by the party, and the “

Left a Message”

status indicates a caller left a voice mail message;

in response to receiving an input selecting the entry, retrieving at least one communication address associated with the entry;

displaying a list comprising the at least one communication address;

receiving a user input selecting the at least one communication address; and

initiating a communication to the at least one communication address.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication address comprises a phone number.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication address comprises a cell phone number.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication address comprises an e-mail address.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication address comprises a facsimile number.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one communication address comprises an instant messaging address.