Methods and systems for a communications and information resource manager

• US 7,313,617 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Richard A., Malik, Dale, Koch, Robert A., Hill, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Cardone, Jason
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duong, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US09/966,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,279 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0257 User requested
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/561 Adding application-functional data or data for application control, e.g. adding metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 : Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 : Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 : Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 : where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13338 : Do-not-disturb
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement

Abstract

Methods and systems for managing the communications and information resources of a user. A manager interfaces with communications systems such as a telecommunications and/or data network. The manager allows a user to participate in, keep track of, log, monitor, and engage or direct activities relating to communications. The manager may include user data and keep it current. The manager may receive and display data on a user'"'"'s communications. The manager may respond to communications with a standard or selected response, and/or based on the user'"'"'s instructions. The manager may make information related to the data or the received communications available. The manager may include a message log with entries on communications of the user including instant or chat room messages, and unanswered calls. An entry from the message log may be made available as related information to a communication received for the user. The manager may include a directory that is kept current using data on received communications. The manager may include a calendar with scheduled activities. A scheduled activity may be made available as related information to data on a received communication.

Claims

1. A method for managing communications of a user, comprising:

providing a communications manager operative to communicate with a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network and with a gateway in a data network, the communications manager interacting with at least one of a telecommunications manager in the telecommunications network, a voicemail system, a messaging center, and an administrative center, the communications manager having the following interoperating functions;

an information briefs function that includes the user'"'"'s name and password information and, when the user is recognized, the information briefs function presents customized information that greets the user at activation, the customized information including identification information of others who are authorized to make use of the communications manager, the customized information including preferences for times of communications, the communications manager accessing a database storing information on new wireless users and, when the user'"'"'s name is present in the database, the communications manager obtaining the user'"'"'s mobile phone number from the database;

a directories function allowing the user to create and to access information resources, the directories function including features that provide guidance to the user when checking the information resources;

a message center function allowing the user to view and access telephone call messages, electronic mail messages, voicemail messages, facsimile messages, and paging messages, the message center function also permitting the user to initiate communications and telephone calls, the message center function obtaining directory information from the directories function to set up a communication template for a preferred mode of communication;

a message log function providing summaries of new and sent communications, the message log function also providing an activity log that tracks the user'"'"'s communications activity;

a calendar and scheduler function allowing the user to establish notifications regarding an electronic calendar; and

a account information function exchanging the user'"'"'s name and password information to allow the user to view account information, to configure services, to obtain help information from a service provider, and to access a third party'"'"'s subscription center to purchase products and services;

configuring the telecommunications manager to receive data on communications received for the user through the telecommunications network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the gateway to receive communications data on communications received for the user through the data network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the communications manager to receive voicemail data from the telecommunications manager and from the gateway regarding voicemail messages that have been received by the user and that have been recorded by the user;

causing the communications manager to make the voicemail data and the received communications available to the user pursuant to the preferences of the user through the telecommunications manager or the gateway; and

further configuring the communications manager to make information relating to the received communications available to the user pursuant to preferences of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager

to include a directory,

in response to receiving data on a received communication, to check the data on the received communication against the directory,

if the data on the received communication is not included in the directory, then to add the data on the received communication to the directory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager to respond to receipt of data about a communication received for the user with a standard response to the communication.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager to respond to receipt of data about a communication received for the user

by indicating the receipt of the data to the user, and

by providing the user with an option of sending a standard response or an option of sending a selected response; and

further configuring the communications manager, in response to receipt of instructions on the options from the user, sending the standard response or the selected response based on the instructions.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

storing an address entry in an electronic address book, the address entry comprising information about a communicating partner, with the entry including a field for a date and date information;

and

interacting with the electronic calendar to create a calendar entry, the calendar entry corresponding with the date and date information,

whereby the date information from the address entry in the electronic address book appears on the corresponding date in the electronic calendar when the user views the calendar.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager to include a message log including entries corresponding respectively to communications of the user and with each entry including a name or address associated with the communication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the message log comprises an entry from data received with respect to all voicemails received by the user and all voicemails recorded by the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the received communication comprises a telephone call, a call from a wireless unit, a voice mail message, a page, a facsimile transmission, an electronic mail message, an instant message, or a chat room message.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the received communication comprises an unanswered telephone call or an unanswered call from the wireless unit.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager

to create an entry for a communication made by the user and including a name or an address related to the communication.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

configuring the communications manager

to treat an entry in the message log as related information to data on a received communication when the data includes a name or an address in common with the name or the address in the entry.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

causing the communications manager

to receive data on a communication received for the user with the data including a name or an address in common with an entry in the message log, and

to make the entry available to the user as the information related to the received communication.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the communications manager

to keep a calendar including scheduled activities of the user,

in response to receiving data on a received communication, to check the data against the calendar, and

if the data matches a scheduled activity in the calendar, then to cause the scheduled activity to be made available to the user as information related to the received communication.

14. A computer-readable storage medium on which is stored a computer program for managing communications of a user, the computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer perform:

providing a communications manager operative to communicate with a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network and with a gateway in a data network, the communications manager interacting with at least one of a telecommunications manager in the telecommunications network, a voicemail system, a messaging center, and an administrative center, the communications manager having the following interoperating functions;

an information briefs function that includes the user'"'"'s name and password information and, when the user is recognized, the information briefs function presents customized information that greets the user at activation, the customized information including identification information of others who are authorized to make use of the communications manager, the customized information including preferences for times of communications, the communications manager accessing a database storing information on new wireless users and, when the user'"'"'s name is present in the database, the communications manager obtaining the user'"'"'s mobile phone number from the database;

a directories function allowing the user to create and to access information resources, the directories function including features that provide guidance to the user when checking the information resources;

a message center function allowing the user to view and access telephone call messages, electronic mail messages, voicemail messages, facsimile messages, and paging messages, the message center function also permitting the user to initiate communications and telephone calls, the message center function obtaining directory information from the directories function to set up a communication template for a preferred mode of communication;

a message log function providing summaries of new and sent communications, the message log function also providing an activity log that tracks the user'"'"'s communications activity;

a calendar and scheduler function allowing the user to establish notifications regarding an electronic calendar; and

an account information function exchanging the user'"'"'s name and password information to allow the user to view account information, to configure services, to obtain help information from a service provider, and to access a third party'"'"'s subscription center to purchase products and services;

configuring the telecommunications manager to receive data on communications received for the user through the telecommunications network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the gateway to receive communications data on communications received for the user though the data network, and to be able to access the received communications;

configuring the communications manager to receive voicemail data from the telecommunications manager and from the gateway regarding voicemail messages that have been received by the user and that have been recorded by the user;

causing the communications manager to make the voicemail data and the received communications available to the user pursuant to the preferences of the user through the telecommunications manager or the gateway; and

further configuring the communications manager to make information relating to the received communications available to the user pursuant to preferences of the user.

15. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

monitoring the gateway and the telecommunications manager for new identity information about the user and for changed identity information about the user; and

in response to the new or the changed identity information, retrieving and storing the new or the changed identity information in addition to or in place of the identity information.

16. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

keeping a directory;

in response to receipt of data on a received communication for the user, checking the data on the received communication against the directory; and

if the data on the received communication is not included in the directory, then adding the data on the received communication to the directory.

17. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user with a standard response to the communication.

18. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user

by indicating the receipt of the data to the user, and

by providing the user with an option of sending a standard response or an option of sending a selected response to the communication; and

in response to receipt of instructions on the options from the user, sending the standard response or the selected response based on the instructions.

19. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

storing an address entry in an electronic address book, the address entry comprising information about a communicating partner, with the entry including a field for a date and date information; and

interacting with the electronic calendar to create a calendar entry, the calendar entry corresponding with the date and date information,

whereby the date information from the address entry in the electronic address book appears on the corresponding date in the electronic calendar when the user views the calendar.

20. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

creating a message log including entries corresponding respectively to communications of the user and with each entry including a name or address associated with the communication.

21. The computer medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for performing:

creating an entry from data received with respect to all the voicemails received by the user and all the voicemails recorded by the user.

22. The computer medium of claim 21, wherein the received communication comprises a telephone call, a call from a wireless unit, a voice mail message, a page, a facsimile transmission, an electronic mail message, an instant message, or a chat room message.

23. The computer medium of claim 21, wherein the received communication comprises an unanswered telephone call or an unanswered call from a wireless unit.

24. The computer medium of claim 20, wherein creating the message log comprises creating an entry with respect to a communication made by the user with the entry comprising a name or an address related to the communication made by the user.

25. The computer medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for performing:

treating an entry in the message log as related information to data on a received communication when the data includes a name or an address in common with the name or the address in the entry.

26. The computer medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions for performing:

receiving data on a communication received for the user, the data including a name or an address in common with an entry in the message log; and

causing the entry in the message log to be made available to the user as information related to the received communication.

27. The computer medium of claim 14, further comprising:

keeping a calendar including scheduled activities of the user;

in response to receiving data on a received communication, checking the data against the calendar; and

if the data matches a scheduled activity in the calendar, then causing the scheduled activity to be made available to the user as information related to the received communication.

28. A system for providing a user with data on communications of the user, the system comprising:

means for providing a communications manager operative to communicate with a telecommunications manager in a telecommunications network and with a gateway in a data network, the communications manager interacting with at least one of a telecommunications manager in the telecommunications network, a voicemail system, a messaging center, and an administrative center, the communications manager having the following interoperating functions;

an information briefs function that includes the user'"'"'s name and password information and, when the user is recognized, the information briefs function resents customized information that greets the user at activation, the customized information including identification information of others who are authorized to make use of the communications manager, the customized information including preferences for times of communications, the communications manager accessing a database storing information on new wireless users and, when the user'"'"'s name is present in the database, the communications manager obtaining the user'"'"'s mobile phone number from the database;

a directories function allowing the user to create and to access information resources, the directories function including features that provide guidance to the user when checking the information resources;

a message center function allowing the user to view and access telephone call messages, electronic mail messages, voicemail messages, facsimile messages, and paging messages, the message center function also permitting the user to initiate communications and telephone calls, the message center function obtaining directory information from the directories function to set up a communication template for a preferred mode of communication;

a message log function providing summaries of new and sent communications, the message log function also providing an activity log that tracks the user'"'"'s communications activity;

a calendar and scheduler function allowing the user to establish notifications regarding an electronic calendar; and

an account information function exchanging the user'"'"'s name and password information to allow the user to view account information, to configure services, to obtain help information from a service provider, and to access a third party'"'"'s subscription center to purchase products and services;

means for configuring the telecommunications manager to receive data on communications received for the user through the telecommunications network, and to be able to access the received communications;

means for configuring the gateway to receive communications data on communications received for the user though the data network, and to be able to access the received communications;

means for configuring the communications manager to receive voicemail data from the telecommunications manager and from the gateway regarding voicemail messages that have been received by the user and that have been recorded by the user;

means for causing the communications manager to make the voicemail data and the received communications available to the user pursuant to the preferences of the user through the telecommunications manager or the gateway; and

means for configuring the communications manager to make information relating to the received communications available to the user pursuant to preferences of the user.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the communications manager comprises identity information about the user;

and

wherein the communications manager further comprises

means for monitoring for new identity information about the user and for changed identity information about the user, and

in response to finding the new or the changed identity information, means for retrieving and for storing the new or the changed identity information, respectively, in addition to or in place of the identity information.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the communications manager comprises a directory;

and

wherein the communications manager further comprises

in response to receiving data on a received communication, means for checking the data on the received communication against the directory, and

if the data on the received communication is not included in the directory, then means for adding the data on the received communication to the directory.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user with a standard response to the communication.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising means for responding to receipt of data about a communication received for the user

by indicating the receipt of the data to the user, and

by providing the user with an option of sending a standard response or an option of sending a selected response, and

further comprising means for sending, in response to receipt of instructions on the options from the user, the standard response or the selected response based on the instructions.