Methods and apparatus for supplying alternative contact information in a communication system

• US 8,045,543 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Camp, William O. Jr., Bloebaum, Leland Scott, Vasa, Yojak Harshad
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/130,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/412.2, 455/411, 370/352, 370/395.2
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4547 for personal communications, i.e. using a personal identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/147 Signalling methods or messages providing extensions to protocols defined by standardisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2044 Group features, e.g. closed user group
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A technique for supplying alternative contact information when a communication attempt is unsuccessful is described. The technique comprises receiving an inquiry that includes an indication of an unsuccessful communication attempt and an identifier or address for the target of the failed communication attempt. Next, it is determined whether the identifier or address is associated with a group. If so, a response is generated, the response including one or more other identifiers or addresses associated with the group. Finally, the generated response is transferred in response to the inquiry.

Claims

1. A method for supplying alternative contact information when a communication attempt is unsuccessful, comprising:

receiving an inquiry from a communication device, the inquiry comprising an indication of an unsuccessful communication attempt and an identifier or address corresponding to the destination of the failed communication attempt;

determining if the identifier or address is associated with a group;

if the identifier or address is associated with a group, generating a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses associated with the group; and

transferring the generated response to the communication device;

wherein the inquiry further includes a conditional requirement, and wherein the method further comprises, if the identifier or address is not associated with a group, generating a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses that meet the conditional requirement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiry further comprises a category element, and wherein determining if the identifier or address is associated with a group comprises determining whether group information corresponding to the category element is available.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiry further designates an area, and wherein determining if the identifier or address is associated with a group comprises determining whether one or more other identifiers or addresses correspond to the designated area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inquiry is received from an originating device, and wherein the generated response is transferred to the originating device.

5. A server for supplying alternative contact information when a communication attempt is unsuccessful, comprising processing logic configured to:

receive an inquiry comprising an indication of an unsuccessful communication attempt and an identifier or address corresponding to the destination of the failed communication attempt;

determine if the identifier or address is associated with a group;

if the identifier or address is associated with a group, generate a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses associated with the group; and

transfer the generated response;

wherein the inquiry further includes a conditional requirement, and wherein the processing logic is further configured to generate a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses that meet the conditional requirement, if the identifier or address is not associated with a group.

6. The server of claim 5, wherein the inquiry further comprises a category element, and wherein the processing logic is configured to determine if the identifier or address is associated with a group by determining whether group information corresponding to the category element is available.

7. The server of claim 5, wherein the inquiry further designates an area, and wherein the processing logic is configured to determine if the identifier or address is associated with a group by determining whether one or more other identifiers or addresses correspond to the designated area.

8. The server of claim 5, wherein the inquiry is received from an originating device, and wherein the processing logic is configured to transfer the generated response to the originating device.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer software executable by a server to perform:

receiving an inquiry comprising an indication of an unsuccessful communication attempt and an identifier or address corresponding to the destination of the failed communication attempt;

determining if the identifier or address is associated with a group;

if the identifier or address is associated with a group, generating a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses associated with the group; and

transferring the generated response;

wherein the inquiry further includes a conditional requirement, and wherein the method further comprises, if the identifier or address is not associated with a group, generating a response that includes one or more other identifiers or addresses that meet the conditional requirement.