Cross-platform message notification

• US 8,170,189 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Alperin, Jordan, Verbil, John, Cerami, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARIFZADA, IBRAHAM K
• Application Number:
  US11/266,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20070121856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 37921102-21104, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/142.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42263 where the same subscriber uses different terminals, i.e. nomadism
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained

Abstract

Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide notification of receipt of a communication across multiple platforms of potential diverse types. Cross-platform message notification can comprise receiving a request to initiate a communication from an initiating end device. The request may identify a single intended recipient device. A plurality of possible recipient devices can be identified for the request to initiate a communication based on user profile information from a user of the initiating end device. The request to initiate a communication can be forwarded to each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially a same time. The initiating end device can be connected to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices.

Claims

1. A method of providing cross-platform message notification, the method comprising:

receiving a request to initiate a communication comprising a first communication type from an initiating end device, the request identifying a single intended recipient device;

determining, from a plurality of end devices, a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a communication based on user profile information from a user of the initiating end;

identifying a format of the communication;

determining whether the format of the communication is in a common language format;

notifying each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially the same time of the request to initiate a communication;

connecting the initiating end device to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices;

translating the communication from the common language format to a format that is compatible with the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices connected to the initiating end device;

delivering the communication to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices connected to the initiating end device, the communication delivered to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices comprising a second communication type; and

monitoring one or more periodic heartbeat messages sent from each of the plurality of end devices, indicating the normal status of that end device, each of the one or more heartbeat messages having the common language format.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of possible recipient end devices includes the intended recipient device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a phone call to a single phone number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a message to a single address comprising a single intended recipient device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication email message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication Instant Message (IM).

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining from the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device whether cross-platform message notification is enabled prior to determining a plurality of possible recipient devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a plurality of possible recipient devices comprises determining an identifier for each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device and each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the intended recipient device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises a phone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises an email.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the request to initiate a communication to each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially the same time comprises ringing a plurality of telephones at substantially the same time.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein, connecting the initiating end device to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices comprises connecting the initiating device to the first of the plurality of telephones that answers the ringing.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein forwarding the request to initiate a communication to each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially the same time comprises ringing at least one telephone number at substantially the same time as at least one message is generated at a recipient end device, the message comprising an indication that a call is being received at the telephone number.

12. A system for providing cross-platform message notification, the system comprising:

a communications bus;

a user profile database communicatively coupled with the communications bus and adapted to maintain user profile information for a plurality of users;

a plurality of end devices of different types, each end device communicatively coupled with the communications bus and adapted to;

send and receive common language messages via the communications bus using object-oriented programming techniques,

translate common language messages received from the communications bus to a format specific to the end device based on the type, and

to store user profile information in the user profile database;

a plurality of servers adapted to provide content and services to the plurality of end devices;

one or more managers, each manager communicatively coupled with the communications bus and the plurality of servers, wherein each manager is adapted to;

receive via the communications bus a request to initiate a communication comprising a first communication type from an initiating end device of the plurality of end devices, the request identifying a single intended recipient device of the plurality of end devices,

determine, from the plurality of end devices, a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a communication from the plurality of end devices based on user profile information stored in the user profile database by a user of the intended recipient device,

communicate with at least one of the plurality of servers using object-oriented programming techniques,

notify each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially a same time of the request to initiate a communication,

connect the initiating end device to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices,

deliver the communication to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices connected to the initiating end device, the communication delivered to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices comprising a second communication type; and

monitor one or more periodic heartbeat messages sent from each of the plurality of end devices, indicating the normal status of that end device, each of the one or more heartbeat messages having the common language format.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of possible recipient end devices includes the intended recipient device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a phone call to a single phone number.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a message to a single address.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication email message.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication Instant Message (IM).

18. The system of claim 15, wherein determining a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a communication comprises determining an identifier for each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device and each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the intended recipient device, wherein the identifier comprises a phone number.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein determining a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a communication comprises determining an identifier for each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device and each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the intended recipient device, wherein the identifier comprises an email address.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein determining a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a communication comprises determining an identifier for each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device and each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the intended recipient device, wherein the identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

21. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon a series of instructions for which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform cross platform message notification by:

receiving a request to initiate a communication comprising a first communication type from an initiating end device, the request identifying a single intended recipient device;

determining, from a plurality of end devices, a plurality of possible recipient devices for the request to initiate a;

communication based on user profile information from a user of the initiating end device;

identifying a format of the communication

determining whether the format of the communication is in a common language format;

notifying each of the plurality of possible recipient devices at substantially the same time of the request to initiate a communication; and

connecting the initiating end device to one of the plurality of possible recipient devices based on a response from at least one of the possible recipient devices;

translating the communication from the common language format to a format that is compatible with the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices connected to the initiating end device;

delivering the communication to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices connected to the initiating end device, the communication delivered to the one of the plurality of possible recipient devices comprising a second communication type; and

monitoring one or more periodic heartbeat messages sent from each of the plurality of end devices, indicating the normal status of that end device, each of the one or more heartbeat messages having the common language format.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of possible recipient end devices includes the intended recipient device.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a phone call to a single phone number.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein receiving a request to initiate a communication comprises receiving a message to a single address comprising a single intended recipient device.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication email message.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the message comprises an initiation communication Instant Message (IM).

27. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising determining from the user profile information-of the user of the initiating end device whether cross-platform message notification is enabled prior to determining a plurality of possible recipient devices.

28. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein determining a plurality of possible recipient devices comprises determining an identifier for each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the initiating end device and each of the devices stored in the user profile information of the user of the intended recipient device.

29. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the identifier comprises a phone number.

30. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the identifier comprises an email address.

31. The machine-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the identifier comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) address.