Methods, systems, and products for managing communications

• US 8,271,591 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Dale, Koch, Robert A., Hill, Peter, Anderson, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): STRANGE, AARON N
• Application Number:
  US11/900,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20080005691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/217, 715/963
• US Class Current: 709/206
• 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, systems, and products are disclosed for managing communications of a user. Identity information relating to the user is received, and a notification of a communication from a communicating partner is received. The user'"'"'s preference for withholding the communication is obtained. An entry in a message log is created for the withheld communication. The message log is displayed to the user, such that the user is not notified of receipt of the withheld communication, yet receipt of the withheld communication is logged in the message log.

Claims

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

receiving identity information relating to the user;

configuring a do not disturb mode of operation for a communications manager;

receiving a communication from a communicating partner;

obtaining a preference of the user that is stored in memory for withholding communications;

storing a visual message log as a graphical user interface in the memory;

withholding a notification to the user of receipt of the communication from the communicating partner while operating in the do not disturb mode of operation;

creating an entry in the message log for the communication;

logging receipt of the communication in the visual message log even though the notification is withheld from the user;

comparing a name and an address of the communicating partner to scheduled activities in an electronic calendar;

when the name and the address of the communicating partner is found in the electronic calendar, then retrieving a scheduled activity associated with the name and the address of the communicating partner; and

presenting the scheduled activity in an electronic calendar.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising tracking in the message log each communication sent by the user and each communication received by the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising ignoring an incoming communication and adding a corresponding entry for the incoming communication in the message log.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising ignoring an incoming call such that the call is not terminated, and adding a corresponding entry for the incoming call in the message log.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising presenting an indicator of the incoming call.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising causing display of a map box that maps a sender'"'"'s location of a sender and a recipient'"'"'s location of a recipient of the communication.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sending an automatic response to a sender of the communication.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising obtaining information correlated to the communication, the correlated information comprising a history of communications between a sender and a recipient.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising causing display of a graphical button that, when selected, provides access to a service provider'"'"'s webpage.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising creating a sublog that tracks only incoming and outgoing wireless calls.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising accessing the preference for displaying the sublog before displaying the visual message log.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising accessing the preference for concurrently displaying the sublog with the visual message log.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the communication is received, obtaining a history of messages sent and received between the user and the communicating partner.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the communication is received, comparing a sender'"'"'s address to a directory storing communicating partners, and when the sender'"'"'s address is not included in the directory, then adding the sender'"'"'s address to the directory.

15. A system for managing communications of a user, comprising:

a processor executing a program stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive identity information relating to the user;

configure a do not disturb mode of operation;

receive a communication from a communicating partner;

obtain a preference of the user for withholding communications while operating in the do not disturb mode of operation;

store a visual message log as a graphical user interface in the memory;

withhold a notification to the user of receipt of the communication from the communicating partner while operating in the do not disturb mode of operation;

create an entry in the message log for the communication;

log receipt of the communication in the visual message log even though the notification is withheld;

compare a name and an address of the communicating partner to scheduled activities in an electronic calendar;

when the name and the address of the communicating partner is found in the electronic calendar, then retrieve a scheduled activity associated with the name and the address of the communicating partner; and

present the scheduled activity in an electronic calendar.

16. A computer readable medium comprising processor executable instructions for performing a method for managing communications of a user, the method comprising:

receiving identity information relating to the user;

configuring a do not disturb mode of operation;

receiving a communication from a communicating partner;

obtaining a preference of the user for withholding communications while operating in the do not disturb mode of operation;

store a visual message log as a graphical user interface in the memory;

withhold a notification to the user of receipt of the communication from the communicating partner while operating in the do not disturb mode of operation;

creating an entry in the message log for the communication;

logging receipt of the communication in the visual message log even though the notification is withheld;

comparing a name and an address of the communicating partner to scheduled activities in an electronic calendar;

when the name and the address of the communicating partner is found in the electronic calendar, then retrieving a scheduled activity associated with the name and the address of the communicating partner; and

presenting the scheduled activity in an electronic calendar.