Apparatus, systems and methods for managing incoming and outgoing communication

• US 8,483,371 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brian K. Wharton, Jeffrey L. Crandell
• Original Assignee: Brian K. Wharton, Jeffrey L. Crandell
• Inventors: Crandell, Jeffrey L., Wharton, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US13/243,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20120137009A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.17, 379/201.11, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/68 Payment of value-added services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/705 Account settings, e.g. limits or numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/72 by the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/50 Telephonic communication in combination with video communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/52 Telephonic communication in combination with fax communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4509 Unified messaging with single point of access to voicemail and other mail or messaging systems unified messaging in packet switching networks H04L51/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5063 Centrally initiated conference, i.e. Conference server dials participants computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0196 Payment of value-added services, mainly when their charges are added on the telephone bill, e.g. payment of non-telecom services, e-commerce, on-line banking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/62 : Called party billing, e.g. reverse billing, freephone, collect call, 0800 or 0900
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7009 : Account settings, e.g. users, terminals, limits, numbers or payment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7036 : Administer via user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 : Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 : where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42127 : Systems providing several special services or facilities from groups H04M3/42008 - H04M3/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 : by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/432 : Arrangements for calling a subscriber at a specific time, e.g. morning call service
• 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 3/48 : Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 : Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 : Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 : User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 : relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 : Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0012 : Details of application programming interfaces [API] for telephone networks; Arrangements which combine a telephonic communication equipment and a computer, i.e. computer telephony integration [CPI] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 : Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 : Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0045 : where the text-based messaging service is an instant messaging service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0048 : where the text-based messaging service is a Short Message Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0054 : where the data service is an electronic mail service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A system and method for managing incoming and outgoing communications may include a definition of if, when, and who may communicate with a recipient. The identification of the communication may be concealed in that no actual addresses, phone numbers, or other addressing identifications are required to be exchanged by the communication initiator and recipient. In an example, if the database contains call management settings for a call recipient, the application logic may evaluate the rules to determine if a particular caller is authorized to connect with the call recipient at the current time and date. The application logic may connect the call utilizing the public telephone switch. The caller and call recipient phone numbers may be stored in a database.

Claims

1. A computer system for initiating communications between two devices, said system comprising a set of computer instructions for:

generating a unique communication initiation system code corresponding to a first communications address; and

identifying a data relationship between the generated unique communication initiation system code and a designated identifier, the designated identifier including a keyword associated with the first communications address;

storing the data relationship on a database;

retrieving the stored data relationship in response to a user input of the designated identifier; and

displaying for user selection a mechanism for initiating a communications session between the first communications address and a second communications address based on the designated identifier.

2. The computer system of claim 1,

wherein the second communications address corresponds to the user.

3. The computer system of claim 2, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

initiating a communications session between the first communications address and the second communications address corresponding to the user in response to a user selection of the displayed selection mechanism.

4. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the communications session comprises an electronic download of an electronic document stored at the first communications address.

5. The computer system of claim 3, wherein the communications session includes a phone call between the first communications address and the second communications address.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first communications address is a telephone number.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the first communications address is an electronic document address.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the unique communication initiation system code is a globally unique identifier.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the designated identifier includes a Domain Name Service (DNS) host entry name.

10. The computer system of claim 1, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

evaluating a search result set returned in response to a user search request.

11. The computer system of claim 10, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

identifying an occurrence of the designated identifier; and

retrieving the stored data relationship in response to a user input of the designated identifier.

12. The computer system of claim 11, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

displaying for user selection a selection mechanism for initiating a communications session between the first communications address and a second communications address corresponding to the user.

13. The computer system of claim 12, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

initiating a communications session between the first communications address and the second communications address corresponding to the user in response to a user selection of the displayed selection mechanism.

14. The computer system of claim 12, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

inserting a selectable online display of said selection mechanism into an online display of the search result set.

15. A computer system for automatically inserting selectable online communications initiation displays into search result displays, said system comprising a set of computer instructions for:

generating a unique communication initiation system code corresponding to a first communications address; and

inserting the generated communication initiation system code into a web page with a meta tag that identifies the generated communication initiation system code as a communication initiation system code;

extracting the generated communication initiation system code from the web page; and

identifying a data relationship associating the extracted communication initiation system code with the web page; and

storing the data relationship in a database.

16. The computer system of claim 15, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

displaying in response to a user search request a search result set comprising a search result entry corresponding to the web page as a member of the search result set; and

inserting in the search result set entry for the web page a selection mechanism corresponding to the extracted communication initiation system code for initiating a communications session between the first communications address and a second communications address corresponding to the user.

17. The computer system of claim 16, said system further comprising a set of computer instructions for:

initiating a communications session between the first communications address and the second communications address corresponding to the user in response to a user selection of the displayed selection mechanism.