Systems and processes to manage multiple modes of communication

• US 8,744,407 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IngenioShare, LLC
• Original Assignee: IpVenture, Inc.
• Inventors: Cheung, Kwok Wai, Tong, Peter P., Thomas, C. Douglass
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US12/798,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20100205272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/415, 455/411, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/435.3, 455/527, 455/418, 455/518, 455/15, 455/422.1, 455/436, 709/217, 709/225, 379/207.04, 379/88.16, 370/444, 370/336, 370/296, 370/401, 370/328, 370/310, 370/356
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/60 Medium conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. In one embodiment, when a person tries to electronically convey a message to the user, the status of the user, the identity of the person, and the urgency of the message can be identified. The access priority of the person can be determined based on the person'"'"'s identity. Then, the message can be managed using one or more rules and in view of the status of the user, the access priority of the person and the urgency of the message.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-implemented method to manage the communication of a user via a server based on a communication protocol, in view of a person, using a first device, trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server, the message from the person using the first device;

identifying, by the server, the person attempting to electronically convey the message; and

setting, by the server, a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the access priority depending on the person,

wherein the server is configured to have access to contact information of the person,

wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the user to the first device to inhibit the person from sending messages to the user without via the server, and

wherein the access priority associated with the person is configured to be set by the server depending at least in part on the user reacting by accepting or not accepting a prior message from the person.

2. The non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the access priority associated with the person is allowed to be set by the user.

3. The non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the process for the message also depends on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

4. The non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3,

wherein the status associated with the user and the access priority associated with the person are stored at the second device,

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the status associated with the user from the second device, and

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the access priority associated with the person from the second device.

5. The non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the method depends on a mode of communication of the message, and

wherein the mode of communication is selected from the list of a mobile phone, an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS from a mobile phone or PDA, a pager from a mobile phone or PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail with/without instant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an email.

6. The non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1,

wherein the server keeps an electronic calendar of the user, and

wherein an appointment is set by the server for the user with the person in view of information in the calendar.

7. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the person to the second device to inhibit the user from sending messages to the person without via the server.

8. A server based on a communication protocol for managing the communication of a user, in view of a person, using a first device, trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the second device being a handheld communication device, the server comprising:

at least one computing device; and

at least one storage device,

wherein the at least one computing device is configured to

receive the message from the person using the first device;

identify the person attempting to electronically convey the message; and

set a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on the current activity or location of the user, or the current time, and the access priority depending on the person,

wherein the server is configured to have access to contact information of the person,

wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the user to the first device to inhibit the person from sending messages to the user without via the server,

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the status of the user from the second device, and

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the access priority of the person from the second device.

9. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the process for the message also depends on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

10. A server as recited in claim 8,

wherein the process for the message also depends a mode of communication of the message, and

wherein the mode of communication is selected from the list of a mobile phone, an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS from a mobile phone or PDA, a pager from a mobile phone or PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail with/without instant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an email.

11. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the server is configured to keep an electronic calendar of the user, and to set an appointment for the user with the person in view of information in the calendar.

12. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein access priority associated with the person to help set the process depends at least in part on a reaction of the user towards a prior message from the person.

13. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one computing device is configured to ask the user regarding changing access priority associated with the person in view of at least a reaction of the user towards a prior message from the person, and to change access priority associated with the person if so instructed by the response of the user.

14. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the status associated with the user is allowed to be selected by the user from a plurality of preset statuses.

15. A server as recited in claim 14, wherein the process includes asking the person to leave a voice mail for the user in view of an attribute regarding the message.

16. A server as recited in claim 14, wherein the process includes sending a text message regarding the message to the user.

17. A server as recited in claim 14, wherein the process includes responding to the message by retrieving an electronic mail to send to the person in view of an attribute regarding the message.

18. A server as recited in claim 14,

wherein the message can be voice or text, and

wherein the communication protocol is the Internet protocol.

19. A server as recited in claim 8,

wherein at least one computing device is further configured to identify the person to the user, and

wherein the process includes

(i) determining whether the message should be delivered to the user based on at least one attribute of the message;

(ii) delivering the message to the user if it is determined that the message should be delivered; and

(iii) declining to deliver the message to the user if it is determined that the message should not be delivered.

20. A server as recited in claim 19, wherein the message is a text message.

21. A server as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one computing device is further configured to ask the user regarding access priority associated with the person, and set access priority associated with the person in view of a response from the user.

22. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein the process includes setting an appointment between the user and the person in view of a schedule of the user.

23. A server as recited in claim 8, wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the person to the second device to inhibit the user from sending messages to the person without via the server.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code tangibly stored therein for manage the communication of a user via a server based on a communication protocol, in view of a person, using a first device, trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the second device being a handheld communication device, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving, by the server, the message from the person using the first device;

computer program code for identifying the person attempting to electronically convey the message; and

computer program code for setting a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user, and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on the current activity or location of the user, or the current time, and the access priority depending on the person,

wherein the server is configured to have access to contact information of the person,

wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the computer program code does not provide the contact information of the user to the first device to inhibit the person from sending messages to the user without via the server,

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the status of the user from the second device, and

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the access priority of the person from the second device.

25. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the process for the message also depends on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

26. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24,

wherein the process for the message also depends a mode of communication of the message, and

wherein the mode of communication is selected from the list of a mobile phone, an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS from a mobile phone or PDA, a pager from a mobile phone or PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail with/without instant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an email.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein said computer readable medium further comprises computer program code to keep an electronic calendar of the user, and to set an appointment for the user with the person in view of information in the calendar.

28. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein access priority associated with the person to help set the process depends at least in part on a reaction of the user towards a prior message from the person.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises:

computer program code for permitting the user to change access priority associated with the person; and

computer program code for changing access priority associated with the person if so instructed by the user.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24,

wherein the computer readable medium further comprises computer program code to identify the person to the user,

wherein the process includes not delivering the message to the user in view of an attribute regarding the message, and

wherein the status associated with the user is allowed to be selected by the user from a plurality of preset statuses.

31. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the process includes asking the person to leave a voice mail for the user in view of an attribute regarding the message.

32. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 30, wherein the computer readable medium further comprises computer program code to ask the user regarding access priority associated with the person, and set access priority associated with the person in view of a response from the user.

33. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 30,

wherein the message can be voice or text, and

wherein the communication protocol is the Internet protocol.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the process includes sending a text message regarding the message to the user.

35. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the message is a text message.

36. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the process includes responding to the message by retrieving an electronic mail to send to the person in view of an attribute regarding the message.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein the process includes setting an appointment between the user and the person in view of a schedule of the user.

38. A non-transitory computer readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the computer program code does not provide the contact information of the person to the second device to inhibit the user from sending messages to the person without via the server.

39. A non-transitory computer-implemented method to manage the communication of a user via a server based on a communication protocol, in view of a person, using a first device, trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the second device being a handheld communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, by the server, the message from the person using the first device;

identifying the person attempting to send the message to the user; and

setting a process regarding delivering the message to the user using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on the current activity or location of the user, or the current time, and access priority depending on the person,

wherein the server is configured to have access to contact information of the person,

wherein even if the message is delivered to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the user to the first device to inhibit the person from sending messages to the user without using the server,

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing the status of the user from the second device, and

wherein the server can be restricted from accessing access priority of the person from the second device.

40. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39, wherein the process for the message also depends on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

41. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39, wherein access priority associated with the person to help set the process depends at least in part on a reaction of the user towards a prior message from the person.

42. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39, wherein the method further comprises asking the user regarding changing access priority associated with the person in view of at least a reaction of the user towards a prior message from the person, and to change access priority associated with the person if so instructed by the response of the user.

43. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39,

wherein the status associated with the user is allowed to be selected by the user from a plurality of preset statuses, and

wherein the method further comprises identifying the person to the user.

44. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the process includes not delivering the message to the user in view of an attribute regarding the message.

45. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the process includes asking the person to leave a voice mail for the user in view of an attribute regarding the message.

46. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the process includes sending a text message regarding the message to the user.

47. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the message is a text message.

48. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the process includes responding to the message by retrieving an electronic mail to send to the person in view of an attribute regarding the message.

49. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43, wherein the method further comprises asking the user regarding the access priority associated with the person, and setting access priority associated with the person in view of a response from the user.

50. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 43,

wherein the message can be voice or text, and

wherein the communication protocol is the Internet protocol.

51. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39, wherein the process includes setting an appointment between the user and the person in view of a schedule of the user.

52. A non-transitory computer-implemented method as recited in claim 39, wherein even if the message is delivered to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the person to the second device to inhibit the user from sending messages to the person without using the server.

53. A server based on a communication protocol for managing the communication of a user, in view of a person, using a first device, trying to electronically convey a message from the first device to a second device of the user, the second device being a handheld communication device, the server comprising:

at least one computing device; and

at least one storage device,

wherein at least one computing device is configured to

receive the message from the person using the first device;

identify the person attempting to electronically convey the message; and

set a process for the message using one or more rules based on at least a status associated with the user and an access priority associated with the person, the status depending at least in part on the current activity or location of the user, or the current time, and access priority depending on the person,

wherein the server is configured to have access to contact information of the person,

wherein even if the process includes transmitting the message to the second device via contact information of the user, the server does not provide the contact information of the user to the first device to inhibit the person from sending messages to the user without via the server,

wherein the server is configured to be aware of availability of the user, and

wherein the server is configured to send information to the person regarding availability of the user.

54. A server as recited in claim 53, wherein based on the identity of the person, the server is configured to send information to the person regarding availability of the user.

55. A server as recited in claim 53, wherein the process for the message also depends on an urgency level of the message, which is allowed to be set by the person.

56. A server as recited in claim 53,

wherein the process for the message also depends a mode of communication, and

wherein the mode of communication is selected from the list of a mobile phone, an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS from a mobile phone, a pager from a mobile phone, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail with/without instant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an email.

57. A server as recited in claim 53, wherein the server is configured to keep an electronic calendar of the user, and to set an appointment for the user with the person in view of information in the calendar.

58. A server as recited in claim 53, wherein the server is configured to set the access priority associated with the person depending at least in part on a reaction of the user to a prior message from the person.

59. A server as recited in claim 53, wherein the server is configured to allow the user to set access priority associated with the person.