Active phone book enhancements

• US 8,825,016 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2013
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PICO Mobile Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PICO Mobile Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Lambert, Paul, Chang, Lu
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/764,418
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 455/550.1, 455/466, 455/41.2, 455/566, 455/413, 455/414, 455/416, 455/420, 455/425, 455/567, 455/115.3, 455/404.2, 455/433, 455/445, 455/411, 455/456.3, 455/432.3, 455/428, 370/328, 370/338, 370/401, 701/204, 701/207, 701/200, 701/213, 705/8, 705/14.64, 705/14.57, 705/14.69, 725/12, 725/133
• US Class Current: 455/412.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server

Abstract

A first device including a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit a query to a second device that is remote from the first device. The query is configured to not generate an alert to a user of the second device in response to the second device receiving the query. The receiver is configured to wirelessly receive data from the second device in response to the query transmitted to the second device. The data indicates whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device. The processor is configured to determine, based on whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device, whether to communicate with the second device.

Claims

1. A first device comprising:

a transmitter configured to

wirelessly transmit a query to a second device that is remote from the first device, wherein the query is configured to request data from the second device indicating whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device, and wherein the query is configured to not generate an alert to a user of the second device in response to the second device receiving the query;

a receiver configured to wirelessly receive data from the second device in response to the query transmitted to the second device, wherein the data indicates whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device; and

a processor configured to determine, based on whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device, whether to communicate with the second device.

2. The first device of claim 1, wherein:

the first device is configured to store a table having information about the second device; and

in response to the processor deciding to communicate with the second device, the transmitter is configured to automatically communicate with the second device using the information about the second device stored in the table.

3. The first device of claim 1, wherein:

the data is output, to a user of the first device, via a display or a speaker of the first device; and

in response to (i) receiving an input from the user of the first device based on the output and (ii) the processor deciding to communicate with the second device, the transmitter is configured to communicate with the second device.

4. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data received from the second device indicates one or more of (i) a number of phone calls the second device has received during a time period and (ii) an amount of time for which the second device has been busy in phone calls.

5. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data received from the second device indicates whether the second device is capable of one or more of (i) cellular communication, (ii) WiFi communication, and (iii) public switched telephone network communication.

6. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data received from the second device indicates one or more of a service provider of the second device, a current or future location of the second device, signal strength at the current location of the second device, battery strength of the second device, and whether the second device is within a range of a WiFi network.

7. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data received from the second device indicates whether the second device is currently used to perform one or more of the following operations:

(i) play a game, (ii) send text or media, and (iii) browse the Internet.

8. The first device of claim 1, wherein the data received from the second device indicates a physical location of the second device, and wherein the processor is configured to (i) time stamp the data each time the data is received and (ii) map movements of the second device based on the time stamps.

9. A method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting a query from a first device to a second device, wherein the query is configured to request data from the second device indicating whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device, and wherein the query is configured to not generate an alert to a user of the second device in response to receiving the query;

wirelessly receiving data from the second device in response to the query transmitted to the second device, wherein the data indicates whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device; and

determining, based on whether the second device is (i) busy and cannot currently communicate with the first device or (ii) not busy and can currently communicate with the first device, whether to communicate with the second device.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing, in the first device, a table having information about the second device; and

in response to deciding to communicate with the second device, automatically communicating with the second device using information about the second device stored in the table in the first device.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

outputting the data, to a user of the first device, via a display or a speaker of the first device;

receiving an input from the user of the first device based on the output; and

in response to (i) receiving the input and (ii) deciding to communicate with the second device, communicating with the second device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the data received from the second device indicates one or more of (i) a number of phone calls the second device has received during a time period and (ii) an amount of time for which the second device has been busy in phone calls.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the data received from the second device indicates whether the second device is capable of one or more of (i) cellular communication, (ii) WiFi communication, and (iii) public switched telephone network communication.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the data received from the second device indicates a service provider of the second device, a current or future location of the second device, signal strength at the current location of the second device, battery strength of the second device, and whether the second device is within a range of a WiFi network.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the data received from the second device indicates whether the second device is currently used to perform one or more of the following operations:

(i) play a game, (ii) send text or media, and (iii) browse the Internet.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the data received from the second device indicates a physical location of the second device, the method further comprising:

time stamping the data each time the data is received; and

mapping movements of the second device based on the time stamps.