imioh
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`
`September 30, 2021
`
`THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT ANNEXED IS A TRUE COPY FROM THE
`RECORDS OF THIS OFFICE OF THE FILE WRAPPER AND CONTENTS
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 12/798,995
`FILING DATE: April 14, 2010
`PATENT NUMBER: 8744407
`ISSUE DATE: June 03, 2014
`
`Certified by
`
`Performing the Functions and Duties of the
`Under Secretary of Commerce
`for Intellectual Property
`and Director of the United States
`Patent and Trademark Office
`
`tnrwtnttnnmwnirtntutlfti'u
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`U.S. PTO
`12/798995
`04/14/2010
`PTO/SB/05 (07-06)
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`IPVMCP02C1
`UTILITY
`PATENT APPLICATION
`TRANSMITTAL
`
`Attorney Docket No.
`
`First Inventor
`
`Title
`
`CHEUNG et al.
`
`SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE
`
`
`
`tn
`
`<3>
`
`CO
`
`O
`
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1.53(b))
`
`Express Mail Label No.
`
`EB 592 583 706 US
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`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
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`
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`Reduction Act of 1995 no
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`are re<
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`PTO/SB/17 (10-08)
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`Small Entity
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`220
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`If you need assistance in completing the form, call 1-800-PTO-9199 and select option 2.
`
`Telephone 650-903-9200
`Date April 14, 201I
`
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`SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE
`MODES OF COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application
`11/452,115, filed June 12, 2006, and entitled “SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO
`MANAGE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMUNICATION”, which is hereby
`incorporated herein by reference, which application is a continuation-in-part
`application of U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343, filed December 7, 2004, and
`entitled “ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC
`DEVICES,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, which claims
`priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/527,565, filed Decembers,
`2003, entitled “ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES FOR
`ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” and which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
`
`[0002] This application, by way of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/452,115,
`also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/689,686, filed
`June 10, 2005, entitled “SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE
`MODES OF COMMUNICATION," and which is hereby incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`[0003] For many years, other than mails from post offices, we typically only
`received information from afar through telephones. However, in the past few
`years, ways that others can send us information have increased significantly. Just
`to list a few different modes of communication, we can be reached from standard
`desk phones, fax, cell phones, electronic mails, and instant messages. In
`addition, we can have more than one phone number and multiple electronic mail
`addresses. There are people we like to communicate with, and there are those
`we prefer to avoid. Managing information from all such different modes can be
`quite time consuming.
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`[0004] It should be apparent from the foregoing that there is still a need to
`help manage the numerous modes of communication.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`[0005] Different embodiments of a computer-implemented system and
`method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. A person tries to
`electronically convey a message to the user. In one embodiment, the status of
`the user is identified; the identity of the person is identified; the urgency of the
`message is identified; the access priority of the person is determined based on
`the person’s identity; and a process is set to manage the message 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.
`[0006] Based on different embodiments, the status of the user depends on
`the current activity or location of the user, or the current time. The status of the
`user can also be defined by the user. Similarly, the access priority of the person
`can be defined by the user, or is set depending on the user’s reaction towards a
`prior message from the person. Also, the urgency of the message is set by the
`person.
`[0007] The process can depend on the mode of communication of the
`message. For example, the mode of communication can include a mobile phone,
`an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS, 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.
`[0008] In one embodiment, the user receives the message through a
`handheld device, such as a cellular phone. In another embodiment, the message
`is electronically conveyed based on Internet protocol through a website.
`[0009] In one embodiment, though the process allows the user to receive
`the message, the person is not aware of the contact information of the user. For
`example, the person is not aware of the phone number of the cellular phone that
`the user used to talk to the person. This prevents the person from directly
`accessing the user without going through an intermediate control, such as a
`website. Similarly, the user does not have to be aware of the contact information
`of the person.
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`[00010] In another embodiment, the defined access priority of the person is
`stored at a website, allowing the website to access such information without
`asking for the user's permission. In one embodiment, the defined access priority
`is stored in a private database under the user’s control.
`[00011 ] Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
`apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings, illustrates byway of example the principles of the
`invention.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`[00012] Figure 1 shows a number of intelligent communication modes
`according to one embodiment of the invention.
`[00013] Figure 2 shows a number of contact classes according to one
`embodiment of the invention.
`[00014] Figure 3 shows a number of urgency classes according to one
`embodiment of the invention.
`[00015] Figure 4 shows a number of statuses of a user according to one
`embodiment of the invention.
`[00016] Figure 5 shows one embodiment of an example of an Access
`Priority Database according to one embodiment of the invention.
`[00017] Same numerals in Figures 1-5 are assigned to similar elements in all
`the figures. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to
`Figures 1-5. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed
`description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as
`the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`)0018] One embodiment of the invention can automatically remove
`unwanted communications. Certain communications are relatively easy to
`determine to be unwanted, such as marketing cold calls and wrong number calls.
`Other communications may be more difficult. They can depend not just on the
`sources of the communication, but also the conditions or status of the receiver (a
`user) of the communication. The status can be related to the user’s current
`activity and/or location. For example, when the user is on a train going to work,
`the user probably does not mind chatting with his grandchild. However, if the user
`is having his yearly review meeting with his boss, the user probably would prefer
`to avoid the call from his grandchild, unless it is an emergency. Based on the
`embodiment, communications from sources the user wants to postpone receiving
`can be automatically diverted.
`[00019] In one embodiment, the user can get appropriate notification on the
`source of the incoming communication request. The attributes of the notification
`can depend on the urgency of the communication and/or the status of the user.
`[00020] The user may receive information from different modes of
`communication. For example, the user can have mobile phones, fixed lines at
`home or office, emails, SMS, and faxes, with their different numbers and/or
`addresses. One embodiment can help the user efficiently manage information
`from the different modes. The user only has to remember one specific address
`from one mode of communication. Through that address, the user can receive
`communications from all modes of communication, independent of where the
`user is, or the type of hardware the user has. This allows the user to efficiently
`maintain his communication from the numerous modes even when he is traveling.
`For example, the user does not have to change phones (and the phone numbers)
`when he moves from areas covering 3G to areas that do not.
`[00021] A number of embodiments depend on the different modes of
`communication converging onto the internet protocol platform. A communication
`gateway or a portal is formed allowing the user to receive communications from
`numerous sources through different modes. This, in turn, could reduce the
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`numerous addresses the user has to remember, to one address. For example, an
`e-mail address for the user can serve as an access identifier for the different
`communication addresses from different communication modes. The access
`identifier can become the user’s digital identity. In one embodiment, the user’s
`other types of identification, such as the user’s driver licenser number, can be the
`user’s access identifier.
`[00022] One embodiment of the invention uses an open portal based on the
`web. Based on the portal, the user can securely determine who can reach him at
`what conditions. This can be done based on a status indicator. As an example,
`this indicator is determined according to the status of the user, the access
`priorities of the person trying to reach the user (or the relationship or the lack of
`relationship between the user and the person), and/or the urgency of the
`message from the person. The status of the user can be dynamically determined,
`based on the current condition(s) of the user. The portal can allow the user and
`the person to select different options, which can be modified as desired. For
`example, the relationship can be preset by the user and stored in a database,
`while the urgency of the message can be set by the person.
`[00023] Thus, in one embodiment, the portal can be used to control the
`selection and setting of different intelligent communication modes for the user.
`These intelligent communication modes allow priorities of various kinds of
`communication options to be set by the user. The portal allows worldwide access
`to the user, and can dynamically determine, for example, whether a call initiated
`at different time by different callers should be accepted by the user in real-time or
`handled by other mechanisms. From this information, communication requests
`can be classified, for example, into different degrees of undesirability. Some
`requests can be automatically blocked from the user. Others can be diverted and
`handled by other mechanism, such as diverting a phone call to an email or voice
`mail.
`[00024] In one embodiment, the portal or gateway also includes a database
`to keep track of the user’s different contacts or acquaintances, and the access
`priorities of each contact. The user can modify information in the database, such
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`as assigning and/or changing the priorities of the contacts. Based on the
`information (or lack of information) in the database of the contact trying to access
`the user, and based on the status of the user, the gateway can automatically
`select an intelligent mode of communication for the user. This selection can be
`done dynamically.
`[00025] In one embodiment, the portal can dynamically change the access
`priorities of a caller trying to reach the user. For example, previously the caller is
`of high priority to the user, and the user has set her access priorities accordingly.
`Lately, every time the caller trying to reach the user, the request was denied.
`After a preset number of rejections, the portal can automatically send a message
`to the user, asking the user if the user would like to lower the access priority of
`the caller. If the response is affirmative, the caller’s priority is automatically
`reduced.
`[00026] In another embodiment, the user does not have to set priorities of
`each contact. The system monitors every call, and provides the contact’s identity
`to the user. Based on the user’s reaction to the call (e.g. accepting or rejecting it),
`the system automatically sets the contact’s priorities. In one embodiment, the
`system can then query the user for approval on the setting, and allow the user to
`adjust it as necessary. In another embodiment, the system can continue to
`modify the caller’s priorities based on the user’s reaction to the caller’s
`subsequent calls.
`[00027] In one embodiment, the user could keep information he believes to
`be sensitive local in a different database. Such information can be stored
`securely under the user’s direct control. The portal can retrieve information from
`the different database when required. In another embodiment, the user can
`restrict or limit such retrieval process.
`[00028] Additional confidentiality can be provided. In one embodiment,
`using phone calls as an example, the user can be aware of the identity of the
`caller even without being informed of the number of the caller. Similarly, the caller
`can reach the user without being aware of the number of the phone the user is
`using to receive the call. The user can keep his location and/or status confidential
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`but still can receive the communication. This can be useful because there are
`situations, for example, when the user does not want to disclose his contact
`information but the user needs to receive services provided by the caller.
`[00029] One approach to maintain such confidentiality while maintaining
`real-time communication is based on a system that digitally identifies the
`identities of the caller and the receiver. Note that the term caller is used in
`general. It is not just limited to phone calls, but they can be any person or entity
`requesting to communicate with the user, such as trying to send a message to
`the user. As a separate note, the caller can also be a user of different
`embodiments of the invention.
`[00030] After determining the identities, the system can establish
`connections between the caller and the user in real time. Though contacts are
`established, the system only needs to ensure the identities of the caller and the
`user to each other. However, the system does not have to disclose the phone
`numbers, electronic addresses, physical locations and/or other attributes of the
`caller and the user to each other. In one embodiment, real time implies that the
`time required for the identification is similar to the typical time required to set up,
`for example, a telephone call. The system can be a portal based on the web.
`[00031] In one embodiment, a portal also holds the user's electronic
`calendar. The calendar can be programmable, with entries set by the user. The
`portal can automatically and securely set appointments for the user since the
`portal knows the identity of the caller, and the status and schedule of the user.
`For example, the appointment can be for a conference call.
`[00032] To illustrate, in one embodiment, a portal provides a number of
`intelligent communication modes (ICM) for the user to select as shown in Figure
`1. There are three columns in the table. If the communication mode selected in
`the second column does not work, the portal automatically defaults to the
`corresponding approach in the third column. For example, under ICM 1, if the
`mobile phone is busy, default to voice mail. Some of the selections do not have
`any default because it may not be necessary to default. For example, under ICM
`8, the incoming message goes directly to voice mail with instant notification to
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`mobile devices of the user. The incoming message can usually go to voice mail.
`There is no need to default
`[00033] As a receiver of communication, the user can define a number of
`contact classes, as shown in Figure 2. The user can set up a number of urgency
`classes, as shown in Figure 3. The user can define a number of status, as shown
`in Figure 4. Then, based on tables in Figures 1-4, the user can set up an Access
`Priority Database for different Contactclasses, as shown in Figure 5.
`[00034] As another example, the user can categorize the following contacts
`into the corresponding Contactclasses:
`
`Alice (Wife)
`Peter (Close Friend)
`Colina (Close Friend’s
`
`Contactclass 1
`ContactClass2
`ContactClass2
`
`wife)
`
`[00035] Peter wants to make a mobile phone call to the user. In one
`embodiment, Peter calls a portal. As an example, the portal can be the user’s ISP.
`The portal first verifies the caller’s identity to be Peter. This can be done, for
`example, by a public key challenge based on Peter having a public key digital
`certificate. In another example, Peter is also a registered user of the portal. Then,
`Peter’s identity can be more readily identified or verified.
`[00036] In one embodiment, after verification, a virtual address/number for
`the communication session is created allowing Peter to reach the user, which can
`be by phone. The user’s phone number does not have to be disclosed to Peter.
`Similarly, Peter’s mobile phone number does not have to be disclosed to the user.
`The portal can assure the user that the person calling is Peter based on an
`identification verification process, such as ones described above.
`[00037] In establishing contact, the portal can access the user’s database
`and determine that Peter belongs to ContactClass2. The database can, for
`example, be in the portal.
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`[00038] In another embodiment, the database is in a personal
`communication device of the user. The portal accesses the personal
`communication device to determine Peter’s ContactClass.
`[00039] Based on the ContactClass information, the status of the user and
`Peter’s urgency setting, the user may receive Peter’s call directly. As another
`example, Peter may be asked to leave a voice mail to the user, while the user is
`notified by a mobile short message regarding an incoming call from Peter.
`[00040] As additional examples, in one embodiment, location information of
`the user could be determined based on GPS information from, for example, the
`user’s cell phone
`[00041] In one embodiment, the user receives messages through a
`handheld device, such as a phone, and the phone has a switch. The switch can
`be a physical button or a software setting, such as a pull-down menu. The user
`could set his status dynamically by changing the physical or logical position of
`the switch. For example, one position can indicate that the user is very busy, and
`should only be interrupted by an urgent message from the user’s closest contacts,
`such as his wife or parents. Another position can indicate that the user’s status
`allows the user to receive any messages from anyone.
`[00042] As explained above, based on an embodiment, a message is
`electronically conveyed by a central network server, such as a web server based
`on Internet protocol. A portal or gateway approach could provide general Internet
`access to one or more embodiments of the communication management
`systems so that users can configure the system behavior they desire. The portal
`or gateway can then facilitate download of a database or update thereto to a
`communication device, such as a phone.
`[00043] Also, as explained above, based on an embodiment, a user could
`efficiently maintain his communication, and does not even have to change
`phones when he moves from areas covering 3G to areas that do not. These
`phones could be based on different communication mechanisms, such as GSM,
`CDMA, 3G and 4G systems. Also as explained above, the user could keep
`information in local databases, such as in such a phone. For example, the
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`intelligent communication modes shown in Figure 1 for the user to select are in
`the phone. The user could define the contact classes, such as the ones shown in
`Figure 2; set up the urgency classes, such as the ones shown in Figure 3; define
`the statuses, such as the ones shown in Figure 4; set up the Access Priority
`Database, such as the one shown in Figure 5; and categorize a number of the
`user’s contacts into the corresponding Contactclasses, all in the phone. When a
`caller places a call to the phone, based on information previously set in the
`phone and based on the urgency class selected by the caller, the phone could
`automatically manage the communication. Note that the phone does not have to
`be a cellular phone. In one embodiment, the phone is a desk top phone.
`[00044] Again as explained above, the person or the caller trying to contact
`the user could select different options. For example, the urgency of the message
`can be set by the caller. This selection is typically in the call setup phase. In one
`embodiment, the caller has pre-selected the urgency class before making the call.
`In another embodiment, if the caller has not selected the urgency class, the
`system could prompt the caller to input an urgency class or status before the call
`or message is routed to the user. In yet another embodiment, different urgency
`classes could be defined by the caller.
`[00045] Further, the computer-implemented methods and systems
`discussed above can be used in conjunction with one or more of the various
`approaches discussed in U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343. For example, the
`automated actions or decisions (e.g., intelligent secretary, decision 204 in FIG. 2,
`etc.) of U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343 can be automatically made by the
`systems/methods described above. Still further, the various approaches
`discussed in U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343 can be used in conjunction with
`one or more the various methods/systems discussed above. For example, the
`systems/methods described above can use the messaging approaches (e.g.,
`audio or textual messages) described in U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343.
`[00046] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled
`in the art from a consideration of this specification or practice of the invention
`disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered
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`as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated
`by the following claims.
`
`What is claimed is:
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`CLAIMS
`
`A computer-implemented method to manage the communication of a user
`1.
`in view of a person trying to electronically convey a message to the user, the
`method comprising:
`identifying the status of the user;
`identifying the identity of the person;
`identifying the urgency of the message;
`determining the access priority of the person based on the person’s
`identity; and
`setting a process to manage the message 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.
`
`A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the status
`2.
`of the user depends on the current activity or location of the user, or the current
`time, or the status of the user is defined by the user.
`
`A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the access
`3.
`priority of the person is defined by the user, or is set depending on the user’s
`reaction towards a prior message from the person.
`
`A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the
`4.
`urgency of the message is set by the person.
`
`5.
`
`A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1,
`wherein the method depends on the 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
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`chat, home online chat, a voice mail with/without i