8162580
`
`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
`OF:
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 12/798,995
`FILING DATE: April 14, 2010
`PATENT NUMBER: 8744407
`ISSUE DATE: June 03, 2014
`
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`U.S. PTO
`12/798995
`04/14/2010
`PTO/SB/05 (07-06)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2007. OMB 0651-0032
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`pond to 8 collection of
`IpyMcPo2ct
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`
`SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE
`
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`PTO/SB/17 (10-08)
`Approved for use through 06/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
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`220
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`SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE
`
`MODES OF COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCETO 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 December8,
`
`2003, entitled “ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES FOR
`
`ELECTRONIC DEVICES," and whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference.
`
`[0002]
`
`This application, by way of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/452,115,
`
`also claimspriority 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.
`
`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`For many years, other than mails from post offices, we typically only
`[0003]
`received information from afar through telephones. However,in the past few
`
`years, ways that others can send us information have increasedsignificantly. 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 welike to communicate with, and there are those
`
`weprefer to avoid. Managing information from all such different modes can be
`
`quite time consuming.
`
`IPVMCP02C1
`
`]
`
`Patent Application
`
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`{0004}
`
`It should be apparentfrom the foregoing that thereis still a need to
`
`help manage the numerous modesof communication.
`
`IPVMCP02C1
`
`9
`
`Patent Application
`
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`Different embodiments of a computer-implemented system and
`{0005}
`method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. A persontries to
`electronically convey a messageto the user. In one embodiment,the status of
`the useris identified; the identity of the personis identified; the urgency of the
`messageis identified; the access priority of the person is determined based on
`the person's identity; and a processis set to manage the message using one or
`more rules, and in view of the status of the user, the accesspriority of the person
`and the urgency of the message.
`[0006]
`Basedondifferent embodiments, the status of the user depends on
`the currentactivity or location of the user, or the current time. The status of the
`
`user can also be defined by the user. Similarly, the accesspriority of the person
`can be defined bythe user, or is set depending on the user's reaction towards a
`prior message from the person. Also, the urgency of the messageis 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 phoneor
`PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail
`
`with/withoutinstant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an
`
`email.
`
`In one embodiment, the user receives the messagethrough a
`[0008]
`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 processallows the userto receive
`the message, the personis not aware of the contact information of the user. For
`
`example, the person is not aware of the phone numberofthe 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.
`
`IPVMCP02C1
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`
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`In another embodiment, the defined accesspriority of the personis
`[00010)
`stored at a website, allowing the website to access such information without
`
`asking for the user's permission. In one embodiment, the defined accesspriority
`is stored in a private database underthe user's control.
`[00011]
`Other aspects and advantagesof the presentinvention will become
`apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings, illustrates by way of examplethe principles of the
`
`invention.
`
`[PVMCP02C1
`
`4
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[00012]
`
`Figure 1 shows a numberofintelligent communication modes
`
`according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00013]
`
`Figure 2 shows a numberof contact classes according to one
`
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00014]
`
`Figure 3 shows a numberof urgency classes according to one
`
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00015]
`
`Figure 4 shows a numberof statuses of a user according to one
`
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00016]
`
`Figure 5 shows one embodimentof an example of an Access
`
`Priority Database according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00017]
`
`Same numerals in Figures 1-5 are assigned to similar elements inall
`
`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 respectto these figures is for explanatory purposes as
`
`the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments.
`
`IPVMCP02C1
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`5
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`[00018]
`
`One embodimentof the invention can automatically remove
`
`unwanted communications. Certain communicationsarerelatively easy to
`
`determine to be unwanted, such as marketing cold calls and wrong numbercalls.
`
`Other communications may be moredifficult. They can depend notjust 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 useris 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, unlessit is an emergency. Based on the
`
`embodiment, communications from sources the user wants to postponereceiving
`
`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
`
`homeoroffice, emails, SMS, and faxes, with their different numbers and/or
`
`addresses. One embodimentcan help the userefficiently manage information
`from the different modes. The user only has to rememberone specific address
`from one modeof communication. Through that address, the user can receive
`
`communications from all modes of communication, independent of where the
`
`useris, or the type of hardwarethe user has. This allows the userto efficiently
`
`maintain his communication from the numerous modes even whenheistraveling.
`
`For example, the user does not have to change phones (and the phone numbers)
`
`when he movesfrom areas covering 3G toareasthat do not.
`[00021]
`Anumberof embodiments depend onthe different modes of
`
`communication converging onto the internet protocol platform. A communication
`
`gatewayora portal is formed allowing the user to receive communications from
`
`numerous sources throughdifferent modes.This, in turn, could reduce the
`
`IPVMCP02C1
`
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`
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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 accessidentifier 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 typesofidentification, such as the user's driverlicenser number, can be the
`
`user's accessidentifier.
`
`One embodiment of the invention uses an open portal based on the
`[00022]
`web. Based onthe portal, the user can securely determine who can reach him at
`
`whatconditions. This can be done basedona statusindicator. As an example,
`
`this indicator is determined according to the status of the user, the access
`priorities of the persontrying 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. Thestatus 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 canbeset by the person.
`[00023]
`Thus, in one embodiment, the portal can be used to control the
`selection and setting of different intelligent communication modesfor the user.
`Theseintelligent communication modesallow 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, whethera call initiated
`
`at different time by different callers should be accepted by the userin real-time or
`
`handled by other mechanisms.From this information, communication requests
`
`can beclassified, 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 phonecall to an email or voice
`
`mail.
`
`In one embodiment, the portal or gateway also includes a database
`{00024}
`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
`
`IPVMCPO02C}
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`
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`
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`

`as assigning and/or changingthe 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 onthe status of the user, the gateway can automatically
`
`select an intelligent mode of communication for the user. This selection can be
`
`done dynamically.
`
`[00025]
`
`ln one embodiment, the portal can dynamically change the access
`
`priorities of a caller trying to reach the user. For example, previously the calleris
`
`of high priority to the user, and the user has set her accesspriorities accordingly.
`
`Lately, every time the caller trying to reach the user, the request was denied.
`
`After a preset numberofrejections, the portal can automatically send a message
`to the user, asking the userif the user would like to lower the accesspriority of
`the caller, If the responseis affirmative, the caller's priority is automatically
`
`reduced.
`
`[00026]
`
`In another embodiment, the user does not haveto setpriorities of
`
`each contact. The system monitors every call, and provides the contacts 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 userto
`
`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
`
`subsequentcalls.
`
`[00027]
`
`In one embodiment, the user could keep information he believes to
`
`be sensitive localin 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 phonecalls as an example, the user can be awareofthe identity of the
`caller even without being informed of the numberofthe caller. Similarly, the caller
`can reach the user without being aware of the numberof the phonethe useris
`using to receive the call. The user can keephis location and/or status confidential
`
`IPVMCP02C1
`
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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 wantto 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 thatdigitally 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 astrying to send a messageto
`the user. As a separate note, the caller can also be a userofdifferent
`
`embodiments of the invention.
`
`After determining the identities, the system can establish
`[00030]
`connections betweenthe caller and the userin real time. Though contacts are
`established, the system only needs to ensure theidentities of the caller and the
`user to each other. However, the system does not haveto disclose the phone
`numbers, electronic addresses, physical locations and/or otherattributes 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 telephonecall. 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 knowsthe identity of the caller, and the status and scheduleofthe user.
`For example, the appointment can be for a conference call.
`[00032]
`To illustrate, in one embodiment, a portal provides a numberof
`intelligent communication modes(ICM) for the user to select as shownin Figure
`1. There are three columns in the table. If the communication modeselected in
`
`the second column does not work, the portal automatically defaults to the
`corresponding approachin the third column. For example, under ICM 1, if the
`mobile phoneis busy, default to voice mail. Some of the selections do not have
`any default becauseit may not be necessary to default. For example, under ICM
`8, the incoming message goesdirectly 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.
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`There is no need to default.
`
`[00033]
`
`As a receiver of communication, the user can define a numberof
`
`contact classes, as shownin Figure 2. The user can set up a numberof urgency
`
`classes, as shownin Figure 3. The user can define a numberof status, as shown
`
`in Figure 4. Then, based on tables in Figures 1-4, the user can set up an Access
`
`Priority Databasefor different ContactClasses, as shownin Figure5.
`
`[00034]
`
`As another example, the user can categorize the following contacts
`
`into the corresponding ContactClasses:
`
`
`
`Alice (Wife)
`
`
`ContactClass1
`
`wife)
`
`Peter (Close Friend)
`
`Colina (Close Friend’s
`
`ContactClass2
`
`ContactClass2
`
`Peter wants to make a mobile phonecall to the user. In one
`[00035]
`embodiment, Peter calls a portal. As an example, the portal can be the user’s ISP.
`
`The portalfirst 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, Peteris 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/numberfor
`
`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 numberdoesnot haveto be disclosed to the user.
`
`The portal can assure the userthat the personcalling 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 databaseis in a personal
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`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 urgencysetting, 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 useris
`
`notified by a mobile short message regarding an incomingcall from Peter.
`
`[00040]
`
`As additional examples, in one embodiment, location information of
`
`the user could be determined based on GPSinformation 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 hasa 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 physicalor logical position of
`
`the switch. For example, one position can indicate that the useris very busy, and
`
`should only be interrupted by an urgent messagefrom the user's closest contacts,
`suchashis wife or parents. Anotherposition can indicate that the user’s status
`allows the user to receive any messagesfrom 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 generalInternet
`
`access to one or more embodiments of the communication management
`
`systems so that users can configure the system behavior they desire. The portal
`
`or gatewaycan then facilitate download of a database or updatethereto 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 movesfrom areas covering 3G to areas that do not. These
`
`phonescould 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 shownin Figure 1 for the userto select are in
`
`the phone. The user could define the contact classes, such as the ones shownin
`
`Figure 2; set up the urgency classes, such as the ones shownin Figure 3; define
`
`the statuses, such as the ones shownin Figure 4; set up the AccessPriority
`
`Database, such as the one shownin Figure 5; and categorize a numberof 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 phoneis a desk top phone.
`[00044]
`Again as explained above, the personorthe 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 makingthecall.
`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 messageis routed to the user. In yet another embodiment, different urgency
`
`classes could be defined by thecaller.
`
`Further, the computer-implemented methods and systems
`[00045]
`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 methads/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.
`
`Whatis claimedis:
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`CLAIMS
`
`1,
`
`A computer-implemented method to manage the communication of a user
`
`in view of a person trying to electronically convey a messageto 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 accesspriority of the person based on the person's
`
`identity; and
`
`setting a process to manage the message using one or morerules, and in
`
`view of the status of the user, the accesspriority of the person and the urgency of
`
`the message.
`
`2.
`
`A computer-implemented methodasrecited in claim 1, wherein the status
`
`of the user depends onthe currentactivity or location of the user, or the current
`
`time, or the status of the useris defined by the user.
`
`3.
`
`A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein the access
`
`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.
`
`4.
`
`A computer-implemented method asrecited in claim 1, wherein the
`
`urgency of the messageis set by the person.
`
`5.
`
`A computer-implemented method asrecited 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 phoneor
`
`PDA,a pagerfrom a mobile phone or PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online
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`chat, homeonline chat, a voice mail with/without instant notification, an office fax,
`
`a homefax, a mobile email, and an email.
`
`6.
`
`A computer-implemented methodasrecited in claim 1,
`wherein the user receives the message through a handheld device, and
`
`wherein the status of the useris defined by the user using the handheld
`
`device.
`
`7.
`
`A computer-implemented method asrecited in claim 1,
`
`wherein the messageis electronically conveyed based on Internet
`
`protocol through a website, and
`wherein though the method allows the user to receive the message, the
`personis not aware of the contact information of the user to prevent the person
`from directly accessing the user without going through the website, or the useris
`not aware of the contact information of the person to prevent the user from
`
`directly accessing the person withou