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: 14/272,632
`FILING DATE: May 08, 2014
`PATENT NUMBER: 9204268
`ISSUE DATE: December 01, 2015
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1036
`Page 1
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`

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`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`TRANSMITTAL
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`BYE EME ARIDPep
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`Se MODES Oo SvALNUAT II
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`= TD MAN
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`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chopter 690 concerning utility patent applicetion contents
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`ADDRESSTO:
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`Commissioner for Patents
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`10. [__] Assignment Papers
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`(Print/Type)|Peter P. Tong Registration No,
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`b.[__] Acopyfroma prior application (37 CFR 1,63(d))
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`i Application Data Sheet=* See note below.
`See 37 CFR 1,76 (PTO/AIA/14 of equivalent)
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`CD-ROM or CD-R
`(ifforeign priority is cloimed)
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`17. C] Nonpublication Request
`Under 35 U.S.C 122(b)(2)(B)(I). Applicant must attach form PTOQ/SB/35
`[| Landscape Table on CD
`of equivalent.
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`(if applicable, items a. -c. are required)
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`a. L] Computer Readable Form (CRF)
`by C] Specification Sequence Listing on:
`Aa Paper
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`
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`
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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 No.
`
`12/798,995, filed April 14, 2010, and entitled "SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO
`
`MANAGE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMUNICATION,” which is hereby
`
`incorporated herein by reference, which application is a continuation of U.S.
`
`Patent Application 11/452,115,
`
`filed June 12, 2006, now U.S. Patent No.
`
`7,729,688, 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, now U.S. Patent No. 7,116,976,
`
`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
`
`December 8, 2003, entitled “ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES
`
`FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” and which is hereby incorporated herein by
`
`reference.
`
`This application, by way of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/452.115,
`[0002]
`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.
`
`IPVMCPO2C2
`
`|
`
`Patent Applicauien
`
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`

`

`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003}
`
`For many years, other than mails from postoffices, 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.
`
`[0004]
`
`It should be apparent from the foregoing that thereis still a need to
`
`help manage the numerous modes of communication.
`
`IPVMECPo2cz
`
`rr
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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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 persontries to
`
`electronically convey a message to the user.
`
`In one embodiment, the status of
`
`the useris identified; the identity of the person is 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 access priority of the person
`
`and the urgencyof 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 accesspriority 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 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 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 onInternet 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 numberof 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.
`
`IPVMCPO02C2
`
`lad
`
`Patent Applicauien
`
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`

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`[00010]
`
`In another embodiment, the defined accesspriority 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 accesspriority
`
`is stored in a private database underthe 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 by way of example the principles of the
`
`invention.
`
`IPVMECPo2cz
`
`4
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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`

`

`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[00012]
`
`Figure 1
`
`shows a number of
`
`intelligent communication modes
`
`according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00013]
`
`Figure 2 shows a number of contact classes according to one
`
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00014]
`
`Figure 3 shows a number of 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 embodiment of 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 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.
`
`IPVMECPo2cz
`
`un
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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`

`

`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`[00018]
`
`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 numbercalls.
`
`Other communications may be moredifficult. 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 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 urgencyof 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 heis traveling.
`
`For example, the user does not have to change phones(and the phone numbers)
`
`when he movesfrom 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
`
`IPVMCPO2C2
`
`6
`
`Patent Applicauien
`
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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 ofidentification, such as the user's driver licenser number, can be the
`
`user's access identifier.
`
`[00022]
`
`One embodimentof the invention uses an open portal based on the
`
`web. Basedon theportal, 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 modesfor 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 userin 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
`
`IPVMCPO02C2
`
`7
`
`Patent Applicauien
`
`Epic Games Ex. 1036
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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 contacttrying 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 accesspriorities accordingly.
`
`Lately, every time the caller trying to reach the user, the request was denied.
`
`After a preset numberof rejections, 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 response is 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 contact's identity
`
`to the user. Based on the user's reaction to the call (e.g. accepting or rejectingit),
`
`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 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 numberof the 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 keep his location and/or status confidential
`
`IPVMCPO2C2
`
`8
`
`Patent Applicauion
`
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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 providedbythe 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 orentity
`
`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
`
`embodimentsof the invention.
`
`
`
`[00030] system can_establishAfter determining the identities, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`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 knowsthe identity of the caller, and the status and schedule of the user.
`
`For example, the appointment can be for a conferencecall.
`
`[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 phoneis 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
`
`IPVMCPO2C2
`
`9
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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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 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 Figure 5.
`
`[00034]
`
`As another example, the user can categorize the following contacts
`
`into the corresponding ContactClasses:
`
`Alice (Wife)
`
`ContactClass1
`
`
`
`Peter (Close Friend) ContactClass2
`
`
`
`Colina
`
`(Close
`
`Friend's
`
`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 userof 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 doesnot haveto 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.
`
`IPVMECPo2cz
`
`ag)
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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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 useris
`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 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 phonehas 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 userto 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
`
`IPVMCP02C2
`
`\|
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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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 shownin
`
`Figure 2; set up the urgency classes, such as the ones shownin 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 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 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 thecall.
`
`In another embodiment,
`
`if the caller has not selected the urgency class, the
`
`system could promptthe 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 bythe caller.
`
`
`
`[00045] and=systemsFurther, the computer-implemented methods
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`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. Il is intended that the specification and examples be considered
`
`IPVMCPO2C2
`
`1?
`
`Patent Applicauen
`
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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:
`
`IPVMePO2Ct
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`13
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`
`
`1. in view ofafirstAn article for managing the communication of a user,
`
`
`
`CLAIMS
`
`device of a person trying to electronically convey a messagefrom thefirst device
`
`to a second device of
`
`the user,
`
`the second device being a handheld
`
`communication device,
`
`the article
`
`comprising: a non-transitory computer
`
`readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, if executed by a
`
`computing device, result in the computing device:
`
`receiving the message from thefirst device;
`
`identifying the person correspondingto thefirst device; and
`
`setting a process for the message using one or more rules based on at
`
`least a status associated with the user and an accesspriority associated with
`
`the person,
`
`the status depending at
`
`least in part on the current activity,
`
`location or time associated with the user, and the accesspriority depending
`
`on the person,
`
`wherein the plurality of instructions,
`
`if executed by the computing
`
`device, further result in the computing device:
`
`having access to contact
`
`information corresponding to the
`
`person,
`
`even if the process includes transmitting the message to the
`
`second device via contact information of the user, not providing the
`
`contact information of the userto thefirst device,
`
`being aware of an availability of the user, and
`
`