US008130751B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Berkley et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,130,751 B1
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`(54) ACTIVE USER REGISTRY
`(75) Inventors: David Arthur Berkley, Summit, NJ
`(US); Lawrence Richard Rabiner,
`Berkeley Heights, NJ (US); Eric E.
`Sumner, Jr., Bernardsville, NJ (US)
`(73) Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.,
`Reno, NV (US)
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 976 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/077,822
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 21, 2008
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 10/090,602, filed on
`Mar. 5, 2002, now Pat. No. 7,408,920, which is a
`continuation of application No. 08/823,944, filed on
`Mar. 25, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,546,005.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04L 2/66
`(52) U.S. Cl. ......................... 370/352; 370/392; 370/475
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 370/352,
`370/353,356, 475; 379/88.13, 88.14, 88.17;
`709/206: 358/1.15, 402
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`9, 1992 Okada et al.
`5,146,488 A
`4/1998 Vaudreuil .................. 379.88.22
`5,740,230 A
`8, 1998 Kinoshita et al.
`5,790,803 A
`10, 1998 Oberlander et al.
`5,825,865 A
`1/1999 Wulkan et al.
`5,862,203 A
`6,072,862 A *
`6/2000 Srinivasan ............... 379,100.08
`6.212,550 B1* 4/2001 Segur ............................ TO9,206
`6,754,181 B1* 6/2004 Elliott et al. .................. 370,252
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`06-056356
`3, 1994
`JP
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Jung Park
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`An Active User Registry system includes a database which is
`integrated with the POTS network and a packet network to
`exploit the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents.
`The Active User Registry database is a dynamic data structure
`of all the ways in which one or more users can be reached via
`Some type of communication network. A key feature of the
`Active User Registry is the ability to broker between a sub
`scriber's request for communications contact information
`corresponding to a user and the user's preferences of being
`reached by various communications alternatives.
`29 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`30
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`302
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`303
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`304
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`305
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`306
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`USING MULTIMEDIA PC, CONTACT AUR SYSTEM USING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER OR IP ADDRESS
`
`ENTER USER-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND INITIATE
`SEARCH OF AUR DATABASE FOR USER CONTACT
`INFORMATION
`
`ADVISE AUR OF PREFERENCE FOR CONTACTING USER WIA
`FACSMILE
`
`AUR BROKERS REGUEST (FACSIMILE AGAINST USER'S
`PREFERENCE (E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL OR FAX)
`
`AUR RETURNS USER'S FACSIMILE ADDRESS (e.g.,
`WorkFaxi)
`
`INITIATE COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT WITH USER UTILIZING
`AURINFORMATION (FAX TO USER'S WorkFaxi ADDRESS)
`
`3.
`
`32
`
`33
`
`34
`
`35
`
`36
`
`DIAL TELEPHONE NUMBER CORRESPONDING TO AUR
`SYSTEM
`
`ENTER USER-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND INITIATE
`SEARCH OF AUR DATABASE FOR USER CONTACT
`INFORMATION
`
`ADVISE AUR OF PREFERENCE FOR CONTACTING USER WIA
`VOICE MESSAGING
`
`AUR BROKERS REGUEST (VOICE MESSAGING AGAINST
`USEASPREFERENCE (E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL OR FAX)
`
`
`
`
`
`AUR RETURNS USER'S VOICE MAIL ADDRESS
`WorkVoiceMessages)
`
`
`
`INITIATE COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT WITH USER UTILIZING
`APPROPRIATE AUA CONTACT INFORMATION (e.g., DIAL
`TELEPHONE NUMBER CORRESPONDING TO
`WorkVoiceMessages)
`
`
`
`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 1 of 17
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`00
`
`----?-
`
`==
`r).
`
`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`30
`
`-
`reer.
`
`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`85
`
`AUR
`WEB
`SITE
`72
`/ N
`---------------
`74
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`76
`
`------------
`
`POTS
`NETWORK
`
`
`
`
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 2 of 17
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 8,130,751 B1
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`
`
`J0QUITIN
`?0038
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 3 of 17
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`Sheet 3 of 7
`
`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`FIG. 3A
`
`USING MULTIMEDIA PC, CONTACT AUR SYSTEM USING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER OR IP ADDRESS
`
`ENTER USER-DENIFYING INFORMATION AND INITIATE
`SEARCH OF AUR DATABASE FOR USER CONTACT
`INFORMATION
`
`ADVISE AUR OF PREFERENCE FOR CONTACTING USER WIA
`FACSIMILE
`
`AUR BROKERS REQUEST (FACSIMILE) AGAINST USER'S
`PREFERENCE (E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL OR FAX)
`
`AUR RETURNS USER'S FACSIMILE ADDRESS (e.g.,
`WorkFax. )
`
`INITIATE COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT WITH USER UTILIZING
`AUR INFORMATION (FAX TO USER'S WorkFax ADDRESS)
`
`30
`
`302
`
`303
`
`304
`
`305
`
`306
`
`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 4 of 17
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`Sheet 4 of 7
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`US 8,130,751 B1
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`31
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`32
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`33
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`34
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`35
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`36
`
`FIG. 3B
`
`DIAL TELEPHONE NUMBER CORRESPONDING TO AUR
`SYSTEM
`
`ENTER USER-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND INITIATE
`SEARCH OF AUR DATABASE FOR USER CONTACT
`INFORMATION
`
`ADVISE AUR OF PREFERENCE FOR CONTACTING USER WIA
`VOICE MESSAGING
`
`AUA BROKERS REGUEST (VOICE MESSAGING) AGAINST
`USER'S PREFERENCE (E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL OR FAX)
`
`AUR RETURNS USER'S WOICE MAIL ADDRESS
`(WorkVoiceMessages)
`
`INITIATE COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT WITH USER UTILIZING
`APPROPRIATE AUR CONTACT INFORMATION
`DIAL
`TELEPHONE NUMBER CORRESPONDING T
`WorkVoiceMessages)
`
`
`
`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 5 of 17
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`Sheet 5 of 7
`
`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`FIG. 3C
`
`LOCATE AUR WEBSITE USING WEB BROWSER
`
`ENTER USER-IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND INITIATE
`SEARCH OF AUA OATABASE (ACCESSIBLE THROUGH AUR
`WEBSITE FOR USER CONTACT INFORMATION
`
`ADVISE AUR OF PREFERENCE FOR CONTACTING USER WIA
`E-MAIL AND WISITING THE USER'S HOME PAGE
`
`AUR BROKERS REGUEST E-MAIL) AGAINST USER'S
`PREFERENCE (E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL OR FAX)
`
`AUR RETURNS USER'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
`
`INITIATE COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT WITH USER UTILIZING
`AUR INFORMATION (E-MAIL TO USER'S EMAIL ADDRESS
`AND JUMP TO USER'S HOME PAGE (URL)
`
`32
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`323
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`324
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`325
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`326
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 6 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.6, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`FIG.
`
`4
`
`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`410
`
`og)—QOa.
`NETWORK
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC./ Page 7 of 17
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 7 of 17
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 6, 2012
`
`Sheet 7 Of 7
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`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`FIG. 5
`
`30
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`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`
`
`MULTIMEDIA PC
`
`O
`
`POTS
`NETWORK
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 8 of 17
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`

`

`US 8,130,751 B1
`
`1.
`ACTIVE USERREGISTRY
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/090,602,
`filed Mar. 5, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,408,920, issued Aug.
`5, 2008, which was a continuation of application Ser. No.
`08/823,944 filed Mar. 25, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,546,005
`issued Apr. 8, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated by
`reference in their entireties.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`ously growing number of public access providers, are making
`the Internet a fundamental component of the information age,
`if not the information super highway itself.
`Several alternate forms of communication have developed
`which utilize either the POTS network or packet networks
`(and sometimes both). For example, facsimile (fax) commu
`nication is now a commonplace option fortransmitting copies
`of documents over the POTS network. Electronic messaging
`(e.g., e-mail) is a growing phenomenon for those who use a
`packet network, particularly the Internet, for communica
`tions. In addition, many companies today are using packet
`networks, locally or internally within the company, which are
`modeled in functionality based upon the Internet. These
`packet networks, denoted “intranets are typically private
`networks owned or controlled by the company or corporate
`user. Intranets are compatible with the Internet Protocol (IP),
`and often the same software used in connection with the
`Internet (e.g., Web browsers) is also used in connection with
`intranets. Intranet networks are often established to connect
`to the Internet through a firewall (i.e., a hardware/software
`combination designed to restrict unauthorized access to the
`intranet from the outside world).
`A WorldWideWeb site on the Internet typically resides on
`a computer known as a server, which is accessed through the
`Internet by a person utilizing a computer, such as a PC. A Web
`site consists of one or more Web pages comprising Scripts
`written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and typi
`cally resides on a server compatible with HyperText Trans
`port Protocol (HTTP, a protocol for interfacing with the Inter
`net). Pages at a Web site are typically accessible and viewed
`by the person using the PC through software called a Web
`browser, which typically resides on the person’s PC. A Web
`browser, such as the one by Netscape, interprets Web page
`HTML scripts to provide a graphical user interface that
`allows easy access to various services over the Internet.
`Equivalently, Web sites internal to and locatable over a cor
`porate intranet may be set up and accessed in a like manner
`using the same or virtually the same Software (e.g., a Web
`browser). Such Web sites internal to a corporate intranet are
`typically HTTP compatible and addressable using URL tech
`niques, and contain Web pages comprising HTML Scripts.
`Persons may browse the World WideWeb for virtually any
`kind of information, including information having content
`derived from one or more media, Such as words, Sounds or
`images. Increasingly, businesses are establishing Web sites as
`a means of providing information to and attracting potential
`customers, and Web sites are emerging as a means of trans
`acting business. One may locate a company's Web site by,
`e.g., using one of a number of existing search engines avail
`able over the Internet, or browsing other Web sites containing
`links to the company’s Web site, or entering directly the
`Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which represents an
`address for the Web site. Typically, Web browsing takes place
`in the context of an interactive communication session, where
`one may, for example, direct the Web browsing session by
`choosing to follow hypertext links found in Web sites and/or
`may respond to information located at various Web sites.
`An Internet-related development is packet telephony.
`Packet telephony involves the use of a packet network, Such as
`the Internet, for telecommunicating Voice, pictures, moving
`images and multimedia (e.g., voice and pictures) content.
`Instead of a pair of telephones connected by switched tele
`phone lines, however, packet telephony typically involves the
`use of a “packet phone' or “Internet phone' at one or both
`ends of the telephony link, with the information transferred
`over a packet network using packet Switching techniques.
`
`15
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`25
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`
`This invention relates to communications in general and,
`more particularly, to a way of facilitating communication
`with individuals reachable over a variety of communications
`options.
`The Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) network, which
`has been in existence for over 100 years, is well designed and
`well engineered for the transmission and switching of 3 kHz
`voice calls. The POTS network is a real-time, low-latency,
`high reliability, moderate fidelity voice telephony network. It
`is not designed for, nor especially well Suited to, other forms
`of communications, including wideband speech, audio,
`images, video, fax and data. The POTS network is inherently
`“telephone' or “handset' oriented and is driven by the needs
`of real-time voice telephony.
`There are approximately 270 million users of the POTS
`network in the United States, making POTS access nearly
`ubiquitous throughout the U.S. On the other hand, the POTS
`network has high access costs and, for international calls,
`settlement costs.
`Packet networks are general-purpose data networks which
`are not tied to fixed-bandwidth circuits. Instead, they are
`designed to transmit bits (in the form of a packet of fixed or
`variable length) only when there are bits to transmit. Packet
`networks evolved independently of telephone networks for
`the purpose of moving bursty, non-real-time data among
`computers and are distinguished by the property that packet
`communications are routed by address information contained
`in the data stream itself.
`Packet networks are especially well suited for sending
`stored data of various types, including messages, fax, speech,
`audio, video and still images, but are not well Suited for
`sending real-time communication signals such as real-time
`speech, audio, and video signals. Typically, one accesses a
`packet network through a client program executing on a per
`Sonal computer (PC), and so packet networks are inherently
`“PC” oriented, and client/server driven. Packet networks pro
`vide access to distributed databases and have excellent search
`capabilities.
`There are approximately 30 million users of packet net
`works in the U.S.; the number of users is growing rapidly and
`will continue to do so over the next decade. Today, the Internet
`(the largest and most renowned of the existing packet net
`works) connects over 4 million computers in some 140 coun
`tries. The Internet is implemented using a large variety of
`connections between those millions of computers. These
`interconnected computers can Support applications, such as
`electronic mail and the World Wide Web, which facilitate
`communications between persons across the U.S. or around
`the globe.
`The Internet’s global and exponential growth is common
`knowledge today. The recent developments on the World
`65
`Wide Web interfaces and information navigation software,
`such as a multitude of Web browsers, coupled with a continu
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`3
`Intranets can also be used to provide electronic messaging as
`well as other packet-type functionality.
`These communications options mentioned above provide,
`along with regular POTS telephony, alternate paths for com
`municating between individuals and groups. A computer,
`Such as a PC, is commonly used to provide output for display
`of a Web page or other multimedia content to a person using
`it, for example through a video display and accompanying
`hardware for playing audio. Such output may take the form of
`at least one of textual, graphic, animation, video, audio, or
`virtual object media. The computer or PC is also commonly
`capable of accepting input from the person using it; such input
`may be provided by means Such as a keyboard, a mouse, a
`telephone touch pad, a television remote control, a micro
`phone, a MIDI port and so on.
`As the concept of communications between individuals
`and groups changes over time, and further with the inclusion
`of messaging capability, image and video telephony, hand
`writing transmission, and the integration of Voice, other
`audio, image, video, handwriting, and data, it becomes essen
`tial to provide some easy-to-use and convenient mechanism
`to link people together who want to communicate with each
`other. To illustrate the complexity of the task, consider trying
`to communicate with someone having the following ways of
`being reached:
`home telephones (often there are two or more lines in a
`private residence)
`work telephones (generally people can be reached via at
`least one work POTS number and a secretarial pickup)
`cellular telephone (about 15% of the population can be
`reached via a cellular telephone)
`video telephone (e.g. Vistium system or Picturetel system)
`pager/beeper (through either appropriate Software or via
`800 number services, individuals can receive ASCII
`messages or numeric phone numbers to dial)
`Voice mail systems (most businesses provide Voice mail
`(voice messaging) for use when there is no secretarial
`pickup or for calls that come in out of normal business
`hours)
`video mail system (this is a feature that will start to be
`provided as videophones and Vistium-like systems start
`to proliferate)
`e-mail systems (individuals often have two or more e-mail
`addresses—e.g. Unix e-mail, ATT Mail, Lotus Notes
`e-mail, Internet e-mail, or intra-corporate e-mail)
`home answering machines (most private homes use tele
`phone answering machines to record messages when
`away from home, or when the phones are turned off; also
`there is some use of network Voice mail services)
`IP (Internet Protocol) addresses (which may be static when
`a person is attached via a Local Area Network (LAN)
`connected to a corporate network, or which may be
`dynamic when a person is attached via a modem con
`nection to an Internet service provider, such as AT&T
`55
`WorldNetTM Services); this type of connection is also
`used for collaborative work systems with shared work
`spaces, e.g. Vistium Share
`business FAX number (associated with either the indi
`vidual or the workgroup within the office environment)
`home FAX number (associated with a hardware FAX
`machine at home, or with a FAX/Modem on a home PC)
`paper mail (distributed electronically to e-mail addresses
`via services such as POST)
`home page (individuals and businesses may have a home
`page associated with a Web site, e.g., locatable over the
`World Wide Web using a URL address)
`
`4
`As one can see from the above list, any individual trying to
`reach another individual has to deal with the daunting prob
`lem of knowing which ones of all of these options of reaching
`a person are in fact practical options for reaching that person,
`of determining the applicable communications number or
`other communications address for Such available communi
`cations options and, in addition, making a decision as to
`which is the appropriate option to use taking into account the
`time and the purpose of the communication. Often this is a
`difficult—or an unsolvable problem. For example, consider
`how one would determine the active (e.g., via modem) or
`passive (e.g., via a LAN) IP address of an individual con
`nected to a data network, as would be needed for direct
`real-time IP-addressable messaging; on the other hand, mes
`sages may be sent to one’s packet network address in non-real
`time via currently-available e-mail techniques and, thus may
`be a preferable option for packet messaging when an active IP
`address is unavailable. Other problems include the physical
`difficulty of making the desired type of communications con
`nection which would render that mode of communication
`impractical for the desired purpose (e.g., if it was desired to
`send a voice message without disturbing the addressee, how
`could you connect to a home answering machine without the
`phone ringing and being picked up by the owner?; if Such a
`capability is not available, another communications option
`may be preferable).
`What is desired is a way of easily determining what com
`munications options are available for contacting an individual
`at the time and for the purpose of the communication and,
`additionally, the appropriate communications number (or
`address) for Such communication contact.
`SUMMARY
`
`The present invention is directed to a system for creating
`and using an Active User Registry (AUR). The Active User
`Registry system comprises a database and computer or pro
`cessor and is integrated with the POTS network and a packet
`network (such as the Internet, or a corporate intranet). Inte
`grating AUR with the POTS network and a packet network
`exploits the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents,
`such as the low-latency, high reliability, moderate fidelity
`real-time voice telephony provided by the POTS network,
`and the point-and-click access to distributed databases with
`excellent search capabilities provided by a packet network,
`Such as the Internet (including those made available using
`browser technology in conjunction with the World Wide
`Web).
`The AUR database contains a dynamic data structure (such
`as a linked list or a hashed table) of various ways in which one
`or more users can be reached via Some type of communication
`network (e.g., through the POTS network or a packet net
`work, or both), including access via the Web. A key feature of
`the AUR is the ability to broker between a subscriber's
`request for communications contact information correspond
`ing to a user and the user's preferences of being reached by
`various communications alternatives. Other features may be
`included with the AUR, including an AUR cache which pro
`vides Subscribers with rapid-access entry points into the
`AUR, or automatic updating of user contact information.
`Further, the capability of learning the user's preferences is
`included as an additional feature and is also included as a
`feature in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an Active
`User Registry system in accordance with the present inven
`tion.
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`US 8,130,751 B1
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`US 8,130,751 B1
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`5
`FIG. 2 shows a representative arrangement of data ele
`ments in accordance with the present invention.
`FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show diagrams for accessing an
`Active User Registry system in accordance with the present
`invention.
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing alternative embodi
`ments of an Active User Registry system in accordance with
`the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`10
`
`6
`network in many forms, such as, e.g., data, Voice, images, and
`video. Multimedia PC 140 may be linked to packet network
`130 using any one of a number of known methods, e.g.,
`modem, ISDN, etc.
`A subscriber who seeks to utilize the present invention may
`be linked to POTS network 110 through telephone 150 or,
`alternatively, the subscriber may be linked to packet network
`130 through a PC, such as multimedia PC 160, using one of a
`number of known methods. A typical subscriber may be
`linked both to POTS network 110 (through telephone 150)
`and to packet network 130 (through multimedia PC 160).
`The Active User Registry system 170 is integrated with the
`POTS network 110 and a packet network 130 through gate
`way 180. Gateway 180 acts as an interface between AUR 170
`and each of POTS network 110 and packet network 130, to
`permit a subscriber to access AUR available information
`through either the POTS network or the packet network.
`Those skilled in the art will recognize that the advantages of
`the present invention integrating AUR 170 with packet net
`work 130 and POTS network 110 could be achieved where
`the packet network includes the Internet, an intranet, or both.
`Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the advan
`tages of the present invention could be achieved by integrat
`ing AUR 170 with packet network 130 (which could include
`the Internet, an intranet, or both) and a private telephone
`network (such as an intra-corporate telephone network)
`served by a private branch exchange (PBX).
`Web access to the AUR system may be accomplished
`through an optional AUR Web site hosted on AUR Web site
`host server 185, which is a typical Web site host server known
`to those skilled in the art. AUR Web site host server 185 may,
`e.g., be coupled to the AUR system through gateway server
`180 or, alternatively, AUR Web site host server 185 may be
`coupled directly to the AUR system.
`AURL-addressable Web site or home page corresponding
`to the user may be hosted on user Web site host server 190.
`User Web site host server 190 may be one of any number of
`typical servers commonly used for hosting one or more Web
`sites. Host server 190 may be privately owned by the user or,
`alternatively, a Web site (or home page) corresponding to a
`user may be hosted on, e.g., a host server 190 that is provided
`by an Internet service provider, such as AT&T WorldNetTM
`Services.
`Active User Registry system 170 is comprised of a com
`puter 172 and a database 174. Computer 172 may be any one
`of the known computers, such as a PC, or a server, or even a
`processor, computer 172 may also be comprised of commu
`nications equipment having a computer built in, or integrated,
`into the system. For example, the AUR system of the present
`invention may be implemented on an adjunct platform known
`to those in the art, such as the Conversant(RVoice Information
`system produced by Lucent Technologies.
`AUR database 174 is coupled to AUR computer 172
`through communications link 176, which may be accom
`plished through one of many known methods for linking a
`computer to a database. Such as, e.g., a bus, or a LAN, or
`another communications network. As shown in FIG. 1, com
`munications link 176 may also provide the link coupling AUR
`170 to gateway 180; those skilled in the art, however, will
`recognize that another communications link may be used to
`couple AUR 170 to gateway 180. AUR database 174 stores
`information about the networks as well as information about
`users, including phone numbers, FAX numbers, mobile num
`bers, e-mail addresses, URLs, etc. In its simplest form, AUR
`database 174 is a dynamic data structure (such as a linked list
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`In accordance with the present invention, an Active User
`Registry (AUR) system is defined which, in its most basic
`form, comprises a computer and a database and which is
`integrated with the POTS network and a packet network (such
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`as the Internet, or a corporate intranet). Integrating the AUR
`system with the POTS network and a packet network exploits
`the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents, such as
`the low-latency, high reliability, moderate fidelity real-time
`voice telephony provided by the POTS network, and the
`point-and-click access to distributed databases with excellent
`search capabilities provided by a packet network, Such as the
`Internet (including those made available using browser tech
`nology in conjunction with the World Wide Web).
`The Active User Registry database contains a dynamic data
`structure (such as a linked list or a hashed table) of all the
`ways in which one or more individual or entity users can be
`reached via Some type of communication network (e.g.,
`through the POTS network or a packet network, or both). The
`term “user herein refers to an individual or entity reachable
`through one or more communications options (such as, e.g.,
`telephone over the POTS network, e-mail, fax, etc.); the term
`“subscriber herein refers to an individual or entity seeking to
`establish communications contact with and/or send a mes
`sage to a user. In standard telephony parlance, the “user' is
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`often referred to as the “called party,’ and the “subscriber' is
`often referred to as the “calling party.” A key feature of the
`AUR system is the ability to broker the users and subscrib
`er's preferences of reaching the userby various communica
`tions alternatives. Other features may be layered on top of this
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`most basic form of the AUR. For example, an AUR cache may
`be provided to subscribers which provides rapid-access entry
`points into the AUR for those users that a subscriber may
`regularly attempt to contact; the AUR may include automatic
`updating of user contact information; or the AUR system may
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`learn the preferences of users regarding who may reach them
`by the various communications alternatives. Further, the AUR
`will enable customers to easily invoke enhancements to
`POTS services such as messaging and mobility, by using
`point-and-click interfaces on their PCs to open up a range of
`services that is broader than that enabled by a simple tele
`phone interface. Additionally, persons having only a tele
`phone could gain access to information from databases, for
`merly available only on the packet network though emerging
`text-to-speech and Voice recognition network interfaces.
`Moreover, new services combining the simultaneous delivery
`of multimedia content to a PC and real-time communications
`(e.g. Voice, audio, video) over a telephone become possible.
`With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention will now be
`described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical user
`100 (one of many such possible users) is linked to POTS
`network 110 through telephone 120 such that user 100 may be
`contacted by telephoning the number corresponding to tele
`phone 120. The typical user 100 may also be linked to packet
`network 130 (which may be, e.g., the Internet) through a PC,
`e.g., multimedia PC 140 as shown in FIG.1. A multimedia PC
`enables a user to interact with information over the packet
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`Ex. 1013
`CISCO SYSTEMS, INC. / Page 11 of 17
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`US 8,130,751 B1
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`or a hashed table) of all the ways in which an individual or
`entity user can be reached via Some type of communication
`network.
`Typically, the user will be identified by name and address,
`where the address would be used to resolve ambiguities
`between coexisting names (e.g., John Smith). Where the user
`is an entity, the identifier could be the name of the entity (e.g.,
`a company name).
`Alternatively, the AUR system permits access of the AUR
`database by occupation or title of the user, rather than by the
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`individual user's name or identifier. For example, the AUR
`system may be used to contact, e.g., the guard at the main
`reception for a particular business or organization, or to con
`tact the head of Security for the business or organization. To
`accomplish this, the AUR database would include with cer
`tain usernames (this may, but would not have to, include all
`users in the AUR database) one or more functional descrip
`tions of the activity of work, e.g. job title, cross-references to
`job occupation, etc. as well as the name of the employer. In the
`case of an entity as the user, the “occupation' could include a
`reference to the type of business in which the entity is
`engaged (e.g., clothing retailer).
`For a typical user, the entries in the AUR database 174
`might include the following:
`Username: User Alias1: User Alias2; . . . , HomePhonel;
`HomePhone2:
`WorkPhone; WorkSecretary: CellularPhone1: Video
`Phone; . . . ;
`WorkVoiceMessages; HomeAnsweringMachine; Video
`MailMessages;
`BeeperNumber1: ...; Email1; Email2:... : WorkFAX1;
`WorkFAX2:
`. ; LAN IP: ModemIP; . . . ; URL1;
`HomeFAX: . .
`URL2; . . . ; Multimedia1;
`Multimedia2; . . . ; ReachNumber
`The AUR database consists of a series of user records, each
`user record containing one or more of the entries listed above.
`One possible arrangement of the AUR database is shown in
`FIG. 2. With reference to FIG. 2, the AUR database as
`depicted consists of Nuser records, record 201 corresponding
`to user 1, record 202 corresponding to user 2, record 203
`corresponding to user 3, and so forth. Each user record in the
`AUR database contains entries for the above-listed user com
`munications contact information. Thus, as shown in the
`example of FIG. 2, record 201 corresponding to user 1 con
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`sists of a set of entries 210, 220, 230, 240,250, 260,270, 280
`and 290, each corresponding to a different category with each
`entry potentially consisting of one or more information data
`elements.
`The corresponding function of these entries in the user
`record will now be described. The data elements in entry
`category 210 correspond to identifier information. Username
`represents the formal name of the user to whom the listed
`information corresponds (similar to a name listed in a tele
`phone directory), and could typically include further identi
`fying information Such as home street address, home city or
`town, and/or employer name and location; Such further iden
`tifying information would be useful in resolving ambiguities
`that may occur in locating the desired user record in the AUR
`database (e.g., which Jane Smith). UserAlias1, UserAlias2,
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`etc. represents other names (such as nicknames or initials) by
`which the user is known. In addition, the data in entry cat
`egory 210 could include identifying information, Such as a
`picture, a handwritten signature, fingerprints, etc.
`The data elements (HomePhone 1, HomePhone2, Work
`Phone, WorkSecretary, and CellularPhone 1) in entry cat
`egory 220 represent the various home, work, cellular (or
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`portable) telephone numbers by which the user may normally
`be reached (the ability to reach a user by one or more of these
`numbers may be subject to the user's preferences, as dis
`cussed below). The VideoPhone data element of entry cat
`egory 220 would represent the communications number or
`address for contacting the user via a videophone device. The
`data elements WorkVoiceMessages, HomeAnsweringMa
`chine, VideoMailMessages, and BeeperNumberl of entry
`category 230 would represent the number or address for the
`various telephonic or videophonic means for leaving a voice
`(or video) message for the user, or for