U.S. patent application number 14/976997 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-21 for identifier technique for communication interchange.
The applicant listed for this patent is Triplay, Inc.. Invention is credited to Alexander J. Cohen, Edward K.Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, William Henry Mangione-Smith, John D. Rinaldo, JR., Clarence T. Tegreene.
Application Number | 20160112573 14/976997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39499487 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160112573 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cohen; Alexander J. ; et
al. |
April 21, 2016 |
IDENTIFIER TECHNIQUE FOR COMMUNICATION INTERCHANGE
Abstract
A method and a communication interchange enhancement system for
implementing an enhanced user interface for a communication
interchange includes but is not limited to a method including to
providing an identifier associated with a third-party participant
related to the communication interchange; matching the identifier
with the third-party participant in a database storing one or more
lists of possible third-party participants; obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant; and
enabling a user interface to display the group-type
characteristic.
Inventors: |
Cohen; Alexander J.; (Mill
Valley, CA) ; Jung; Edward K.Y.; (Bellevue, WA)
; Levien; Royce A.; (Lexington, MA) ; Lord; Robert
W.; (Seattle, WA) ; Malamud; Mark A.;
(Seattle, WA) ; Mangione-Smith; William Henry;
(Kirkland, WA) ; Rinaldo, JR.; John D.; (Bellevue,
WA) ; Tegreene; Clarence T.; (Bellevue, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Triplay, Inc. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
39499487 |
Appl. No.: |
14/976997 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11517027 |
Sep 7, 2006 |
9219815 |
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14976997 |
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11506415 |
Aug 18, 2006 |
8346872 |
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11517027 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/415 ;
455/416 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/06 20130101; H04W
8/186 20130101; H04M 3/563 20130101; H04L 65/403 20130101; H04M
3/42059 20130101; H04L 12/1822 20130101; H04M 3/4931 20130101; H04L
65/1066 20130101; H04M 1/72583 20130101; H04M 7/0036 20130101; H04L
65/1093 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04M 3/56 20060101
H04M003/56; H04M 1/725 20060101 H04M001/725; H04W 8/18 20060101
H04W008/18; H04W 4/06 20060101 H04W004/06; H04M 3/42 20060101
H04M003/42 |
Claims
1. A method for implementing an enhanced user interface for a
communication interchange, the method comprising: providing an
identifier associated with a third party participant related to the
communication interchange; matching the identifier with the
third-party participant in a database storing one or more lists of
possible third-party participants; obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant; and
enabling a user interface to display the group-type
characteristic.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an identifier
associated with a third-party participant related to the
communication interchange includes: providing the identifier in a
data packet over a communications network.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an identifier
associated with a third-party participant related to the
communication interchange includes: providing the identifier over a
communications network during one or more of a real-time voice
conversation, a conference call, a voice mail access, an instant
messaging session, an internet chat session, a voice mail transfer,
a voice mail interchange, a conversion of a voice mail to a text
message:, and/or a conversion of a text message to a voice
message.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing an identifier
associated with a third-party participant related to the
communication interchange includes; providing the identifier as a
caller identifier (CID) over a communications network.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the matching the identifier with
the third-party participant in a database storing one or more lists
of possible third-party participants includes: conveying an
alphanumeric matching of the identifier including statistical
probabilities for a match from the database storing the one or more
lists of possible third-peaty participants.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining context data associated
with the identifier regarding a group-type characteristic of the
third-party participant for purposes of communication interchange
with at least another participant includes: generating the context
data by extracting from the database one or more groups of which
the third party participant is a member.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the generating the context data
by extracting from the database one or more groups of which the
third party participant is a member includes: extracting from the
database the one or more groups of which the third party
participant is a member wherein the third party participant is a
sole member of a given group in the one or more groups and/or the
third party participant is one of a plurality of members of a given
group of the one or more groups.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant
includes: generating the group-type characteristic of the
third-party participant by searching one or more of the database
storing one or more lists of possible third-party participants, a
computing device coupled to one or more participants of the
communication interchange, and/or a server coupled to the
communications network.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant
includes: displaying the context data associated with the
identifier regarding the group-type characteristic of the
third-party participant during a message composition.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant
includes; providing an option to allow display of the context data
to the at least another participant of the communication
interchange.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing an option to
allow display of the context data to the at least another
participant of the communication interchange includes: providing
the option to allow display of the context data during one or more
of a conference call, an internet chat, and/or a conversation over
a mobile communication network.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining context data
associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant
includes; generating the context data by extracting from the
database one or more group-type characteristics shared by the
third-party participant and the at least another participant.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the generating the context data
by extracting from the database one or more group-type
characteristics shared by the third-party participant and the at
least another participant includes: extracting the one or more
group-type characteristics shared by the third-party participant
and the at least another participant including an indication of one
or more of a familial relationship, a work relationship, an
educational relationship, a contact relationship, a sales
relationship, a network relationship, an environmental
relationship, a proximity relationship, a contrary relationship, a
religious relationship, a fiduciary relationship, and/or a
political relationship.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: instantiating the
user interface as a pop-up display during the communication
interchange.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: enabling display of
the group-type characteristic to the at least another participant
when the at least another participant is a recipient in the
communication interchange.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: displaying the
group-type characteristic to two or more participants of the
communication interchange.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: providing an
interactive option to the user interface to enable adding and/or
commenting on the group-type characteristic.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: enabling the user
interface to allow selectively generating the group-type
characteristic from the context data.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: enabling the user
interface to allow input of context data to the database before
and/or during and/or after the communication interchange.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling a user interface to
display the group-type characteristic includes: enabling the user
interface to selectively generate the group-type characteristic
from the context data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to and claims the benefit
of the earliest available effective filing date(s) from the
following listed application(s) (the "Related Applications") (e.g.,
claims earliest available priority dates for other than provisional
patent applications or claims benefits under 35 USC .sctn.119(e)
for provisional patent applications, for any and all parent,
grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications of the Related
Application(s)).
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] For purposes of the USPTO extra-statutory requirements, the
present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of United
States patent application entitled CONTEXT PARAMETERS AND
IDENTIFIERS FOR COMMUNICATION, naming Alexander J. Cohen, Edward K.
Y. Jung, Royce A. Levien, Robert W. Lord, Mark A. Malamud, William
Henry Mangione-Smith, John D. Rinaldo Jr., and Clarence T. Tegreene
as inventors, filed 18 Aug. 2006, Ser. No, 11/506,415, which is
currently co-pending, or is an application of which a currently
co-pending application is entitled to the benefit of the filing
date.
[0003] The United States Patent Office (USPTO) has published a
notice to the effect that the USPTO's computer programs require
that patent applicants reference both a serial number and indicate
whether an application is a continuation or continuation-in-part.
Stephen G. Kunin, Benefit of Prior-Filed Application, USPTO
Official Gazette Mar. 18, 2003, available at
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2003/week11/patbene.htm.
The present applicant entity has provided above a specific
reference to the application(s)from which priority is being claimed
as recited by statute. Applicant entity understands that the
statute is unambiguous in its specific reference language and does
not require either a serial number or any characterization, such as
"continuation" or "continuation-in-part," for claiming priority to
U.S. patent applications. Notwithstanding the foregoing, applicant
entity understands that the USPTO's computer programs have certain
data entry requirements, and hence applicant entity is designating
the present application as a continuation-in-part of its parent
applications as set forth above, but expressly points out that such
designations are not to be construed in any way as any type of
commentary and/or admission as to whether or not the present
application contains any new matter in addition to the matter of
its parent application(s).
[0004] All subject matter of the Related Applications and of any
and all parent, grandparent, great-grandparent, etc. applications
of the Related Applications is incorporated herein by reference to
the extent such subject matter is not inconsistent therewith.
BACKGROUND
[0005] The present application relates generally to various user
interface features for communication interchanges.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one aspect, a method for implementing an enhanced user
interface for a communication interchange includes but is not
limited to providing an identifier associated with a third-party
participant related to the communication interchange; matching the
identifier with the third-party participant in a database storing
one or more lists of possible third-party participants; obtaining
context data associated with the identifier regarding a group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant for purposes of
communication interchange with at least another participant; and
enabling a user interface to display the group-type characteristic.
In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present
application.
[0007] In another aspect, a method for a communications device
includes but not limited to matching an identifier associated with
a communication request with one or more associations in a
database; organizing the one or more associations according to one
or more types of associations; and enabling display of the one or
more types of associations on the communications device in a visual
display for a user interface to provide supplemental information
concerning a caller associated with the identifier. In addition to
the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims,
drawings, and text forming a part of the present application.
[0008] In another aspect, a computer program product includes but
is not limited to a signal bearing medium bearing at least one of
one or more instructions for providing an identifier associated
with a third-party participant related to the communication
interchange; one or more instructions for matching the identifier
with the third-party participant in a database storing one more
lists of possible third-party participants; one more instructions
for obtaining context data associated with the identifier regarding
a group-type characteristic of the third-party participant for
purposes of communication interchange with at least another
participant; and one or more instructions for enabling a user
interface to display the group-type characteristic. In addition to
the foregoing, other computer program product aspects described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present
application.
[0009] In another aspect, a computer program product includes but
is not limited to a signal bearing medium bearing at least one of
one or more instructions for one or more instructions for matching
an identifier associated with a communication request with one or
more associations in a database; one or more instructions
organizing the one or more associations according to one or more
types of associations; and one or more instructions enabling
display of the one or more types of associations on the
communications device in a visual display for a user interface to
provide supplemental information concerning a caller associated
with the identifier. In addition to the foregoing, other computer
program product aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and
text forming a part of the present application.
[0010] In another aspect, a communication interchange enhancement
system includes but is not limited to a processor; a memory coupled
to the processor; a database coupled to the processor, the database
configured to store one or more associations and/or one or more
types of associations and/or one or more lists of possible
third-party participants of a communication interchange; a matching
module coupled to the processor and the database, the matching
module configured to match a received identifier with the one or
more associations and/or the one or more types of associations,
and/or the one or more lists of third party participants in the
database; and an organizational module coupled to the processor,
the organizational module configured to organize the one or more
associations according to one or more group-type characteristics
and/or types of associations in the database to enable a user
interface to provide supplemental information concerning a caller
associated with the received identifier.
[0011] In one or more various aspects, related systems include but
are not limited to circuitry and/or programming for effecting the
herein-referenced method aspects; the circuitry and/or programming
can be virtually any combination of hardware, software, and/or
firmware configured to effect the herein-referenced method aspects
depending upon the design choices of the system designer. In
addition to the foregoing, other system aspects are described in
the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present
application.
[0012] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not
intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative
aspects, embodiments, and features described above, farther
aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by
reference to the drawings and the following detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A better understanding of the subject matter of the
application can be obtained when the following detailed description
of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the
following drawings, in which:
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary environment in which the methods
and systems described herein may be represented;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer
architecture that supports the claimed subject matter of the
present application;
[0016] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a flow diagram of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the subject matter of the present
application; and
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a flow diagram of a method in
accordance with an embodiment of the subject matter of the present
application.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented here.
[0019] In the description that follows, the subject matter of the
application will be described with reference to acts and symbolic
representations of operations that are performed by one or more
computers, systems, telephone systems, mobile devices and the like
unless indicated otherwise. As such, it will be understood that
such acts and operations, which can be referred to as being
computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processing unit
of the computer of electrical signals representing data in a
structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains
it at locations in the memory system of the computer which
reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computer in a
manner well understood by those skilled in the art. The data
structures where data is maintained can include physical locations
of the memory that have particular properties defined by the format
of the data. However, although the subject matter of the
application is being described in the foregoing context, it is not
meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciate
that some of the acts and operations described hereinafter can also
be implemented in hardware, software, and/or firmware and/or some
combination thereof.
[0020] Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram depicts one or more
exemplary environments in which the methods and systems described
herein may be represented. Principal participant 102 may be a
person and/or an entity capable of communicating with other persons
and/or entities. The principal participant 102 may include but is
not limited to a single person, a group of two or more persons
associated for the purpose of a communication (e.g., a group of
three persons communicating with another person and/or group of
persons to arrange a meeting), and/or one or more persons of a
group of persons associated for one or more purposes or reasons
(e.g., an employee or employees of a corporation, or members of a
family) some or all of whom may participate in a communication on
behalf of the association.
[0021] Third party participant 104 may be a person and/or an entity
capable of communicating with other persons and/or entities. Third
party participant 104 may include but is not limited to a single
person, a group of two or more persons associated for the purpose
of a communication (e.g., a group of three persons communicating
with another person and/or group of persons to arrange a meeting),
and/or one or more persons of a group of persons associated for one
or more purposes or reasons (e.g., an employee or employees of a
corporation, or members of a family), some or all of whom may
participate in a communication on behalf of the association.
[0022] A communication or other event may take place between the
principal participant 102 and the third party participant 104 that
prompts the principal participant 102 to define a communications
context for communications with the third party participant 104.
Such communication may take place using means including but not
limited to telephony (using the public switched telephone system,
the Internet (e.g., Voice over Internet Protocol), satellite
communication systems, instant and/or text messaging, and/or
electronic mail ("email"). Systems 106 represent any systems
comprising one or more communications devices, including but not
limited to a telephone, a Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP")
endpoint, a computer running email and/or instant messaging
software, and/or a personal digital assistant and/or a cell phone
running text messaging software. The systems 106 are illustrated in
the exemplary environment 100 in close physical proximity to the
principal participant 102 and the third party participant 104.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the
devices included in the systems 106 may be relatively distant but
operably coupled to one or more devices included in the systems 106
and in physical proximity to the respective entities with which the
systems 106 are associated (principal participant 102 and the third
party participant 104). The systems 106 may be operably coupled via
the internet, represented in the exemplary environment 100 by the
network 108, or by other communication links represented by the
telephone system 110, or by some combination of the network 108 and
the telephone system 110. The operable couplings between the
systems 106 may be physical connections, e.g., wires end/or cables
and/or fiber-optic lines, or wireless connections, e.g.,
radio-frequency connections between cell phone and cell network
towers, satellite towers and/or some combination of physical
connections and wireless connections.
[0023] With reference to FIG. 2, depicted is a computing system
106a which could be a computer configured as one of the systems 106
depicted in FIG. 1, a server coupled to other systems 106, or a
communication device. Computer 106 could be configured as a server
for a network provider or as a communication device as described
below. FIG. 2 includes a computer system 106, including a processor
210, memory 220 and one or more drives 230. The drives 230 and
their associated computer storage media, provide storage of
computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules
and other data for computer system 106. Drives 230 can include an
operating system 240, user interface program 250, matching module
260 and organizational module 261, and database 280. Computer
system 106 further includes user input devices 290 through which a
user may enter commands and data. Input devices can include a
microphone 291, a keyboard 293, and pointing device, commonly
referred to as a mouse 292. Other input devices may include an
electronic digitizer, a trackball, a touch pad, a joystick, a game
pad, a satellite dish, a scanner, or the like.
[0024] These and other input devices can be connected to processor
210 through a user input interface such as user input devices 290
that is coupled to a system bus 299, but may be connected by other
interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, a game port
or a universal serial bus (USB) or network interface 296. Computers
such as computer system 106 may also include other peripheral
output devices such as display 263 and speakers, which may be
connected through an output peripheral interface 295 or the like.
More particularly, output devices can include personal digital
assistant type devices networked to computer system 106 to enable
on-the-fly functional assistance. In one embodiment, display 263 is
incorporated into a communication/telephone device. In another
embodiment, computer system 106 functions primarily as a
communication/telephone device,
[0025] Computer system 106 may operate in a networked environment
108a such as network 108 shown in FIG. 1 using logical connections
to one or more computers, such as a remote computer 298 connected
to network interface 296 via network 297. Remote computer 298 may
be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer
device or other common network node, and/or a remote telephone
system, such as telephone system 110 shown in FIG. 1, and can
include many or all of the elements described above relative to
computer system 106. Networking environments are commonplace in
offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the
Internet. For example, in the subject matter of the present
application, computer system 106 may comprise the source machine
from which data is being migrated, and the remote computer may
comprise the destination machine. Note however, that source and
destination machines need not be connected by a network or any
other means, but instead, data may be migrated via any media
capable of being written by the source platform and read by the
destination platform or platforms. When used in a local area
network (hereinafter referred to as "LAN") or a wide area network
(hereinafter referred to as "WAN") networking environment, computer
system 106 is connected to the LAN through a network interface 296
or an adapter. When used in a WAN networking environment, computer
system 106 typically includes a modem or other means for
establishing communications over the WAN, such as the Internet. It
will be appreciated that other means of establishing a
communications link between the computers may be used.
[0026] Following are a series of flowcharts depicting
implementations of processes. For ease of understanding, the
flowcharts are organized such that the initial flowcharts present
implementations via an overall "big picture" viewpoint and
thereafter the following flowcharts present alternate
implementations and/or expansions of the "big picture" flowcharts
as either sub-stops or additional steps building on one or more
earlier-presented flowcharts. Those having skill in the art will
appreciate that the style of presentation utilized herein (e.g.,
beginning with a presentation of a flowchart(s) presenting an
overall view and thereafter providing additions to and/or further
details in subsequent flowcharts) generally allows for a rapid and
easy understanding of the various process implementations. In
addition, those skilled in the art will further appreciate that the
style of presentation used herein also lends itself well to modular
and/or object-oriented program design paradigms.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 3, an exemplary flow diagram
illustrates a method in accordance with an embodiment for a
communication interchange. Block 310 provides for providing an
identifier associated with a third-party participant related to the
communication interchange (e.g., system 106, network 108, or
telephone system 110 providing an identifier related to a
communication interchange). For example, a caller associated with a
communication interchange could transmit an identifier identifying
himself. The identifier could be passed prior to a full connection
to the communication interchange or during depending on system
specifics of the caller.
[0028] Depicted within block 310 is optional block 3102 which
provides for providing the identifier in a data packet over a
communications network (e.g. an identifier 262 passing through
network 297). An identifier could be embedded in an asynchronous
transfer mode (ATM) data packet over a telephone system, or
embedded in a data packet for a wireless protocol or the like.
[0029] Depicted within block 310 is optional block 3104, which
provides for providing the identifier over a communications network
during one or more of a real-time voice conversation, a conference
call, a voice mail access, an instant messaging session, an
internet chat session, a voice mail transfer, a voice mail
interchange a conversion of a voice mail to a text message, and/or
a conversion of a text message to a voice message, (e.g. network
297 supplying identifier 262 during as communication interchange).
The communication interchange can be over over communication
network that supports conferencing, instant messaging, text to
voice conversion and the like such that the identifier can be
provided to a system such as system 106 during one of many types of
communication interchanges.
[0030] Further depicted within block 310 is optional block 3106
which provides for providing the identifier as a caller identifier
(CID) over a communications network (e.g., communication network
297 providing identifier 262 as a CID type identifier). For
example, a telephone system can include the ability to transmit and
receive caller identification. Embodiments herein can use the CID
identifier,
[0031] Block 320 is coupled to block 310 and provides for matching
the identifier with the third-party participant in a database
storing one or more lists of possible third-party participants,
(e.g., matching identifier 262 in matching module 260 one or more
associations in database 280). The matching module 260 can be
configured to work with database 280 to enable received identifiers
262 to be parsed to find the associations.
[0032] Depicted within block 320 is optional block 3202 with
provides for conveying an alphanumeric matching of the identifier
including statistical probabilities for a match from the database
storing the one or more lists of possible third-party participants
(e.g., system 106 conveying an alphanumeric matching using matching
module 260 and database 280). In one embodiment, the matching
module 260 performs an alphanumeric matching such that associations
are found in database 280 by locating matching names and/or numbers
received via identifier 262.
[0033] Block 320 is coupled to block 330 which provides for
obtaining context data associated with the identifier regarding a
group-type characteristic of the third-party participant for
purposes of communication interchange with at least another
participant (e.g., system 106 obtaining context data associated
with identifier 262 regarding group-type characteristics of third
party participant 104 for a communication interchange with
principal participant 102. In one embodiment, the system 106 can be
a telephone system operated by a principal participant. For
example, principal participant 102 could determine whether or not
to participate in a communication interchange according to
information concerning groups in which the third-party participant
is a member.
[0034] Depicted within block 330 is optional block 3302, which
provides for generating the context data by extracting from the
database one or more groups of which the third party participants
is a member (e.g. system 106 generating the context data by
extracting from database 280 one or more groups of which the
third-party participant is a member by etching module 260).
Depicted within block 3302 is optional block 33022 which provides
for extracting from the database the one or more groups of which
the third party participant is a member wherein the third party
participant is a sole member of a given group in the one or more
groups and/or the third party participant is one of a plurality of
members of a given group of the one or more groups (e.g., database
280 and matching module 260 extracting the one or more groups and
determining that the third-party participant is a solo member, or
one of many members of a group identified in database 280). For
example, if a potential caller (third-party participant 104)
contacts another party within an organization, the receiving party
(principal participant 102) can determine the nature of the call by
first finding groups within the organization with which the caller
is a member. The group can be a department within the organization,
such as accounting, payroll, benefits, human resources, or the
like. The information on the group to which the caller belongs can
therefore assist the receiving party in determining, for example,
the importance of the call.
[0035] Depicted within block 330 is optional block 3304 which
provides for generating the group-type characteristic of the
third-party participant by searching one or more of the database
storing one or more lists of possible third-party participants, a
computing device coupled to one or more participants of the
communication interchange, and/or a server coupled to the
communications network (e.g., system 106 generating the group-type
characteristic of the third-party participant 104 by searching
database 280, searching another system 106 coupled via network 108,
searching telephone system 110, and/or searching a system 106
configured as a server).
[0036] Block 330 also includes optional block 3306 which provides
for displaying the context data associated with the identifier
regarding the group-type characteristic of the third-party
participant during a message composition (e.g., display 263
displaying the context data supplied by database 280). The display
263 can be incorporated into a telephone, or can be part of a
digital assistant coupled to a communication device over a wireless
connection or the like. Thus, during a communication interchange,
the context data can be transmitted to a device for display that is
not directly coupled to a telephone or other device that a
principal participant is operating.
[0037] Block 130 includes optional block 3308 which provides for
providing an option to allow display of the context data to the at
least another participant of the communication interchange (e.g.,
system 106 providing an option via processor 210 and either or both
of network 108 and telephone system 110 to transmit and permit
display of the context data for other participants to a
communication interchange, such as another third-party participant
104). In some instances, the context data could provide information
regarding a caller that each of the third-party participants to a
communication interchange should know about For example, if time is
of the essence with regard to a decision pertaining to a
third-party participant, sharing on concerning context data of a
caller could be paramount. In one embodiment, therefore, system 106
provides near real-time transmission of the context data to any
other participants chosen by the primary participant to the
communication interchange.
[0038] Within optional block 3308 is optional block 33082 which
provides for providing the option to allow display of the context
data during one or more of a conference call, an interact chat,
and/or a conversation over a mobile communication network (e.g.,
system 106 providing an option via processor 210 and either or both
of network 108 and telephone system 110 to transmit and allow
display of the context data during the communication interchange,
such as during a conference call, chat session or over a mobile
network, such as a mobile phone). For example, if system 106 is
coupled to a display over output peripheral interface 295 directly
or over a network such as network 108 or the like, the context data
could be provided to different types of communication interchanges.
Additionally, if the principal participant 102 is involved in a
conference call, system 106 can provide information to the
principal participant 102 during the conference to enable the
principal participant 102 to make a decision concerning adding the
third-party participant 104 to the conference.
[0039] Block 330 also depicts optional block 3309 within block 330.
Block 3309 provides for generating the context data by extracting
from the database one or more group-type characteristics shared by
the third-party participant and the at least another participant
(e.g., system 106 generating the context data using database 280
and matching module 260 to determine which group-type
characteristics are shared by the third party participant 104 and
another participant). For example, during a conference call,
principal participant 102 could receive a call and could direct an
assistant or the like to only allow those calls that share a
group-type characteristic to interrupt the conference call.
Depicted within block 3309 is optional block 309 which provides for
extracting the one or more group-type characteristics shared by the
third-party participant and the at least another participant
including an indication of one or more of a familial relationship,
a work relationship, an educational relationship, a contact
relationship, a sales relationship, a network relationship, an
environmental relationship, a proximity relationship, a contrary
relationship, a religious relationship, a fiduciary relationship,
and/or a political relationship (e.g., system 106 and matching
module 260 extracting from database 280 which group-type
characteristics are shared by the third-party participant 104 and
another participant to determine what kind of relationship a caller
might have to the principal participant 102). For example, the
database could have context data concerning a caller that includes
a plurality of different relationships a caller could have to the
principal participant 102. Each of the relationships could be
identified and displayed for use by the principal participant
102.
[0040] Block 340 is illustrated coupled to block 330. Block 340
provides for enabling a user interface to display the group-type
characteristic (e.g., user interface program 250 and processor 210
enabling output peripheral interface 295 to display on display 263
the group-type characteristics determined in database 280 and
matching module 260).
[0041] Depicted within block 340 is optional block 3401 which
provides for instantiating the user interface as a pop-up display
during the communication interchange (e.g., system 106 and user
interface program 250 enabling display 263 to display the context
data in a pop-up display). For example, in one embodiment, the
system 106 is a service provider that sends data across output
peripheral interface 295 to users coupled via a network such as
network 108 or the like. Alternatively, display 263 is coupled
directly to system 106 such that the pop-up display occurs without
a network connection.
[0042] Also depicted within block 340 is optional block 3402 which
provides for enabling display of the group-type characteristic to
the at least another participant when the at least another
participant is a recipient in the communication interchange (e.g.,
enabling output peripheral interface 295 to display on display 263
the group-type characteristics determined in database 280 and
matching module 260). In an embodiment, the determination of the
group-type characteristic can be performed on a system 106 that
receives the identifier 262, and passes the group-type
characteristic to another system 106 or to a display coupled to a
system 106.
[0043] Also depicted within block 340 is optional block 3403, which
provides for displaying the group-type characteristic to two or
more participants of the communication interchange (e.g., display
263 displaying the group-type characteristic of two or more
participants such as primary participant 102 and third party
participant 104).
[0044] Block 340 further includes optional block 3404, which
provides for providing an interactive option to the user interface
to enable adding and/or commenting on the group-type characteristic
(e.g., user interface program 250 including an interactive option
to enable adding and/or commenting on the group-type characteristic
determined in matching module 260).
[0045] Block 340 further includes optional block 3405, which
provides for enabling the user interface to allow selectively
generating the group-type characteristic from the context data
(e.g., providing that user interface program 250 allow a primary
participant 102 to selectively generate the group-type
characteristic determined from database 280). For example, a
primary participant 102 could be interesting in certain types of
callers to an ongoing conference or the like. If the primary
participant 102 is only interested in people who are members of
particular group, then a filter could be applied to only display on
the user interface program 250 only context data concerning callers
that belong to that particular group.
[0046] Block 340 further includes optional block 3406 which
provides for enabling the user interface to allow input of context
data to the database before and/or during and/or after the
communication interchange (e.g., enabling user interface program
250 to allow another participant, such as third party participant
104 to input new context data into database 280 before, during or
after a communication interchange). For example, a caller to a
principal participant 102 could be missing from database 280 and
denied an opportunity to participate in an instant messaging
session, conference call or the like and therefore would like to
add his data to the database to prevent such an occurrence from
repeating. By adding context data relevant to a communication
interchange with the principal participant 102, a third party
participant 104 could be allowed in a later or current
interchange.
[0047] Also depicted within block 340 is optional block 3408 which
provides for enabling the user interface to selectively generate
the group-type characteristic from the context data (e.g., enabling
user interface program 250 to allow principal participant 102 to be
selective interacting with group-type characteristics generated
with database 280). For example, a caller could be a member of a
plurality of groups about which the principal participant 102 has
no interest. Being selective, principal participant 102 could
determine which callers to accept calls from based on the selected
group-type characteristic.
[0048] Depicted within block 3408 is optional block 34082, which
provides for enabling the user interface to selectively generate
the group-type characteristic from the context data before and/or
during and/or after the communication interchange (e.g., user
interface program 250 allow principal participant 102 to
selectively err which group-type characteristics generated with
database 280 should be displayed or passed to other participants
before, during or after a communication interchange).
[0049] Block 340 further depicts optional block 3409 which provides
for enabling the user interface to optionally display peripheral
data concerning the group-type characteristic (e.g., user interface
program 250 displaying on display 263 peripheral data concerning
the group-type characteristic generated from database 280). Block
3409 depicts option block 34092 which provides for enabling the
user interface to display data concerning members of each group of
which the third party participant is a member (e.g., user interface
program 250 enabling display 263 to display data concerning
peripheral data that includes displaying names of members of groups
of which the third party participant is a member). Block 34092
further depicts optional block 340922 which provides for
transmitting one or more of the data concerning members of each
group of which the third party participant is a member and/or a
pointer to a location on a device holding the data concerning the
members of each group of which the third party participant is a
member (e.g., transmitting over network interface 296 data
concerning the members of the group to which the third party
participant 104 is a member, and/or transmitting over network
interface 296 a pointer or pointer location on another system 106 a
location, such as a location in database 280 where the data
concerning the members of the group is located). For example, a
database 280 in system 106 may have data that relates to member
data in another database networked to system 106. According to an
embodiment, the data in database 280 can be provided to a
participant that is connected with another telephone system or
system 106 networked to system 106.
[0050] Also depicted in block 3409 is optional block 34094 which
provides for enabling the user interface to display data concerning
a number of accesses to the group-type characteristic of the
third-party participant (e.g., the peripheral data concerning the
group-type characteristic could include a number of accesses to the
database 280 where the group-type characteristic could be stored).
Depicted in block 34094 is optional block 340924 which provides for
recording the number of accesses to the group-type characteristic
over a period of time (e.g., processor 210 recording using database
280 a number of accesses to the group-type characteristic over a
period of time). For example, the database could hold a counter to
keep track of the number of accesses to the group-type
characteristic determined for each identifier received and operated
on by matching module 260.
[0051] Referring now to FIG. 4, a flow diagram illustrates a method
for a communications device. The communications device could
include one of a system 106, illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, or
alternatively could be a device coupled to output peripheral
interface 295. Block 410 provides for matching an identifier
associated with a communication request with one or more
associations in a database (e.g., system 106, network 108, or
telephone system 110 matching in matching module 260 the identifier
262 with association in database 280). Block 410 depicts optional
blocks 4102 and 4104 therein. Block 4102 provides for receiving the
identifier as a caller identifier (CID) over a communications
network (system 106 receiving identifier 262 as a CID over network
297). Block 4104 provides for receiving the identifier from a
network coupled to a service provider associated with the
communications device (e.g., network controller 210 cooperating
with a service provider or including as service provider to receive
the indication via network 220).
[0052] Block 420 is coupled to block 410 and provides for
organizing the one or more associations according to one or more
types of associations (e.g., organizational module 261 organizing
the one or more types of associations in database 280). Depicted
within block 420 is optional block 4202 which provides for
organizing the one or more types of associations into one or more
layers of abstraction including one or more of a chronological
layer of abstraction and a user-defined layer of abstraction (e.g.,
organizational module 261 organizing the one or more associations
in database 280 into layers of abstraction that include a
chronological layer and a user-defined layer). For example, the
database 280 could provide to organizational module 261 data that
requires further parsing to enable a user interface such as user
interface program 250 to provide useful data. Layers of abstraction
can further organize associations by data or by another defined
method according to user preference. Depicted within block 4202 is
optional block 42022 which provides for displaying the one or more
layers of abstraction as a single contextual visual display on the
user interface (e.g., display 263 displaying the layers of
abstraction as a single visual display via user interface program
250). In an embodiment, display 263 can display the different
layers of abstraction as a single visual display by interfacing via
output peripheral interface 295 providing display requirements to
user interface program 250.
[0053] Block 420 further includes optional block 4204 which
provides for generating context data associated with the identifier
to provide supplemental information regarding a group-type
characteristic of a third-party participant to a principal
participant of a communication interchange (e.g., processor 210
operating with database 280 using organizational module 261 and/or
matching module 260 to generate context data associated with
identifier 262 to provide supplemental information regarding a
group-type characteristic of third-party participant 104 to
principal participant 102 during a communication interchange).
[0054] Block 420 is coupled to block 430 which provides for
enabling display of the one or more types of associations on the
communications device in a visual display for a user interface to
provide supplemental information concerning a caller associated
with the identifier (e.g., display 263 displaying one or more types
of associations determined for identifier 262 via user interface
program 250 operating with supplemental information concerning a
caller, such as third party participant 104). User interface
program 250 can enable display 263 to provide the supplemental
information upon a determination of the one or more types of
associations associated with identifier 262. For example, when a
caller transfers an identifier as a CID or other format, the
identifier is provided to organizational module 261 and matching
module 260 to perform matching and to determine the one or more
types of associations. The associations can be determined to be
supplemental information concerning a caller appropriate for
display. The supplemental information can then be displayed via
user interface program 250 on display 263.
[0055] Depicted within block 430 is optional block 4302 which
provides for enabling display of the one or more types of
associations in a single contextual display during one or more of a
real-time voice conversation, a conference call, a voice mail
access, a voice mail transfer, a voice mail interchange, a
conversion of a voice mail to a text message, a conversion of a
text message to a voice message (e.g., user interface program 250
enabling display on display 263 of the one or more types of
associations in the single contextual display during one or more of
a real-time voice conversation, a conference call, a voice mail
access, a voice mail transfer, a voice mail interchange, a
conversion of a voice mail to text message, a conversion of a text
message to a voice message).
[0056] Depicted within block 430 is also optional block 4304 which
provides for generating the display of the one or more types of
associations via extracting from the database one or more groups of
which the caller is a member (e.g., user interface program 250
generating a single contextual display 263 via extracting from
database 280 the one or more groups for which third-party
participant 104 is a member).
[0057] Also depicted within block 430 is optional block 4306 which
provides for generating the visual display as a visual hierarchy in
the user interface via a search of one or more of a database
storing one or more lists of possible third-party participants, a
computing device coupled to one or more participants of the
communication interchange, and/or a server coupled to the
communications network (user interface program 250 generating a
single contextual display 263 as a visual hierarchy via processor
210 and organizational module 261 performing a search of database
280, and database 280 storing one or more lists of possible
third-party participants 104, and/or performing a search of a
computing device 106 coupled to one or more participants of the
communication interchange, and/or a server 106 coupled to the
communications network 297).
[0058] Also depicted within block 430 is optional block 4307 which
provides for providing the supplemental information during one or
more of a conference call, an internet chat, and/or a conversation
over a mobile communication network (e.g., communications network
297 and/or system 106 and/or user interface program 250 providing
the supplemental information generated to principal participant 102
during a communication interchange). For example, principal
participant 102 can be partaking in a communication interchange and
user interface program 250 can provide the supplemental information
by enabling a visual display of the supplemental information.
[0059] Also depicted in block 430 is optional block 4308 which
provides for instantiating the user interface as a pop-up display
during a communication interchange (e.g., processor 210
instantiating user interface program 250 to display a pop-up
display of the supplemental information on display 263 during a
communication interchange). The pop-up display could be for
principal participant 102 and/or another participant such as
third-party participant 104 during the communication
interchange.
[0060] Also depicted in block 430 is optional block 4309 which
provides for enabling the user interface to instantiate
automatically on the communications device during a communication
interchange (e.g., processor 210 operating with user interface
program 250 to instantiate automatically on a communications device
106 or other device during a communication interchange).
[0061] Coupled to block 430 is block 440 which provides for
transmitting the identifier from a service provider of a network to
the communications device (e.g., network 297 transmitting
identifier 262 to system 106 from as service provider, such as
telephone system 110). For example, in an embodiment, identifier
262 could be received over a network from a service provider to
system 106 when system 106 is functioning as a communications
device.
[0062] Those with skill in the computing arts will recognize that
the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a wide variety of
applications and architectures in addition to those described
above. In addition, the functionality of the subject matter of the
present application can be implemented in software, hardware, or a
combination of software and hardware. The hardware portion can be
implemented using specialized logic; the software portion can be
stored in a memory or recording medium and executed by a suitable
instruction execution system such as a microprocessor.
[0063] While the subject matter of the application has been shown
and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing
and other changes in form and detail may be made therein without
departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter of the
application, including but not limited to additional, less or
modified elements and/or additional, less or modified blocks
performed in the same or a different order.
[0064] Those having skill in the art will recognize that the state
of the art has progressed to the point where there is little
distinction left between hardware and software implementations of
aspects of systems; the use of hardware or software is generally
(but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between
hardware and software can become significant) a design choice
representing cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. Those having skill in
the art will appreciate that there are various vehicles by which
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies described herein
can be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), and
that the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which the
processes and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed.
For example, if implementer determines that speed and accuracy are
paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or
firmware vehicle; alternatively, if flexibility is paramount, the
implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation; or, yet
again alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination
of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Hence, there are several
possible vehicles by which the processes and/or devices and/or
other technologies described herein may be effected, none of which
is inherently superior to the other in that any vehicle to be
utilized is a choice dependent upon the context in which the
vehicle will be deployed and the specific concerns (e.g., speed,
flexibility, or predictability) of the implementer, any of which
may vary. Those skilled in the art will recognize that optical
aspects of implementations will typically employ optically-oriented
hardware, software, and or firmware.
[0065] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various
embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block
diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions
and/or operations, it will be understood by those within, the art
that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams,
flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or
collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or
virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several
portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented
via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field
Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs),
or other integrated formats: However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in
whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated
circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more
computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more
processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more
microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination
thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code
for the software and/or firmware would be well within the skill of
one skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the
subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as
a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative
embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies
regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to
actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing
medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable
type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact
Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer
memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as is digital
and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a
waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication
link, etc.)
[0066] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely exemplary and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected," or "operably
coupled," to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable," to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0067] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common
within the art to implement devices and/or processes and/or systems
in the fashion(s) set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering
and/or business practices to integrate such implemented devices
and/or processes and/or systems into more comprehensive devices
and/or processes and/or systems. That is, at least a portion of the
devices and/or processes and/or systems described herein can be
integrated into comprehensive devices and/or processes and/or
systems via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having
skill in the art will recognize that examples of such comprehensive
devices and/or processes and/or systems might include--as
appropriate to context and application--all or part of devices
and/or processes and/or systems of (a) an air conveyance (e.g., an
airplane, rocket, hovercraft, helicopter, etc.), (b) a ground
conveyance (e.g., a car, truck, locomotive, tank, armored personnel
carrier, etc.), (c) a building (e.g., a home, warehouse, office,
etc.), (d) an appliance (e.g., a refrigerator, a washing machine, a
dryer, etc.), (e) a communications system (e.g., a networked
system, a telephone system, a Voice over IP system, etc.), (f) a
business entity (e.g., an Internet Service Provider (ISP) entity
such as Comcast Cable, Quest, Southwestern Bell, etc.); or (g) a
wired/wireless services entity such as Sprint, Cingular, Nextel,
etc.), etc.
[0068] Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention is
defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those
within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially
in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are
generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including"
should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term
"having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term
"includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited
to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art
that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim,
and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present.
For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended
claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one"
and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use
of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the
introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a"
or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced
claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation,
even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or
more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an"
(e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at
least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of
definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition,
even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is
explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that
such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least
the recited number e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where
a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one
having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a
system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be
limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to
"at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a
construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art
would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least
one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that
have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together,
B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that virtually any
disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative
terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be
understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the
terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase
"A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or
"B" or "A and B."
[0069] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed
herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed
herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be
limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *
References