US6310944B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for adding context to communications
Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC
•
Filing: 1997-12-17
•
Granted: 2001-10-30
•
Expires: 2017-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel A. Brisebois
- 👤 Marilyn F. St-George
- 👤 Laura Mahan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:15
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42365; H04M3/42374; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42093; H04M3/42382; H04M3/436; H04M1/00; H04M1/57; H04M1/575; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2038; H04M3/42059; H04M3/42068; H04M3/42195; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53333; H04M3/53341
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for augmenting communication over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information known to the communications network; gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party; gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party as to whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A method for augmenting communication over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information known to the communications network; gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party; gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party as to whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of gathering information indicating whether the calling party is using a network or service provider custom calling feature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of gathering information indicating the location and local time of the calling party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options includes the step of gathering information indicating the media expectation of the calling party.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of gathering a custom name in place of the subscriber name associated with the calling party.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of gathering a topic header.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of gathering a computer file to be attached to the communication.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of gathering specific context information supplied by the calling party includes the step of gathering information indicating the expected demand on the called party.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information known to the communications network; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication, wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of gathering information indicating whether the calling party is returning a communication from a called party.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information known to the communications network; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication, wherein the step of gathering context information known to the communications network includes the step of gathering information indicating whether the calling party is returning a communication from a called party.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication, wherein the step of gathering context information from a selection of predetermined options includes the step of gathering information indicating the synchronicity of the communication.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the calling party; automatically providing the gathered context information to the called party; receiving an indication from the called party whether to establish the communications link; and establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party or not based on the indication, wherein the step of gathering context information from a selection of predetermined options includes the step of gathering information indicating the synchronicity of the communication.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information; providing the gathered context information directly to the calling party; receiving an indication from the calling party as to whether to establish the communications link; and establishing or not establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party based on the indication; wherein the step of gathering context information includes the step of gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the called party including gathering information indicating media preferences of the called party.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for augmenting communications over a communications network comprising the steps performed by the network of: receiving a request from a calling party to establish a communications link with a called party; gathering context information; providing the gathered context information directly to the calling party; receiving an indication from the calling party as to whether to establish the communications link; and establishing or not establishing the communications link between the calling party and the called party based on the indication; wherein the step of gathering context information includes the step of gathering context information from a selection of pre-determined options by the called party including gathering information indicating media preferences of the called party.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5553120A
Cited
US4734931A
Cited
US5303301A
Cited
US5210789A
Cited
US5555346A
Cited
US5546445A
Cited
US5559860A
Cited
US5550535A
Cited
US5608788A
Cited
US5436963A
Cited
US5510907A
Cited
US5519403A
Cited
US5493692A
Cited
US5546447A
Cited
US5583914A
Cited
US5561703A
Cited
US5519779A
Cited
US5754636A
Cited
US5651053A
Cited
US5771283A
Cited
US5937039A
Cited
US5867562A
Cited
US5864612A
Cited
US5832072A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-10-29 | 2005-04-30 | 2005-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-10-29 | 2009-04-30 | 2009-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-10-29 | 2013-04-30 | 2013-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |