Patent ID: 8619948
Filing Date: 2013-12-31
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: initiating a communication session with a communications device associated with a first party via an automated telephone call; detecting whether the communication session is an in person communication with a user of the communications device or an in absentia communication session with the communications device; in response to detecting that the communication session is the in person communication session, (1) sending a first automated notification to the user via the automated telephone call, the first automated notification configured to provide a notification regarding a non-attendance by a second party at an event, wherein the first automated notification is further configured to prompt the user for an explanation regarding the non-attendance and be interactive to permit the user to respond to the notification with the explanation during the automated telephone call, (2) receiving a response from the user to the first automated notification during the automated telephone call, (3) storing the received response, and (4) providing a third party with access to the stored response; and in response to detecting that the communication session is the in absentia communication session, sending a second automated notification to a messaging service associated with the communications device via the automated telephone call, the second automated notification configured to provide a notification regarding the non-attendance by the second party at the event and also including contact information associated with the third party; and wherein the initiating, detecting, first automated notification sending, receiving, storing, providing and second automated notification sending steps are performed by a processor; and wherein the second party comprises a student at a school, wherein the first party comprises a guardian for the student, wherein the communications device comprises a telephone having a telephone number that is associated with the guardian, wherein the event comprises a school session, and the method further comprising the processor personalizing the first and second automated notifications to the guardian regarding non-attendance by the student at the school session.