Abstract:
A system for interfacing with mobile carrier networks, mobile application-equipped devices, social media networks, and individual and Enterprise user&#39;s databases, contacts, pictures, videos, and text is disclosed. A data link is connected to a mobile carrier network to receive user application and other data. Additional data links are connected to a user&#39;s stored smartphone content, including contacts, pictures, videos and other stored information as well as databases and an application-equipped device to obtain and exchange information in determining data selection, routing, presentation, and updating instructions. A user interface is connected to the system to accept configurable conditions for determining selection, routing and sharing instructions. There is a data conversion function for each data source. Synchronization between stored user preferences to automated or semi-automated updates and routes is provided by application driven consumer defined preferences.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/117,687 filed Feb. 18, 2015 and entitled “SYSTEM FOR BRIDGING, MANAGING, AND PRESENTING SMARTPHONE &amp; OTHER DATA FILES WITH TELEPHONY INTERACTIONS”, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/219,396 filed Sep. 16, 2015 and entitled “SYSTEM FOR BRIDGING, MANAGING, AND PRESENTING SMARTPHONE &amp; OTHER DATA FILES WITH TELEPHONY INTERACTIONS” the entire disclosures of each which is hereby wholly incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    1. Technical Field 
         [0004]    The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunication systems, and more particularly to cellular telecommunications, smartphone applications, and social network systems. 
         [0005]    2. Related Art 
         [0006]    Smartphones, social networks, and telecommunication systems facilitate the sharing of comments, photographs, and other data amongst mobile users. These users typically establish accounts for smartphone data storage, application downloads and social networks, create profiles containing basic biographic data, and create individual contact lists to share personal data and communicate with. The subject matter of comments posted on social networking sites oftentimes touch upon daily life experiences, including those relating to user status, commentary, and photographs. Today over 70% of all social posts occur on mobile smartphone devices. Accordingly, the viewing and sharing of user-generated content on smartphones to social networking sites from smartphones provides users a valuable and entertaining experience. 
         [0007]    Various social network systems offering mobile applications for smartphone users to post are known in the art, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and so forth. Unfortunately, however, the logic of these systems, in order to take action and provide user posts in the form of status, commentary, and photographs, are designed specifically for use and display within the respective social networks and do not contemplate usage for real-time native smartphone telephony interactions. 
         [0008]    Another problem that besets social network applications in providing user posts in the form of status, commentary, and photographs is that social networks do not have the logic or know-how to mix user posts and selected user personal data with smartphone telephony interactions and match it with user selected individuals of smartphone devices and user initiated telephony interactions. As a result, extending social user post capabilities to smartphone telephony interactions has yet to be made available. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, there is a need in the art to connect user social post capabilities in the form of status, commentary, photographs, and other directed content with smartphone user contact records and subsequent smartphone telephony interactions so that users can share various status types such as status, commentary, photographs, and other content with their contacts, affiliated groups and/or desired recipients or any combination of people at the onset of a smartphone telephony or other visual telephony interaction via a phone line, cell tower, or the internet based on system and user defined parameters. 
         [0010]    In addition, there is a need in the art to extend current social post and profile capabilities to be more personalized/individualized and dynamic so that users can share specific content and specific profile pictures with individual contacts, groups and/or desired recipients of any combination of people within their respective social networks. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure is directed to a system that connects and displays user&#39;s selected personal smartphone data in conjunction with smartphone telephony interactions for user&#39;s selected smartphone contact records. The system manages and determines the fulfilment of user initiated post displays based on criteria selection of the user within said system to facilitate highly personalized and preference-based posts simultaneous to telephony interactions on behalf of the user. Such posts may include visual updates, status, content stored on the devices of the sender, receiver, and the internet, as well as new pictures/video that can be displayed during the establishment of real time smartphone telephony interaction between users. In addition, the system can combine delivery of data to and from a social network with data on the user&#39;s smartphone so as to create a unique post display to each contact record stored on user&#39;s smartphone or elsewhere. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one embodiment, there is a communications system for bridging smartphone or otherwise stored personal data, smartphone telephony interactions and social networks. The system may include a user data access point connected to first data links to the smartphone-stored or otherwise stored personal data over carrier networks or social networks and receptive to data and routing information requests thereof. There may also be an enterprise data access point connected to second data link to access additional system users. Furthermore, there may be an application server connected to the incoming data access point. The post data and routing information requests may be segregated based at least on configurable routing and storage instructions. The system may further include a component database. Additionally, there may be a rules-based engine or integrations to APIs from other sources for automated categorization, routing, and storage. The engine may be connected to the application server and to the smartphone or enterprise data access point for communicating with the respective users. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a communications system for bridging smartphone or otherwise stored personal data, smartphone telephony interactions and social networks. The system includes a user data access point disposable in communication with a smartphone&#39;s stored data, contacts, telephony commands and social network applications to receive and send post therefrom. A rules engine is in communication with the user data access point and is configured to analyze the post requests and identify actionable updates associated with the post data and user access availability. The system and rules engine logic is configured to match the identified actionable characteristics with a prescribed set of processing rules. An application server is in communication with the user data access port and the rules engine and is configured to execute the set of processing rules matched with the identified actionable characteristics. A user data access point is in communication with the application server and disposable in communication with all user data access points to communicate with each for executing the processing rules. 
         [0014]    The received post requests may include a content update, picture or other social communication format. A component database may include stored prioritization levels associated with post request attributes. The application server may be configured to assign a prioritization or other prioritization markets to the post requests in response to a query of a component database. 
         [0015]    The communication system may additionally include an enterprise interface in communication with the enterprise data access point or other systems and may be configured to display user or enterprise information or offers in accordance with user records, rules and optimizations. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for bridging smartphone users and enterprises to provide users customized visual data, content and offers. The method includes analyzing the supplied smartphone user&#39;s data to identify actionable characteristics to then send enterprise data and targeted offers to the smartphone user&#39;s screen during a telephony transaction. The method further includes comparing the identified actionable attributes with a database of operational instructions matched with stored actionable attribute and rules/logic to identify operational instructions associated with the identified actionable attributes. The method additionally includes executing the identified operational instructions which includes sending a visual communication to a user during a telephony interaction. 
         [0017]    The method may further include the step of storing the user data received from the smartphone. 
         [0018]    The method may additionally include the step of matching the received user data with stored user data. The matching step may include matching the received user data with post history and status data associated with the user owner of the user data and or other similar users. 
         [0019]    The method may further include the step of assigning a user post status state associated with a post status. 
         [0020]    The method may also include the step of assigning a user post status associated with a social post delivery completion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a system that connects and displays selected user personal smartphone data posts in conjunction with smartphone telephony interactions for selected smartphone contact records in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing the steps of selecting, receiving, labeling, and storing user personal post data for use with selected smartphone contact records in conjunction with smartphone telephony interactions; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram depicting the system for connecting and displaying selected user personal smartphone data posts across multiple smartphone devices; and 
           [0025]      FIGS. 4A-C  are screen shots of a sequence of exemplary user interface displays of a smartphone application for use with the system that connects and displays selected user personal smartphone data posts. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of the present invention. The description sets forth various functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities. 
         [0028]    With reference to the block diagram of  FIG. 1 , there is a system  100  that connects and displays selected user personal smartphone data with smartphone telephony interactions. In accordance with one embodiment, the communications system  100  is contemplated to bridge smartphone or otherwise stored personal data, smartphone telephony interactions and social networks. The system  100  includes smartphone user access point and data proxy  105 , which are connected to various smartphone user interfaces and data  200 - 215 . By way of example, there is a user A interface and data  200  that is connected to the user access point and data proxy  105  over a connection  500 , a user B interface and data  205  that is connected to the user access point and data proxy  105  over a connection  501 , and a user C interface and data  210  that is connected to the user access point and data proxy  105  over a connection  503 . These three user interface and data are presented by way of example only, and any additional number of user interfaces and data may be connectible to the user data access point and data proxy  105 , e.g., user N interface and data  215 . The aforementioned data is understood to be that which is stored on the respective smartphones, or other stored personal data over carrier networks or social networks. 
         [0029]    There may also be an enterprise data access point  160  connected to second data links  700 ,  720  to access additional system users. These include a smartphone  300  for a user A, which includes a smartphone interface  305  and a smartphone data  310  that is accessed by the interface via a data interlink  710 . Furthermore, by way of example, there may be another smartphone  300  for a user B, which includes a smartphone interface  405  and a smartphone data  410  that is accessed via a data interlink  730 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the system  100  includes an application server  110  that is connected to the incoming data access point, i.e., the smartphone user data access point and data proxy  105  as well as the enterprise data access point  160 . The post data and routing information requests may be segregated based at least on configurable routing and storage instructions. The system may further include a component database  115  that is utilized by the application server  110  over an interlink  605 . Additionally, there may be a rules-based engine  120 , as well as integrations to APIs from other sources for automated categorization, routing, and storage. The rules engine  120  may be connected to the application server over an interlink  615 . Additionally, the application server  110  is connected to the enterprise data access point  160  over an interlink  610 , and the smartphone user data access point and data proxy  105  is connected to the application server  100  over an interlink  600 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to the flowchart of  FIG. 2 , one embodiment of a method  1000  for bridging smartphone users and enterprises to provide users customized visual data, content and offers will be described. In the exemplary embodiment, the user selects a contact in accordance with a step  1010 . Furthermore, that user also selects or creates shared data in a step  1020 . It is understood that this shared data may originate from various social networking services, specifically, the user content provided thereto and/or may be incorporated back into such social networks schema that allows users to share specific content and specific profile pictures with individual social network contacts, groups and/or desired recipients of any combination of people within their respective social networks. 
         [0032]    The method proceeds to a step  1030  where the data access point  105 ,  160  processes the selected data. In accordance with a decision branch  1040 , the availability of the selected contact is determined. If the contact is available, then the selected shared data is transmitted to the system  100 . Otherwise, the shared data is updated when it becomes available in accordance with a step  1050 . The shared data is stored in a database  1060  in accordance with a step  1055 , then the shared data is associated with the selected contact in a step  1065 . Various fields of the record associated with the selected contact on the smartphone are then populated with the shared data at the onset of a telephony interaction in accordance with a step  1070 . Thus, data originating from social networking sites and other contemplated sources may be retrieved for this record field population operation. 
         [0033]    If, in a decision branch  1075 , it is evaluated that a rate data score option is to be presented, the method proceeds to a step  1080  of scoring the customer data. Then, updates are sent to a designated social networking service in a step  1090 , and to the extent the customer data is scored, it is processed in a step  1095 . The method also includes a step  1100  of saving the rate data into a database  1105 . The method then ends  1110 . 
         [0034]    As indicated above, the present disclosure contemplates the sharing of different content for different users or subgroups of users. According to other embodiments of the disclosure, this may be applied in contexts other than mobile devices, such as, for example, the content shared on social networking sites or accessible via smartphone apps. More particularly, person A may see Profile Picture A of an individual, whereas Person B may see Profile Picture B of an individual within their social network and so on rather than everyone seeing Picture A. The dynamically varying content need not be limited to profile pictures, but also to update streams, comments, posts, and so forth, and each grouping of contacts may be designated to receive unique content as defined or segmented by the owner of the account. Continuing with the foregoing example, Person A who sees Profile Picture A, may receive Update Stream A, whereas Person B who sees Profile Picture B, may receive a different Update Stream B. In some cases, a mixture of content in Update Stream A and Update Stream B may be presented. 
         [0035]    The block diagram of  FIG. 3  depicts the system  100  on a more generalized level. As indicated above, the system  100  stores the aforementioned images, videos, and other content  1000  that is uploaded from the respective mobile devices and stored thereon for subsequent transmission. The mobile devices each execute a mobile application  1100 , with a first mobile device running a mobile application  1100   a  and a second mobile device running a mobile application  1100   b.    
         [0036]    The screen shots of  FIG. 4A-4C  depict one exemplary user interface  1200  of the mobile application  1100  running on the various mobile devices that connect to the system  100  displaying selected user personal smartphone data with smartphone telephony interactions. Specifically,  FIG. 4A  is of an interface screen  1200   a  for contacts stored on the mobile device, and is a listing of names and associated contact information such as phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and the like that are arranged in alphabetical order. In addition to name information shown in a first column  1210   a,  this listing may also include an inbound visual data column  1210   b  and an outbound visual data column  1210   c.    
         [0037]    As indicated above, it is possible for certain personal data selected by a user of the smartphone initiating the telephony interaction to be presented on the non-initiating or receiving end smartphone at the start of the telephony interaction. In this regard, the user of the smartphone corresponding to the interface screen  1200   a,  e.g., “John Smith” may either initiate the telephony interaction or receive the telephony interaction initiated by another user. This user may designate an image or other visual data to be displayed, and an interface screen  1200   b  is the way in which this may be achieved. A main portion  1210  of the interface screen  1200   b  includes a selected image  1220 , though other possible images may be designated via a selection interface  1230  that includes one or more reduced-size representations or icons of other visual data  1240 . It will be recognized that selecting these other icons is operative to replace the main portion  1210  with a larger size representation of the selected visual data  1240 . In this manner, the user may designate visual data to be presented to users on the receiving end of a telephony interaction, with the outbound visual data column  1210   c  including a further reduced representation of the selected visual data for that contact. For example, the contacts “Abigail Adams,” “Angel Ravit,” “Ariel Bloom,” “Bachar Eran,” and “Braun Miriam” are assigned the same image  1220 . 
         [0038]    When any of these users is on the receiving end of a telephony interaction initiated by the user, e.g., “John Smith,” as shown in an exemplary interface screen  1200   c  of  FIG. 4C , the image  1220  is displayed. Along these lines, the inbound visual data column  1210   b  include reduced representations of visual data that the users corresponding to that contact have assigned for displaying on the current user&#39;s, e.g., “John Smith” smartphone when receiving a telephony interaction therefrom. 
         [0039]    Although the foregoing examples variously refer to images presented to users, it is expressly contemplated that any data, including video data, audio data, text data, and any other data that may be visually represented may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0040]    The particulars shown herein are by way of example only for purposes of illustrative discussion, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the various embodiments set forth in the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show any more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the different features of the various embodiments, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how these may be implemented in practice.