System and method to customize a telephone

Methods and apparatus for customizing a telephone are disclosed in which preferred communication services are conveniently accessible to a user, in which a telephone is tailored to the specific requirements of a user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to telecommunications, and more specifically to a method to customize a telephone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the convergence of voice and data networks and the integration of corresponding services, the usage of a telephone is no long confined to conversational communication. A telephone allows a user to use many services including personal communication services, such as telephone services, conference services, voice messaging services, and directory services, such as yellow page services. Telephones also permit access to and use of information services, such as stock quote services, weather services, traffic condition services and the like; commercial services, such as fund transfer services, movie ticketing services or merchandise ordering services; to purchase products or services; conduct financial or banking transactions; obtain healthcare advice, healthcare provider referrals, or for “hotline” connection to his/her doctors or nurses, to name just a few.

A typical telephone has a display panel and navigation keys to help a user to find and use a service. Due to the many available services, the user often has to navigate through many menu displays in order to find a desired service.

The proliferation of the number of communication services available via telephone creates a new problem for a user.

In one example, a parent with small children might typically use his telephone for several communication services relating to parenthood and schooling, such as obtaining school activity information, and quite regularly contacting a pediatric consultation service for childcare questions. Each time he tries to use one of these communication services, he must fumble through several levels of display menu in order to find it.

In another example, a senior citizen living alone might often use communication services relating to a senior person, such as phoning a pharmacy, an elderly healthcare inquiry service, and a hotline service for medical problems. In a similar fashion, this user must go through multiple navigation steps to find the service she needs. This is particularly troublesome when she has a medical emergency and needs to use the hotline service, but is unable to locate it in the complex menu.

In another example, a company might offer various communication services for its employees with different responsibilities. For instance, a receptionist's often-used communication services include a company directory service, and a service that provides up-to-date business information for enquiry purpose; an office administrator's often-used communication services includes a yellow page service and a business travel reservation service; and a manager's often-used communication services includes a conferencing service and a service that provides ongoing project status. It is important for employees with different responsibilities to be able to conveniently access their often-used communication services without having to fumble through complex menus.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a method to customize a communication device with often-used communication services reflecting a role of a user, and devices so customized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Devices customized to include communication services reflecting the role of a user are provided, and methods of providing same.

In one aspect a communication device is provided that can access a communication service over a communication network such as but not limited to a telephone network, an Internet Protocol network, a wide area network, local area network, a Virtual Private Network, a wired network, and a wireless network. The communication network may be a telephone network selected from a Public Switched Telephone Network, a corporate telephone network and a Voice over IP network; a General Packet Radio Service network, a Global System for Mobile Communications network, a WiFi network, a Code Division Multiple Access One network, a CDMA2000 network, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access network, a third-generation network, a CDMA 1× Evolution-Data Optimized network, a High-Speed Downlink Packet Access network, and an Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution network.

In one embodiment a communication device in accordance with the present invention includes a capsule associated therewith that can store information relating to the user and/or a communication service that could be associated with a user of the communication device. The capsule may include a data file stored in a telephone, programming logic in the telephone or the like.

In one embodiment the capsule includes at least one user role description and at least one preferred communication service associated with the at least one user role. Preferably, the communication device has associated therewith means for a user to select and use preferred communication services, such as but not limited to an input module and/or an output module. In another embodiment the information is preselected and stored in the phone at manufacture or by a retailer.

In another embodiment a communication device in accordance with the invention has associated therewith a capsule updater and/or a service updater.

Methods for tailoring a telephone to a user are disclosed in which a communication service is associated with at least one attribute of a user. In one embodiment, information accessible by the telephone is stored, wherein the information identifies at least one communication service and user information. In one embodiment the storage is achieved by inputting information into a capsule associated with the communication device.

In another aspect, the invention includes a method of establishing a communication connection between a communication device and a preferred communication service based on at least one attribute of a user, including providing a communication device associated with a data storage means including user information and a preferred communication service and initiating a communication session with the preferred communication service through a communication service provider. In one embodiment the communication session is initiated based on the time of day. The communication session may be a voice or data session. In accordance with one aspect data is retrieved by the communication device retrieving from the data storage means, wherein the information is applicable to the preferred communication service. The data is sent over a communication session to preferred communication service provider.

Other aspects, features, advantages, etc. will become apparent to one skilled in the art when the description of the invention herein is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. It will be apparent, however, to a person of ordinary skill in the art, that these specific details are merely exemplary embodiments of the invention. In some instances, well known features may be omitted or simplified so as not to obscure the present invention. Furthermore, reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is not meant to limit the scope of the invention, but instead merely provides an example of a particular feature, structure or characteristic of the invention described in connection with the embodiment. Insofar as various embodiments are described herein, the appearances of the phase “in an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not meant to refer to a single or same embodiment.

With reference to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown inFIG. 1in accordance with at least one embodiment, a simplified block diagram depicting a user110, a role114, a telephone150and communication services170accessible via telephone150.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, communication services170may be selected from a local telephone service or a long distance telephone service, a voice message service, an Instant Message (IM) based or a Voice over IP based voice service, a commercial transaction service, such as but not limited to a ticketing service or a phone banking service, a group call service, a hot-line telephone service, a directory service, a yellow page service, a reminder service, such as an automatic wakeup call service, a conference call reminder, or an appointment reminder service; an information service, such as a news headlines service, a local weather report service, a road condition service, a stock quote service; or an emergency alert service, such as a flood warning service or a child abduction alert service. It will be apparent to those having skill in the art a wide range of services can be considered communications services170in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

User110uses telephone150for a communication service170. In one embodiment the communication service170is a preferred communication service and is conducted over a communication connection185between telephone150and a communication service provider190over a communication network189. Communication network189is operated by a service network provider180.

In accordance with one embodiment telephone150contains programming or is adapted to be programmed such that it is “tailored” to the specific requirements of a particular user110. By way of illustration the term “tailored” herein can mean at least one preferred communication service170is associated with user110. The communication service170may be associated with a role or attribute of a user110.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, user110has attributes that can be defined as a role114. Communication services170are tailored to role114in accordance with the methods described herein, resulting in at least one preferred communication service170being associated with the role114of user110.

By way of example, role114may be a social role, such as the role of a parent, a student, a home owner, an apartment tenant, a hotel guest or a senior citizen; a business role, such as the role of an office worker, a traveling salesman, an office worker for insurance industry, a marketing manager, a real estate agent, or a software engineer for a video game company; or a role within a business organization, such as a role as a manager, a technician, a salesperson, a member of a marketing department, or a member of an accounting division, to name just a few.

In the example in which role114is the role of a working parent, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a communication service170that provides morning commute information, or a bulletin board service that provides school events information.

In an example in which role114is the role of a young adult, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a communication service170that provides local entertainment and restaurant information, or a dating service.

In an example in which role114is the role of a housewife, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a phone banking service, or a service that provides childcare information and pediatric advices.

In an example in which role114is the role of a high school student, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a group chat service for youngsters or a service that provides home work advice.

In an example in which role114is the role of a hotel guest, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include an automatic wakeup call service, or a reservation service for hotel restaurants or shows.

In an example in which role114is the role of an office worker, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a corporate voice messaging service, or a corporate conferencing service.

In an example in which role114is the role of a senior citizen, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include an interactive service that provides healthcare information and advice, or a medical emergency service.

In an example in which role114is the role of a fan of a professional basketball team, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a service that provides sports score update for the team, or a match ticketing service for the team.

In an example in which role114is the role of a parishioner of a church, a plurality of preferred communication services170might include a service that provides diocese event information and charity work inquiry or a service for spiritual advice provided by diocese clergymen.

Telephone150may include any suitable communication device such as but not limited to land line, cellular and satellite telephones, PDAs and the like available from well known manufacturers. Telephone150may include typical features such as but not limited to a display panel adapted to display items including text and/or graphics, function keys and the like (not shown).

Service network provider180may be selected from a variety of service provider types such as but not limited to a residential telephone service provider, a cellular telephone service provider, a corporate communication service department, a hotel communication service department, a centrex service provider or an IP centrex service provider, a mobile virtual network provider (MVNO) or a value-added service provider, a voice over IP (VoIP) service provider or an Instant Message (IM) based voice service provider.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, communication network189includes a telephone network, such as but not limited to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a corporate telephone network or a Voice over IP (VoIP) network. Communication network189may include an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN), the Internet, a corporate Virtual Private Network (VPN), a wired network, such as an Ethernet, and/or a wireless network, such as a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, or a WiFi network. Further examples of a communication network189include a Code Division Multiple Access One (cdmaOne) network, CDMA2000 network, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) network, third-generation (3G) network, CDMA 1× Evolution-Data Optimized (1×EV-DO) network, High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network, and Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network.

Communication connection185includes voice and/or data communication capability. In one embodiment, communication connection185allows a voice conversation between user110and communication service provider190and/or data information exchange between user110and communication service provider190. In one embodiment, the data information includes text, image, video, or animation. For example, telephone150receives the data information from communication service provider190and displays the data information on a telephone display panel. In one embodiment, telephone150receives input from user110via a telephone input device such as dialpad, keyboard, navigation keys, stylus, or speaker. Telephone150sends data information to communication service provider190based on the user input.

By way of example communication service provider190may be a web server, a (Wireless Application Protocol) WAP gateway, a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server, a media server or an application layer gateway. Communication service provider190may include a service representative in which case the voice conversion is preferably between user110and the service representative. In another embodiment, communication service provider190includes an interactive voice system, such as a voice messaging system or an interactive voice response (IVR) system, in which case the voice conversation is preferably between user110and the interactive voice system. In another embodiment, communication service provider190includes a conference bridge; the voice conversation is between user110and another user or users of communication network189over the conference bridge. In another embodiment, communication service provider190includes a collaboration system with voice functionality; the voice conversation is between user110and another user or users over the collaboration system. In another embodiment, communication service provider190includes an Instant Messaging system with voice functionality; the voice conversation is between user110and another user or users over the Instant Messaging system. In another embodiment, communication service provider190includes a peer to peer based collaboration system; the voice conversation is between user110and another user or users of the peer to peer collaboration system.

A communication service provider190may be considered a preferred communication provider190when associated with a preferred communication service170.

Now referring toFIG. 2in an alternate embodiment a telephone250includes a capsule200. Capsule200may be in the form of a data file stored in telephone250. Capsule200may be included in programming logic in telephone250. Capsule200includes a user role description203and at least one preferred communication service207associated therewith. User role description203contains user information describing the role214of user210. The preferred communication services207are tailored to the role214described by user role description203.

In one example, and referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the tailoring of communication services is achieved wherein telephone250is employed to allow user210to use communication services170. A service provider or a telephone seller, based on user role description (e.g., role of senior citizens), selects (or tailors) the preferred communication service207(a subset of the170communication services); and store the preferred communication services170in capsule200.

In another embodiment, telephone250is adapted to accept user input (such as pressing a “senior citizen” button), to modify capsule200with new preferred communication services207tailored to the selected role.

In one embodiment, user information is provided preloaded in capsule200, for example, as a manufacturing pre-installation, or as a pre-sale configuration prepared for example by a phone retailer or technician. In another embodiment, the telephone250accepts personal information from a user, and stores the personal information in capsule200.

In one embodiment, user role description203includes at least one role214attribute, such as but not limited to age range, gender, profession, group or community affiliation, grade level in a business organization, job function, and/or organization position. In one embodiment a preferred communication service207in capsule200is tailored to at least one role214attribute in user role description203. The role214attribute is said to be applicable to the preferred communication service207. In another embodiment, a role214attribute is applicable to all preferred communication services in capsule200. In one embodiment, a role214attribute is applicable to some but not all preferred communication services207in capsule200.

Now referring toFIG. 3telephone350includes capsule300. Capsule300is tailored for user310and includes at least a preferred communication service307. Telephone350includes an input module352and an output module353and displays capsule300to user310by providing means for user310to select and use preferred communication services307. Telephone350displays capsule300by presenting information about preferred communication service307as described above.

In one embodiment, input module352may include a dialpad, navigation keys, a keyboard, a stylus and/or a touchscreen. Thus equipped telephone350allows user310to use input module352to select and use preferred communication service307in conjunction with the displayed information.

Telephone350presents information about preferred communication service307via output module353. In one embodiment, output module353includes a display panel and displays information about preferred communication service307on the display panel. In one embodiment the output module is a graphical user interface (GUI). The information may include a textual or graphical representation of preferred communication service307. The information may include for example an operational manual for preferred communication service307.

In another embodiment, output module353is or includes a speaker. Telephone350announces information about preferred communication service307over the speaker.

In one embodiment, input module352includes a microphone. Telephone350allows user310to select and use preferred communication service307via a voice command over the microphone. In one embodiment telephone350includes a voice processing module (not shown) as known to those skilled in the art that converts voice signals captured at the microphone into a voice command. In one embodiment, the voice processing module matches the voice signals to a plurality of voice tags, wherein a voice tag is associated with a voice command. The voice processing module selects a matched voice tag which selects the appropriate preferred communication service307to be accessed.

In accordance with one embodiment, output module353is adapted to reveal or display capsule300based on various operations. For example, in one embodiment, telephone350is adapted to reveal capsule300at power up time. In another embodiment, telephone350reveals capsule300at a time when telephone350“wakes up” from a power saving mode. In another embodiment, telephone350reveals capsule300when telephone350detects user activity from input module352, such as for example when a touchscreen is being touched, or a key is being pressed. In one embodiment, telephone350includes a plurality of capsules300.

In one embodiment, one or more capsules300are stored in telephone350by a the manufacturer of the telephone350. In one embodiment, the telephone manufacturer pre-selects a capsule300in a manufactured telephone350. For example, a telephone350includes a pre-selected capsule300tailored for the role of a college student. In another example, a telephone350includes a pre-selected capsule300for use by hotels in which the pre-selected capsule300is tailored to the role of a hotel guest. In another example, a telephone350is manufactured for a value added service provider catering to the elderly population, in which the pre-selected capsule300is tailored to the role of a senior citizen.

In another embodiment, a service network provider180stores a plurality of capsules300in a telephone350. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the service network provider180pre-selects a capsule300in the telephone350.

In one embodiment, telephone350provides means for user to select a capsule300from a plurality of capsules300stored in telephone350. For example, after purchasing a telephone350, a user selects a first capsule300tailored for the role of a housewife. A few months later, the user selects a second capsule300tailored for the role of a young parent.

Now referring toFIG. 4a method of using a preferred communication service407is disclosed. Telephone450includes capsule400. Capsule400includes user role description403, and a preferred communication service407. Telephone450initiates a communication connection with preferred communication service provider490for preferred communication service407.

In one embodiment, telephone450receives user input from user410for using preferred communication service407. In this embodiment, the preferred communication service has already been tailored to the role, as described hereinabove. Telephone450initiates the communication connection with preferred communication service provider490.

In another embodiment, telephone450automatically initiates the communication connection with preferred communication service provider490. In one embodiment, telephone450includes a clock function (not shown) as is known in the art, and telephone450automatically initiates the communication connection based on a scheduled time. The time schedule can be pre-set within the capsule400and associated with the preferred communication service407. In one embodiment, telephone450accepts user input (such as pressing a “senior citizen” button”), and modifies capsule400with new preferred communication services407tailored to the selected role.

For example, preferred communication service407is an information service that provides morning news, local weather and traffic condition; and the scheduled time is 6:30 am on weekdays. Telephone450automatically initiates the communication connection for the information service after 6:30 am on weekdays.

In another embodiment, telephone450initiates the communication connection by establishing a voice communication session485with preferred communication service provider490. User410and preferred communication service provider490talks over voice communication session485. For example, preferred communication service407provides pediatric advice. User410obtains the pediatric advice offered by an on-duty nurse or a healthcare professional over voice communication session485.

In another embodiment, telephone450initiates the communication connection by establishing a data communication session486with preferred communication service provider490. Preferred communication service407may include voice capabilities. In one embodiment, during the data communication session486, telephone450receives an indication to use the voice capability of preferred communication service407. In one embodiment, telephone450receives the indication from user410via input module such as a key, touchpad or the like. Telephone450establishes voice communication session485with preferred communication service provider490. For example, preferred communication service407is a movie ticketing service. Telephone450establishes a data communication session486with a movie ticketing service website. User410glances over several movie video clips over data communication session486. A movie video clip includes a voice capability selection to invoke a voice communication session485with a service representative of the movie ticketing service. User410is ready to purchase movie tickets of a movie. User410invokes the voice capability selection. Telephone450establishes a voice communication session485with movie ticketing service. User410talks with a service representative to purchase two movie tickets.

In yet a further embodiment, telephone450sends user information413over the communication connection. In one embodiment, user role description includes user information413such as but not limited to personal information of a user. Telephone450sends user information413applicable to a preferred communication service407to the preferred communication service provider490for the preferred communication service407. In one embodiment, user information413includes user identity, such as a user name, guest name, employee number, or subscriber name; age; location, such as the name of a city, a state, or a metropolitan area; language preference, interest, hobbies, cultural or ethnical affiliation; and authentication information.

Telephone450retrieves from user role description403a role attribute applicable to preferred communication service407. Telephone450sends the retrieved role attributes in user information413. In one embodiment, telephone450sends user information413over voice communication session485.

In one example, telephone450sends the user information413in Dial Pulse Multiple Frequency (DTMF) digits. In another example, telephone450sends user information413in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) INVITE message. In one more example, telephone450sends user information413in a SIP INFO message. In one embodiment, telephone450sends user information413over data communication session486. In one example, telephone450sends user information413in a cookie header of a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request. In one example, telephone450sends user information413in an HTTP POST request. In one example, telephone450sends user information413using an application level messaging protocol.

In one example, preferred communication service407is a restaurant reservation service. User information413includes an age of 64 plus years old. User410receives the reservation service with discount promotion for senior citizens.

In one example, preferred communication service407is a service provided by a profession hockey league. User information413includes a team affiliation. User410receives the league service customized to the team affiliation, such as matching ticketing, score update or memorabilia purchasing for the team.

In one example, preferred communication service407is a dating service. User information413includes a male gender. User410receives the dating service customized to the male gender, such as member profile, events and activities or match making geared towards the male gender.

In one example, preferred communication service407is a conference service for a corporation. User information413includes a grade level of “5” within the corporation. User410receives the conference service customized to the grade level of “5”, such as a multi-media conferencing service for grade level of “5” and above.

FIG. 5depicts an embodiment of a method to modify a capsule500by a service network provider580. Telephone550includes capsule500and optionally capsule updater560. Capsule500includes user role description503and at least one preferred communication service507. Capsule updater560connects to capsule500which may be integral with or a separate unit from telephone550. In one embodiment, capsule updater560is a software program module. In one embodiment, telephone550includes capsule updater560.

Capsule updater560connects to service network provider580via a suitable communication connection through telephone550. Capsule updater560retrieves user role description503from capsule500. In one embodiment, capsule updater560retrieves user role description503from telephone550directly, such as over an application programming interface. In one embodiment, capsule updater560retrieves user role503from telephone550over communication network.

Capsule updater560sends to service network provider580a capsule update request581that includes the retrieved user role description503.

Capsule updater560receives a capsule update response583from service network provider580. In one embodiment, capsule update response583includes at least one preferred communication service587. Capsule updater560matches the preferred communication service587with the preferred communication service(s)507stored in capsule500. In one embodiment, capsule updater560determines that there is no match for received preferred communication service(s)587and capsule updater560stores the received preferred communication service(s)587in capsule500.

In another embodiment, capsule update response583includes a role attribute588that is applicable to preferred communication service587. Capsule updater560stores role attribute588into capsule500preferably only to the extent an identical role attribute is not already stored in capsule500.

In one embodiment, service network provider580modifies capsule500at a scheduled time, for example, every week, every other day, or once a month. In one embodiment, service network provider580modifies capsule500at random time. In one embodiment, service network provider580modifies capsule500as a result of a user request.

FIG. 6illustrates a process to modify a preferred communication service by preferred communication service provider.

Telephone650includes capsule600. Capsule600include user role description603and a preferred communication service607. Preferred communication service provider690modifies preferred communication service607. In one embodiment, telephone650optionally includes service updater660. Capsule600connects to a service updater660.

Service updater660communicates with preferred communication service provider690. Service updater660in one embodiment is a software program module that communicates with preferred communication service provider690, and modifies applicable user role description603of a preferred communication service607. Service updater660receives a service update693from preferred communication service provider690. This is analogous to software upgrade/update such as a Windows™ update prompted by the Windows™ manufacturer. In one embodiment, service updater660sends a service update request and receives service update693as a response.

Service update693includes a role attribute697that is applicable to preferred communication service607. Service updater extracts role attribute697from service update693and stores the retrieved role attribute in user role description603.