Method and System for Facilitating Contacting People Using Electronic Devices
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorThomas Ethan Lowry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using improved approaches to contact users that can be contacted in a variety of different ways are disclosed. According to one aspect, one user is able to be automatically informed of an appropriate (e.g., preferred) way to contact another user. Once informed of the appropriate way, another user can be contacted (automatically or on user request) using the appropriate way.
Claims24
A computer-implemented method for determining a preferred method of contacting a contactee, the method comprising:
- providing a contacting service, the contacting service being connected to a network and being operable to:
- collect data pertaining to the contactee from one or more contacting devices connected to the network;
- store the collected data;
- receive a request from a contactor to initiate contact with a contactee;
- determine, based on multiple variables derived from the collected data, a preferred method of contacting the contactee;
- and
- facilitate establishment of contact between the contactor and the contactee using the preferred method.
A method for contacting others via communication devices, said method comprising:
- receiving an identification of a second user to be contacted by a first user;
- determining an appropriate method for contacting the second user, the appropriate method being one of a plurality of appropriate methods that are available for use to contact the second user, and the appropriate method being determined based on monitoring data pertaining to (i) the status of the second user, or (ii) status of one or more electronic communication devices associated with the second user;
- and
- informing the first user of the appropriate method for contacting the second user.
A method for dynamically maintaining communication status for a plurality of users, said method comprising:
- receiving information concerning status associated with a plurality of users;
- and
- determining appropriate communication methods to contact the users based on the received information concerning the status.
A computer program product, stored on a machine-readable medium, including at least executable computer program code for determining an appropriate method of contacting a contactee, said computer program product comprising:
- computer program code for collecting data pertaining to the contactee from one or more contacting devices connected to the network;
- computer program code for storing the collected data;
- computer program code for receiving a request from a contactor to initiate contact with a contactee;
- computer program code for determining, based on multiple variables derived from the collected data, an appropriate method of contacting the contactee;
- and
- computer program code for facilitating establishment of contact between the contactor and the contactee using the appropriate method.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.