| Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting informationUSPTO Application #: 20060166649Title: Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information Abstract: A mobile-oriented information system that requires a grant of permission from a mobile subscriber to release information requested by a requesting party while retaining the identity of the requesting party. The identity of the requesting party can be stored in an electronic telephone book or storage area for a mobile communication device operated by the mobile subscriber. The mobile subscriber can have the option of editing the identity-related information in connection with storage of that information within the telephone book or storage area. (end of abstract) Agent: King & Spalding LLP - Atlanta, GA, US Inventor: Peter O. Roach USPTO Applicaton #: 20060166649 - Class: 455411000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Telecommunications, Radiotelephone System, Security Or Fraud Prevention, Privacy, Lock-out, Or Authentication The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060166649. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is related to the subject matter disclosed by and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/645,687, filed Jan. 21, 2005, entitled "Methods and Apparatuses for Providing User Authorized Contact Information for a Cellphone Subscriber," and U.S Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/723,702, filed Oct. 5, 2005, entitled "Methods and Apparatuses for Providing Directory Information Following the Receipt of Delayed Granting of Subscriber Permission." Applicant hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of each of said referenced provisional patent applications. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates generally to wireless networks and more particularly to the offering of directory assistance for mobile subscribers post receiving the mobile subscriber's permission to release the information. The invention allows the called party to grant or deny permission to release the relevant information to the requesting party as well as providing the relevant information to the requesting party in the event the subscriber's permission is delayed. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Currently a large percentage of the population own and use a cellular phone, mobile telephone, voice over wireless IP, or other wirelessly connected communications device (hereafter referred to as a mobile subscriber) as their primary method of communication. While the mobile connection is extremely useful for instant communications and accessibility, many mobile subscribers do not wish to publish their number in a directory or allow an information services provider, such as, the directory assistance operator, to have ready access to or disseminate their contact information. The mobile subscriber may desire to limit this access due to numerous reasons; e.g., privacy, limit access from telemarketers, recent changes in their life status, or a plethora of other reasons. [0004] Currently directory assistance operators use a telephone number database to provide the information services and usually the service is billed to the calling or requesting party's telephone bill. Typically the directory assistance databases are hours, days, weeks or even months old. The directory assistance usually does not provide any information indicating who is allowed to access the directory listing or any restrictions as to the use and dissemination of the subscriber's directory information. Since the directory assistance system is typically an "all or nothing" proposition, this opens up the possibility for abuse of this database or for use of the directory assistance information in a manner that may be adverse to the mobile subscriber's best interest at the time a directory request is made. [0005] There are two major reasons the mobile subscriber user may wish to restrict certain parties' access to their contact information in real-time. The first being the ready access the mobile phone service provides to the user. Since most users usually carry their mobile phone with them, they can be easily contacted at any time and place using their mobile phone. Today the user can limit this access to callers who they have given their mobile phone number or to others who are trusted by the user at the current time. Since, in this modem world, relationships change at a rapid pace or they tend to be more situational, many mobile subscribers wish to have real-time control over a caller's access to their contact information and provide it to a requesting party on a case-by-case basis. The second reason the user may wish to restrict this information is that often the user is required to pay for all calls made to or from their mobile phone. The user may not wish to pay to talk with certain types of callers or the mobile subscriber may desire to screen who has access to their contact information. [0006] Typically the method used in landline communications networks to restrict access to directory assistance information has been to allow the user to have an unlisted number. This allows for an opt-out method for the users to restrict their contact information. Another method that has been suggested for disseminating mobile subscriber's contact information is a method where the mobile subscriber can opt-in to a directory or add their number to the directory assistance listing. The problem with both of these methods is that they treat all callers who are requesting directory information with the same level of importance. For instance a mobile subscriber may wish to opt-out (or not opt-in) to a directory in order to limit access by telemarketers; however, the mobile subscriber would like their babysitter to be able get their number from directly assistance in the event of an emergency. There have been numerous efforts to get an opt-in or opt-out mobile phone directory into the market, but these efforts have met with little success in the United States. [0007] What is required is a method and apparatus that allows a mobile subscriber to control the access to their contact information in real-time or near real-time. This method and apparatus should be able to distinguish between different calling parties and should be able to restrict, limit, or allow access to the contact information, location, address, or other personal information associated with the mobile subscriber on an instance-by-instance basis. What is also needed is a method and apparatus that allows a mobile subscriber to provide a delayed or non-real-time grant of permission to release their information and to have that information routed to the person or device requesting the information. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In recognition of the needs of the prior art, the inventor has created an inventive solution for controlling a release of information on behalf of a mobile subscriber of a mobile telephone network. A mobile communication device associated with the mobile subscriber can receive a permission release request via a mobile telephone network. The permission release request seeks permission for release of information about the mobile subscriber to a requesting party and provides identifying information for the requesting party. The permission release request is typically issued by an information system, which can be implemented on equipment that operates independently of the mobile telephone network. The information system can operate separate from or independent of a directory assistance platform or system or, in the alternative, the information system can be implemented as a part of or in communication with the directory assistance platform. [0009] The mobile subscriber can determine whether to release the requested information based on identifying information about the requesting party, as presented by a user interface of the mobile communication device. If the mobile subscriber elects to grant permission, the mobile communication device can respond to an action take by the subscriber by issuing a permission release response from the mobile communication device to the information system. The permission release response provides permission for communication of the requested information from the information system for use by the requesting party. [0010] The permission release request comprises identifying information for the requesting party. The mobile communication device's receipt of the permission release request provides the mobile subscriber and/or the device with access to this identifying information. This identifying information can be added to an electronic phonebook or directory maintained by the mobile communication device. For example, the identifying information, such as the telephone number and the identity of the requesting party, can be automatically added to or updated for a contact information storage mechanism of the mobile communication device in response to the receipt of the permission release request. In the alternative, the identifying information can be inserted within the contact information storage mechanism as a result of the subscriber's interaction with a user interface of the mobile communication device. Or, the mobile subscriber can add the identifying information in response to an attempt by the mobile subscriber to initiate a communication with the requesting party via the mobile communication device. [0011] The addition of the identifying information to an electronic phone book results in the storage of that information within a storage medium. For example, the identifying information can be stored within an internal storage device of the mobile communication device, a removable storage device, such as a SIM card, or a database that is accessible by the mobile communication via a communication path. [0012] The mobile subscriber can be presented with an option to modify the identifying information for the requesting party prior to adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook. This option is typically presented to the user via the user interface of the mobile communication device adding the identifying information is completed. [0013] For another aspect of the present invention, an inventive solution is provided for controlling a release of information on behalf of a mobile subscriber of a mobile telephone network. A mobile communication device receives a permission release request associated with the mobile subscriber. This permission release request seeks permission for the release of information about the mobile subscriber to a requesting party and provides identifying information for the requesting party. [0014] Based on receipt of the permission release request by the mobile communication device, the mobile subscriber can determine whether to release the requested information based on identifying information about the requesting party, as presented by a user interface of the mobile communication device. If the subscriber elects to release the requested information for distribution to the requesting party, the mobile communication device issues a permission release response. The permission release response provides permission for communication of the requested information from the information system for use by the requesting party. [0015] As a result of receiving the permission release request signal at the mobile communication device, the mobile subscriber can be presented with an option to add the identifying information of the requesting party to an electronic phonebook or directory maintained by the mobile communication device. This option can be presented to the mobile subscriber via a user interface, typically in text or graphical form, such as a user-selectable control, selectable text item, graphical item, icon, button, menu item, pop-up display, etc. An alternative mechanism for presenting this option to the user is via a voice or audio prompt. The identifying information can be added to the electronic phonebook in response to an action taken by the mobile subscriber, such as the selection of that option via interaction with a user interface. The subscriber can be presented with an option to modify the identifying information for the requesting party prior to adding the identifying information to the electronic phonebook. [0016] This identifying information can be added to an electronic phonebook or directory maintained by the mobile communication device. For example, the identifying information, such as the telephone number and the identity of the requesting party, can be automatically added to or updated for a contact information storage mechanism of the mobile communication device in response to the receipt of the permission release request. In the alternative, the identifying information can be inserted within the contact information storage mechanism as a result of the subscriber's interaction with a user interface of the mobile communication device. Or, the mobile subscriber can add the identifying information in response to an attempt by the mobile subscriber to initiate a communication with the requesting party via the mobile communication device. Entry of the identifying information within the electronic phone book can also occur as a result of the mobile subscriber's use of the mobile communication device to initiate a communication with the requesting party [0017] The addition of the identifying information to the electronic phone book results in the storage of that information within a storage medium. For example, the identifying information can be stored within an internal storage device of the mobile communication device, a removable storage device, such as a SIM card, or a database that is accessible by the mobile communication via a communication path. [0018] Additional aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1A is an illustration of an information system constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for providing information in response to the grant of a subscriber's permission Next Patent Application: Apparatus and method for automatically reporting a speakerphone call mode of a portable wireless terminal to a calling partner Industry Class: Telecommunications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method and apparatus for screening and retaining the identity of a party requesting information patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 6.06875 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
