Mobile User Information Selection and Delivery Event Based Upon Credentials and Variables

Abstract

Dynamically selecting and facilitating stored caller information to a communications recipient device with a communications event, based on communication recipient credentials (e.g. IP address, MDN, etc.), preferences outlined in a subscriber profile associated with a relevant calling device, and other variables, e.g., time of day, location of calling device, etc. A subscriber is permitted to provision subscriber preferences and subscriber information associated with users of a subscribing communications device in to a subscriber profile, for use during a communications event. Subscriber preferences are defined to place restrictive conditions on stored subscriber information that may be transmitted with a communications event initiated by a corresponding communications device. A content collection node dynamically selects customized caller information via a subscriber information content collection process. Customized caller information is transmitted to appropriate recipient devices with a corresponding communication event.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to mobile communication devices. More particularly, it relates to wireless communications, including location, messaging, and public safety applications.

2. Background of Related Art

In the current state of technology, a data store (i.e. a data repository) and a signaling method are used in combination to transmit caller information (e.g. a callback number, user name, etc.) from a calling device to a recipient device with a communications event.

A conventional method of complementing a communications event with additional caller information comprises initiating a communications event between a calling device and a recipient device, compiling additional caller information into a signaling message at the calling device, and then routing the signaling message from the calling device to the recipient device with the communications event.

Existing technology and methods do not provide a mechanism for a 911 telecommunicator to retrieve a higher fidelity location description after verbal verification from a caller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus for dynamically selecting and transmitting stored caller (person, machine, and/or sensor) information to a communications recipient device with a communications event (e.g. a voice over IP call, an SMS message, an IP message, an MMS message, etc.), comprises a content collection node. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a content collection node facilitates stored subscriber information to a communications recipient device with a communications event, based on: communication recipient credentials (e.g. IP address, Mobile Directory Number, etc.), subscriber preferences defined for a communications calling device, and other relevant variables, e.g., time of day, location of calling device, location of recipient device, etc. A content collection node dynamically collects customized caller information for a communications recipient device via a subscriber information content collection process.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a subscriber provisions personal information associated with users of a subscribing communications device in to a subscriber profile via a secure subscriber information provisioning interface. A subscriber profile is then stored in a subscriber information reference database for use during a communications event. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a subscriber profile preferably contains identification credentials for users of a corresponding communications device, a contact list, a potential location profile, a health profile, an emergency contact list, and subscriber preferences.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, subscriber preferences are defined for a communications device to place restrictive conditions on stored subscriber information that may be transmitted with a communications event initiated by that communications device. For instance, a communications device may define subscriber preferences to indicate when (e.g. time of day, day of week, etc.) subscriber information may be transmitted with a communications event initiated by that particular communications device. Moreover, a communications device may define subscriber preferences to indicate specific recipient devices (e.g. emergency dispatch personnel) to which subscriber information may be transmitted with a communications event initiated by that particular communications device.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, furnishing customized caller information with a communications event (e.g. a 911 call) provides a communications recipient device the ability to attain a higher fidelity location description for a communications source device, and/or a higher fidelity emergency description for a communications source device, following verbal verification from a caller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary network structure and call flow for dynamically selecting and transmitting caller information associated with a calling device to a communication recipient device with a communications event, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative example of a content query, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative example of a subscriber profile provisioned for a subscribing communication device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a network element and method for storing subscriber (person, machine, and/or sensor) information for use during a communications event, based on relevant credentials (e.g. communication recipient credentials and/or communication source credentials) and/or variables, e.g., time of day, day of week, etc. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a communications event may be, e.g., a voice over IP call, an SMS message, an IP message, an MMS message, etc.

Currently, there is no mechanism to permit a calling device to place restrictive conditions on caller information that may be transmitted with a communications event initiated by that calling device. For instance, a calling device cannot articulate specific times at which certain caller information may be relevant (e.g., in the evening when likely at home; during the weekday when likely at work; etc.).

Moreover, there is currently no mechanism to enable a calling device to articulate specific recipient devices to which additional, higher fidelity caller information may be transmitted with a given communications event (e.g., during an emergency call.)

As recognized by the current inventors, a calling device may desire that certain caller information be transmitted to certain specific or type recipient devices in a given communications event, and not transmitted to other specific or type recipient devices in that same given communications event. For instance, a calling device may desire that a communications system only complement communications events destined to emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) with additional caller information. Moreover, depending on the time of day, a calling device may or may not desire certain caller information to be transmitted to certain recipient devices specified in a communications event.

Consequently, the present inventors have identified a need for a system that references user-defined subscriber preferences to dynamically select and transmit subscriber information pre-provisioned for a calling device, to individual recipient devices specified in a communications event initiated by that calling device.

The present invention facilitates stored caller information to a communications recipient device with a communications event, based on communication recipient credentials (e.g. IP address, Mobile Directory Number, etc.), preferences outlined in a subscriber profile associated with a relevant calling device, and other variables, e.g., time of day, location of calling device, location of recipient device, etc.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, furnishing customized caller information to a communications recipient device with a communications event (e.g. a 911 call), provides that communications recipient device (e.g. emergency service personnel) the ability to attain a higher fidelity location description for a communications source device, and/or a higher fidelity emergency description for a communications source device, following verbal verification from a caller. Moreover, the present invention enables a communications system to furnish a multiple choice response set (e.g. home address, work address, vacation home address) to a communications recipient device with a communications event, from which the communications recipient device must then select based on information/verbal verification (e.g. “I am at home”) provided by a caller.

The present invention permits a subscriber to provision subscriber preferences (i.e. restrictive conditions) and subscriber (person, machine, and/or sensor) information associated with users of a communications device in to a subscriber profile. Subscriber preferences are defined for a communications device to place restrictive conditions on stored subscriber information that may be transmitted to a recipient device with a communications event initiated by that communications device. For instance, subscriber preferences may be defined to identify when (e.g. a time of day, a day of week, etc.) subscriber information may be transmitted with communications events initiated by a particular communications device. Moreover, subscriber preferences may be defined to identify recipient devices (e.g. emergency dispatch personnel) to which caller information may be transmitted with communications events initiated by a particular communications device. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, subscriber preferences are stored in a subscriber information reference database via a secure subscriber information provisioning interface, for use during a communications event.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a content collection node references a subscriber profile associated with a calling device to dynamically select and facilitate stored caller information to a communications recipient device with a communications event initiated by that calling device. The content collection node dynamically selects caller information for a communications recipient device based on: communications recipient credentials (e.g. IP address, Mobile Directory Number, etc.), subscriber preferences defined in a subscriber profile for the calling device, and any variables (e.g., time of day, location of recipient device, etc.) relevant to the initiated communications event.

FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary network structure for identifying and providing stored caller information to a communications recipient device with a communications event, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, a subscriber provisions personal information associated with users of a subscribing communications device 100 in to a subscriber profile via a secure subscriber information provisioning interface 110. A subscriber profile preferably contains identifying data (e.g. name, age, etc.) for users of a corresponding communications device 100, a contact list, a potential location set, a health profile, and user-defined subscriber preferences. Moreover, a subscriber profile may additionally include, e.g., images and/or videos describing information about users of a corresponding communications device 100, additional profiles containing more precise location descriptions for users of a corresponding communications device 100, emergency contact information, etc. A subscriber may access the secure subscriber information provisioning interface 110 to alter/update a subscriber profile at any given time.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a subscriber profile provisioned for a communications device 100 is stored in a subscriber information reference database 120 for use during a communications event.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, subscriber information is dynamically selected for a communications recipient device 140 via a content collection node 130, shown in FIG. 1. In particular, a content collection node 130 initiates a subscriber information content collection process to collect customized caller information for a communications recipient device 140, based on: identification credentials (e.g. IP address, Mobile Directory Number, etc.) corresponding to a particular communications recipient device 140, subscriber preferences articulated in a subscriber profile associated with a communications source device 100, and other relevant variables, e.g., time of day, location of recipient device 140, location of calling device 100, etc. A content collection node 130 only initiates a subscriber information content collection process if one or more recipient devices 140 specified in an initiated communications event is permitted (e.g., by means of a contact list defined in a calling device's 100 subscriber profile) to receive subscriber information pre-provisioned for a relevant calling device 100.

In particular, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a communications event is first initiated by a subscribing communications device (i.e. a calling device) 100 to one or more communications recipient devices 140, as depicted in step 1 of FIG. 1. The initiated communications event is then forwarded to a content collection node 130 during call routing.

The content collection node 130 receives the communications event initiated in step 1, and retrieves identification credentials for both the calling device (i.e. the subscribing wireless device) 100 specified in the origination field of the communications event, and any recipient devices 140 specified in the destination field. In step 2, the content collection node 130 sends a first query to the subscriber information reference database 120, containing identification credentials specified in the initiated communications event.

The subscriber information reference database 120 receives the first query from the content collection node 130 and uses data contained therein to identify a subscriber profile associated with the communications source device 100. In step 3, the subscriber information reference database 120 sends a first query response to the content collection node 130 to identify which (if any) communications recipient devices (140a, 140b, and/or 140c) are permitted (e.g. by means of a contact list defined in the calling device's 100 subscriber profile) to receive additional caller information with the communications event initiated in step 1.

If no recipient devices 140 are permitted to obtain subscriber information pre-provisioned for the communications source device 100, the content collection node 130 simply forwards the relevant communications event to all communications recipient devices 140 (as depicted in step 4) and call flow is complete.

Alternatively, if any of the one or more recipient devices 140 identified in the communications event are permitted to receive subscriber information pre-provisioned for the communications source device 100, the content collection node 130 initiates a subscriber information content collection process to dynamically collect caller information for appropriate recipient devices (140a, 140b, and/or 140c).

During a subscriber information content collection process, a content collection node 130 collects and compiles various variables, e.g., time of day, day of week, location of calling device 100, location of recipient device 140, location range (a diameter based upon the calling device 100), etc., relevant to the initiated communications event. The content collection node 130 then compiles relevant variables in to a content query and furnishes the content query to the subscriber information reference database 120, as depicted in step 5.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative example of a content query, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In particular, the content query 200 depicted in FIG. 2 indicates to a subscriber information reference database 120 that a calling device ‘6097775945’ 210, located at lat/lon pair 38°53′23″N/77°00′27″W 220, initiated a communications event at 6:01 PM 230 to a recipient device ‘7322416600’ 240, located at lat/lon pair 34°41′00″N/65°22′41″W 250, and a recipient device ‘7568476655’ 260, located at lat/lon pair 32°33′11″N/71°25′66″W 270.

In step 6 of FIG. 1, the subscriber information reference database 120 receives the content query transmitted in step 5, and uses variables contained therein to return a content query response to the content collection node 130. A content query response contains customized caller information for each communications recipient device (140a, 140b, and/or 140c) permitted to receive caller information pre-provisioned for the communications calling device. Customized caller information is selected based on: communication recipient credentials (e.g. IP address, Mobile Directory Number, etc.), preferences defined in a subscriber profile associated with the calling device 100, and any relevant variables, e.g., time of day, day of week, location of calling device 100, location of recipient device (140a, 140b, or 140c), location range (a diameter based upon the calling device 100), etc., obtained during the subscriber information content collection process.

The content collection node 130 subsequently receives the content query response and uses data contained therein to compose customized caller information messages for each recipient device (140a, 140b, and/or 140c) permitted (e.g. by means of a contact list defined in the calling device's 100 subscriber profile) to receive caller information pre-provisioned for the communications source device 100. Customized caller information messages may be prepared for either automatic or manual retrieval, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

In step 7, the content collection node 130 forwards the initiated communications event to all recipient devices 140 specified in the communications event destination field, and additionally forwards a customized caller information message to each recipient device (140a, 140b, and/or 140c) permitted (e.g. by means of a contact list defined in the calling device's 100 subscriber profile) to receive caller information therewith.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a customized caller information message may be presented automatically to a recipient device 140, or manually following selection by a recipient device 140.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative example of a subscriber profile provisioned for a subscribing communications device, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

As depicted in FIG. 3, a subscriber profile 300 preferably contains identification credentials (e.g. name 334, age 336, etc.) 332 for users of a corresponding communications device 302.

In addition, a subscriber profile 300 defined for a subscribing communications device 302 may contain a contact list 304. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a contact list 304 lists identification credentials (e.g. MIN, MDN, IP address, etc.) 306 for communications recipients to which a subscriber permits pre-provisioned subscriber information to be transmitted with a communications event.

In a preferable embodiment, a contact list 304 may contain emergency service personnel 306b by default. Therefore, subscriber information pre-provisioned for a calling device 302 is always permitted to be transmitted to emergency service personnel (e.g., a Public Safety Answering Point, fire department dispatch personnel, etc.) upon initiation of an emergency communications event (e.g., a 911 call).

Moreover, a subscriber profile 300 may additionally contain a potential location set 308. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a potential location set 308 includes locations (e.g. an office building, house, vacation home, school, gym, etc.) 310 frequently inhabited by users of a communications device 302. In addition, a potential location set 308 preferably contains a precise address, and any floor number, apartment number, room number, etc 312., relevant to each potential location 310 listed therein.

Further, a subscriber profile 300 may contain a health profile 314. A health profile 314 lists medical conditions 316 and any prescription medicines 318 currently consumed by users of a communications device 302.

Further yet, a subscriber profile 300 may contain an emergency contact list 320. An emergency contact list 320 lists identification credentials 322 for communications recipients that a subscriber wishes to notify upon initiation of an emergency communications event (e.g. a 911 call). In a preferable embodiment, an emergency contact list 320 pre-provisioned for a calling device 302 is automatically furnished to appropriate emergency dispatch personnel with emergency communications events (e.g. a 911 call) initiated by that calling device 302.

Moreover, a subscriber profile 300 preferably contains subscriber preferences 324. Subscriber preferences 324 defined in a subscriber profile 300 place restrictive conditions on stored subscriber information that may be transmitted to a recipient device with a communications event. In particular, a subscriber profile 300 may contain subscriber preferences 324 that permit only certain data 326 defined in a subscriber profile 300 to be furnished to certain communications recipients 306 specified in a communications event. Moreover, subscriber preferences 324 may specify a particular time (e.g. a particular time of day, day of week, etc.) 328 at which a communications system is permitted to furnish certain data defined in a subscriber profile 300 to certain communications recipient devices 306. For instance, a subscriber may define preferences that only permit location information to be furnished to certain recipient devices up to a certain time of day 328 (e.g. a subscriber may not want to share location information with certain communications recipients after 6 pm). Further, a subscriber profile 300 may contain subscriber preferences 324 that only permit location information to be furnished to recipient devices located within a specific geographic area 330 (e.g. a subscriber may only wish to share location information with recipient devices located in a predefined geographic boundary).

The present invention may be extremely valuable to parties (i.e. a calling party and/or a recipient party) engaged in an emergency communications event (e.g. a 911 call).

For instance, the present invention permits a potential location set (i.e. a list of precise potential locations) pre-provisioned for a 911 calling device to be transmitted to emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) with an emergency communications event (e.g. a 911 call). A potential location set received with an emergency communications event permits emergency dispatch personnel to furnish a multiple choice question, e.g., “Are you at home, your vacation house, or work?”, to a 911 calling party, regarding a location of a corresponding 911 calling device. A multiple choice question based on a calling party's potential location set may enable emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) to retrieve a higher fidelity location description for a 911 calling device, following verbal verification from a caller. For instance, if a 911 caller answers, e.g. “Yes, I am home.”, emergency dispatch personnel may refer to the 911 caller's potential location profile to attain a precise location for the 911 calling device. This ability to retrieve precise location data for a 911 calling device is extremely valuable in the case that a 911 caller is calling, e.g., from a condominium in a large complex, because precise location information defined in a subscriber profile may contain an actual condominium number, floor number, apartment number, etc., that is not obtainable via a latitude/longitude pair conventionally retrieved for a 911 calling device.

For example, when a mobile subscriber places a 911 call via a wireless 911 calling device, that mobile subscriber can reasonably expect location information (e.g. a lat/lon pair) for that 911 calling device to be obtained and routed to emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) with the emergency communications event (i.e. the 911 call). A lat/lon pair obtained for a 911 calling device enables emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) to identify a geographic location for the 911 calling device.

However, if a 911 calling party is located in an apartment building, office building, condominium, etc., a lat/lon pair obtained for a 911 calling device will not enable a 911 call dispatcher to determine a specific floor number, room number, apartment number, etc., in/on which the 911 calling device is located. With the present invention, emergency dispatch personnel may refer to a potential location set received with a 911 communications event, to attain a higher fidelity location description for a 911 calling device, following verbal verification from a caller.

The present invention also permits a health profile pre-provisioned for a 911 calling device to be transmitted to emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) with an emergency communications event (e.g. a 911 call). Emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) may refer to a health profile received with an emergency communications event, to offer a list of options to a 911 calling party regarding a type of assistance that is being requested. More particularly, medical information furnished with a communications event may prompt emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) to furnish a multiple choice question (e.g., “Are you having an asthma attack or experiencing diabetic complications?”) to a 911 calling party, to retrieve a higher fidelity emergency description after attaining verbal verification (e.g. “Yes, I am having an asthma attack.”) from a caller. Further, in the case that a 911 caller is unable to speak, emergency dispatch personnel (e.g. a Public Safety Answering Point) may say to a caller, e.g., “Press one button on your keypad if you are having an asthma attack or press two buttons on your keypad if you are experiencing diabetic complications”. Furnishing a health profile to emergency dispatch personnel with a 911 communications event, permits emergency personnel to arrive at a scene prepared, rather than requiring emergency personnel to assess an emergency situation upon arrival.

The present invention differs from a conventional means of forwarding complementary caller information to a recipient device with a communications event because the present invention provides the ability to determine when caller information is permitted to be transmitted, and what caller information is permitted to be transmitted, based on: communication recipient credentials, subscriber preferences, and any relevant variables, e.g., time of day, location of recipient device, etc.

The present invention may provide a mobile subscriber verified potential location set (e.g. home, office, vacation home) to emergency services and/or commercial entities (e.g., delivery services, marketing services, etc.) with a communications event initiated by that mobile subscriber's mobile device.

The present invention has particular applicability to messaging services, e.g., Short Message Service (SMS), Multimedia Messaging System (MMS), Real-Time Text (RTT), etc. The present invention also has particular applicability to emergency services and/or to commercial services.

While the invention has been describer with reference to the exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of the invention without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event, comprising: facilitating a mobile-originated communications event initiated by a session-initiating mobile device to a destination device;identifying pre-stored caller information relating to said session-initiating mobile device;dynamically selecting a grouping of said identified pre-stored caller information relevant to at least one given parameter associated with said session-initiating mobile device; androuting said dynamically selected grouping of said identified pre-stored caller information to said destination device;whereby subscriber preferences place restrictive conditions on what amount of said pre-stored caller information may be transmitted with a given communications event initiated by a given communications device.

2. The method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event according to claim 1, wherein said pre-stored caller information comprises: provisioned information associated with a given mobile device.

3. The method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event according to claim 1, wherein said initiated session comprises: a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call.

4. The method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event according to claim 1, wherein said initiated session comprises: a two-way text messaging conversation.

5. The method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event according to claim 1, wherein said initiated session comprises: a short messaging system (SMS) message conversation.

6. The method of facilitating a mobile-originated communications event according to claim 1, wherein said initiated session comprises: a multi-media system (MMS) message conversation.

7. A content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event, comprising: identifying pre-stored information associated with a given communications event-initiating mobile device; andselecting a grouping of said pre-stored information based on credentials of a recipient device of said communications event; androuting said sub-set of said pre-stored information to said recipient of said communications event;whereby subscriber preferences place restrictive conditions on what amount of said pre-stored information may be transmitted with a given communications event initiated by said mobile device.

8. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein said credentials associated with said communications-initiating mobile device comprise at least one of: an Internet Protocol (IP) address; anda Mobile Directory Number (MDN).

9. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on subscriber preferences defined for a communications calling device.

10. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on a time of day of initiation of said communications event.

11. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on a location of a calling device.

12. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on a location of said recipient device.

13. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on a health profile of a user of said communications event-initiating device.

14. The content collection network node to facilitate pre-storage, selection and transmission of subscriber information to a recipient device to a mobile communications event according to claim 7, wherein: said grouping of said pre-stored information is further selected based on an emergency contact list associated with said communications event-initiating device.