Nortel Networks Corporation

Rockstar Consortium US LP

Steven M Armstrong

Eric W Parsons

Elwyn Brian Davies

Andrew Newton Harker

David Robert Stringer

Sylvain S Huppe

Elwyn B Davies

Helene Saint-Amour

Hans Bergman

Denis T Trudeau

Elwyn Davies

A presence management system is described whereby connections between watching parties and watched parties in a multiple access communications network are managed. When the presence management system receives a contact request from a watching party it determines whether the required watched party is available for contact. The system then provides information about this to the watching party who made the request. The presence management system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g. email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and details about the facilities available to the watching party. If, the presence management system informs the watching party that the watched party is unavailable, the watching party is able to set up a monitor. In determining whether the required watched party is available for contact, the presence management system uses stored information about the watched party, information about the required connection (e.g. size and type) and also rules. In addition, information about events from the multiple access network are used e.g. geographical location of watched party mobile phones. Advantageously, watched parties or watching parties are services. For example, a watching party is a conference call service which monitors watched parties and sets up a conference call when the watched parties are available. A watched party may also be a service, such as a ticket agency. Watching parties can set up monitors using the presence management system to be alerted when new tickets are available from the agency.

Presence management system

A personal communications portal maintains presence information about a user who may be available at one or more terminal devices on one or more access networks comprising a multiple access network. The access networks may operate in different transmission modes and may utilize different signaling formats (text, graphics, voice, video, etc.). A watched party specifies preferences as to who may contact him, at what times, on what kind of network and device. A watching party requesting to contact the watched party may be given direct contact information for contacting the user, may be given indirect contact information for contacting the user without being informed of the watched party's whereabouts, may be placed directly in communication with the watched party, or may forward a message to the user. If the caller is forwarding a message to the user or is placed in communication with the user, and if caller and user are using different transmission modes or different signaling formats, the personal communications portal mediates communication appropriately. Further, the personal communications portal may determine the watched party's physical location based upon the presence information received from the multiple access network and possibly from information received related to events which take place outside of the multiple access network, but which are reported to the portal.

Intelligent filtering for contact spanning multiple access networks

A presence management system is described whereby connections between watching parties and watched parties in a multiple access communications network are managed. When the presence management system receives a contact request from a watching party it determines whether the required watched party is available for contact. The system then provides information about this to the watching party who made the request. The presence management system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g. email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and details about the facilities available to the watching party. If, the presence management system informs the watching party that the watched party is unavailable, the watching party is able to set up a monitor. In determining whether the required watched party is available for contact, the presence management system uses stored information about the watched party, information about the required connection (e.g. size and type) and also rules. In addition, information about events from the multiple access network are used e.g. geographical location of watched party mobile phones. Advantageously, watched parties or watching parties are may be groups or aggregates of individuals.

System indicating the presence of an individual or group of individuals

Independent contact spanning multiple access networks

In one example of the invention, a notification system is coupled to a plurality of message services including a voice mail server, an email server and an information server in an office. Messages left for a user (e.g. voice mail, email, CRM event, etc.) are deposited in folders maintained by the messaging services. The notification system detects additions to the user's folders and when a new message arrives, the notification system sends an alert to a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) enabled device (e.g. cell phone) configured for the user. The alert includes the total number of messages of each type received for the user, along with an indication of the most recently received message. Message information associated with the alerts are also archived by the notification system so that a user can remotely access the information so as to learn more about the messages received from the plurality of message services.

Method and system for providing remote access to previously transmitted enterprise messages

A notification system for providing unified alerts about messages left for a user in a communication system is coupled to a voice mail service in an office. When voice mail messages are left for a user, the voice mail service sends header information about the new message to the notification system. The notification system sends a notification of the new messages to a wireless device configured and selected by the user for receiving message notifications. Depending on the type of wireless device, the notification may include a link to a dialer application with which the wireless device can be connected to the voice mail service for selectively listening to the messages of interest. From the new message, the notification system may further extract information about the message sender, and use it to attempt to retrieve the sender's name from the user's personal contact list, for example. This information can then be included in the message header information sent to the user.

Voice mail caller identification

A notification system is coupled to a plurality of message services including a voice mail server, an email server and an information server in an office. Messages left for a user (e.g. voice mail, email, CRM event, etc.) are deposited in folders maintained by the messaging services. The notification system detects additions to the user's folders and when a new message arrives, the notification system sends an alert to a Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) enabled device (e.g. cell phone) configured for the user. The alert includes the total number of messages of each type received for the user, along with an indication of the most recently received message. The notification system may further monitor an information source for new information that may be of interest to the user (e.g. stock or product price quotes), and provide these in the alert notification if certain conditions are met (e.g. stock price exceeds a threshold).

Generating and providing alert messages in a communications network

A personalization server is accessible to users via a network including a LAN and the Internet. The personalization server maintains information about how to personalize a call/message management interface provided for managing the user's calls and/or messages. A user can read web pages containing the information and provided by the personalization server at their own pace. Once they are satisfied that they understand what is expected of them, users follow a description on the web page that tells them the IVR phone number to call, and what code they should enter in order to record personalized prompts for call/message management options that are presented to incoming callers. The IVR which is used to accomplish the call/message management personalization is generic. It simply accepts option personalization access codes and then allows users to record something that matches the personalization code they have entered.

Method and system for personalizing an interactive interface

A presence management system allows connections between watching parties and watched parties in a multiple access communications network to be managed. When the presence management system receives a contact request from a watching party it determines whether the required watched party is available for contact. The system then provides information about this to the watching party who made the request. The presence management system chooses the best mode of communication (e.g. email or fax) taking into account the watched parties preferences and details about the facilities available to the watching party.

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Nepean, Canada

Steven M Armstrong