Updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communication networks

US7941481B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TellMe Networks, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Hadi Partovi · Seattle, US
• Angus Macdonald Davis · Sunnyvale, US
• Michael S. McCue · Los Gatos, US
• John Giannandrea · Palo Alto, US
• Lisa Stifelman · Palo Alto, US
• Daphne Luong · Los Altos, US
• Eugene Koh · Kirkland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 26, 2000
• Grant date: May 10, 2011
• Expiry date: May 26, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04M2242/22
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of accessing and updating an electronic phonebook over electronic communications networks such as a telephone and computer networks is described. The creation of a voice portal is supported by the invention. Embodiments of the invention use telephone identifying information such as the calling party's number to identify, or create, user profiles for customization. The user profile can include personalized phonebook entries that include names and telephone numbers of relevance to the user. Additionally, the voice portal can connect the user to numbers contained in the personalized phonebook in response to spoken commands. The profile can also be updated with additional phonebook entries over the interne using a web browser.