Patent US6373940B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6373940B2
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US
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Method and apparatus for transmitting address changes
Assignee: Unify Inc
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Filing: 1998-05-04
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Granted: 2002-04-16
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Expires: 2018-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A communication system for transmitting address changes. A communication system includes a source communication system and one or more destination communication systems, each of which is identified by a unique number or address. A memory in the source communication system maintains a record of each destination communication system that communicates with it. If the number or address of the source communication is changed, the source communication system generates a new number or address message which is transmitted to each of the destination communication systems. The destination communication systems receive the new number or address message and update a memory to reflect the new number or address of the source communication system. Those destination systems that are able to read the new number or address message and update a record of the number or address for the source communication system generate an acknowledge signal which is transmitted to the source communication system. The source communication system may transmit a human readable new number or address message to those destination communication systems that have not transmitted the acknowledge signal. The communications systems may comprise telephones, facsimile machines or computers having e-mail or IP addresses.
Inventors
- 👤 Shmuel Shaffer
- 👤 William Joseph Beyda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:21
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/50; H04L61/5076; H04L51/00; H04L51/48; H04L61/5007; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/44; H04M7/00; H04M7/12; H04M7/1205; H04M7/128; H04L51/21; H04L51/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source communication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system, wherein the message indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system and indicates an old identifier that is replaced by the new identifier; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source communication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system, wherein the message indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system and indicates an old identifier that is replaced by the new identifier; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting an acknowledge signal from the at least one destination telecommunication system back to the source telecommunication system if the at least one destination telecommunication system was able to receive the message indicating a new identifier for the source telecommunication system and update a memory that stores the identifier of the source telecommunication system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising: generating a human understandable message that indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the message that indicates a new identifier is a signaling message that the at least one destination telecommunication system is programmed to recognize; and the human understandable message is transmitted to those destination telecommunication systems that did not transmit an acknowledge signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the source telecommunication system is a telephone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the source telecommunication system is a facsimile machine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source telecommunication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system that indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system; wherein the source telecommunication system is a telephone.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source telecommunication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system that indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system; wherein the source telecommunication system is a telephone.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source telecommunication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system that indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system; wherein the source telecommunication system is a facsimile machine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source telecommunication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication system that has previously been in communication with the source telecommunication system; automatically determining and transmitting a message to the at least one destination telecommunication system that indicates a new identifier for the source telecommunication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination telecommunication system and updating a memory associated with each of the at least one destination telecommunication system with the new identifier for the source telecommunication system; wherein the source telecommunication system is a facsimile machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A telecommunication system including a source telecommunication device that is identified by a unique identifier and at least one destination telecommunication device, each such destination device being identified by a unique identifier, comprising: a memory associated with the source telecommunication device that stores an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device; a processor coupled to the source telecommunication device that is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device, the processor being further programmed to generate a message indicating a new identifier for the source telecommunication device and indicating an old identifier for the source telecommunication device and to transmit the message to each destination telecommunication device; and a processor coupled to each destination telecommunication device that receives the message and updates a memory that stores said new identifier for the source telecommunication device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
158 words
A telecommunication system including a source telecommunication device that is identified by a unique identifier and at least one destination telecommunication device, each such destination device being identified by a unique identifier, comprising: a memory associated with the source telecommunication device that stores an identifier of at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device; a processor coupled to the source telecommunication device that is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device, the processor being further programmed to generate a message indicating a new identifier for the source telecommunication device and indicating an old identifier for the source telecommunication device and to transmit the message to each destination telecommunication device; and a processor coupled to each destination telecommunication device that receives the message and updates a memory that stores said new identifier for the source telecommunication device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The communication system of claim 9 , wherein the source telecommunication device and the at least one destination telecommunication device are telephones.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The telecommunication system of claim 9 , wherein the source telecommunication device and the at least one destination telecommunication device are facsimile machines.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source communication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination communication system that has previously been in communication with the source communication system, at least one of which destination systems is outside a local area network; transmitting a message to the at least one destination communication system that indicates a new identifier that is for use in contacting a person associated with the source communication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination communication system and updating a memory associated with each of the destination communication systems with the new identifier for the source communication system.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of updating an identifier of a source communication system, comprising: recalling from a memory an identifier of at least one destination communication system that has previously been in communication with the source communication system, at least one of which destination systems is outside a local area network; transmitting a message to the at least one destination communication system that indicates a new identifier that is for use in contacting a person associated with the source communication system; and receiving the message at the at least one destination communication system and updating a memory associated with each of the destination communication systems with the new identifier for the source communication system.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising: transmitting an acknowledge signal from the at least one destination communication system back to the source communication system if the at least one destination communication system was able to receive the message indicating a new identifier for the source communication system and update a memory that stores the identifier of the source communication system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: generating a human readable message that indicates a new identifier for the source communication system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the human readable message is transmitted to those destination communication systems that did not transmit an acknowledge signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one destination communication system includes at least one telephone or facsimile machine, and the new identifier includes a telephone number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one destination communication system includes at least one computer system, and the new identifier includes an e-mail address.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
176 words
A telecommunication system including a source telecommunication device that is identified by an identifier and at least one destination telecommunication device, each such destination device being identified by a unique identifier, comprising: a memory associated with the source telecommunication device that stores an identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device; and a processor coupled to the source telecommunication device that is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device, the processing being further programmed to generate a message indicating a new identifier for the source telecommunication device and to transmit the message to each destination telecommunication device, wherein the new identifier for the source telecommunication device is a telephone number and the at least one destination telecommunication device includes a telephone or facsimile machine; and a processor coupled to each destination telecommunication device that receives the message and updates a memory that stores said new identifier for the source telecommunication device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
176 words
A telecommunication system including a source telecommunication device that is identified by an identifier and at least one destination telecommunication device, each such destination device being identified by a unique identifier, comprising: a memory associated with the source telecommunication device that stores an identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device; and a processor coupled to the source telecommunication device that is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination telecommunication device that has previously communicated with the source telecommunication device, the processing being further programmed to generate a message indicating a new identifier for the source telecommunication device and to transmit the message to each destination telecommunication device, wherein the new identifier for the source telecommunication device is a telephone number and the at least one destination telecommunication device includes a telephone or facsimile machine; and a processor coupled to each destination telecommunication device that receives the message and updates a memory that stores said new identifier for the source telecommunication device.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The telecommunication system of claim 18 , wherein the source telecommunication device and the at least one destination telecommunication device are telephones, and the source telecommunication device is identified by a unique identifier.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The telecommunication system of claim 18 , wherein the source telecommunication device and the at least one destination telecommunication device are facsimile machines, and the source telecommunication device is identified by a unique identifier.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The telecommunication system of claim 18 , wherein the memory associated with the source telecommunication device includes a speed dial memory.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The telecommunication system of claim 18 , wherein the memory associated with the source telecommunication device includes a database of telecommunication devices that have previously initiated communication with the source telecommunication device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
195 words
A communication device, hereinafter referred to as the source communication device, wherein the source communication device is capable of communication with one or more other communication devices that have memories and processors, the source communication device comprising: a memory that stores an identifier of each of at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the source communication device; the at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the source communication device hereinafter referred to as the at least one destination communication device; and a processor coupled to the source communication device, wherein the processor is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination communication device, and the processor is further programmed to determine a message indicating a new identifier for the source communication device and to transmit the message to the at least one destination communication device; wherein the at least one destination communication device includes at least one telephone or facsimile machine, and a processor of a destination communication device that receives the message updates a memory of that destination communication device previously storing an old identifier for the source communication device to store the new identifier.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
195 words
A communication device, hereinafter referred to as the source communication device, wherein the source communication device is capable of communication with one or more other communication devices that have memories and processors, the source communication device comprising: a memory that stores an identifier of each of at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the source communication device; the at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the source communication device hereinafter referred to as the at least one destination communication device; and a processor coupled to the source communication device, wherein the processor is programmed to recall the identifier of the at least one destination communication device, and the processor is further programmed to determine a message indicating a new identifier for the source communication device and to transmit the message to the at least one destination communication device; wherein the at least one destination communication device includes at least one telephone or facsimile machine, and a processor of a destination communication device that receives the message updates a memory of that destination communication device previously storing an old identifier for the source communication device to store the new identifier.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The source communication device of claim 23 , wherein the new identifier for the source communication device is a new telephone number for the source communication device that has replaced an old telephone number for the source communication device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The source communication device of claim 23 , wherein the message also indicates an old identifier for the source communication device.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The source communication device of claim 23 , wherein the memory that stores an identifier of each of at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the source communication device includes a speed dial memory.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The source communication device of claim 23 , wherein the memory that stores an identifier of each of at least one communication device that has previously communicated with the sorce communication device includes a database of communication devices that have previously initiated communication with the source communication device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
66 words
The source communication device of claim 23 , wherein processor is further programmed to receive an acknowledgement signal from the at least one telehpone or facsimile machine, and, for a telephone or facsimile machine from which the acknowledgment signal is not received, to generate and send to that telephone or facsimile machine a human understandable message that indicates the new identifier for the source communication system.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
54 words
The source communication device of claim 28 , wherein processor is further programmed to, for a telephone or facsimile machine from which the acknowledgment signal is received, to generate and send to that telephone or facsimile machine a human understandable message indicating that that telephone or facsimile machine has been updated with new information.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
188 words
A communication system device, hereinafter referred to as the destination communication device, wherein the destination communication device is capable of communication with another communication device, hereinafter referred to as the source communication device, the destination communication device comprising: a memory that stores identifiers for communication devices, including an identifier for the source communication device, the identifier for the source communication device being for use in contacting the source communication device; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a message that indicates a new identifier for the source communication device, and to update the memory based on the message to store the new identifier for the source communication device without requiring human data entry of the new identifier for the source communication device, wherein the message was generated not due to any attempt by the destination communication device to contact the source communication device using an old identifier for the source communication device; wherein the new identifier for the source communication device is a telephone number for the source communication device, and the destination communication device is a telephone or facsimile machine.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
188 words
A communication system device, hereinafter referred to as the destination communication device, wherein the destination communication device is capable of communication with another communication device, hereinafter referred to as the source communication device, the destination communication device comprising: a memory that stores identifiers for communication devices, including an identifier for the source communication device, the identifier for the source communication device being for use in contacting the source communication device; and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a message that indicates a new identifier for the source communication device, and to update the memory based on the message to store the new identifier for the source communication device without requiring human data entry of the new identifier for the source communication device, wherein the message was generated not due to any attempt by the destination communication device to contact the source communication device using an old identifier for the source communication device; wherein the new identifier for the source communication device is a telephone number for the source communication device, and the destination communication device is a telephone or facsimile machine.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The destination communication device of claim 30 , wherein the memory is a speed dial memory.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
29 words
The destination communication device of claim 30 , wherein the memory is a database that stores identifiers for communication devices that have been contacted by the destination communication device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The destination communication device of claim 30 , wherein the memory is a database that stored identifiers for communication devices that have initiated contact with the destination communication device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
The destination communication device of claim 30 , wherein the new identifier for the source communication device is received from the source communication device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-04-15 | 2005-10-15 | 2006-04-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-04-15 | 2009-10-15 | 2010-04-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-04-15 | 2013-10-15 | 2014-04-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |