IP Library Granted Patent US 8,812,719
Granted Patent B2
US 8,812,719 · App. 12/475,386 · Granted Aug 19, 2014

Distributed delivery of notifications in a mass notification system

Inventor: Natasha Conahan (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Blackboard Connect Inc.
H04L12/1895H04L67/322H04L67/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,812,719
App. No.
12/475,386
Granted
Aug 19, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one notification for distribution to the recipients, and identifying a distributor configured to transmit the notification to the recipients. The method also includes determining a notification distribution capacity of the distributor, and transmitting the notification to the distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor. A system for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients is also provided.

Claims (34)

1. A system for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

an identification module configured to identify a first distributor configured to transmit at least one notification of a certain type to a plurality of recipients from among a plurality of distributors capable of transmitting the certain type of the at least one notification;

a calculation module configured to determine, using a processor, a notification distribution capacity of the first distributor; and

a transmission module configured to transmit the at least one notification to the first distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor;

wherein the transmission module is further configured to transmit rate information to the first distributor, the rate information based on the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor, and the rate information configured to indicate a rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the first distributor to the plurality of recipients;

wherein the rate information is configured to indicate a reduced rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the first distributor to the plurality of recipients when the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor is reduced.

2. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of recipients comprises a first group of recipients and a second group of recipients,

wherein the identification module is further configured to identify a second distributor configured to transmit the at least one notification to the plurality of recipients,

wherein the calculation module is further configured to determine a notification distribution capacity of the second distributor, and

wherein the transmission module is configured to transmit, based on the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor and the notification distribution capacity of the second distributor, the at least one notification for the first group of recipients to the first distributor, and the at least one notification for the second group of recipients to the second distributor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification distribution capacity is based on at least one of: routing data associated with the first distributor, the time at which the at least one notification is intended to be transmitted, the size of the notification, a priority associated with the notification, and a history of distribution performance.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first distributor includes at least one distribution device, and wherein the at least one notification is transmitted to the at least one distribution device using a code associated with the distribution device.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the code is a numbering plan code.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor is reduced when the notification distribution capacity of the first distributor is at least 80% of the maximum distribution capacity of the first distributor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the certain type of the at least one notification is a voice notification.

8. A method for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients, comprising:

receiving at least one notification of a certain type for distribution to the plurality of recipients;

identifying a distributor configured to transmit the at least one notification to at least one of the plurality of recipients from among a plurality of distributors capable of transmitting the certain type of the at least one notification;

determining a notification distribution capacity of the distributor;

transmitting the at least one notification to the distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor; and

transmitting rate information to the distributor, the rate information based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor, and the rate information configured to indicate a rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the distributor to the plurality of recipients;

wherein the rate information is configured to indicate a reduced rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the distributor to the plurality of recipients when the notification distribution capacity of the distributor is reduced.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the notification distribution capacity is determined based on at least one of: routing data associated with the distributor, the time at which the at least one notification is intended to be transmitted, the size of the notification, a priority associated with the notification, and a history of distribution performance.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the distributor includes at least one distribution device, and wherein the at least one notification is transmitted to the at least one distribution device using a code associated with the distribution device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the code is a numbering plan code.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the certain type of the at least one notification is a voice notification.

13. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for distributing notifications to a plurality of recipients, the instructions comprising code for:

receiving at least one notification of a certain type for distribution to the plurality of recipients;

identifying a distributor configured to transmit the at least one notification to at least one of the plurality of recipients from among a plurality of distributors capable of transmitting the certain type of the at least one notification;

determining a notification distribution capacity of the distributor;

transmitting the at least one notification to the distributor based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor; and

transmitting rate information to the distributor, the rate information based on the notification distribution capacity of the distributor, and the rate information configured to indicate a rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the distributor to the plurality of recipients;

wherein the rate information is configured to indicate a reduced rate at which the at least one notification should be distributed by the distributor to the plurality of recipients when the notification distribution capacity of the distributor is reduced.

Assignments (17)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
To: ACTIVE INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066636/0684 →
PARTIAL RELEASE (REEL 058081 / FRAME 0025) Recorded Sep 16, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061451/0989 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 061112/0027 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061112/0692 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Oct 27, 2021
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; EDLINE LLC; TEACHERWEB, INC.
Reel/Frame 057941/0752 →
FIRST LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2021
From: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058081/0025 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 26, 2021
From: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 058081/0073 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Oct 26, 2021
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.
Reel/Frame 058298/0577 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE, INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.
Reel/Frame 050953/0361 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2019
From: BLACKBOARD, INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 050965/0354 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 20, 2016
From: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; PARLANT TECHNOLOGY, INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040435/0932 →
RELEASE OF LIEN ON PATENTS Recorded Nov 19, 2013
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BLACKBOARD INC.; EDLINE LLC; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; TEACHERWEB, INC
Reel/Frame 031689/0871 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2011
From: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC; EDLINE LLC; TEACHERWEB, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N. A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027027/0328 →
SECOND PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2011
From: BLACKBOARD INC.; BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.; EDLINE LLC; TEACHERWEB, INC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 027027/0497 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2011
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
Reel/Frame 027015/0986 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 1, 2011
From: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 026072/0419 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2009
From: CONAHAN, NATASHA
To: BLACKBOARD CONNECT INC.
Reel/Frame 022898/0097 →
Continuity (1)
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