Patent Application

App. No. 12/838,634

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . A method comprising:

storing a communication rule associated with a geographic location and a user;

receiving a communication identifying the geographic location, wherein the communication comprises a telephone call; and

applying the communication rule for routing the communication to the user.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the user is a verified property owner of the geographic location.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the user is a first user associated with the geographic location,

wherein the method further comprises presenting to a second user an alias address for the first user for use in communicating with the first user at the geographic location,

wherein the communication identifies the alias address, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises using the alias address for routing the communication to the first user.

4 . The method of claim 3 further comprising preventing the second user from accessing an actual address of the first user.

5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communication rule specifies meeting one or more criteria for managing communications to be routed to the user.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the geographic location is a first geographic location, and

wherein the one or more criteria include one or more of: communications being from a predefined source, the communications being received at a predefined time, and the communications originating from a second geographic location.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising determining whether the one or more criteria are met, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the user in response to determining that the one or more criteria are met.

8 . The method of claim 6 wherein the communication rule specifies selection of an address for routing the communication to the user based on meeting the one or more criteria,

wherein the method further comprises determining whether the one or more criteria are met, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the user in response to determining that the one or more criteria are met.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communication rule specifies criteria for accepting communications to be routed to the user.

10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the communication identifies at least one of a source and a time of receipt of the communication, and

wherein the method further comprises:

determining whether the at least one of the source and the time of receipt of the communication meets the criteria; and

in response to determining that the at least one of the source and the time of receipt of the communication meets the criteria, routing the communication to the user.

11 . The method of claim 10 further comprising:

determining whether the source of the communication meets the criteria; and

in response to determining that the source meets the criteria, routing the communication to the user.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the criteria includes identification of an acceptable source for communications.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location is a first geographic location,

wherein the communication rule specifies routing communications originating from a second geographic location to the user,

wherein the method further comprises determining whether the communication originated from the second geographic location, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the user in response to determining that the communication originated from the second geographic location.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the first geographic location is adjacent to the second geographic location.

15 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a second communication, wherein receiving the second communication comprises receiving at least one of a second telephone call, an email, a text message, and an instant message.

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communication rule specifies routing the communication to at least one of an email account and a telephone associated with the user, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the at least one of the email account and the telephone associated with the user.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communication rule specifies routing the communication to one of two or more mobile devices located closest to the geographic location, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the one of the two or more mobile devices located closest to the geographic location.

18 . The method of claim 1 wherein the communication rule specifies a priority list of sources for routing communications to the user, and

wherein applying the communication rule comprises routing the communication to the user in accordance with the priority list.

19 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving information for verifying that the user is a property owner of the geographic location.

20 - 26 . (canceled)

27 . A system comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a telephonic communication identifying a geographic location;

a communication manager configured to:

store a communication rule associated with the geographic location and a user; and

apply the communication rule for routing the communication to the user.

28 . (canceled)

29 . A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:

storing a communication rule associated with a geographic location and a user;

receiving from a smart phone a communication identifying the geographic location; and

applying the communication rule for routing the communication to the user.

30 . (canceled)

Assignments (11)