Managing multiple communication profiles at a mobile device

Abstract

Systems and methods for performing actions associated with multiple communication profiles generated for a user of a mobile device are described. In some embodiments, a communication alias system generates multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device, where a communication profile is a distinct profile associated with the user of the mobile device and includes a unique communication address to which communications are directed. The communication alias system may perform actions associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile for the user of the mobile device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for managing communications associated with a user of a mobile device, the system comprising:
 a communication profile module that:
 manages multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device, 
 wherein a communication profile includes a unique communication address to which communication is directed, 
   generates a first communication profile that is associated with a first phone number and is configured to facilitate text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers associated with other users;   generates a second communication profile that is associated with a second phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services of interest to the user; and   generates a third communication profile that is associated with a third phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services unknown to be of interest to the user; and   an action module that performs an action associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile for the user of the mobile device.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication profile module generates distinct communication profiles for the user of the mobile device based on input received from the user of the mobile device;
 wherein the generated distinct communication profiles each include:
 a unique telephone number as the unique communication address to which communications targeted to the mobile device and received by the mobile device are directed; and 
 profile type information that identifies a profile type for a given distinct communication profile; and 
 wherein the action module selects communication profiles via which to perform actions to display sponsored messages to the user of the mobile device based on the profile type information included in the communication profiles. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication profile is associated with the first phone number and is configured to facilitate voice communications and text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers located in a contacts database stored in the mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the communication profiles include:
 information identifying a telephone number to which voice calls and text messages are directed and from which voice calls and text messages originate; and   information identifying a time period within which the communication profile is an active profile.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the communication profiles include:
 information identifying a telephone number to which voice calls and text messages are directed and from which voice calls and text messages originate; and   information identifying a location at which the communication profile is an active profile.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication profile module:
 receives an indication that the mobile device is at a location associated with a location-specific communication profile; and   generates a communication profile for the location that includes a phone number to which communications associated with the location are directed.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unique communication address is a phone number associated with voice communications and text communications or a username associated with application-based messaging communications. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium whose contents, when executed by a mobile device, cause the mobile device to perform operations for managing communications associated with a user of the mobile device, the operations comprising:
 generating multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device, wherein a communication profile is a distinct profile associated with the user of the mobile device,   wherein a communication profile includes:
 information identifying a telephone number to which voice calls and text messages are directed and from which voice calls and text messages originate, 
 information identifying a location at which the communication profile is an active profile, and 
 information identifying a time period within which the communication profile is an active profile when the mobile device is at the identified location; and 
   performing actions associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile for the user of the mobile device.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the generated distinct communication profiles each include:
 a unique telephone number as the unique communication address to which communications targeted to the mobile device and received by the mobile device are directed; and   profile type information that identifies a profile type for a given distinct communication profile and a type of communications to be directed to the distinct communication profile.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein generating multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device includes:
 generating a first communication profile that is associated with a first phone number and is configured to facilitate voice communications and text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers located in a contacts database stored in the mobile device; and   generating a second communication profile that is associated with a second phone number and is configured to facilitate voice communications and text messaging between the second phone number and sender phone numbers unknown to the mobile device.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein generating multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device includes:
 generating a first communication profile that is associated with a first phone number and is configured to facilitate text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers associated with other users; and   generating a second communication profile that is associated with a second phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services of interest to the user.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein generating multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device includes:
 generating a communication profile that is associated with a phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services of interest to the user.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein generating multiple, distinct, communication profiles for the user of the mobile device includes:
 receiving an indication that the mobile device is at a location associated with a location-specific communication profile; and   generating a communication profile for the location that includes a phone number to which communications associated with the location are directed.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the unique communication address is a phone number associated with voice communications and text communications or a username associated with application-based messaging communications. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 generating a first communication profile that is associated with a first phone number for a user of a mobile device and is configured to facilitate text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers associated with other users,   wherein a communication profile includes a unique communication address to which communication is directed;   generating a second communication profile that is associated with a second phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services of interest to the user;   generating a third communication profile that is associated with a third phone number and is configured to receive text messages that include sponsored messages from entities that provide goods or services unknown to be of interest to the user; and   performing an action associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile for the user of the mobile device.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each communication profile includes:
 profile type information that identifies a profile type for a given communication profile; and   wherein performing an action associated with providing information to the user of the mobile device via a selected communication profile includes selecting communication profiles via which to perform actions to display sponsored messages to the user of the mobile device based on the profile type information included in the communication profiles.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first communication profile is associated with the first phone number and is configured to facilitate voice communications and text messaging between the first phone number and sender phone numbers located in a contacts database stored in the mobile device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each communication profile includes:
 information identifying a telephone number to which voice calls and text messages are directed and from which voice calls and text messages originate; and   information identifying a time period within which the communication profile is an active profile.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each communication profile includes:
 information identifying a telephone number to which voice calls and text messages are directed and from which voice calls and text messages originate; and   information identifying a location at which the communication profile is an active profile.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each communication profile includes a username configured to facilitate application-based messaging communications.