Method of obtaining information on the identity of a caller in a terminal of a telephone communications network

• US 20010005842A1
• Filed: 12/19/2000
• Published: 06/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Le Gendre, Yves, Guirauton, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,099,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

The invention relates to identifying callers in a terminal of a telephone communications network in which the caller'"'"'s number is transmitted by the network at the time of an incoming call. The invention proposes providing the terminal with an agent which, on or after receiving a caller'"'"'s number, selects at least one external server likely to be able to provide identity information; the agent then uses a request file and the caller'"'"'s number to prepare a request whose argument is the caller'"'"'s number and whose destination is the server. The request is sent to the server to obtain the information. In the absence of a result, the agent can send a plurality of requests in succession.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining information on the identity of a caller in a terminal of a telephone communications network, the method comprising:

the terminal receiving an incoming call and the caller'"'"'s number;

an agent of the terminal selecting at least one external server likely to be able to provide said information;

the agent preparing a request whose argument is the telephone number and whose destination is the server; and

the agent sending the request to the server.

2. The method of

claim 1

, comprising:

the agent receiving the response from the server by the agent;

or

if there is no response, or if the response is not satisfactory, the agent selecting another server, preparing another request, and sending the other request to the other server.

3. The method of

claim 2

, wherein the steps of receiving the response or selecting another server, preparing another request, and sending the other request to the other server are repeated if there is no response or if the response is not satisfactory.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the selection step is effected by searching a request file.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the terminal has a data channel and wherein a request is sent on the data channel.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal.

7. A terminal of a telephone communications network in which the caller'"'"'s number is transmitted at the time of an incoming call, wherein the terminal has an agent having instructions for:

selecting at least one external server likely to be able to provide information on the identity of a caller,

preparing a request whose argument is the telephone number and whose destination is the server, and

sending the request to the server.

8. The terminal of

claim 7

, wherein the agent has instructions for:

receiving the response from the server, or

if there is no response, or if the response is not satisfactory, selecting another server, preparing another request, and sending the other request to the other server.

9. The terminal of

claim 8

, wherein the agent repeats the steps of receiving the response or selecting another server, preparing another request, and sending the other request to the other server if there is no response or if the response is not satisfactory.

10. The terminal of

claim 7

, in which a request file is accessed by the agent to select a server and prepare a request.

11. The terminal according to

claim 7

, wherein the terminal has a data channel and wherein a request is sent on the data channel.

12. The terminal according to

claim 7

, wherein the terminal is a mobile terminal.

13. The terminal of

claim 7

, wherein the terminal is a fixed terminal connected to the telephone network.

14. The terminal of

claim 7

, wherein the terminal is a fixed terminal having access to the Internet.