Identifying a context for a call

• US 20030112941A1
• Filed: 12/17/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOTO Group Incorporated (LogMeIn, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Weaver, James Mark, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/196
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method, system, and program for identifying a context for a call are provided. Multiple context clues for a call are detected from a line number, a line subscriber profile, a caller profile, and other parameters associated with the call. A context for the call is identified from the context clues, such that at least one party to the call is enabled to receive the context of the call. Context for the call preferably includes at least one of who is placing a call, who is receiving a call, identities of devices utilized for the call, locations of those devices, the path of line number numbers accessed for a call, a billing plan for the call, and a subject matter of the call.

Claims

1. A method for identifying a context for a call, said method comprising:

detecting a plurality of context clues for a call; and

identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues, such that at least one party to said call is enabled to receive said context of said call.

2. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

detecting at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call.

3. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

detecting at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device.

4. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

detecting at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates.

5. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 4, wherein said location may comprise at least one from among a time zone, a country, a state, a city, a GPS location, and a building location.

6. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 4, further comprising:

detecting said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call.

7. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

detecting a subject matter of said call.

8. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 7, further comprising:

retrieving at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and

prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at least one subject of said previous call.

9. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

detecting a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers.

10. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein identifying a context for said call further comprises:

identifying said context for said call at a service server operating outside a trusted telephone network.

11. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein identifying a context for said call further comprises:

identifying said context for said call at an intelligent peripheral service operating inside a trusted telephone network.

12. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and

filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences.

13. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 12, further comprising:

filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call.

14. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 12, further comprising:

filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call.

15. The method for identifying a context for a call according to claim 1, wherein identifying a context for a call further comprises:

identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number.

16. A system for identifying a context for a call, said system comprising:

a context inference server communicatively connected to a trusted telephone network;

means for detecting a plurality of context clues for a call at said context inference server; and

means for identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues.

17. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

means for detecting at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call.

18. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

means for detecting at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device.

19. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

means for detecting at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates.

20. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 19, wherein said location may comprise at least one from among a time zone, a country, a state, a city, a GPS location, and a building location.

21. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for detecting said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call.

22. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

means for detecting a subject matter of said call.

23. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 22, further comprising:

means for retrieving at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and

means for prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at leas t one subject of said previous call.

24. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for detecting a plurality of context clues further comprises:

means for detecting a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers.

25. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said context inference server is communicatively connected to said trusted telephone network through a network external to said trusted telephone network.

26. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said context inference service is communicatively connected within said trusted telephone network.

27. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and

means for filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences.

28. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call.

29. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call.

30. The system for identifying a context for a call according to claim 16, wherein said means for identifying a context for a call further comprises:

means for identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number.

35. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 19, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of said location according to a geographical service area of at least one network system providing service to said call.

31. A computer program product for identifying a context for a call, said computer program product comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a plurality of context clues for a call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for identifying a context for said call from said plurality of context clues.

32. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among an authenticated identity of a caller of said call and an authenticated identity of a callee of said call.

33. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among an identity of an origin device and an identity of a destination device.

34. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of at least one from among a location said call originates and a location said call terminates.

36. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a subject matter of said call.

37. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 36, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling retrieval of at least one subject of a previous call of at least one party to said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for prompting said at least one party to said call to select said from said at least one subject of said previous call.

38. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for enabling detection of a path of said call to a plurality of line numbers.

39. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for accessing filtering preferences for at least one party to said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said context for said call distributed to at least one other party to said call according to said filtering preferences.

40. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 39, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering an identifier for said at least one party to said call according to a relationship of said at least one party to said call with said at least one other party to said call.

42. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 31, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for identifying that said call is forwarded to another line number.

41. The computer program product for identifying a context for a call according to claim 312, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said context for said call according to said filtering preferences for distribution to a second caller of a second call incoming during said call.

43. A method for inferring a call context comprising:

receiving a context request for a call;

detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location served by switches processing said call; and

inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

44. A system for inferring a call context comprising:

a context inference server communicatively connected to a trusted telephone network;

means for receiving a context request for a call at said context inference server;

means for detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location served by switches processing said call; and

means for inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

45. A computer program product for inferring a call context comprising:

a recording medium;

means for enabling receipt of a context request for a call;

means for detecting context clues comprising at least one from among a line number, a line subscriber profile, an authenticated caller identity, an authenticated callee identity, a caller profile associated with said authenticated caller identity, a callee profile associated with said authenticated callee identity, a line number accessed for said call, and a geographical location served by switches processing said call, and

means for inferring from said context clues at least one from among who is placing said call, who is receiving said call, at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device utilized for said call, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

46. A method for providing a call context comprising:

detecting a call request at a central office switch;

initiating a context inference service for said call; and

receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

47. The method for providing a call context according to claim 46, wherein said context inference service is located within an intelligent peripheral accessible within a trusted telephone network comprising said central office switch.

48. The method for providing a call context according to claim 46, wherein said call context inference service is located in a server system accessible via a secure network channel outside a trusted telephone network comprising said central office switch.

49. The method for providing a call context according to claim 46, further comprising:

transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call.

50. The method for providing a call context according to claim 46, further comprising:

transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call.

51. A system for providing a call context comprising:

a central office switch within a trusted telephone network;

means for detecting a call request at said central office switch;

means for initiating a context inference service for said call; and

means for receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

52. The system for providing a call context according to claim 51, wherein said context inference service is located within an intelligent peripheral accessible within said trusted telephone network.

53. The system for providing a call context according to claim 51, wherein said call context inference service is located in a server system accessible via a secure network channel outside said trusted telephone network.

54. The system for providing a call context according to claim 51, further comprising:

means for transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call.

55. The system for providing a call context according to claim 51, further comprising:

means for transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call.

56. A computer program product for providing a call context comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a call request;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for initiating a context inference service for said call; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving a context inferred for said call from at least one from among an identity of at least one party to said call, an identity of at least one device utilized for said call, a location of said at least one device, a billing plan for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

57. The computer program product for providing a call context according to claim 56, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said context inferred for said call to an origin device utilized to originate said call.

58. The computer program product for providing a call context according to claim 56, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring said context inferred for said call to a destination device utilized to answer said call.

59. A method for controlling output of a call context, comprising:

receiving, in association with a call enabled by a telephony device, a tagged call context identifier at said telephony device; and

controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device.

60. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged voice identifier.

61. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged reverse voice identifier.

62. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said tagged call context identifier comprises at least one from among, an identifier of a party to said call, a graphic identifier, a sound identifier, a video identifier, a location of a party to said call, a path of line numbers accessed for said call, a billing context for said call, and a subject matter of said call.

63. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said at least one output interface comprises at least one from among a graphical user interface and a speaker.

64. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said at least one output interface is externally accessible to said telephony device.

65. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, wherein said at least one output interface is an integrated device within said telephony device.

66. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, further comprising:

filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device.

67. The method for controlling output of a call context according to claim 59, further comprising:

formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device.

68. A system for controlling output of a call context, comprising:

a telephony device;

means for receiving, in association with a call enabled by said telephony device, a tagged call context identifier at said telephony device; and

means for controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device.

69. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged voice identifier.

70. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said tagged call context identifier is a tagged reverse voice identifier.

71. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said tagged call context identifier comprises at least one from among, an identifier of a party to said call, a graphic identifier, a sound identifier, a video identifier, a location of a party to said call, a path of line numbers accessed for said call, a billing context for said call, a path of said call, and a subject matter of said call.

72. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said at least one output interface comprises at least one from among a graphical user interface and a speaker.

73. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said at least one output interface is externally accessible to said telephony device.

74. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, wherein said at least one output interface is an integrated device within said telephony device.

75. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, further comprising:

means for filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device.

76. The system for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, further comprising:

means for formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device.

79. The computer program product for controlling output of a call context according to claim 68, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for formatting said tagged call context identifier according to formatting styles designated at said telephony device.

77. A computer program product for controlling output of a call context, comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for receiving a tagged call context identifier at a telephony device; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for controlling output of said tagged call context identifier via at least one output interface accessible to said telephony device.

78. The computer program product for controlling output of a call context according to claim 77, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said tagged call context identifier according to output preferences selected at said telephony device.