Reverse caller-identification

• US 20030138085A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Suermondt, Henri Jacques, Forman, George H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,116,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

A reverse caller identification system. Telecommunications devices are registered with respect to specific locations and are monitored with respect to users proximity to said devices. Prior to putting an incoming call through to one of said devices, the caller is provided with information as to activities currently in proximity to that device. A plurality of options for real-time information data and caller feedback are described.

Claims

1. A telecommunications call system comprising:

a telecommunications device;

associated with said telecommunications device, call-processing means for processing a call, having an input-output port for transmitting call signals to said telecommunications device;

associated with said call-processing means, sensing means for providing real-time information signals indicative of real-time activity proximate said call-processing means,

wherein said call-processing means conveys said information signals to a caller on a call into said input-output port prior to putting the call through to said telecommunications device.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

connected to said call-processing means, an incoming call line and an outgoing call line;

connected to the incoming line, a call router;

a plurality of location-identifiable telecommunications devices connected to the incoming line via the router; and

accessible to said router, a database having real-time information representative of current proximity of individuals to each of said telecommunications devices, wherein said router provides said real-time information signals back to the caller to a specific one of said telecommunications devices prior to routing a call thereto.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said real-time information is a roster of persons in proximity to said sensing means.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said real-time information is at least one photograph image.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said real-time information is audio playback of current persons in proximity to said telecommunications device.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said real-time information is a signal representative of on-going activity of persons proximate to said telecommunications device.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

means for authenticating identity of said caller prior to said call-processing means conveying said information signals to said caller on a call into said input-output port.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising:

means for providing said caller with a plurality of options for further action following receipt of said real-time information.

9. The system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said plurality of options includes obtaining additional said real-time information.

10. The system as set forth in claim 2 further comprising:

registry means for maintaining an active real-time database in a memory for said plurality of location-identifiable telecommunications devices.

11. The system as set for in claim 1 wherein said real-time information is gathered and kept current automatically.

12. A reverse caller-identification apparatus coupled to at least one telecommunications device, the apparatus comprising:

real time information storage device for collecting and storing data representative of current activity relative to each said telecommunications device; and

a processing device for associating an incoming call from a first known location to said telecommunication device at a second known location to said data and for transmitting said data to said first known location prior to routing said incoming call to said second known location.

13. A method for processing an incoming call from a caller to a specified telecommunications device, the method comprising:

receiving the incoming call;

obtaining real-time information regarding the environment proximate said device;

transmitting said real-time information to said caller; and

based on predetermined feedback from said caller, taking appropriate action for processing said incoming call.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said real-time information includes a roster of persons proximate said telecommunications device.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said real-time information includes an image, video, or audio snapshot of the environment proximate said telecommunications device.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said real-time information includes abstract information regarding activity proximate said telecommunications device.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

prior to said transmitting said real-time information to said caller, authenticating said caller as authorized for receiving said real-time information.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising:

providing said caller with a plurality of options for actions to take based on content of said real-time information.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said plurality of options includes allowing said caller to hold while monitoring periodic changes in said real-time information.

20. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said plurality of options includes allowing said caller to obtain additional said real-time information.

21. The method as set forth in claim 18 wherein said plurality of options includes allowing said caller to disconnect and receive an automated callback based on predetermined changes of said real-time information.

22. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said real-time information is automatically updated.

23. A method for processing an incoming call to a telecommunications device at a first location, the method comprising:

monitoring said first location for current activities within a known proximity to said first location;

receiving a call having a first protocol to said telecommunications device from a second location;

prior to connecting said call to said telecommunications device, transmitting a signal representative of said current activities to said second location using a second protocol;

waiting for a return signal representative of instructions regarding said patching of said incoming call.