Provision of call destination information to a caller

• US 20040125924A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Devoto, Robert J., McMullin, William P., Murphy, Stephen Vaughan
• Application Number:
  US10/334,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20040125924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5322 for recording text messages

Abstract

Providing call destination information to a caller includes receiving information related to a caller that uses a caller phone to make a call to a destination phone and receiving information related to a call recipient that uses the destination phone to receive the call. Call destination information is accessed based on both the information related to the caller and the information related to the call recipient. The caller is provided with access to the call destination information.

Claims

1. A method for providing call destination information to a caller, the method comprising:

receiving information related to a caller that uses a caller phone to make a call to a destination phone;

receiving information related to a call recipient that uses the destination phone to receive the call;

accessing call destination information based on both the information related to the caller and the information related to the call recipient; and

providing the caller with access to the call destination information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing call destination information includes accessing information regarding the call destination that is personalized to the caller based on the information related to the caller.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the call destination information that is personalized to the caller is only accessed for to callers that have registered for a call destination information service.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the call destination information is personalized to the caller by including call destination information corresponding to a call destination service product chosen by the caller.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the call destination information is personalized to the caller by providing the caller with access to call destination information that is personal to the caller or to an organization represented by the caller.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to a call recipient includes a destination telephone number associated with the destination phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to a caller includes a caller telephone number associated with the caller phone.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the caller is received from a telephone system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information related to the caller is received from a monitoring device coupled to the caller phone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information related to the geographic location of the destination phone.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes the weather or local news at the geographic location of the destination phone.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes a map or directions from the caller to the call recipient.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information related to the call recipient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information related to a company represented by the call recipient.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes stock quotes of the company or news related to the activities of the company.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information related to services provided to the call recipient or products sold to the call recipient.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information designated by the call recipient as information that is available to the caller.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed does not include information designated by the call recipient as information that is blocked to the caller.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes information related to the online status of the call recipient.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the online status information that is accessed includes information related to the ability of the call recipient to receive e-mails.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the online status information that is accessed includes information related to the ability of the call recipient to receive instant messages.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the call destination information that is accessed includes call recipient information that is proprietary to the caller or to a business or an organization related to the caller.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the proprietary call recipient information includes proprietary address book information related to the call recipient.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the proprietary call recipient information includes proprietary calendar information related to the call recipient.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the proprietary call recipient information includes proprietary information related to business interactions between the call recipient and the caller or between the call recipient and a business or an organization associated with the caller.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the proprietary call recipient information includes proprietary information related to products or services sold to the call recipient or sold to an organization or business associated with the call recipient.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the proprietary call recipient information includes information related to e-mails sent to the call recipient by the caller or received by the caller from the call recipient.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the caller with access to the call destination information includes sending call destination information to the caller as one or more digital communications accessible to the caller through a caller computer system.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the digital communications comprise e-malls.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the digital communications comprise instant messages.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the digital communications are accessible using a browser application.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the digital communications are sent during the call.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the digital communications are sent after the call.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the caller with access to the call destination information includes sending call destination information to the caller as data over the caller phone.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the call destination information is provided to the caller while the caller waits for a call recipient to pick up the destination phone.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the call destination information is whispered to the caller during the call.

37. A call destination information computer system for providing call destination information to a caller, the computer system comprising:

one or more call destination information data stores configured to store call destination information; and

a call destination information computer configured to

receive information related to a caller that uses a caller phone to make a call to a destination phone,

receive information related to a call recipient that uses the destination phone to receive the call;

access call destination information from at least one of the call destination information data stores based on both the information related to the caller and the information related to the call recipient, and

provide the caller with access to the call destination information.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes information regarding the call destination that is personalized to the caller based on the information related to the caller.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes information related to the geographic location of the destination phone.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes information related to the call recipient.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes information designated by the call recipient as information that is available to the caller.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that does not include information designated by the call recipient as information that is blocked to the caller.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes information related to the online status of the call recipient.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to access call destination information that includes call recipient information that is proprietary to the caller or to a business or an organization related to the caller.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to provide the caller with access to the call destination information by sending call destination information to the caller as one or more digital communications accessible to the caller through a caller computer system.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the digital communications comprise e-mails.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the digital communications comprise instant messages.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein the call destination information computer is configured to provide the caller with access to the call destination information by sending call destination information to the caller as data over the caller phone.

49. A computer system comprising:

a caller module configured to discern among callers calling a destination based on caller-related information; and

an information procurement module configured to provide a first discerned caller with access to a first set of call destination information and provide a second discerned caller with access to a second set of call destination information, the second set being different than the first set.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of call destination information is personalized to the first discerned caller.

51. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of call destination information includes information related to the geographic location of the destination.

52. The system of claim 49, wherein the first set of call destination information includes information related to a call recipient at the destination.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the first set of call destination information includes information designated by a call recipient at the destination as information that is available to the caller.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the first set of call destination information does not include information designated by a call recipient at the destination as information that is blocked to the caller.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the first set of call destination information includes information related to online status of a call recipient at the destination.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the first set of call destination information includes call recipient information that is proprietary to the first discerned caller or proprietary to a business or an organization related to the first discerned caller.

57. The system of claim 49, wherein the information procurement module is configured to provide the first discerned caller with access to the first set of call destination information by sending call destination information to the first discerned caller as one or more digital communications accessible to the first discerned caller through a caller computer system.

58. The system of claim 57, wherein the digital communications comprise e-mails.

59. The system of claim 57, wherein the digital communications comprise instant messages.

60. The system of claim 49, wherein the information procurement module is configured to provide the first discerned caller with access to the first set of call destination information by sending call destination information to the first discerned caller as data over a caller phone used by the first discerned caller to call the destination.

61. A method for providing call destination information, the method comprising:

discerning among callers calling a destination based on caller-related information;

providing a first discerned caller with access to a first set of call destination information; and

providing a second discerned caller with access to a second set of call destination information, the second set being different than the first set.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing a first set of call destination information personalized to the first discerned caller.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing information related to the geographic location of the destination.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing information related to a call recipient at the destination.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing information designated by a call recipient at the destination as information that is available to the caller.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein providing a first set of call destination information does not include providing information designated by a call recipient at the destination as information that is blocked to the caller.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing information related to online status of a call recipient at the destination.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein providing a first set of call destination information includes providing call recipient information that is proprietary to the first discerned caller or proprietary to a business or an organization related to the first discerned caller.

69. The method of claim 61, wherein providing the first discerned caller with access to the first set of call destination information includes sending call destination information to the first discerned caller as one or more digital communications accessible to the first discerned caller through a caller computer system.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein sending call destination information to the first discerned caller includes sending call destination information as e-mails accessible to the first discerned caller.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein sending call destination information to the first discerned caller includes sending call destination information as instant messages accessible to the first discerned caller.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein providing a first discerned caller with access to the first set of call destination information includes sending call destination information to the first discerned caller as data over a caller phone used by the first discerned caller to call the destination.