Caller identification device and method of operation thereof

• US 20040242212A1
• Filed: 05/29/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bacon, James, Aghajanian, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/436 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A self powered caller identification device (CID) for a cellular telephone system (CTS) includes a receiver, a transmitter and a processor, all of which being adapted to provide access to the content of a data channel and to deny access to the voice services of a voice channel. The receiver is responsive to the data signal in the data channel and the processor is responsive to identify the CID to the CTS. The CID answers a call from the CTS in response to the call being a data signal and fails to answer the call in response to an attempted connection to the voice services of the voice channel. A display at the CID is responsive to the processor to display the content of the data signal thereby identifying the caller to the user of the CID.

Claims

1. A self powered caller identification device, comprising:

a receiver responsive to a signal from a cellular telephone system, the signal being transmitted on at least one of a data channel and a voice channel;

a processor adapted to identify the device to the cellular telephone system;

wherein at least one of the receiver and the processor is adapted to provide access to the content of the data channel and to deny access to the voice services of the voice channel; and

a display responsive to the processor to display the content of a data signal from the data channel;

whereby

the device answers a call from the cellular telephone system in response to the call being a data signal and fails to answer the call from the cellular telephone system in response to an attempted connection to the voice services of the voice channel, the contents of the received data signal being displayed at the device to identify the caller.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an alert mechanism adapted to alert a user of a received call.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one and no more than twelve actuation buttons in signal communication with the processor, the actuation buttons adapted to communicate a user input signal to the processor.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the actuation buttons are at least two and no more than four in quantity.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is a one-line screen.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter in signal communication between the processor and the cellular telephone system; and

at least one and no more than twelve actuation buttons in signal communication with the transmitter, the actuation buttons and transmitter adapted to communicate with the cellular telephone system.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the actuation buttons are at least two and no more than four in quantity.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

an antenna responsive to a signal from the cellular telephone system; and

a duplexor in signal communication with and between the antenna and the receiver, and in signal communication with and between the antenna and the transmitter.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein:

the receiver includes first and second filters, a signal mixer, and a frequency synthesizer, the first filter being receptive of a signal from the duplexor, the signal mixer being receptive of signals from the first filter and the frequency synthesizer, the frequency synthesizer being in signal communication with the processor, and the second filter being in signal communication with and between the signal mixer and the processor;

the processor includes a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, and a memory; and

the transmitter includes an amplifier in signal communication with the processor, and a third filter in signal communication with and between the amplifier and the duplexor.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a replaceable battery in signal communication with the processor.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the receiver, the transmitter and the processor are adapted for signal communication with a digital cellular telephone system.

12. A method of identifying a caller at a device in signal communication with a cellular telephone system, comprising:

receiving a page at the device from the cellular telephone system, the device having an identification tag;

replying to the page with the location of the device;

receiving a call having at least one of a data signal and a voice signal at the device in response to the reply to the page;

registering a caller identification tag, activating an alert mechanism, and displaying the caller identification tag at the device in response to the received data signal; and

denying access to the voice services of a voice channel adapted to contain the voice signal;

whereby

a received cellular call is processed at the device for data signal content but not for voice services, thereby enabling identification of the caller absent voice communication with the caller.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

saving the caller identification tag at the device for subsequent viewing.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

denying access to voice service on the voice channel by not completing the call at the device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transferring the voice signal of the call to a voicemail system.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

changing the state of the device to sleep mode in preparation of receiving another page from the cellular telephone system.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a message waiting indicator to the device;

receiving the message waiting indicator at the device;

activating the alert mechanism at the device; and

displaying a message waiting indicator icon at the device.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a clear message waiting indicator to the device;

receiving the clear message waiting indicator at the device;

erasing a message waiting indicator icon at the device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving at the device a voice channel assignment in response to the reply to the page and before receiving the call;

retuning at least one of receiver and a transmitter to the assigned voice channel; and

acknowledging to the cellular telephone system the presence of the device on the voice channel.

20. A caller identification device, comprising:

means for receiving a signal from a cellular telephone system;

means for connecting to a data channel for receiving data information associated with the signal;

means for processing the data information to identify the sender of the signal;

means for displaying an identification of the sender; and

means for preventing connection to the voice services of a voice channel adapted to contain voice information associated with the signal;

whereby

the device receives data information from the cellular telephone system but not voice content, and displays the data information to identify the caller.

21. The device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for alerting a user to the receipt of the signal; and

means for the user to silent the alert.

22. The device of claim 21, further comprising:

means for digitally processing the signal.