Alerting of network-associated information associated with a telephone call

• US 20050129221A1
• Filed: 12/11/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Isaac D.M., Dickens, James E.
• Application Number:
  US10/733,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20050129221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/373.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/215 by non-intrusive coupling means, e.g. acoustic couplers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42034 Calling party identification service
• 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

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information upon receipt of a telephone call. One of the systems includes a base station wirelessly transmitting to an accessory device. The base station receives the telephone call via a communications network. The base station includes a transmitter transmitting only network-associated information to the accessory device. The network-associated information represents signaling within the communications network, and the network-associated information lies outside a voice-portion of the telephone call. The accessory device includes a receiver and a display, with the receiver receiving the network-associated information and the display presenting the network-associated information. When the telephone call is received, the accessory device presents the network-associated information to the subscriber, thus informing the subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.

Claims

1. A system for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information upon receipt of a telephone call, the system comprising:

a base station wirelessly transmitting to an accessory device;

the base station receiving the telephone call via a communications network, the base station including a transmitter transmitting only network-associated information to the accessory device, the network-associated information representing signaling within the communications network, the network-associated information outside a voice portion of the telephone call; and

the accessory device including a receiver and a display, the receiver receiving the network-associated information and the display presenting the network-associated information,

wherein when the telephone call is received, the accessory device presents the network-associated information to the subscriber, thus informing the subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.

2. A system according to claim 1, the accessory device further comprising circuitry producing an alerting signal upon activation.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the alerting signal is at least one of visual, audible, and tactile.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device further comprises circuitry producing an alerting signal, the signal alerting the subscriber of receipt of the network-associated information.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device continuously presents the network-associated information during the telephone call.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the accessory device continuously presents the network-associated information until an on-hook condition is detected.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the network-associated information includes an incoming calling line identification (ICLID) signal.

8. A method for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call, the method comprising:

receiving a telephone call at a base station, the telephone call comprising network-associated information representing signaling within the communications network, the network-associated information outside a voice portion of the telephone call;

wirelessly transmitting only the network-associated information from a transmitter to an accessory device; and

presenting the network-associated information to the subscriber,

wherein the subscriber is alerted to the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising producing an alerting signal upon receipt of the network-associated information.

10. A method according to claim 8, further comprising producing a visual alerting signal upon receipt of the network-associated information.

11. A method according to claim 8, further comprising producing an audible alerting signal upon receipt of the network-associated information.

12. A method according to claim 8, further comprising producing a tactile alerting signal upon receipt of the network-associated information.

13. A device for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call, the device comprising:

a receiver wirelessly receiving network-associated information from a base station, the network-associated information representing signaling within the communications network, the network-associated information outside a voice portion of the telephone call; and

a display presenting the network-associated information,

wherein when the network-associated information is received, the device presents the network-associated information to the subscriber, thus informing the subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.

14. A device according to claim 13, the device further comprising circuitry producing an alerting signal upon activation.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the alerting signal is at least one of visual, audible, and tactile.

16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the device continuously presents the network-associated information during the telephone call.