System and method of identifying to the called party the identity of individual caller

• US 20050281400A1
• Filed: 06/18/2004
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Zeiler, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/871,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20050281400A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/08 specially adapted for optional reception of entertainment or informative matter
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• 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

A telephone system is described in which a called party is serviced by a local switch, and where a calling individual is permitted to enter his/her preprogrammed identification number (ID#) and thereby enable the system to provide his identity to the called party. Additionally, the system further permits the calling individual to signal the local switch to implement additional features such as identifying the call as “urgent”.

Claims

1. A communications system for handling a call placed by a calling individual to a called party'"'"'s phone, said call placed from a phone instrument not identifiable with the calling individual, wherein the identity of the calling individual is provided to the called party'"'"'s phone, said system comprising:

a local switch which services the called party'"'"'s phone;

a data base associated with said local switch, said data base containing a correspondence between the calling individual'"'"'s identification number (ID#) and his identity;

a means for entering by the calling individual a data character stream, said stream comprising a first indicator character and the calling individual'"'"'s ID#;

a means for converting said calling individual'"'"'s ID# into the identity of the calling individual and transmitting said identity to the called party'"'"'s phone.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the data character stream further comprises the extension number of the called party'"'"'s phone.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the data character stream further comprises a second indicator which indicates to the system that an “

Urgent”

call classification is to be transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the data character stream further comprises a third indicator which indicates to the system that the call should be delayed prior to being transferred to a voice mail box associated with the called party'"'"'s phone.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the information transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone is displayed on a display unit associated with that phone.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least some of the information transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone results in audible signals being generated at the called party'"'"'s phone.

7. A communications system for handling a call placed by a calling individual to a called party'"'"'s phone, said call placed from a phone instrument not identifiable with the calling individual, wherein the identity of the calling individual is provided to the called party'"'"'s phone, said system comprising:

a local switch which services the called party'"'"'s phone;

a data base associated with said local switch, said data base containing a correspondence between the calling individual'"'"'s identification number (ID#) and his identity;

a means for prompting the calling individual to enter his ID#;

a means for converting said calling individual'"'"'s ID# into the identity of the calling individual and transmitting said identity to the called party'"'"'s phone.

8. The communication system of claim 7 wherein the means for prompting is selected from the group consisting of an automated attendant and a voice mail processing system, and combinations thereof.

9. The communication system of claim 7 wherein the means for prompting further comprises prompting the calling individual to designate the call as “

Urgent”

.

10. The communication system of claim 7 wherein at least some of the information transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone is displayed on a display unit associated with that phone.

11. The communication system of claim 7 wherein at least some of the information transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone results in audible signals being generated at the called party'"'"'s phone.

12. In a telephone call placed from a calling individual to a called party'"'"'s phone, said phone being serviced by a local switch, a method of providing to the called party'"'"'s phone the identity of the calling individual when said call was placed from a phone instrument not identifiable with the calling individual, said method comprising:

establishing a data base associated with said local switch, said data base containing a correspondence between the calling individual'"'"'s identification number (ID#) and his identity;

entering by the calling individual a data character stream, said stream comprising a first indicator character and the calling individual'"'"'s ID#;

converting said calling individual'"'"'s ID# into the identity of the calling individual; and

,

transmitting said identity to the called party'"'"'s phone.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said entering step comprises entering the extension number of the called party'"'"'s phone.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said entering step further comprises entering a second indicator which indicates to the system that an “

Urgent”

call classification is to be transmitted to the called party'"'"'s phone.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said entering step further comprises entering a third indicator which indicates to the system that the call should be delayed prior to being transferred to a voice mail box associated with the called party'"'"'s phone.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying on a display unit associated with the called party'"'"'s phone at least some of the information transmitted.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

generating audible signals at the called party'"'"'s phone corresponding to at least some of the information transmitted.

18. In a telephone call placed from a calling individual to a called party'"'"'s phone, said phone being serviced by a local switch, a method of providing to the called party'"'"'s phone the identity of the calling individual when said call was placed from a phone instrument not identifiable with the calling individual, said method comprising:

establishing a data base associated with said local switch, said data base containing a correspondence between the calling individual'"'"'s identification number (ID#) and his identity;

prompting the calling individual to enter his ID#;

converting said calling individual'"'"'s ID# into the identity of the calling individual; and

,

transmitting said identity to the called party'"'"'s phone.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said prompting step further comprises prompting the calling individual to designate the call as “

Urgent”

.

20. The communication system of claim 18 further comprising:

displaying on a display unit associated with the called party'"'"'s phone at least some of the information transmitted.