Service provider identifier

• US 20070015507A1
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petronelli, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,385,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/435.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, systems and apparatus for providing service provider information for a user communication device. A targeted communication link associated with a target service provider is determined using a user communication device associated with a user service provider. The determination of the indicator for the target service provider may be with a user service provider Central Office or server. An indicator of the target service provider is received and displayed on the user communication device. Communication services available to the communication device are determined and presented to the communication device by audible or visual signals. Representations of services available or restricted to the user communication device are provided to the user device. Restricted services may be enabled by override options.

Claims

1. A method of providing information for a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a targeted communication link associated with a target service provider using a user communication device associated with a user service provider;

(b) determining an indicator of the target service provider;

(c) receiving, at the user communication device, the indicator of the target service provider; and

(d) presenting the indicator of the target service provider on the user communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining according to the indicator of the target service provider, communication services available to the user communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising presenting communication services available to the user communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein presenting the indicator of the target service provider further comprises initiating at least one signal selected from the group consisting of:

i) a visual signal, and ii) an audible signal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

using a user service provider'"'"'s processor for determining the indicator of the target service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining services available to the user communication device at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

i) a user service provider'"'"'s processor and ii) the user communication device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the services available to the user communication device comprise restricted services.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the restricted services are enabled by a user override feature.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a user service provider Central Office determining the indicator of the target service provider and providing the indicator to the communication device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one of the group consisting of i) identifying a calling party, ii) restricting information transfer unless the target service provider is the user service provider;

iii) identifying available no-charge minutes; and

iv) restricting calls to in-network based on available minutes.

11. A system for providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) a communication device associated with a user service provider and a targeted communication link associated with a target service provider;

(b) a processor for determining an indicator of the target service provider; and

(c) a display device for presenting the indicator of the target service provider on the communication device.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising

determining according to the indicator of the target service provider, communication services available to the communication device.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising

presenting communication services available to the communication device on a display device.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein presenting the indicator of the target service provider further comprises initiating an audible signal.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein presenting the indicator of the target service provider further comprises initiating a visual signal.

16. The system of claim 11 further comprising

determining services available to the communication device at least one of the group consisting of:

i) the processor, ii) a service provider'"'"'s server and iii) the communication device.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the services available to the communication device comprise restricted services.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the restricted services are enabled by an override feature.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a user service provider Central Office determining the indicator of the target service provider and providing the indicator to the communication device.

20. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

at least one of the group consisting of i) identifying a calling party on the communication device, ii) restricting information transfer unless the target service provider is the user service provider;

iii) identifying available no-charge minutes; and

iv) restricting calls to in-network based on available minutes.