System and methods for disclosing call destination characteristic

• US 20070127653A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dorai, Chitra, Stern, Edith, Kerr, Gordon
• Granted Patent: US 8,199,893 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• 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 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means

Abstract

A system is provided for use by a caller placing a call with a calling device over a communications network linking a plurality of call destinations. The system includes a call-destination information source containing one or more call-destination characteristics associated one or more call destinations. The system further includes a processing unit communicatively linked to the call-destination information source. The processing unit generates one or more call-destination character indicators based on the one or more call-destination characteristics. A call-destination character indicator is generated in response to the system receiving call-destination identifier that identifies a particular call destination.

Claims

1. A system for use by a caller placing a call with a calling device over a communications network linking a plurality of call destinations, the system comprising:

a call-destination information source containing at least one call-destination characteristic associated with at least one of the call destinations;

a processing unit communicatively linked to the call-destination information source, the processing unit generating at least one call-destination characteristic indicator based on the at least one call-destination characteristic in response to a received call-destination identifier identifying the at least one call destination.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on a reputation of an entity associated with the at least one call destination;

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the call-destination information source comprises an updatable database that is updated in response to feedback supplied by the caller.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an additional processing unit communicatively linked to the updatable database, the additional processing unit having a machine-learning capability for updating the at least one call-destination characteristic by applying an adaptive learning algorithm applied to user-supplied feedback.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the additional processing unit computes a probability-based confidence level of the reputation on which the at least one call-destination characteristic is based.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the call-destination information source comprises an updatable database that is updated in response to calling patterns with respect to the call destination.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an additional processing unit communicatively linked to the updatable database, the additional processing unit having a machine-learning capability for updating the at least one call-destination characteristic by applying an adaptive learning algorithm applied to calling patterns with respect to the at least one call destination.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the calling patterns comprise at least one of frequency of calls and durations of calls placed to the at least one call destination.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on a type of calling device used to handle calls placed from and received at the call destination.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor generates the call-destination indicator in response to at least one of a call placed to the calling device from the call destination and a call placed to the call destination with the calling device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor determines whether to provide the call-destination indicator to the caller based on at least one of a predetermined caller preference, a caller class of service, a regulatory requirement, a reputation history of an entity associated with the at least one call destination, and a caller-selected control variable.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether to provide the characteristic indicator to a caller placing a call to the call destination, the determination being based upon a predetermined criterion.

12. A method of providing call-destination information, the method comprising:

receiving a call-destination identifier identifying a call destination;

determining at least one call-destination characteristic associated with the call destination; and

generating a call-destination characteristic indicator based on the at least one call-destination characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one call-destination characteristic is based on at least one of a reputation of an entity associated with the at least one call destination, calling patterns with respect to the call destination, and a type of calling device used to handle calls placed from and received at the call destination.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising updating the at least one call-destination characteristic based on caller-supplied feedback.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of updating comprises applying a machine-learning algorithm to the caller-supplied feedback.

17. A method of providing a reputation service, the method comprising:

enrolling at least one subscriber in a voluntary reputation service;

receiving a call indicator indicating a call placed by a caller to the at least one subscriber; and

determining a reputation indicator of the at least one subscriber.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a call indicator associated with a non-subscriber, and providing a non-subscriber indicator to the caller.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining a reputation indicator comprises at least one of accessing a database of complaints filed with a third-party entity.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving a feedback from the caller.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of determining a reputation indicator comprises determining at least one of a frequency of call and a duration of calls placed to the subscriber during a predetermined time period.