System and Method for Monitoring Incoming Communications to a Telecommunications Device

• US 20070206750A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bedingfield, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,995,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• 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 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/64 Arrangements for signalling the number or class of the calling line to the operator between operators in inter- exchange working H04M5/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13092 Scanning of subscriber lines, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1315 Call waiting
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13298 Local loop systems, access network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 : involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems

Abstract

A system for notifying an Internet-accessible device of a communication placed from a first telecommunications device to a second telecommunications device by a calling party is disclosed. The system includes a switch and a node in communication with the switch. The switch is for detecting the communication. The node is configured for communication with the Internet-accessible device and includes a first module and a second module. The first module is for determining information about the calling party. The second module is for determining information about the Internet-accessible device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for notifying an Internet-accessible device of a communication placed to a telecommunication device associated with the Internet accessible device by a caller, the apparatus comprising:

a module within the Internet-accessible device, wherein the module monitors the Internet-accessible device for an active connection to a network and monitors for a message that a call is being placed to the telecommunication device by the caller;

a user interface in communication with the module whereby the module may provide a user of the Internet-accessible device with a message related to the caller;

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-accessible device is a wireless device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the telecommunications device is a wireless device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-capable device communicates with the network via a communications link comprising at least one of a dial-up communications link, a cable modem link, an ADSL link and an IDSN link.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module logs the call.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message related to the caller is an audible indication.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module allows the user to either disable or enable receipt of the message that the call is being placed to the telecommunication device by the caller.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module compares a calling number of the caller with a list of calling numbers provided by the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module compares a called number of the associated telecommunication device with a list of numbers for a plurality of associated telecommunications devices provided by the user.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the calling number matches a number on the list of calling numbers, the message related to the caller is provided to the user.

11. A method for notifying an Internet-accessible device of a communication placed from a first telecommunications device by a calling party to a second telecommunications device associated with a called party, the method comprising:

detecting the communication;

determining, via a first module in a node, information about the first telecommunication device associated with the calling party;

determining, via a second module in a node, information about the Internet-accessible device, wherein the first module is accessed prior to the second module and wherein the first module and the second module are colocated within the node; and

sending a notification message that includes information about the calling party to the Internet-accessible device via the Internet.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the communication includes detecting the communication at a switch.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the information about the calling party includes determining a name associated with the calling party.

14. The method of claim of claim 11, wherein determining the information about the calling party includes determining a directory number associated with the calling party.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the information about the Internet-accessible device includes determining an Internet Protocol address of the Internet-accessible device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the Internet Protocol address of the Internet-accessible device includes determining a permanent Internet Protocol address.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the Internet Protocol address of the Internet-accessible device includes determining a variable Internet Protocol address.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the notification message includes generating the notification message.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein sending the notification message includes sending the notification message to the Internet-accessible device via a packet switched Internet Protocol network.

20. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine, via a first module in a node, information about a calling party that placed a communication to a telecommunications device;

determine, via a second module in a node, information about an Internet-accessible device associated with the called party, wherein the first module is accessed prior to the second module and wherein the first module and the second module are colocated within the node;

generate a notification message indicating that the calling party placed a communication to the telecommunications device; and

transmit the notification message to the Internet-accessible device via the Internet.