Calling line identification

• US 5,283,824 A
• Filed: 10/25/1991
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T, Inc.
• Inventors: Shaw, I-Nuoh R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US07/782,703
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142, 379/127, 379/120, 379/245, 379/246, 379/201
• US Class Current: 379/142.09
• 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 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• 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 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for specifying alternate numbers for use as Incoming Calling Line Identification (ICLID) numbers. On a calling card call, the caller may specify whether the calling card number or the telephone number of the caller telephone station is to be used as the ICLID number. Alternatively or in addition, the caller may provide an identification number comprising a personal identification number and a telephone number and indicate that the telephone number be used as the ICLID number. Advantageously, callers may identify themselves, for the purposes of ICLID, with their home or business telephone number even when they are calling from a different telephone station.

Claims

1. In a telephone network, a method of indicating a number for use as an incoming calling line identification (ICLID) number, comprising the steps of:

in an originating telephone switching system, interpreting dialing signals from a calling customer to specify a choice of an ICLID number, other than the calling telephone number, for a call; and

in a common channel signaling message from the originating system to a terminating switching system serving a called customer of said call, transmitting data including the specified ICLID number and indication data for selecting the specified number for use as by said terminating system as ICLID data for said call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said ICLID number for said call comprises a calling card number.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said ICLID number for said call comprises an identification number dialed from said calling customer.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said identification number is supplied by said customer as part of the dialing for establishing said call.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said dialing comprises dialing an identification sequence to identify an identification number.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said identification number comprises a special directory number and a personal identification number.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

based on said indication data, selecting said specified number as an ICLID number for serving a called customer of said call.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

prompting said calling customer to provide said dialing signals for specifying a choice of an ICLID number other than the calling telephone number.

8. In a telecommunications switching system, apparatus for processing a telephone call comprising:

means for transmitting common channel signaling messages toward a switching system for serving a called customer of said call; and

processor means, operative under the control of a program and responsive to a selection provided by dialing signals from a calling customer, for storing indication data for indicating which of a plurality of possible numbers is to be used as an Incoming Calling Line Identification (ICLID) number in said switching system for serving said called customer;

said processor means, further operative under the control of said program, for inserting said indication data in a common channel signaling message to a terminating switching system for controlling ICLID signaling to a telephone station of said called customer.