Method for identifying the source of a telephonic communication

• US 5,692,038 A
• Filed: 11/07/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: BellSouth Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smets, Raymond J., Yue, Drina C., Moquin, Thomas Joseph, Kraus, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/743,751
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 379/196, 379/142, 379/127, 379/201, 379/100, 379/67, 379/68, 379/88, 379/89, 379/265, 379/210, 358/400, 358/407
• US Class Current: 379/207.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• 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 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13179 Fax, still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1325 : Priority service
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1327 : Release and resetting of connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 : Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13513 : UPT - personal as opposed to terminal mobility, inc. number portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13515 : authentication, authorisation - fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13532 : mobile networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13541 : routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/005 : Personal communication services, e.g. provisions for portability of subscriber numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/665 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 : Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 : Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A method for identifying the source of a communication, including the steps of: receiving the communication on a calling line; identifying the calling line number associated with the calling line; accessing a database to provide an identity for the source by finding a database entry corresponding to the calling line number; announcing this identity to the source; and requesting confirmation. Priority caller codes can be used to identify the source. Facsimile transmissions also can be identified before the message is delivered.

Claims

1. A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of:

receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system;

said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network;

identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification;

accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number;

announcing said identity to said source;

requesting said source to confirm said identity;

if confirmed, providing said identity to said subscriber;

routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and

disposing of said communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of requesting further comprises:

if said source does not confirm said identity, then requesting said source to provide source identification information; and

receiving said source identification information.

3. A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of:

receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system;

said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network;

identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification;

accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number;

if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source;

determining if said code is a priority caller code;

if said code is a priority caller code, then requesting said source for a priority caller identification and receiving said priority caller identification;

providing said priority caller identification to said subscriber;

routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and

disposing of said communication.

4. A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of:

receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system;

said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network;

identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification;

accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number;

if said identity of said source is not found, then requesting said source for source identification;

receiving said source identification;

providing said source identification to said subscriber;

routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and

disposing of said communication.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of announcing said source identification provided by said source to said subscriber.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of recording said source identification in response to receiving said source identification.

7. A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of:

receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system;

said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network;

identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification;

accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number;

if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source;

obtaining an identity for said source by accessing a personal database to find a database entry corresponding to said code;

providing said identity for said source to said subscriber;

routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and

disposing of said communication.