Image icon associated with caller ID
DCFirst Claim
1. For use in a system including a telephone receiver, a display device, a processor, a storage device, and a user input device, a method for displaying an image in association with a Caller ID identifier, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing a facial image of a future caller in a storage medium;
storing an association which indicates that a predetermined Caller ID identifier and the stored facial image are associated;
using the telephone receiver to receive an incoming call and a corresponding incoming Caller ID identifier;
using the processor to determine whether the incoming Caller ID identifier matches the predetermined Caller ID identifier;
using the processor to display the facial image on the display device when it is determined that the incoming Caller ID identifier matches the predetermined Caller ID identifier;
waiting for an acceptance of the incoming call that is provided from the user input device; and
automatically causing an effectively permanent disappearance of the facial image from display when the incoming call is not accepted within a predetermined period.
4 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
A person receiving a telephone call to identifies a caller in advance of answering the telephone call by means of a image associated with the caller'"'"'s Caller ID. The image is displayed on a telephone display device, television set, personal computer or other display coupled to the telephone system. The calling party may define the image to be associated with their Caller ID. The calling party transmits a image over the telephone line prior to, or concurrently with, a telephone call intended to be answered by the receiving party. The image is stored in a storage device coupled to the receiving party'"'"'s telephone system along with an indication of the Caller ID of the calling party. The next time that the calling party calls the receiving party the previously stored image is accessed and displayed.
442 Citations
10 Claims
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1. For use in a system including a telephone receiver, a display device, a processor, a storage device, and a user input device, a method for displaying an image in association with a Caller ID identifier, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing a facial image of a future caller in a storage medium; storing an association which indicates that a predetermined Caller ID identifier and the stored facial image are associated; using the telephone receiver to receive an incoming call and a corresponding incoming Caller ID identifier; using the processor to determine whether the incoming Caller ID identifier matches the predetermined Caller ID identifier; using the processor to display the facial image on the display device when it is determined that the incoming Caller ID identifier matches the predetermined Caller ID identifier; waiting for an acceptance of the incoming call that is provided from the user input device; and automatically causing an effectively permanent disappearance of the facial image from display when the incoming call is not accepted within a predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
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8. An apparatus for displaying an image in association with a Caller ID identifier, the apparatus comprising:
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a telephone receiver; a video display device coupled to the telephone receiver; a storage device for storing a facial image; a user input device;
means for associating a Caller ID identifier with the image stored in the storage device;means for reading out the stored image and displaying the read out image on the display device when the Caller ID is transmitted to the telephone receiver in connection with an incoming call; means for accepting signals from the user input device to accept the incoming call; and means for automatically causing an effectively permanent disappearance of the image from display on the display device when the incoming call is not accepted within a predetermined period. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification