System and method for identifying and announcing a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call

• US 6,385,303 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1997
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor (U.S.) Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Legerity Incorporated (Microsemi Semiconductor Corp.)
• Inventors: Peterson, Joe, Dildy, Bob, Borland, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US08/969,780
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.01, 379/88.16, 379/88.21, 379/88.23, 379/88.25, 379/142, 379/212, 379/214, 379/221, 379/270, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42, 379/37, 379/38, 379/156, 379/157, 379/419, 379/420, 379/201, 379/159, 379/177, 379/90.01, 379/93.35, 379/215, 379/377, 379/388, 379/68, 379/71, 379/72, 379/76, 379/82, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/207.13, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/207.16, 704/240, 704/248, 704/251
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/65 Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party in the exchange H04M3/50
• 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 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4872 Non-interactive information services

Abstract

The present invention comprises a telephone system and method that identify and announce the caller and/or the callee of an incoming telephone call. After receiving a telephone call from a caller, the telephone system answers the incoming telephone call. The identity of the caller is then determined. The telephone system prompts the caller to say his/her name. The name is recorded and repeatedly played back through a built-in speaker announcing the name of the caller to the users of the telephone. The telephone system may also ask the caller to say the name of the callee. In that case, the name of the callee is also recorded and repeatedly played back. The name of the caller and the name of the callee are both announced to the users of the telephone.

Claims

1. A method for announcing a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call, the method comprising:

a telephone receiving an incoming call from the caller when the telephone is on-hook;

the telephone receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call;

receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

the telephone repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of the caller and the callee in response to said receiving information identifying the caller and said receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call;

wherein said receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call comprises;

the telephone generating a message requesting the caller to identify the caller of the incoming telephone call;

the telephone receiving voice information from the caller identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call;

the telephone recording said voice information from the caller;

wherein said audibly announcing comprises playing said recorded voice information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving information identifying a callee of the incoming telephone call comprises:

generating a message asking the caller to identify said callee of the incoming telephone call;

receiving voice information from the caller identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

recording said voice information from the caller identifying the callee.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of said callee comprises playing said recorded voice information identifying the callee.

4. A method for announcing a callee of an incoming telephone call, the method comprising:

a single telephone device receiving an incoming call from an external party;

the single telephone device inquiring the caller for the identity of the callee of the incoming call;

the single telephone device receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

the single telephone device repeatedly audibly announcing the callee in response to said receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said inquiring the caller for the identity of the callee of the incoming call comprises:

generating a message asking a caller to identify the callee of the incoming telephone call after said receiving the incoming telephone call;

and wherein said receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call comprises;

receiving voice information from said caller identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

recording said voice information from the caller.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing comprises playing said recorded voice information.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving information identifying a caller of the incoming telephone call; and

audibly announcing said caller in response to said receiving information identifying said caller of the incoming telephone call.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call comprises:

generating a message asking said caller to identify said caller of the incoming telephone call after said receiving the incoming telephone call;

receiving voice information from said caller identifying said caller of the incoming telephone call; and

recording said voice information from said caller.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said audibly announcing said caller comprises playing said recorded voice information.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said receiving information identifying said caller of the incoming telephone call comprises receiving Caller ID information which identifies said caller of the incoming telephone call.

11. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing the callee is performed a predetermined number of times.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising, after said repeatedly audibly announcing the callee a predetermined number of times, allowing the caller to leave a message.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising, after said repeatedly audibly announcing the callee a predetermined number of times, sending a final outgoing message to the caller and hanging up.

14. A telephone which identifies and announces a callee of an incoming telephone call, the telephone comprising:

a port for coupling to a telephone line for receiving a telephone signal;

an identification logic unit coupled to the port, wherein the identification logic unit determines the identity of the callee of the incoming telephone call by inquiring the caller for the identity of the callee; and

a speaker coupled to the identification logic unit, wherein the speaker repeatedly announces the identity of the callee;

wherein said port, said identification logic unit, and said speaker are comprised within a single telephone device.

15. A telephone system which identifies and announces a callee of an incoming telephone call, the telephone system comprising:

a master telephone comprising;

a port for coupling to a telephone line for receiving a telephone signal;

an identification logic unit coupled to the port, wherein the identification logic unit determines the identity of the callee of the incoming telephone call by inquiring the caller for the identity of the callee;

a speaker coupled to the identification logic unit, wherein the speaker announces the identity of the callee;

one or more slave telephones comprising;

a slave port for coupling to the telephone line for receiving the telephone signal;

a slave identification logic unit coupled to the slave port, wherein the slave identification logic unit determines the identity of the callee of the incoming telephone call;

a slave speaker coupled to the salve identification logic unit, wherein the slave speaker announces the identity of the callee.

16. A telephone system which identifies and announces a caller of an incoming telephone call, the telephone system comprising:

a master telephone comprising;

a port for coupling to a telephone line for receiving a telephone signal;

an identification logic unit coupled to the port, wherein the identification logic unit determines the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call; and

a speaker coupled to the identification logic unit, wherein the speaker announces the identity of the caller; and

one or more slave telephones comprising;

a slave port for coupling to the telephone line for receiving the telephone signal;

a slave identification logic unit coupled to the slave port, wherein the slave identification logic unit determines the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call; and

a slave speaker coupled to the slave identification logic unit, wherein the slave speaker announces the identity of the caller.

17. The telephone of claim 16, further comprising a caller ID unit for determining the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call.

18. The telephone of claim 16, further comprising a slave caller ID unit for determining the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call.

19. A telephone which identifies and announces a callee and a caller of an incoming telephone call, the telephone comprising:

a port for coupling to a telephone line for receiving a telephone signal;

an identification logic unit coupled to the port, wherein the identification logic unit determines the identity of the caller and the callee of the incoming telephone call by inquiring the caller for the identity of the caller and the callee; and

a speaker coupled to the identification logic unit, wherein said speaker repeatedly announces the identity of the callee and the caller.

20. The telephone of claim 19, further comprising a caller ID unit for determining the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call.

21. A telephone system which identifies and announces a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call, the telephone system comprising:

a master telephone comprising;

a port for coupling to a telephone line for receiving a telephone signal;

an identification logic unit coupled to the port, wherein the identification logic unit determines the identity of the caller and the callee of the incoming telephone call by inquiring the caller for the identity of the caller and the callee; and

a speaker coupled to the identification logic unit, wherein said speaker announces the identity of the callee and the caller; and

one or more slave telephones comprising;

a slave port for coupling to the telephone line for receiving the telephone signal;

a slave identification logic unit coupled to the slave port, wherein the slave identification logic unit determines the identity of the caller and the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

a slave speaker coupled to the slave identification logic unit, wherein said slave speaker announces the identity of the callee and the caller.

22. The telephone of claim 21, further comprising a slave caller ID unit for determining the identity of the caller of the incoming telephone call.

23. A method for announcing a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call from the caller when the telephone is on-hook;

receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call;

receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call; and

repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of the caller and the callee in response to said receiving information identifying the caller and said receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call comprises:

generating a message requesting the caller to identify the caller of the incoming telephone call;

receiving voice information from the caller identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call;

recording said voice information from the caller;

wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing comprises playing said recorded voice information.

25. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said receiving information identifying the caller of the incoming telephone call comprises receiving caller ID information identifying the caller.

26. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said receiving information identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call comprises:

generating a message requesting the caller to identify the callee of the incoming telephone call;

receiving voice information from the caller identifying the callee of the incoming telephone call;

recording said voice information from the caller;

wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing comprises playing said recorded voice information.

27. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of the caller and the callee is performed a predetermined number of times.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising, after said repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of the caller and the callee a predetermined number of times, allowing the caller to leave a message.

29. The method as recited in claim 27, further comprising, after said repeatedly audibly announcing the identity of the caller and the callee a predetermined number of times, sending a final outgoing message to the caller and hanging up.