Caller identification system with announcement capability

• US 6,748,058 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Douglas F., Marks, Martin R., Davy, Gloria E., Bell, Brent V., Schwend, Peggy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sing, Simon P.
• Application Number:
  US09/387,217
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.02, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/127.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/221.11, 379/221.12, 379/67.1, 379/93.23, 379/142.17, 379/201.11, 379/207.15, 379/207.13, 379/207.16
• US Class Current: 379/88.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• 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 3/436 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Disclosed is a caller identification system that provides unblocking or audible identification on telephone calls from calling parties having blocked or unknown numbers. Calling parties from blocked numbers are given the option of unblocking their name and telephone number for the current call, or to record their name for delivery to the caller ID subscriber. Calling parties from unknown numbers are given the option of recording their name for audible identification. The system provides an audibly distinct ring on a caller ID subscriber'"'"'s telephone and visually displays a special message on a caller ID subscriber'"'"'s visual display unit to alert the subscriber that the incoming telephone call will be audibly announced, since the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party are not available to the caller identification system.

Claims

1. A method for telephone call identification comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an incoming telephone call from a call source to a subscriber directory number, wherein said call source has an unknown caller directory number;

(b) identifying service information associated with said subscriber directory number;

(c) based on said service information, transmitting a first message to said call source, wherein said first message requests a caller identification input;

(d) upon receiving said caller identification input from said call source which caller identification input can include a leave voice message input, processing further said incoming telephone call utilizing said caller identification input, wherein said further processing includes displaying a special message and a plurality of symbols on a visual display unit connected to said subscriber telephone and associated with said subscriber directory number, wherein said special message and said plurality of symbols indicates that said incoming telephone call is from said call source having said unknown caller directory number; and

(e) if said caller identification input is not received, disconnecting said incoming telephone call.

2. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 1 wherein step (b) further comprises querying a database within a services control point to identify said service information associated with said subscriber directory number.

3. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises the step (a1):

(a1) determining if said unknown caller directory number is a private directory number or an unknown directory number.

4. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises the steps (c1) and (c2):

(c1) determining if a privileged caller code was received during said transmission of said first message to said call source, wherein said privileged caller code indicates that said incoming telephone call is from a privileged caller; and

(c2) upon receiving said privileged caller code during said transmission of said first message to said call source, performing steps (c2a) and (c2b);

(c2a) verifying the validity of said privileged caller code for said subscriber directory number; and

(c2b) upon verifying said validity of said privileged caller code for said subscriber directory number, performing steps (c2b1) through (c2b3);

(c2b1) outdialing said subscriber directory number;

(c2b2) ringing a subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number with a distinctive ring; and

(c2b3) displaying a privileged caller message and a plurality of symbols on a visual display unit connected to said subscriber telephone and associated with said subscriber directory number, wherein said privileged caller message and said plurality of symbols indicates that said privileged caller is calling from said call source having said unknown caller directory number.

5. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 4 further comprising the steps (c3) and (c4):

(c3) determining if a voice messaging service is associated with said subscriber directory number; and

(c4) upon determining that said voice messaging service is associated with said subscriber directory number, transmitting a second message to said call source, wherein said second message to said call source requests that a voice message be left and requests a leave voice message input.

6. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 1 wherein step (d1) further comprises the step (d0) performed before step (d1):

(d0) upon receiving said caller identification input in step (d), determining a type of said caller identification input.

7. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 1 further comprising the steps (d3) through (d6):

(d3) if said incoming telephone call to said subscriber telephone is answered, performing step (d4) and not performing steps (d5) and (d6), and if said incoming telephone call to said subscriber telephone is not answered, performing steps (d5) and (d6) and not performing step (d4);

(d4) transmitting a second message to said subscriber telephone, wherein said second message to said subscriber telephone indicates that said incoming telephone call is unidentified and requests an acknowledgment input;

(d5) transmitting a third message to said call source, wherein said third message to said call source indicates said subscriber directory number was not answered; and

(d6) disconnecting said incoming telephone call.

8. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 7, wherein step (d4) further comprises the steps (d4a) through (d4d):

(d4a) upon receiving a positive response to said second message from said subscriber telephone through said acknowledgment input, performing steps (d4b) and (d4c) and not step (d4d), and upon receiving a negative response to said second message from said subscriber telephone through said acknowledgment input, performing step (d4d) and not steps (d4b) and (d4c);

(d4b) transmitting said name of said caller recorded in step (d0b) to said subscriber telephone;

(d4c) transmitting a fourth message to said subscriber telephone, wherein said fourth message to said subscriber telephone requests accepting or rejecting said incoming telephone call and requests an accept input or a reject input; and

(d4d) connecting said incoming telephone call to a telephone answering device connected to said subscriber telephone.

9. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 8 wherein step (d4c) further comprises the steps (d4c1) through (d4c3):

(d4c1) upon receiving a positive response to said fourth message from said subscriber telephone through said accept input, performing step (d4c2) and not step (d4c3), and upon receiving a negative response to said fourth message from said subscriber telephone through said reject input, performing step (d4c3) and not step (d4c2);

(d4c2) connecting said incoming telephone call to said subscriber telephone; and

(d4c3) disconnecting said incoming telephone call from said subscriber telephone.

10. A method for telephone call identification comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an incoming telephone call from a call source to a subscriber directory number, wherein said call source has an unknown caller directory number;

(a1) determining if said unknown caller directory number is a private directory number or an unknown directory number

(b) identifying service information associated with said subscriber directory number;

(c) based on said service information, transmitting a first message to said call source, wherein said first message requests a caller identification input;

(d) upon receiving said caller identification input from said call source, processing further said incoming telephone call utilizing said caller identification input;

(d0) upon receiving said caller identification input in step (d), determining a type of said caller identification input;

(d0a) upon determining in step (d0) that said type of said caller identification input is a record name input, performing step (d0b) and not performing steps (d0c) and (d0d), and upon determining in step (d0) that said type of said caller identification input is a leave voice message input, performing step (d0c) and not performing steps (d0b) and (d0d), and upon determining in step (d0) that said type of said caller identification input is an unblock call input and upon determining in step (a1) that said unknown caller directory number is said private directory number, performing step (d0d) and not performing steps (d0b) and (d0c);

(d0b) recording a name of a caller from said call source;

(d0c) routing said incoming call to a voice messaging service associated with said subscriber directory number; and

(d0d) unblocking said private directory number and forwarding said incoming telephone call to said subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number

(d1) ringing a subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number with a distinctive ring; and

(e) if said caller identification input is not received, disconnecting said incoming telephone call.

11. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 10 wherein step (d0b) further comprises the steps (d0b1) and (d0b2):

(d0b1) placing said incoming telephone call on hold; and

(d0b2) outdialing said subscriber directory number.

12. An apparatus for telephone call identification, said apparatus comprising:

a terminating end service switching point within a telephone network which processes incoming telephone calls from a plurality of call sources, wherein said terminating end service switching point identifies said incoming telephone calls which have an unknown caller directory number, and further wherein said terminating end service switching point identifies a subscriber directory number of a subscriber for each of said incoming telephone calls;

a database in communication with said terminating end service switching point, wherein said database contains service information on a plurality of said subscribers served by said terminating end service switching point, each of said plurality of said subscribers having a said subscriber directory number, and further wherein said database processes a query from said terminating end service switching point to determine a caller ID service for at least one subscriber directory number receiving at least one incoming telephone call from at least one call source having said unknown caller directory number; and

an intelligent peripheral in communication with said terminating end service switching point and in communication with said at least one call source for said at least one incoming telephone call having said unknown caller directory number, wherein said intelligent peripheral transmits to said at least one call source at least one message requesting caller identification input, and further wherein upon receiving said caller identification input from said at least one call source which caller identification input can include a leave voice message input, processing further said incoming telephone call utilizing said caller identification input, wherein said processing includes at least one of;

transmitting a ringing signal which causes a subscriber telephone to ring with a distinctive ring and transmitting a data signal which includes a special message presentable on a display device associated with the subscriber telephone, and if said caller identification input is not received, disconnecting said at least one incoming telephone call.

13. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12 wherein said caller identification input comprises an unblock call input, wherein upon receiving said unblock call input, said intelligent peripheral connects said at least one incoming telephone call from said at least one call source to said at least one subscriber directory number.

14. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12 wherein said caller identification input comprises a recorded name of a caller from said call source.

15. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12 wherein said database is contained within a services control point.

16. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12, said apparatus further comprising:

a signal transfer point in communication with said terminating end service switching point and said database for transferring said query received from said terminating end service switching point to said database;

an originating end service switching point in communication with said terminating end service switching point and in communication with said at least one call source for transmitting said at least one incoming telephone call from said at least one call source having said unknown caller directory number to said terminating end service switching point; and

a remote service switching point in communication with said terminating end service switching point and said intelligent peripheral for transmitting said at least one message received from said intelligent peripheral to said call source.

17. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising:

a signaling system network, said signaling system network further comprising

a first signaling circuit between said terminating end service switching point and said signal transfer point for transferring said query from said terminating end service switching point to said signal transfer point, and for sending at least one call processing instruction from said signal transfer point to said terminating end service switching point;

a second signaling circuit between said signal transfer point and said database for transferring said query from said signal transfer point to said database and for sending at least one call processing instruction from said database to said signal transfer point; and

a plurality of third signaling circuits between said database and said intelligent peripheral for transferring processing instructions from said database to said intelligent peripheral.

18. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 16, said apparatus further comprising:

a first trunk for carrying voice grade communications between said originating end service switching point and said terminating end service switching point;

a second trunk for carrying voice grade communications between said terminating end service switching point and said remote service switching point; and

a primary rate ISDN trunk for carrying voice grade communications between said remote service switching point and said intelligent peripheral.

19. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12, wherein if said subscriber telephone is answered after said distinctive ring, and an accept input is received from said subscriber telephone, said intelligent peripheral plays a recorded name of a caller from said call source for audible output on said subscriber telephone.

20. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 12, said apparatus further comprising:

a voice messaging service associated with said at least one subscriber directory number and in communication with said terminating end service switching point, wherein if said subscriber telephone is answered after said distinctive ring, and a reject input is received from said subscriber telephone, said intelligent peripheral routes said at least one incoming telephone call to said voice messaging service.

21. An apparatus for telephone call identification according to claim 20, said apparatus further comprising:

a telephone answering device connected to said subscriber telephone, wherein if said subscriber telephone is answered after said distinctive ring, and said reject input is received from said subscriber telephone, and said voice messaging service is not associated with said at least one subscriber directory number, said intelligent peripheral routes said at least one incoming telephone call to said telephone answering device.

22. A method for telephone call identification comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an incoming telephone call from a call source to a subscriber directory number, wherein said call source has an unknown caller directory number;

(b) identifying service information associated with said subscriber directory number;

(c) based on said service information, transmitting a first message to said call source, wherein said first message requests a caller identification input, wherein said step of transmitting further comprises the steps of;

(c1) determining if a privileged caller code was received during said transmission of said first message to said call source, wherein said privileged caller code indicates that said incoming telephone call is from a privileged caller; and

(c2) upon receiving said privileged caller code during said transmission of said first message to said call source, performing steps (c2a) and (c2b);

(c2a) verifying the validity of said privileged caller code for said subscriber directory number; and

(c2b) upon verifying said validity of said privileged caller code for said subscriber directory number, performing steps (c2b1) through (c2b3);

(c2b 1) outdialing said subscriber directory number;

(c2b2) ringing a subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number with a distinctive ring; and

(c2b3) displaying a privileged caller message and a plurality of symbols on a visual display unit connected to said subscriber telephone and associated with said subscriber directory number, wherein said privileged caller message and said plurality of symbols indicates that said privileged caller is calling from said call source having said unknown caller directory number;

(d) upon receiving said caller identification input from said call source which caller identification input can include a leave voice message input, processing further said incoming telephone call utilizing said caller identification input, wherein said further processing includes at least one of;

ringing a subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number with a distinctive ring and displaying a special message and a plurality of symbols on a visual display unit connected to said subscriber telephone and associated with said subscriber directory number, wherein said special message and said plurality of symbols indicates that said incoming telephone call is from said call source having said unknown caller directory number; and

(e) if said caller identification input is not received, disconnecting said incoming telephone call.

23. A method for telephone call identification according to claim 22 further comprising the steps (c3) and (c4):

(c3) determining if a voice messaging service is associated with said subscriber directory number; and

(c4) upon determining that said voice messaging service is associated with said subscriber directory number, transmitting a second message to said call source, wherein said second message to said call source requests that a voice message be left and requests a leave voice message input.

24. The method for telephone call identification according to claim 22 wherein step (d) further comprises at least one of:

(d1) ringing a subscriber telephone associated with said subscriber directory number with a distinctive ring; and

(d2) displaying a special message and a plurality of symbols on a visual display unit connected to said subscriber telephone and associated with said subscriber directory number, wherein said special message and said plurality of symbols indicates that said incoming telephone call is from said call source having said unknown caller directory number.