Method and system for providing information for identifying callers based on a partial number

• US 6,813,344 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lemke, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/942,481
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142-1-1, 379/88.11, 379/88.19, 379/88.21, 379/93.23, 379/167.08, 379/167.12, 379/207.16, 379/211.01, 379/372, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/375.01, 379/399.01, 379/387.01, 455/415, 455/95, 455/100, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/567, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• 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

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include a caller identification system and method for identifying a caller with a partial phone number look-up table. The caller identification system comprises a database that stores received calls and can be personalized to include information specific to partial phone numbers. In one embodiment, the caller identification system disclosed can be integrated into a cellular phone. In this embodiment, an incoming call initiates a search in a database to retrieve information about the caller. If a match is found, the identity of the caller is displayed. When an exact match is not found, a search for a partial match is executed with wild card values and information about the partial match is displayed. Information for a partial match can be personalized or pre-programmed into the caller ID system such as the city associated with a particular area code or prefix.

Claims

1. A caller identification system comprising:

a caller identification logic unit coupled to a telephone network, wherein said caller identification logic unit determines the caller identification of an incoming telephone call;

a local memory for storing a database comprising at least one partial phone number and a corresponding identification wherein said database is user customizable to store a unique partial phone number;

a processor for determining if said caller identification of said incoming telephone call matches at least one partial phone number in said database and for retrieving its associated identification.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said partial phone number comprises a telephone number area code.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said partial phone number comprises a telephone number prefix.

4. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said partial phone number comprises wild card values.

5. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said processor and said memory are integrated within a personal digital assistant (PDA).

6. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said telephone network is a cellular network.

7. A system as described in claim 5 wherein said personal digital assistant (PDA) is coupled to the Internet.

8. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said system further comprises a display device for displaying the retrieved identification.

9. A caller identification system comprising:

a) a cradle configured to dock a portable electronic device comprising;

a₁) a first port for coupling to a telephone network;

a₂) a caller identification logic unit coupled to said port, wherein said caller identification logic unit provides a phone number of an incoming telephone call;

a₃) a second port for communicating;

b) a portable electronic device for communicating with said second port and comprising;

b₁) a local memory for storing a user customizable database containing at least one partial phone number and a corresponding identification;

b₂) a logic unit for determining if said phone number of said incoming telephone call matches at least one said partial phone number in said user customizable database and for retrieving its associated identification.

10. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said partial phone number comprises a telephone number area code.

11. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said partial phone number comprises a telephone number prefix.

12. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said partial phone number comprises wild card values.

13. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said portable electronic device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

14. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said user customizable database is an address book comprising a plurality of entries, each entry comprising a respective partial phone number and a corresponding identification.

15. A system as described in claim 9 wherein said portable electronic device communicates with said cradle with a wireless protocol.

16. A portable electronic device comprising:

an embedded telephone circuit;

caller identification logic coupled to said telephone circuit and for determining a phone number of an incoming telephone call;

a user customizable local memory stored database comprising at least one partial phone number and an associated identification;

a processor for determining if said phone number of said incoming telephone call matches at least one partial phone number in said database and for retrieving its associated identification.

17. A device as described in claim 16 wherein said telephone circuit is a wireless phone.

18. A device as described in claim 16 wherein said partial phone number is a telephone number area code.

19. A device as described in claim 16 wherein said partial phone number is a telephone number prefix.

20. A device as described in claim 16 wherein said partial phone number comprises wild card values.

21. A device as described in claim 16 wherein said portable electronic device further comprises a display device for displaying the retrieved identification.

22. In an electronic system, a method for providing caller information comprising:

a) receiving a phone call and an associated phone number;

b) indexing a local memory stored, user customizable database with said phone number to locate a match between said phone number and a partial number of said database;

c) accessing an identification associated with said partial number of b);

d) display said identification of c).

23. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said partial phone number is a telephone number area code.

24. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said partial phone number is a telephone number prefix.

25. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said partial phone number comprises wild card values.

26. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said electronic system is a Personal Digital Assistant.

27. A method as described in claim 22 wherein said electronic system further comprises a tone generator wherein said tone generator generates a tone when a match is found.

28. A method as described in claim 27 wherein said tone is different depending on caller information.