Converting automatic number identification information to caller ID information

• US 6,996,217 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unblockable, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Unblockable, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldman, Phillip Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Application Number:
  US10/080,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 379/127.02, 379/127.01, 379/126, 379/142.01, 379/142.02, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/127.03, 379/127.06, 379/127.05, 379/142.17, 379/142.1, 379/201.08, 379/201.02, 379/201.01, 379/207.15, 379/207.13, 379/207.14
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called 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 2203/6009 Personal information, e.g. profiles or personal directories being only provided to authorised persons
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308

Abstract

A telephone system for reliably providing caller identification information to telephone call recipients such that they can choose whether or not to answer a telephone call. The telephone system includes a decoder module for receiving a toll-free telephone call and decoding automatic number identification (ANI) information included within the toll-free telephone call. The system also includes a converter module for converting the decoded ANI information into caller ID information. The system also includes a forwarding module for making an outgoing telephone call to a toll-based telephone number of the call recipient and sending the audio data of the original toll-free telephone call and the caller ID information with the outgoing telephone call. In this manner, ANI information is used to generate caller ID information even if the calling party has blocked its caller ID information.

Claims

1. In a telephone server, a method for providing information that identifies a calling party to a call recipient, comprising the acts of:

receiving a telephone call from the calling party, wherein the telephone call is directed to a call recipient and includes information specifying a telephone number purportedly associated with the calling party;

making a return telephone call from the telephone server to the telephone number purportedly associated with the calling party to determine whether the telephone number is actually associated with the calling party; and

only upon determining that the telephone number is actually associated with the calling party, connecting audio data of the telephone call received from the calling party to an outgoing telephone call made from the telephone sewer to a destination telephone number associated with the call recipient.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the act of making the outgoing telephone call only upon determining that the telephone number is actually associated with the calling party.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the act of making the outgoing telephone call is conducted prior to determining that the telephone number is actually associated with the calling party.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the information specifying the telephone number comprises automatic number identification information.

5. A method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the acts of:

converting the automatic number identification information into corresponding caller ID information; and

transmitting the caller ID information with the outgoing telephone call.