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

• US 7,200,211 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Lemke, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/964,387
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.09, 379/142.1, 379/142.17, 379/93.23, 379/88.11, 379/88.19, 455/415, 455/95, 455/100, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• 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 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

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 communicatively coupled to a telephone network, wherein said caller identification logic unit provides at least part of a phone number associated with an incoming telephone call;

a memory for storing a listing comprising at least one partial phone number and a corresponding identifier wherein said listing is user modifiable; and

a processor for determining if said phone number of said incoming telephone call matches at least one partial phone number in said listing and, if so, for retrieving its associated identifier.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said identifier comprises a city associated with a telephone number area code.

3. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said identifier comprises a telephone service provider associated with 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 said identifier.

9. A portable electronic device comprising:

an embedded wireless transceiver circuit;

caller identification logic coupled to said wireless transceiver circuit and for determining at least part of a phone number associated with a caller;

a user customizable memory resident listing comprising at least one partial phone number and an associated identifier; and

a processor for determining if said phone number of said caller matches at least one partial phone number in said listing and, if so, for retrieving its associated identifier.

10. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said wireless transceiver circuit is a wireless phone circuit.

11. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said identifier comprises a city associated with a telephone number area code.

12. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said identifier comprises a telephone service provider associated with a telephone number prefix.

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

14. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said portable electronic device further comprises a display device for displaying said matching identifier.

15. A device as described in claim 9 wherein said listing comprises a plurality of partial phone numbers and associated identifiers.

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

a) receiving at least part of a phone number of an incoming phone call;

b) indexing a memory stored, user customizable listing for a match of said at least part of said phone number wherein said listing comprises a plurality of partial phone numbers each with an associated identifier;

c) accessing an identifier associated with said match of b); and

d) display said identifier of c).

17. A method as described in claim 16 wherein said identifier is a city associated with a telephone number area code.

18. A method as described in claim 16 wherein said identifier is a telephone service provider associated with a telephone number prefix.

19. A method as described in claim 16 wherein a partial phone number of said partial phone numbers comprises a wild card value.

20. A method as described in claim 16 wherein said electronic system is a portable computer system.