Method and system for providing enhanced caller identification screening using audible caller name announcement

• US 7,227,931 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation), SBC Properties, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Sbc Holdings Properties, LP
• Inventors: Book, Nancy Ann, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Maciejewski, James Thomas, Moss, John Wesley, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Latter, Teresa Farias, Kato, Tracy Lynn, Crabtree, Walden Blaine Jr., Brady, Robin Denise, Benfield, Steven Darrell, Utesch, Brian Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US09/684,828
• Time in Patent Office: 2,429 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.26, 379/88.16, 379/142.01, 379/142.02, 37914203-14206, 379/142.08, 379/201.01, 379/207.01, 379/207.06, 379/207.07, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/213.01, 379/88.02, 379/215.01, 379/284, 379/374, 379/142, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/67.1, 379/196, 379/197, 379/199, 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/213, 379/229, 379/230, 455/563
• US Class Current: 379/88.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4527 Voicemail attached to other kind of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral
• 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

A method and system provide enhanced caller identification information to a called party. The system determines whether or not standard caller identification information associated with a calling party can be provided to the called party. The system preferably determines whether the standard caller identification information is unavailable, incomplete or has been blocked. When the system determines that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided, the system transmits a request for audible caller identification information to the calling party. If the calling party provides the requested audible caller identification information, the audible caller identification information is transmitted to the called party. The called party is thus provided with information about the calling party that can assist the called party in deciding whether or not to answer the call.

Claims

1. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling communication station to a called communication station, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether standard caller identification information for the calling communication station can be provided to the called communication station by analyzing data contained within a query, wherein the data includes an indication of whether or not there is a restriction on the presentation of the standard caller identification;

(b) transmitting a request for audible caller identification information to the calling communication station in response to a determination that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided to the called communication station; and

(c) transmitting the audible caller identification information to the called communication station if the calling party provides audible caller identification information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises determining whether caller identification information for the calling communication station is unavailable by analyzing data contained within a query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises determining whether caller identification information for the calling communication station is incomplete by analyzing data contained within a query.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein (a) comprises determining whether caller identification information for the calling communication station has been blocked by analyzing data contained within a query.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises transmitting a request for the calling party to speak his or her name.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein (b) comprises:

(b1) transmitting a message indicating that the called communication station does not accept calls from an unidentified calling party and

(b2) transmitting a request for the calling party to speak his or her name.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein (c) comprises:

(c1) recording the audible caller identification information and

(c2) transmitting the recorded audible caller identification information to the called communication station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a message to the called communication station, the message comprising accept and reject options.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request for input from the called communication station.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises audible instructions.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the calling communication station with the called communication station in response to input from the called communication station.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the calling communication station with the called communication station in response to dual tone multi-frequency tones transmitted from the called communication station.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising canceling the call in response to the called communication station being placed on hook.

14. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling communication station to a called communication station, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether standard caller identification information for the calling communication station can be provided to the called communication station by analyzing data contained within a query, wherein the data includes an indication of whether or not there is a restriction on the presentation of the standard caller identification;

(b) transmitting a request for audible caller identification information to the calling communication station in response to a determination that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided to the called communication station;

(c) receiving audible caller identification information from the calling party;

(d) causing the called communication station to ring; and

(e) transmitting the audible caller identification information to the called communication station in response to the called communication station being placed off hook.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein (b) comprises:

(b1) transmitting a message indicating that the called communication station does not accept calls from an unidentified calling party and

(b2) transmitting a request for the calling party to speak his or her name.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a message to the called communication station, the message comprising accept and reject options.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting a request for input from the called communication station.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the calling communication station with the called communication station in response to input from the called party.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting the calling communication station with the called communication station in response to dual tone multi-frequency tones transmitted from the called communication station.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising canceling the call in response to the called communication station being placed on hook.