System and method for displaying a party profile for incoming and outgoing calls

• US 7,260,198 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gao, Xiaofeng, Scott, David
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US10/251,932
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.15, 379/142.06, 379/142.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/93.23, 379/93.35, 455/415
• US Class Current: 379/142.17
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656

Abstract

This specification relates to a method for providing information about a caller before the call is completed. The invention comprises a method for intercepting a telephone number from a phone line or phone system, searching a database for information associated with that phone number and displaying the information on a computer screen, such that a person may see the information before the phone is answered. This provides immediate access to information related to an incoming or outgoing call to an individual without the need to manually search for the file.

Claims

1. A method for displaying call information, comprising:

in response to placing a phone call from a calling party to a telephone number associated with a called party on a private telephone network of the calling party, intercepting the telephone number associated with the called party of the phone call;

transmitting the intercepted telephone number to a computer network functionally connected to the private telephone network of the calling party;

searching a first database operatively associated with a computer of the calling party and functionally connecting to the private telephone network for a telephone number to match the telephone number of the called party, for a corresponding called party profile associated with the telephone number of the called party;

if the search of the first database fails to provide a matching telephone number of the called party, then searching for a matching telephone number on at least one other database operatively associated with the computer network, for a corresponding called party profile; and

,

displaying, on the computer of the calling party, the called party profile located in either search.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the party profile on the first database comprises information previously provided by the called party to the first database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone number is matched against party profiles stored in a central database connected to the computer network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone number is matched against party profiles in a database external to the computer network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the party profile is displayed on a screen of the computer of the calling party functionally connected to the computer network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the party profile is displayed in a popup window on the screen of the computer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the party profile is displayed on a personal digital assistant (PDA) device.

8. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

intercept a telephone number associated with a phone call to a called party, in response to placing the phone call by a calling party at a private telephone network of the calling party;

transmit the telephone number to a computer of the calling party;

search a first database operatively associated with the computer for a corresponding party profile associated with the telephone number associated with the called party;

search at least one other database for a corresponding party profile if no profile is located in the first database; and

display the party profile located in either search, on a computing apparatus of the calling party.

9. A system for displaying call information, the system comprising:

means for intercepting a telephone number associated with a phone call to a called party, in response to placing the phone call from a calling party on a private telephone network;

means for transmitting the intercepted telephone number to a computer of the calling party;

means responsive to the intercepted telephone number for searching a first database for a party profile corresponding to the telephone number, the first database being functionally associated with the computer of the calling party identified in response to the telephone number, and, if no corresponding party profile is found, then searching at least one other database functionally associated with a computer other than the computer of the calling party for a party profile corresponding to the telephone number; and

means for displaying a party profile located in either search.

10. A method for displaying call information, comprising:

intercepting a telephone number associated with a phone call outgoing from a user to a called party, in response to placement of the phone call by the user;

transmitting the telephone number to a computer of that user;

using the computer to search a first database associated with the computer for a party profile corresponding to the telephone number of the called party;

if no corresponding telephone number is found in the search of the computer, then searching for a corresponding telephone number of the called party on a database of at least one other computer; and

displaying the party profile to the user.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the party profile in at least the first database comprises information provided by the user to a database.

12. A method for displaying call information, comprising:

in response to placing a phone call from a calling party to a telephone number associated with a called party on a private telephone network of the calling party, intercepting the telephone number associated with the called party of the phone call;

transmitting the intercepted telephone number to a computer network functionally connected to the private telephone network of the calling party;

searching a first database operatively associated with a computer of the calling party and functionally connecting to the private telephone network for a telephone number to match the telephone number of the called party, for a corresponding called party profile associated with the telephone number of the called party;

if the search of the first database fails to provide a matching telephone number of the called party, then searching for a matching telephone number on at least one other database operatively associated with the computer network, for a corresponding called party profile;

displaying, on the computer of the calling party, the called party profile located in either search;

pausing completion of the call to the called party during the search for a calling-party profile;

presenting, on the computer of the calling party, an indication to the calling party when the call is paused; and

completing the paused call in response to an input from the calling party.