Caller ID system with retransmitted caller ID information

• US 7,266,187 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Original Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Inventors: Horne, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/780,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20040161085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8819- 8821, 379/93.23, 37914201-14207, 37914209-14218, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/188, 379/196, 379/198, 379/199, 379/207.15, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/372, 379/373.01, 379/373.02, 379/374.02, 455415-417
• 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 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Upon detecting an incoming call, a call screening system determines the CALLER ID information associated with the call and compares it to a database of allowable calling parties. If the calling party is to be allowed to ring through, the call screening system routes the incoming call to one or more communication devices associated with the calling party information in the allowable calling party database. In this manner, certain screened calls only ring through to a handset if authorized, while others are authorized to ring through to a fax machine, an answering machine, another handset, or a remote device connected between a remote handset and the local exchange. A single call screening device having several ports thus filters calls to multiple communications devices. Incoming call screening may be selectively different during different times of the day, for different calling parties, or for different communications devices connected to the call screening device. The call screening device may thus switch between allowing all incoming calls to ring through except those specifically designated to be blocked and screening all incoming calls except those specifically designated to be permitted to ring through. One or more override codes entered in a touch-tone keypad by the calling party may permit an incoming call to ring through despite an active screening mode. The CALLER ID information is captured and retransmitted to the selected device once an incoming call has been passed through to a selected device.

Claims

1. A method of identifying incoming calls, comprising:

responsive to detecting an incoming call received from a telecommunication service provider network, determining caller identification information associated with the incoming call without allowing an audible indicator of the incoming call to sound;

comparing the caller identification information associated with the incoming call with caller identification information for allowable calling parties;

capturing the caller identification information;

responsive to determining a match between the caller identification information associated with the incoming call and caller identification information for an allowable calling party, allowing the audible indicator of the incoming call to sound; and

retransmitting the caller identification information immediately after allowing the audible indicator of the incoming call to sound.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the caller identification information includes calling line identification data,

wherein the step of determining caller identification information occurs at a customer premises location;

and

wherein the step of allowing the audible indicator of the incoming call to sound further comprises;

identifying a communications device at a customer equipment premises location within a plurality of communications devices at the customer equipment premises location to which the incoming call should be routed, and

passing ring signals associated with the incoming call to the identified communications device.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the incoming call is received at the customer equipment premises location over an incoming single line, and

wherein the step of passing ring signals associated with the incoming call to the identified communications device further comprises passing ring signals associated with the incoming call to the identified communications device without passing the ring signals associated with the incoming call to another communications device within the plurality of communications devices.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the incoming call is received at a customer equipment premises location, and

wherein the method further comprises responsive to determining no match between the caller identification information associated with the incoming call and caller identification information for an allowable calling party, passing the incoming call to an answering system device at the customer equipment premises location without allowing the audible indicator of the incoming call to sound.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

responsive to the identified communications device being lifted off hook after the ring signals are passed to the identified communications device, maintaining a connection of the incoming call to the identified communications device;

wherein the caller identification information includes calling line identification data;

wherein the identified communications device is a caller ID capable communications device;

wherein the step of determining the caller identification information includes receiving calling line identification data between a first pair of bursts sent by the telecommunication service provider network; and

wherein the step of retransmitting the caller identification information includes refraining the received calling line identification data and retransmitting the calling line identification data between a second pair of bursts sent by the telecommunication service provider to thereby allow a user of the identified caller ID capable communications device to use automated incoming call screening without losing caller ID capability.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of,

allowing an incoming caller to enter an override code on a touch tone decoder;

comparing the override code to a pre-determined changeable programmed code; and

responsive to determining the override code and pre-determined changeable programmed code matches, allowing the audible indicator of the incoming call to sound.

7. A method of identifying incoming calls, comprising:

responsive to detecting an incoming call received from a telecommunication service provider network, determining the presence of caller identification information including calling line identification data associated with the incoming call without allowing an audible indicator of the incoming call to sound, the determining step including receiving calling line identification data between a first pair of bursts;

selecting a default mode when there is not any caller identification information associated with the incoming call, the default mode selectively controlled by a user; and

handling the call in accordance with the selected default mode including retransmitting the calling line identification data between a second pair of bursts when there is caller identification information associated with the incoming call matching caller identification information for an allowable calling party to thereby allow a user of a caller ID capable communications device to use automated incoming call screening without losing caller ID capability.

8. A method of identifying incoming calls, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call;

determining caller identification information associated with the incoming call received at a customer equipment premises location;

allowing an audible indicator at the customer equipment premises location to sound responsive to the caller identification information being associated with a pre-selected allowable calling party;

retransmitting the caller identification information after allowing the audible indicator to sound;

passing the incoming call to an answering system at the customer equipment premises location through a selected one of a plurality of answering system device ports without allowing the audible indicator to sound responsive to the caller identification information not being associated with a preselected calling party; and

if no caller identification information is determined;

selecting a default mode selectively controlled by a user, and

handling the incoming call in accordance with the default mode.

9. A method of claim 8, further comprising visually indicating to a user of the answering system for each separate incoming call the presence of each separate incoming call when being received.