Convenience features in a method and system for providing enhanced caller identification

• US 7,302,049 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Maciejewski, James Thomas, Moss, John Wesley, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Latter, Teresa Farias
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/442,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20040109550A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/93.23, 37914201-14204, 379/142.06, 379/142.09, 379/142.17, 379/201.11, 379229-230, 379/207.02, 379/207.13, 379/207.15, 379/211.11, 379/221.08, 379/221.11, 379/142.1, 379/142.18
• 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 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• 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 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 3/436 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: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 : Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• 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 computer readable storage medium storing computer readable program code, the code configured to provide caller identification information to a called party when standard Caller ID cannot be provided. If standard caller ID information cannot be provided for a call, the call is interrupted by the present service and the calling party is prompted for audible caller identification information. In one embodiment, when the audible caller identification is provided, the call is presented to the called party with a distinctive ring at the called telephone station. In another embodiment, the calling party may enter a personal identification number (PIN) to bypass the requirement for audible caller identification information. In still another embodiment, when the PIN is entered, the call is presented with a distinctive ring at the called communication station. In still another embodiment, the called party may send the incoming call to a voice mail system.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable program code for operating a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) in an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) telecommunications system, the SN/IP in communication with a service control point (SCP) which is configured to determine whether standard caller identification information for a call from a calling party to a calling communication station in the AIN telecommunications system can be provided to a called communication station in the AIN telecommunications system, the code comprising:

(a) a first code for receiving call control information at the SN/IP, the call control information communicated by the calling party to the calling communication station for routing the call from the SCP;

(b) a second code for transmitting a request for audible caller identification information from the SN/IP to the calling communication station in response to a determination by the SCP that the standard caller identification information cannot be provided to the called communication station;

(c) a third code for connecting the call between the calling communication station and the called communication station in response to a personal identification number provided by the calling party;

(d) a fourth code for transmitting from the SN/IP the audible caller identification information to the called communication station; and

(e) a fifth code for canceling the call in response to input received at the SN/IP from the called communication station.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the third code further comprises:

(c1) while transmitting the request for audible caller identification information, code for detecting at the SNIP input data from the calling communication station;

(c2) if input data is detected at the SNIP, code for comparing the input data with a preset identification number; and

(c3) if the input data matches the preset identification number, code for connecting the call.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 2 wherein the third code further comprises:

code for detecting at the SNIP dual tone, multiple frequency (DTMF) signals produced by the calling communication station; and

code for converting the DTMF signals to numeric data.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the third code further comprises:

(c1) code for ringing the called communication station; and

(c2) when the called communication station is answered, code for immediately connecting the call.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 wherein the third code further comprises:

(c1) code for ringing the called communication station with a distinctive ring; and

(c2) when the called communication station is answered, code for immediately connecting the call.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5 wherein the third code further comprises:

code for comparing an indicator at the SNIP with a distinctive ring indicator;

if the indicator matches the distinctive ring indicator, code for establishing a distinctive ring mode;

if the indicator does not match the distinctive ring indicator, code for establishing a standard ring mode; and

code for communicating ring signals to the called communication station in accordance with established ring mode.