Internet caller identification system and method
First Claim
1. A method for allowing a user connected to the Internet to receive notification and caller identification information associated with an incoming call from a calling party to the user, the method comprising:
- receiving an incoming call;
sending a query to a registration server to determine an Internet status of the user, the Internet status of the user comprising whether the user is connected to the Internet;
receiving a response from the registration server indicating that the user is connected to the Internet, the registration server having been updated by a heartbeat server regarding the Internet status of the user, the heartbeat server having received heartbeat messages from client software when the user is connected to the Internet, the response received from the registration server comprising an IP address and user information associated with the user'"'"'s Internet session;
sending a message to the client software on a device of the user, the message comprising notification and caller identification information associated with the incoming call;
receiving a disposition selection of the user; and
handling the call according to the user'"'"'s disposition selection.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) based system and method that allows a subscriber connected to the Internet via a dial-up connection to receive caller identification information concerning an incoming telephone call. The information may be provided via a pop-up dialog box on the subscriber'"'"'s display, which includes but is not limited to a monitor of a personal computer (PC). The information displayed to the subscriber includes the name and number of the calling party, if available. In addition, several disposition options are presented to the subscriber solely via the Internet which, upon selection, determine the handling of the incoming call.
129 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for allowing a user connected to the Internet to receive notification and caller identification information associated with an incoming call from a calling party to the user, the method comprising:
-
receiving an incoming call; sending a query to a registration server to determine an Internet status of the user, the Internet status of the user comprising whether the user is connected to the Internet; receiving a response from the registration server indicating that the user is connected to the Internet, the registration server having been updated by a heartbeat server regarding the Internet status of the user, the heartbeat server having received heartbeat messages from client software when the user is connected to the Internet, the response received from the registration server comprising an IP address and user information associated with the user'"'"'s Internet session; sending a message to the client software on a device of the user, the message comprising notification and caller identification information associated with the incoming call; receiving a disposition selection of the user; and handling the call according to the user'"'"'s disposition selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of determining a user'"'"'s Internet status in a system for providing a user connected to the Internet with notification and caller identification information associated with an incoming call from a calling party to the user, the method comprising:
-
receiving a registration request at a registration server from client software when the user connects to the Internet; storing information at the registration server associated with an Internet status of the user, the Internet status of the user comprising whether the user is connected to the Internet; receiving heartbeat messages at a heartbeat server from the client software; and receiving a message at the registration server when there is an interruption of the heartbeat messages from the client software, wherein the user is determined to be connected to the Internet when the heartbeat messages are being received at the heartbeat server. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification