Audio delivery of caller identification information

• US 7,526,076 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Koch, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Taylor; Barry W
• Application Number:
  US10/109,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20040037403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,587 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.16, 379/142.04, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/142.07, 379/142.15, 379/142.17, 379/67.1, 379/88.19, 379/88.21, 379/88.25, 379/211.02, 455/415, 455/417
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for announcing audio caller identification information to a PC or other IP communications device connected with a telecommunications network. A calling party dials a called telephone number and an incoming communications signal is detected, decoded, and used to generate a data message that associates a selection of announcement fields and/or files with the incoming communications signal in the telecommunications network. The telecommunications network transmits the data message and the incoming communications signal to the called telephone number. The PC or IP communications device associated with the called telephone number receives the data message. The data message is deciphered, associated with locally stored announcement fields and/or files, and otherwise transformed to play the audio caller identification announcement.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an incoming call from an originating telephone number to a called telephone number;

suspending processing of the incoming call;

querying an announcement server for an audio announcement associated with the called telephone number;

retrieving a name of the audio announcement for the incoming call and an Internet Protocol address associated with the called telephone number;

mapping the called telephone number to a telephone number servicing the Internet Protocol address when the called telephone number and the Internet Protocol address are serviced by different telephone numbers; and

sending a data message to the Internet Protocol address along with resuming processing of the incoming call to the called telephone number, the data message identifying the name of the audio announcement to be retrieved from memory of a device at the Internet Protocol address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising connecting the incoming call with the called telephone number.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying for a dynamic IP address associated with the called telephone number, the dynamic IP address comprising a currently connected IP address for accessing the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising matching a parameter of the incoming call with an audio caller identification announcement profile, the parameter comprising:

(a) the originating telephone number;

(b) a name associated with the originating telephone number;

(c) a time identifier that the incoming call is first detected;

(d) a date identifier that provides the date that the incoming call is received; and

(e) a geographic identifier of the originating telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accessing a database of audio caller identification announcement profile data specifying times during which the audio announcement is not played and specifying other times during which the incoming call is not processed to the called telephone number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a reply message from the Internet Protocol address to not link the incoming call to the called telephone number.

7. The method of claim 6, in response to the reply message, then further comprising forwarding the incoming call to voicemail.

8. The method of claim 6, in response to the reply message, then further comprising playing a recorded message.

9. The method of claim 6, in response to the reply message, then further comprising declining the call.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising means for performing a default function.

11. A system, comprising:

means for receiving an incoming call from an originating telephone number to a called telephone number;

means for suspending processing of the incoming call;

means for querying an announcement server for an audio announcement associated with the called telephone number;

means for retrieving a name of the audio announcement for the incoming call and an Internet Protocol address associated with the called telephone number;

means for mapping the called telephone number to a telephone number servicing the Internet Protocol address when the called telephone number and the Internet Protocol address are serviced by different telephone numbers; and

means for sending a data message to the Internet Protocol address along with resuming processing of the incoming call to the called telephone number, the data message identifying the name of the audio announcement to be retrieved from memory of a device at the Internet Protocol address.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for connecting the incoming call with the called telephone number.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for querying for a dynamic IP address associated with the called telephone number, the dynamic IP address comprising a currently connected IP address for accessing the communications device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving a reply message from the Internet Protocol address to not link the incoming call to the called telephone number.

15. A computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving an incoming call from an originating telephone number to a called telephone number;

suspending processing of the incoming call;

querying an announcement server for an audio announcement associated with the called telephone number;

retrieving a name of the audio announcement for the incoming call and an Internet Protocol address associated with the called telephone number;

mapping the called telephone number to a telephone number servicing the Internet Protocol address when the called telephone number and the Internet Protocol address are serviced by different telephone numbers; and

sending a data message to the Internet Protocol address along with resuming processing of the incoming call to the called telephone number, the data message identifying the name of the audio announcement to be retrieved from memory of a device at the Internet Protocol address.