Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service

• US 7,688,958 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Lee, Dolan, Robert A., Hofstatter, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/039,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20050207557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.02, 379/142.05, 379/142.07, 379/142.15, 379/142.16, 379/201.11, 379/207.02, 379/207.13, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/211.02, 379/88.02, 379/88.12, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.2
• US Class Current: 379/142.02
• 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 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• 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 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• 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: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal

Abstract

The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.

Claims

1. A method of processing calls having caller ID blocking, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a first call for a called party, the first call including call signaling information, at a call processing system;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller ID information;

if the caller ID information is private, during the first call instructing the caller to take a first action to unblock the caller ID information for the first call;

after the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller ID information to the called party; and

receiving an indication from the caller during the first call that caller ID information associated with the caller can be provided to the called party for a future call from the caller.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

recording during the first call a voice message from the caller; and

providing the voice message to the called party in association with the caller ID information.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising forwarding the first call to the called party at least partly in response to determining that the caller has performed the first action during the first call.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

reading from a data store an indication as to whether the called party will not accept calls with blocked caller ID information; and

informing the caller that the called party will not accept calls with blocked caller ID information.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action is a single key press.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first action is a key press or a spoken response.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the called party, the notification including at least a portion of the caller ID information.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the called party via SMS, the notification including at least a portion of the caller ID information.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the called party to a client application executing on a computer associated with the called party, the notification including at least a portion of the caller ID information.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first call was initially directed to first telephone line, and then forwarded to the call processing system.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first call was placed to a virtual phone number associated with the called party.

12. A method of processing calls having caller ID blocking, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a first call for a called party, the first call including call signaling information, at a call processing system;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller ID information;

if the caller ID information is private, during the first call instructing the caller to take a first action to unblock the caller ID information for the first call;

after the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller ID information to the called party; and

at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the called party in a future call.

13. A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user as to whether the user requires or requests caller identification information, and storing the indication in a data store;

receiving from a caller a first call for the user, the first call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;

determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is private;

retrieving the user indication from the data store;

if the caller identification information is private and the retrieved user indication indicates that the user requests or requires caller identification information, informing the caller that the user requests or requires caller identification information and instructing the caller to take a first action to allow the caller identification information to be provided to the user;

determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;

if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user; and

receiving an indication during the first call from the caller that caller identification information associated with the caller can be provided to the user for a future call from the caller.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising terminating the first call without recording a message from the caller at least partly in response to determining that the caller has not performed the first action within a first period of time.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

recording during the first call a voice message from the caller if the caller has performed the first action during the first call; and

providing the voice message to the user in association with the caller identification information.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising streaming a voice message from the caller to the user at least partly in response to the user performing the first action during the first call.

17. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising forwarding the first call to the user at least partly in response to determining that the caller has performed the first action during the first call.

18. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the first action is a single key press.

19. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the first action is a key press or a spoken response.

20. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

21. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user via SMS, the notification including at least a portion of the caller ID information.

22. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user to a client application executing on a computer associated with the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

24. The method as defined in claim 13, further comprising:

receiving at the call processing system an instruction from a second user to refuse calls having private caller identification information;

receiving from a second caller a second call for the second user, the second call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is not to be provided to the second user;

retrieving the second user instruction;

informing the second caller that the second user will not accept calls having blocked caller identification information; and

terminating the second call.

23. A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

receiving an indication from a user as to whether the user requires or requests caller identification information, and storing the indication in a data store;

receiving from a caller a first call for the user, the first call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;

determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is private;

retrieving the user indication from the data store;

if the caller identification information is private and the retrieved user indication indicates that the user requests or requires caller identification information, informing the caller that the user requests or requires caller identification information and instructing the caller to take a first action to allow the caller identification information to be provided to the user;

determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call;

if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user; and

at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

25. A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;

determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted;

if the caller identification information is restricted, instructing the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user;

determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call; and

if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user; and

receiving, during the first call, an indication from the caller that caller identification information associated with the caller can be provided to the user for a future call from the caller.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising terminating the first call without recording a message from the caller at least partly in response to determining that the caller has not performed the first action within a first period of time.

27. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising:

recording during the first call a voice message from the caller if the caller has performed the first action during the first call; and

providing the voice message to the user in association with the caller identification information.

28. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising forwarding the first call to the user at least partly in response to determining that the caller has performed the first action during the first call.

29. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein the first action is a single key press.

30. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein the first action is a key press or a spoken response.

31. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

32. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user via SMS, the notification including at least a portion of the caller ID information.

33. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user to a client application executing on a computer associated with the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

35. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising:

providing a form to the user, wherein the user can specify whether the user requires or requests caller identification information;

receiving the user specification via the form; and

storing the user specification in association with user account information.

36. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising:

receiving from a second caller a second call for the user, the second call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information associated with the second call includes caller identification information; and

if the caller identification information for the second call is unavailable, instructing the caller to take a second action to so that caller identification information associated with the second caller can be provided to the user.

34. A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information;

determining whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted;

if the caller identification information is restricted, instructing the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user;

determining whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call; and

if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, providing at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user; and

at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

37. A method of processing calls having private caller identification information, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information;

if the caller identification information associated with the first call is blocked, instructing the caller to unblock the caller identification information during the first call;

after the caller has unblocked the caller identification information during the first call, performing a call processing action with respect to the first call; and

at least partly in response to at least one caller action during the first call, storing in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the call processing action is recording a caller message during the first call.

39. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the call processing action is a call forwarding process.

40. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the call processing action includes recording during the first call a voice message from the caller, and the method further comprising providing the voice message to the user in association with the caller identification information.

41. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the caller is instructed to unblock the caller identification information by pressing one key.

42. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the caller is instructed to unblock the caller identification information by performing a key press or by providing a spoken response.

43. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

44. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user via SMS, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

45. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising transmitting a notification regarding the first call to the user to a client application executing on a computer associated with the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

46. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising receiving an indication from the caller that caller identification information associated with the caller can be automatically provided to the user for a future call from the caller.

47. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

providing a form to the user, wherein the user can specify whether the user requires or requests caller identification information;

receiving the user specification via the form; and

storing the user specification in association with user account information.

48. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

receiving from a second caller a second call for the user, the second call including call signaling information;

determining whether the call signaling information associated with the second call includes caller identification information; and

if the caller identification information for the second call is unavailable, instructing the caller to take a second action to so that caller identification information associated with the second caller can be provided to the user.

49. A computer readable medium having code stored thereon that, when executed, causes a computer to:

receive signaling information associated with a first call from a caller for a user;

if the caller identification information associated with the first call is blocked, instruct the caller to unblock the caller identification information during the first call; and

after the caller has unblocked the caller identification information during the first call, perform a call processing action with respect to the first call,

at least partly in response to at least one caller action taken during the first call, store in a data store a caller ID release authorization associated with the caller so that caller ID can be automatically provided to the user in a future call.

50. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the call processing action is recording a caller message during the first call.

51. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the call processing action is a call forwarding process.

52. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the call processing action includes recording during the first call a voice message from the caller, and wherein the code when executed, causes the computer to provide the voice message to the user in association with the caller identification information.

53. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the caller is instructed to unblock the caller identification information by pressing one key.

54. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the caller is instructed to unblock the caller identification information by performing a key press or by providing a spoken response.

55. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the code, when executed, causes the computer to transmit a notification regarding the first call to the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

56. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the code, when executed, causes the computer to transmit a notification regarding the first call to the user via SMS, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

57. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the code, when executed, causes the computer to transmit a notification regarding the first call to the user to a client application executing on a computer associated with the user, the notification including at least a portion of the caller identification information.

58. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the code, when executed, causes the computer to:

provide a form to the user, wherein the user can specify whether the user requires or requests caller identification information; and

store the user specification in association with user account information.

59. The computer readable medium as defined in claim 49, wherein the code, when executed, cause the computer to:

receive call signaling information associated with a second call for the user from a second caller;

determine whether the call signaling information associated with the second call includes caller identification information; and

if the caller identification information for the second call is unavailable, instruct the caller to take a second action to so that caller identification information associated with the second caller can be provided to the user.