Visual caller identification

• US 7,929,675 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ruckart, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEZUAYEHU, SOLOMON G
• Application Number:
  US11/490,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 37914201-14218
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42391 where the subscribers are hearing-impaired persons, e.g. telephone devices for the deaf

Abstract

A visual caller identification system and method are provided. A caller identification device of a called party'"'"'s telephone includes a series of colored lights for visually alerting the called party to an incoming call. The called party may program the caller identification device so that a first colored light flashes any time the caller ID identifies information known to the called party. A second light flashes any time caller identification information is provided, but where the information is unknown to the called party. And, a third colored light flashes any time the caller identification is not provided (e.g., private, unlisted). The called party may look at the telephone for a quick screening without having to go to the telephone to read the caller ID when it rings. Alternatively, caller identification information to be displayed may be projected onto a projection surface, such as a wall in the called party'"'"'s home.

Claims

1. A method of providing visual caller identification, comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party at a caller identification device, wherein the call is associated with a directory number;

querying a database for caller identification information associated with the call, wherein the caller identification information includes the directory number associated with the call and a name associated with the calling party;

comparing the directory number associated with the call with a plurality of directory numbers;

if one of the plurality of directory numbers matches the directory number associated with the call, projecting at least a portion of saved projection information associated with the directory number onto a projection surface in place of the caller identification information associated with the call; and

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call, projecting the caller identification information associated with the call onto a projection surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if one of the plurality of directory numbers matches the directory number associated with the call, illuminating a first colored light; and

displaying the caller identification information on a readable display screen of the caller identification device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein illuminating a first colored light includes, flashing a green light during displaying the caller identification information.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call, illuminating a second colored light; and

displaying the caller identification information on the readable display screen of the caller identification device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein illuminating a second colored light includes, flashing a yellow light during displaying the caller identification information.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call and the directory number associated with the call has no caller identification information, illuminating a third colored light and displaying a message that no caller identification information associated with the call is available.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein illuminating a third colored light includes, flashing a red light during displaying the message.

8. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide visual caller identification, the control logic comprising computer-readable program code for causing the computer to:

receive a call from a calling party at a caller identification device, wherein the call is associated with a directory number;

query a database for caller identification information associated with the call, wherein the caller identification information includes the directory number associated with the call and a name associated with the calling party;

compare the directory number associated with the call with a plurality of directory numbers;

if one of the plurality of directory numbers matches the directory number associated with the call, project saved projection information associated with the directory number onto a projection surface in place of the caller identification information associated with the call; and

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call, project the caller identification information associated with the call onto a projection surface.

9. A caller identification device, comprising:

means for saving a plurality of directory numbers;

means for saving visual projection information;

means for receiving a call from a calling party at a caller identification device, wherein the call is associated with a directory number;

means for querying a database for caller identification information associated with the call, wherein the caller identification information includes the directory number associated with the call and a name associated with the calling party;

means for sending the caller identification information to a caller identification device;

means for comparing the directory number associated with the call with the plurality of directory numbers;

means for displaying caller identification information; and

means for projecting the saved projection information onto a projection surface.

10. The caller identification device of claim 9 wherein the visual projection information is associated with each of the plurality of directory numbers.

11. The caller identification device of claim 10, further comprising:

if one of the plurality of directory numbers matches the directory number associated with the call, means for projecting the saved projection information associated with the directory number onto a projection surface in place of the caller identification information associated with the call; and

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call, means for projecting caller identification information associated with the call onto a projection surface.

12. A communications device executing a method of providing visual caller identification, the method comprising:

saving a plurality of directory numbers;

saving visual projection information for each of the plurality of directory numbers;

receiving a call from a calling party at a caller identification device associated with the communications device, wherein the call is associated with a directory number;

querying a database for caller identification information associated with the call, wherein the caller identification information includes the directory number associated with the call and a name associated with the calling party;

sending the caller identification information to the caller identification device;

comparing the directory number associated with the call with the plurality of directory numbers;

if one of the plurality of directory numbers matches the directory number associated with the call, projecting the saved projection information associated with the directory number onto a projection surface in place of the caller identification information associated with the call; and

if one of the plurality of directory numbers does not match the directory number associated with the call, projecting caller identification information associated with the call onto a projection surface.