Caller ID system with retransmitted caller ID information

• US 7,953,214 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Original Assignee: Curio Ltd
• Inventors: Horne, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/787,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20070253543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 37914201-14207, 379/142.18, 379 8819- 8821, 379/93.23, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 455415-417
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• 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 15/00 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 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• 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: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Upon detecting an incoming call, a call screening system determines the CALLER ID information associated with the call and compares it to a database of allowable calling parties. If the calling party is to be allowed to ring through, the call screening system routes the incoming call to one or more communication devices associated with the calling party information in the allowable calling party database. Incoming call screening may be selectively different during different times of the day, for different calling parties, or for different communications devices connected to the call screening device. The call screening device may thus switch between allowing all incoming calls to ring through except those specifically designated to be blocked and screening all incoming calls except those specifically designated to be permitted to ring through. One or more override codes entered in a touch-tone keypad by the calling party may permit an incoming call to ring through despite an active screening mode.

Claims

1. A method of identifying incoming calls, comprising:

receiving the incoming call from a telecommunication service provider network;

determining presence of an information packet including caller identification information associated with an incoming call received at a customer equipment premises location;

responsive to the caller identification information being associated with a pre-selected allowable calling party;

allowing an audible indicator at the customer equipment premises location to sound, and

retransmitting the caller identification information after allowing the audible indicator to sound;

responsive to the caller identification information not being associated with a preselected calling party, passing the incoming call to an answering system at the customer equipment premises location through a selected one of a plurality of answering system device ports without allowing the audible indicator to sound; and

if no presence of an information packet including caller identification information is determined, handling the incoming call in accordance with a default mode selectively controlled by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually indicating to a user of the answering system for each separate incoming call the presence of each separate incoming call when being received without providing a corresponding audio indication of the incoming call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling step comprises lighting a visual indicator light to provide a visual indication of the incoming call at the customer premises location without providing a corresponding to audio indication of the incoming call when there is no caller identification information associated with the incoming call received from the telecommunication service provider network, and transmitting the call to an answering system device after providing the visual indication.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the handling step comprises transmitting the call to a user selected one of a plurality of live ports.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein no caller ID packet is included with the incoming call when there is no caller identification information associated with the incoming call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the default mode is selectively different during different times of day.

7. A method of processing incoming calls, comprising:

receiving the incoming call from a telecommunication service provider network

responsive to detecting an incoming call received at a user premises location, determining presence of an information packet including caller identification information associated with the incoming call without allowing an audible indicator of the presence of the incoming call to sound;

responsive to determining permissibility of passing the incoming call;

identifying a communications device at the user premises location within a plurality of communication devices to which the incoming call should be routed,

allowing the audible indicator to sound at the identified communication device; and

retransmitting the caller identification information after allowing the audible indicator to sound;

responsive to the identified communication device being lifted off hook after the audible indicator sounds, maintaining a connection of the incoming call to the identified communication device; and

if no presence of an information packet including caller identification information is determined, handling the incoming call in accordance with a default mode selectively controlled by a user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising visually indicating to a user of the answering system for each separate incoming call the presence of each separate incoming call when being received without providing a corresponding audio indication of the incoming call.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the handling step comprises lighting a visual indicator light to provide a visual indication of the incoming call at the customer premises location without providing a corresponding to audio indication of the incoming call when there is no caller identification information associated with the incoming call received from the telecommunication service provider network, and transmitting the call town answering system device after providing the visual indication.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the handling step comprises transmitting the call to a user selected one of a plurality of live ports.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein no caller ID packet is included with the incoming call when there is no caller identification information associated with the incoming call.