Method and system for providing enhanced caller identification

• US 8,139,732 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Corp. (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation), RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Latter, Teresa Farias, Book, Nancy Ann, Hardzinski, Mary Louise, Maciejewski, James Thomas, Moss, John Wesley, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Benfield, Steven Darrell, Brady, Robin Denise, Crabtree, Walden Blaine Jr., Kato, Tracy Lynn, Utesch, Brian Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/789,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.21, 379/142.01, 379/142.06, 379/142.1, 379/88.03, 379/88.22, 379/133, 379/142.04, 379/142.07, 379/211.02, 455/403, 455/412.2
• US Class Current: 379/88.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/571 Blocking transmission of caller identification to called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/578 associated with a synthesized vocal announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4527 Voicemail attached to other kind of message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• 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 3/42051 where the notification is included in the ringing tone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13345 Intelligent networks, SCP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13546 Intelligent Peripheral
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing enhanced caller identification screening using audible caller name announcement are disclosed. Generally, a request for audible caller identification associated with a calling communication station is transmitted to the calling communication station based on an analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station. Audible caller identification information is then received and transmitted to the called communication station.

Claims

1. A method of processing a call, the method comprising acts of:

transmitting a request for audible caller identification information associated with a calling communication station based on an analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted; and

transmitting the audible caller identification information to the called communication station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is unavailable.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether the caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is incomplete.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether the caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is blocked.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a request for audible caller identification comprises:

requesting for the calling party to speak their name.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting a request for audible caller identification comprises:

transmitting a message indicating that the called communication station does not accept calls from an unidentified calling party.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the audible caller identification information to the called communication station comprises:

recording audible caller identification information received from a calling communication station; and

transmitting the recorded audible caller information to the called communication station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting the calling communication station with the called communication station in response to input from the called communication station.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

canceling the call from the calling communication station in response to input from the called communication station.

10. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for processing a call, the set of instructions to direct a processor to perform acts of:

transmitting a request for audible caller identification information associated with a calling communication station based on an analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted; and

transmitting the audible caller identification information to the called communication station.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is unavailable.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether the caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is incomplete.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted comprises:

determining whether the caller identification information associated with the calling communication station is blocked.

14. A system for processing a call, the system comprising:

a network element operative to transmit a request for audible caller identification information associated with a calling communication station based on an analysis of a query comprising data indicating whether presentation of standard call identification information to a called communication station is restricted, and to transmit the audible caller identification information to the called communication station.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the network element is a service node.