Methods of providing caller identification information and related registries and radiotelephone networks

• US 8,195,136 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Donald, Diggle, Frederick III, Ryals, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Thier, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/891,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20060013375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,882 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/414.1, 455/416, 379/142, 379/245, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.05, 379/142.06
• US Class Current: 455/415
• 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 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: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

Caller identification information may be provided for a plurality of radiotelephone networks operated by a plurality of service providers. For example, a registry may be provided including a first serial number and a first identification other than the first serial number for a first radiotelephone registered for service with a first service provider operating a first radiotelephone network. The registry may also include a second serial number and a second identification other than the second serial number for a second radiotelephone registered for service with a second service provider operating a second radiotelephone network. A caller identification request may be accepted from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider wherein the caller identification request includes the first serial number for the first radiotelephone. Responsive to accepting the caller identification request, a caller identification response may be provided to the second radiotelephone network wherein the caller identification response includes the first identification for the first radiotelephone. Related radiotelephone networks and registries are also discussed.

Claims

1. A method of providing caller identification information for a plurality of radiotelephone networks operated by a plurality of service providers, the method comprising:

providing a registry including a first serial number and a first identification other than the first serial number for a first radiotelephone registered for service with a first service provider operating a first radiotelephone network and a second serial number and a second identification other than the second serial number for a second radiotelephone registered for service with a second service provider operating a second radiotelephone network;

accepting a caller identification request from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider when a determination is made that the first radiotelephone is roaming in the second radiotelephone network, wherein the caller identification request includes the first serial number for the first radiotelephone;

responsive to accepting the caller identification request, providing a caller identification response to the second radiotelephone network wherein the caller identification response includes the first identification for the first radiotelephone;

transmitting billing information from the second radiotelephone network to the first radiotelephone network, the second radiotelephone network determining the first radiotelephone network based on data in the registry;

accepting a second caller identification request from the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider when a determination is made that the second radiotelephone is roaming in the first radiotelephone network, wherein the second caller identification request includes the second serial number for the second radiotelephone;

responsive to accepting the second call identification request, providing a second caller identification response to the first radiotelephone network wherein the second caller identification response includes the second identification for the second radio telephone;

transmitting billing information from the first radiotelephone network to the second radiotelephone network, the first radiotelephone network determining the second radiotelephone network based on data in the registry.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing the registry comprises,

accepting the first serial number and the first identification from the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider wherein the first serial number and the first identification correspond to the first radiotelephone registered with the first service provider, and

accepting the second serial number and the second identification from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider wherein the second serial number and the second identification correspond to the second radiotelephone registered with the second service provider.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the serial numbers for the radiotelephones comprise electronic serial numbers (ESNs) for the radiotelephones.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein each serial number for each radiotelephone comprises a unique alphanumeric sequence permanently stored in read only memory for the respective radiotelephone.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the first identification comprises at least one of a first telephone number and/or a first name of a user corresponding to the first radiotelephone and wherein the second identification comprises at least one of a second telephone number and/or a second name of a user corresponding to the second radiotelephone.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the registry is maintained outside the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider and outside the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider.

7. A caller identification system for a radiotelephone communications system, the caller identification system comprising:

a database including a first serial number and a first identification other than the first serial number for a first radiotelephone registered for service with a first service provider operating a first radiotelephone network and a second serial number and a second identification other than the second serial number for a second radiotelephone registered for service with a second service provider operating a second radiotelephone network; and

a caller identification interface configured to accept a caller identification request from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider when a determination is made that the first radiotelephone is roaming in the second radiotelephone network, wherein the caller identification request includes the first serial number for the first radiotelephone, and responsive to accepting the caller identification request, the caller identification interface being further configured to provide a caller identification response to the second radiotelephone network wherein the caller identification response includes the first identification for the first radiotelephone wherein the caller identification interface is further configured to,

accept a second caller identification request from the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider when a determination is made that the second radiotelephone is roaming in the first radiotelephone network, wherein the second caller identification request includes the second serial number for the second radiotelephone;

responsive to accepting the second call identification request, to provide a second caller identification response to the first radiotelephone network wherein the second caller identification response includes the second identification for the second radio telephone.

8. A caller identification system according to claim 7 wherein the data base is configured to,

accept the first serial number and the first identification from the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider wherein the first serial number and the first identification correspond to the first radiotelephone registered with the first service provider, and

accept the second serial number and the second identification from the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider wherein the second serial number and the second identification correspond to the second radiotelephone registered with the second service provider.

9. A caller identification system according to claim 7 wherein the serial numbers for the radiotelephones comprise electronic serial numbers (ESNs) for the radiotelephones.

10. A caller identification system according to claim 7 wherein each serial number for each radiotelephone comprises a unique alphanumeric sequence permanently stored in read only memory for the respective radiotelephone.

11. A caller identification system according to claim 7 wherein the first identification comprises at least one of a first telephone number and/or a first name of a user corresponding to the first radiotelephone and wherein the second identification comprises at least one of a second telephone number and/or a second name of a user corresponding to the second radiotelephone.

12. A caller identification system according to claim 7 wherein the database is maintained outside the first radiotelephone network operated by the first service provider and outside the second radiotelephone network operated by the second service provider.