Service provider identifier

• US 8,385,915 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Knowledge Ventures, L.P. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Petronelli, Anthony Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Agosta, Steve D
• Application Number:
  US11/182,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/418, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/435.3, 455/566, 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 370351-356, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/221.14, 379272-273
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 Manipulation of established connections

Abstract

A disclosed method for providing service provider information to a user communication device includes determining a telecommunications service provider associated with a targeted node such as a called party telephone number. An indicator of the telecommunications service provider is provided to and displayed by the user communication device. Communication services available to the communication device are then determined based at least in part on the identity of the telecommunications service provider. Indications of the available communication services may be presented to the communication device by audible or visual signals.

Claims

1. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider;

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device; and

(d) determining according to the indicator, communication services available to the user communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing to the user communication device an indication of the communication services available.

3. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider; and

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device;

wherein providing the indicator further comprises providing at least one signal selected from the group consisting of;

i) a visual signal, and ii) an audible signal.

4. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider;

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device; and

(d) using a user service provider'"'"'s processor for determining the indicator of the telecommunications service provider.

5. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider;

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device; and

(d) determining services available to the user communication device using at least one device selected from the group consisting of;

i) a user service provider'"'"'s processor and ii) the user communication device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the services available to the user communication device comprise restricted services.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the restricted services are enabled by a user override feature.

8. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider; and

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device;

wherein the determining of the indicator of the telecommunications service provider and the providing of the indicator to the communication device is performed by a user service provider Central Office.

9. A method of providing information to a communication device comprising:

(a) determining a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determining an indicator of the telecommunications service provider;

(c) providing the indicator to the user communication device; and

(d) at least one of the group consisting of i) comparing the telecommunications service provider with a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a telephone number of the user communication device, ii) restricting information transfer unless the called party telecommunications service provider and a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a telephone number of the user communication device are the same;

iii) identifying available no-charge minutes; and

iv) restricting calls to in-network based on available minutes.

10. A system for providing information to a communication device, the system including a processor operable to:

(a) determine a telecommunications service provider corresponding to a called party telephone number;

(b) determine an indicator of the telecommunications service provider; and

(c) present the indicator of the target service provider on the communication device.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further operable to

determine, according to the indicator of the telecommunications service provider, communication services available to the communication device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the processor is further operable to

provide to the communications device an indication of the communication services available.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the services available to the communication device comprise restricted services.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the restricted services are enabled by an override feature.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein presenting the indicator of the telecommunications service provider comprises initiating an audible signal.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein presenting the indicator of the telecommunications service provider comprises initiating a visual signal.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the system comprises a portion of

a Central Office associated with a telecommunications service provider corresponding to the communication device.

18. A wireless communication device operable to:

initiate a call to a called party telephone number;

receive an indication of a telecommunications service provider corresponding to the called party telephone number;

present the indication to a user of the wireless communication device; and

perform an action based at least in part on whether the called party telecommunications service provider and a telecommunications service provider corresponding to the wireless communication device are the same.

19. The wireless communication device of claim 18, wherein the action includes at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

indicating available in network minutes when the telecommunications service providers are the same and restricting communication to the called party when the telecommunications service providers differ.