Methods and systems for a call log

• US 8,488,761 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telesector Resources Group Incorporated, Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Services Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Reding, Craig L., Reformato, John R., Rajagopalan, Mahesh, Zafar, Shadman, Wurster, John
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US10/720,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20050117729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,522 Days
• Field of Search: 379/200, 379/142.06, 379/70, 379/67.1, 379/355.05, 379/142.14, 379/93.28, 379/130, 379/207.15, 379/88.2, 379/88.19, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 370/352, 707/1, 455/405
• US Class Current: 379/200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/09 Third party charged communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/41 Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/66 Third party billing, i.e. third party can also be the predetermined telephone line of the caller if he is calling from another telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• 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: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4933 with operator assistance
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4936 Speech interaction details speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 : Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 : A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13224 : Off-net subscriber, dial in to/out from network, teleworking
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A call log associated with outgoing calls originating from calling devices may be established and maintained. Filter parameters may be set to specify which outgoing calls to log. Outgoing call information associated with calls originating from a user'"'"'s calling devices may be obtained and transmitted to a service center. A server in the service center may determine whether or not to log the outgoing call information based on the filter settings. The outgoing call information may be stored in the call log, which may reside in a database in the service center. The user may access the call log from a user terminal and/or the calling devices. The call log may be used to add contacts to a contact list and facilitate data analyses.

Claims

1. A method for logging calls comprising the steps implemented by one or more computers of:

receiving, from a user of a calling device, instructions that specify filter settings for logging outgoing calls to a plurality of parties in a call log, wherein the instructions indicate that calls from the user of the calling device to a first one of the parties are to be excluded from the call log;

obtaining outgoing call information associated with an outgoing call originating from the calling device and destined to a called device associated with one of the parties, the outgoing call information reflecting a dialed number;

determining whether or not to log the outgoing call information based on the filter settings; and

storing the outgoing call information in the call log in response to a determination to log the outgoing call information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the user of the calling device with access to the call log.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining outgoing call information further comprises obtaining information associated with the user of the calling device and the party associated with the called device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining information associated with all the user of the calling device and the party associated with the called device includes obtaining a calling party telephone number and the dialed telephone number, respectively.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

retrieving contact-related information associated with user of the called device, using the outgoing call information; and

adding the contact information to a contact list.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein retrieving contact-related information includes retrieving at least one of a name, a home address, a business address, or an e-mail address associated with the user of the called device.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein retrieving contact-related information includes retrieving a photograph.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein retrieving contact-related information includes retrieving information included in a public record.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing at least one data analysis using the call log.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein performing at least one data analysis includes displaying outgoing call patterns.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving instructions from the user of the calling device that specify filter settings includes receiving instructions that indicate at least one outgoing call to include in the call log.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether or not to log the outgoing call information includes consulting the filter settings.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling device is a landline telephone and wherein obtaining outgoing call information includes:

setting a trigger on a communication line associated with the landline telephone;

querying a service control point in response to the trigger; and

initiating a service logic program in the service control point.

14. The method of claim 13 further including:

transmitting at least the dialed telephone number to a server from the service logic program.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling device is a programmable device and wherein obtaining outgoing call information includes capturing the outgoing call information by the programmable device.

16. The method of claim 15 further including:

transmitting at least dialed telephone number to a server from the programmable device.

34. The method according to claim 5, wherein the dialed number is added to the contact list automatically.

35. The method according to claim 5, wherein the dialed number is added to the contact list in response to a command from the user.

36. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving contact information associated with the dialed number in the log using reverse directory assistance.

17. A call log system comprising:

a first network providing telephony services;

a calling device input port, coupled to the first network, configured to interface a user with the first network;

a second network for facilitating data transfer;

a service center coupled to the first network and the second network, the service center comprising;

a first application function for generating a call log according to user-specified preferences, the call log including information associated with telephone calls originating from a user of a calling device to a plurality of parties, wherein the preferences indicate that calls from the user of the calling device to a first one of the parties are to be excluded from the call log; and

a storage function for storing the call log;

a user terminal input port, coupled to the second network and configured to interact with the service center, for enabling the user of the calling device to specify the preferences and access the call log.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first network is a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the first network is operable to perform Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first network includes a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and wherein the calling device input port is an interface receiving information from a landline telephone.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the information associated with the telephone calls includes a dialed telephone number and wherein a service control point coupled to the PSTN transmits the dialed telephone number to the server.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the calling device input port is an interface receiving information from a programmable device.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the information associated with the telephone calls includes at least a dialed telephone number and wherein the dialed telephone number is received by the service center.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the second network includes at least one of a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), an intranet, and the Internet.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the storage function includes at least one database.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the application function includes program code for performing at least one data analysis using the call log.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the data analysis includes determining outgoing call patterns.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein the service center retrieves, via a second application function, contact information associated with recipients of the telephone calls originating from the calling device using the call log.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the information associated with the telephone calls includes at least dialed telephone numbers and wherein the second application function retrieves contact information associated with at least one of the dialed telephone numbers from an Internet-based service.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the contact information includes at least one of a name, a home address, a business address, or an e-mail address.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the service center further comprises a contacts database function configured to store the retrieved contact information.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein the user terminal is one of a general purpose computer, a personal computer, a wireless device, a pager, a mobile phone having data access functions, and a Personal Digital Assistants (PDA).

33. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a system to perform a method, the system including at least one processor for executing the instructions, the method comprising:

receiving, from a user of a calling device, instructions that specify filter settings for logging outgoing calls to a plurality of parties in a call log, wherein the instructions received from the user indicate that calls from the user of the calling device to a first one of the parties are to be excluded from the call log;

obtaining outgoing call information associated with an outgoing call originating from the calling device and destined to a called device associated with one of the parties, the outgoing call information reflecting a dialed number;

determining whether or not to log the outgoing call information based on the filter settings; and

storing the outgoing call information in the call log in response to a determination to log the outgoing call information.