Methods and systems for creating a dynamic call log and contact records

• US 9,203,955 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Inventors: Kirchhoff, Leland W., Trandal, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, QUYNH H
• Application Number:
  US14/502,862
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.02, 379/142.06, 379/210.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27457 Management thereof, e.g. manual editing of data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57
• 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 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

Abstract

The present invention is related to telecommunications, and in particular, to methods and systems for processing call signaling data. In an embodiment, a call processing system receives a first message from a switch while the switch is processing a call for a calling party, wherein the first message is initiated at least partly in response to a firing of a call event trigger configured within a switch. The first message includes call signaling information, including the calling party'"'"'s phone number. The calling party'"'"'s phone number is stored in the call processing system. A communication channel is established over a network between the call processing system and a computer associated with the called party. A message is transmitted to the networked computer, the message including the calling party'"'"'s phone number, wherein the calling party'"'"'s phone number is intended to be displayed on the networked computer associated with the called party.

Claims

1. A method of processing call information, the method comprising:

receiving a first message at a first processor device,

wherein the first message is initiated at least partly in response to a call from a calling party to a user,

the first message including call related information, the call related information including at least an identifier associated with the calling party;

automatically determining if the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in a contact data store associated with an account of the user,

wherein contact records of the contact data store associated with the user account are editable by the user via a user interface displayable on the first processor device;

if a determination is made that the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account,

causing at least a portion of the existing contact record, including at least a portion of the existing contact record previously edited by the user, to be displayed to the user;

if a determination is made that the calling party is not associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

automatically querying, during the call, one or more data sources for data related to the calling party;

automatically populating at least a portion of a contact record with at least a portion of query response data related to the calling party;

automatically storing the populated contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account; and

receiving from a computing system over a network at the first processor device a second message during the call, the second message including at least a portion of the query response data used to populate the contact record related to the calling party.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the identifier associated with the calling party is a phone number or an account number.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the query response data is stored in association with a call event in a call log of the user.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing, via the user interface displayable on the first processor device, an originate call control in association with the contact record.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the query response data includes two or more of:

a city associated with the calling party, a state associated with the calling party, a name associated with the calling party, a type of calling device associated with the call, a locator corresponding to a web page associated with the calling party, an email address associated with the calling party, a SIP address associated with the calling party, a wireless phone number associated with the calling party, a street address associated with the calling party.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

transmitting from the computing system over the network a third message during the call, the third message including at least a portion of the query response data related to the calling party to a networked application wherein the networked application is hosted on a second processor device.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising:

transmitting from the computing system over the network a third message during the call, the third message including at least a portion of the query response data related to the calling party wherein the third message is transmitted as a short message service message or email message to the user.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, the method further comprising causing at least a portion of the call related information to be stored in the contact data store associated with the user account.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein contact information of the contact record is editable by the user via a Web browser.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the computing system further comprises an Internet Protocol interface to one or more public switched telephone networks (PSTNs).

11. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the computing system further comprises the first processor device, and automatically determining, by the first processor device, if the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the user contact data store, is performed by the computing system or the first processor device.

12. A method of processing call information, the method comprising:

receiving a call at a first processor device,

the call including call related information, the call related information including at least an identifier associated with a calling party;

automatically determining if the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in a contact data store associated with an account of a user;

wherein the contact data store associated with the user account comprises contact records editable by the user;

if a determination is made that the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

causing at least a portion of the existing contact record, including at least a portion of the existing contact record previously edited by the user, to be displayed to the user;

if a determination is made that the calling party is not associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

automatically querying, during the call, one or more data sources for data related to the calling party;

automatically populating at least a portion of a contact record with at least a portion of query response data related to the calling party; and

automatically storing the populated contact record in the contact data store associated with the user.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the identifier associated with the calling party is a phone number or an account number.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the query response data is stored in association with a call event in a call log of the user.

15. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

providing, via a user interface displayable on the first processor device, an originate call control in association with the contact record.

16. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the query response data includes two or more of:

a city associated with the calling party, a state associated with the calling party, a name associated with the calling party, a type of calling device associated with the call, a locator corresponding to a web page associated with the calling party, an email address associated with the calling party, a SIP address associated with the calling party, a wireless phone number associated with the calling party, a street address associated with the calling party.

17. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

transmitting from a computing system over a network a message during the call, the message including at least a portion of the query response data related to the calling party to a networked application wherein the networked application is hosted on a second processor device.

18. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising:

transmitting from a computing system over a network a message during the call, the message including at least a portion of the query response data related to the calling party wherein the message is transmitted as a short message service message or email message to the user.

19. The method as defined in claim 12, the method further comprising causing at least a portion of the call related information to be stored in the contact data store associated with the user account.

20. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein contact information of the contact record is editable by the user via a Web browser.

21. A system comprising:

a computing system;

a network interface configured to be coupled to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN);

non-transitory media storing instructions readable by the computing device, that when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations, comprising;

receiving a first message, wherein the first message is initiated at least partly in response to a call from a calling party to a user,

wherein the first message includes call related information, the call related information including at least an identifier associated with the calling party;

automatically determining if the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in a contact data store associated with an account of the user,

wherein contact records of the user contact data store associated with the user account are editable by the user via a user interface displayable by the system;

if a determination is made that the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

causing at least a portion of the existing contact record, including at least a portion of the existing contact record previously edited by the user, to be displayed to the user;

if a determination is made that the calling party is not associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

automatically querying, during the call, one or more data sources for data related to the calling party;

automatically populating at least a portion of a contact record with at least a portion of query response data related to the calling party; and

automatically storing the populated contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

receiving a second message during the call, the second message including at least a portion of the query response data used to populate the contact record related to the calling party.

22. A computer storage system comprising a non-transitory storage device, said computer storage system having stored thereon executable program instructions that direct a computer system to at least:

maintain a contact data store associated with a user account that comprises contact records editable by a user via a user interface,

receive a call, the call including call related information, the call related information including at least an identifier associated with a calling party;

automatically determine if the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with an account of a user,

if a determination is made that the calling party is associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

cause at least a portion of the existing contact record, including at least a portion of the existing contact record previously edited by the user, to be displayed to the user;

if a determination is made that the calling party is not associated with an existing contact record in the contact data store associated with the user account;

automatically query, during the call, one or more data sources for data related to the calling party;

automatically populate at least a portion of a contact record with at least a portion of query response data related to the calling party; and

automatically store the populated contact record in the contact data store associated with the user.