Reverse number look up

• US 9,641,663 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Rincon, Lilian Dearith, Khanna, Alok, Soots, Jaanus
• Primary Examiner(s): WASEL, MOHAMED A
• Application Number:
  US13/895,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20140342707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/354 Reverse directory service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/003 Click to dial services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN

Abstract

Web content is formatted to show an icon adjacent identified phone numbers to enable select-to-call, e.g., click-to-call functionality from within a web platform. The select-to call functionality can enable the user'"'"'s web platform context to be maintained during the call. In some instances, details associated with the phone number that is called using the select-to call functionality can be retrieved from a database and surfaced to the user, by way of the web platform, to enrich the user'"'"'s call experience.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, with a web platform, web content that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

using the one or more telephone numbers to conduct a reverse number lookup; and

displaying

information associated with the reverse number lookup, the displaying being in a ranked order determined according to a call billing program in which a recipient of a call is billed for cost of the call rather than a caller.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises displaying an indication of which telephone numbers may be called for free.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said displaying comprises displaying information associated with an owner of at least one of the one or more telephone numbers.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising prior to said using, displaying a notification that one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web platform.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said displaying a notification comprises displaying an icon next to at least one of the one or more telephone numbers.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising prior to said using, receiving an indication associated with a call to an identified telephone phone number.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising prior to said using, placing a call, via the web platform, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising after said displaying, placing a call, via the web platform, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the web platform comprises a web browser.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising conducting a search based on information obtained from the reverse number lookup and wherein said displaying comprises displaying at least part of results from the search.

11. One or more computer-readable storage memories comprising computer-readable instructions which, when executed, implement a web browser configured to implement a method comprising:

receiving, with the web browser, web content that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

using the one or more telephone numbers to conduct a reverse number lookup; and

displaying information associated with the reverse number lookup, the displaying being in a ranked order determined according to a call billing program in which a recipient of a call is billed for cost of the call rather than a caller.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 11, wherein said displaying comprises displaying an indication of which telephone numbers may be called for free.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 11, wherein said displaying comprises displaying information associated with an owner of at least one of the one or more telephone numbers.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 11 further comprising prior to said using, displaying a notification that one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web browser.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 11 further comprising prior to said using, placing a call, via the web browser, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage memories of claim 11 further comprising after said displaying, placing a call, via the web browser, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

17. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer readable storage media;

a web browser embodied on the one or more computer-readable storage media and configured to implement a method comprising;

receiving web content that includes one or more telephone numbers;

identifying one or more telephone numbers that appear in the web content;

using the one or more telephone numbers to conduct a reverse number lookup during a call; and

displaying information associated with the reverse number lookup, the displaying being in a ranked order determined according to a call billing program in which a recipient of a call is billed for cost of the call rather than a caller.

18. The computing device of claim 17, further comprising displaying information associated with an owner of at least one of the one or more telephone numbers.

19. The computing device of claim 17 further comprising prior to said using, displaying a notification that one or more telephone numbers can be called from the web browser.

20. The computing device of claim 17 further comprising prior to said using, placing a call, via the web browser, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

21. The computing device of claim 17 further comprising after said displaying, placing a call, via the web browser, to one of said one or more telephone numbers.

22. The computing device of claim 17, wherein at least part of the displayed information is not associated with the one or more telephone numbers.