Caller identification queue for wireless telephones

• US 7,079,837 B1
• Filed: 11/06/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feldstein, Corey, Sherman, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SING, SIMON P
• Application Number:
  US09/992,165
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/435.1, 455/433, 455/567, 455/461, 379/142.04, 379/207.15
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/551 Call history recording a computer conference H04L12/1831
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy

Abstract

A method and system are provided for collecting and storing caller identification information associated with a calling party directed to an out of service wireless telephone. When calls are made to a wireless telephone, a determination is made as to whether the telephone is registered for service, that is, whether the telephone can receive calls because it is powered on and is located within a wireless telecommunications service area where it may receive calls. During out of service periods, caller identification information on calls placed to the wireless telephone is stored in an identification queue. Once the wireless telephone is registered for service, stored caller identification information is forwarded to the wireless telephone for presentation to the user of the wireless telephone. Accordingly, the user of the wireless telephone avoids missing telephone calls made to her wireless telephone during the out of service period, and the user may then return the telephone calls at a convenient time.

Claims

1. A method of capturing and delivering caller identification information to a wireless telephone for calls placed to the wireless telephone during periods in which the wireless telephone is out of service, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party directed to the wireless telephone;

obtaining caller identification information on the calling party from one of a caller name database if the calling parting is calling from a wire line and the caller name database or a home location register if the calling parting is calling from a wireless line;

determining whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls;

if the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls, storing the caller identification information and checking the registration status of the wireless telephone at a regular frequency until the status indicates that the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls, the caller identification information being stored in one of a service control point and the home location register; and

if the wireless telephone becomes registered to receive calls and if it is determined, based on the wireless telephone model, that the wireless telephone is capable of receiving a missing call message directing a user to a missing call log, forwarding the stored caller identification information to the wireless telephone for storage in the missed call log on the wireless telephone, wherein the missed call log is operative to store the caller identification information corresponding to calls received but not answered while the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls, and the caller identification information corresponding to calls received while the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the wireless telephone an indication of missed calls.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the caller identification information on the wireless telephone.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the caller identification information includes the name and telephone number of the calling party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the caller identification information further includes the date and time of the call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls includes transmitting an IS-41 location request from a wireless switch to a home location register.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls further comprises:

determining whether the wireless telephone is powered on; and

determining whether the wireless telephone is located in a wireless service area in which the wireless telephone may receive calls.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining caller identification information on the calling party further comprises:

obtaining caller identification information on the calling party from a calling name database.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining caller identification information on the calling party further comprises:

obtaining caller identification information on the calling party from a home location register.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein storing the caller identification information further comprises:

sending the caller identification information via an IS-41 signal message to a caller identification queue; and

storing the caller identification information in the caller identification queue.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein after storing the caller identification information, the method further comprising:

determining whether the wireless telephone is re-registered to receive calls.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls, further includes:

querying a home location register for information indicating that the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls.

13. A method of capturing and delivering caller identification information to a wireless telephone for calls placed to the wireless telephone during periods in which the wireless telephone is out of service, comprising:

receiving at a wireless switch a call from a calling party directed to the wireless telephone;

obtaining caller identification information on the calling party from one of a caller name database if the calling parting is calling from a wire line and the caller name database or a home location register if the calling parting is calling from a wireless line;

querying a home location register for information indicating that the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls;

if the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls, sending the caller identification information to a caller identification queue for storage, the caller identification information being stored in one of a service control point and the home location register;

if the wireless telephone becomes registered to receive calls and if it is determined, based on the wireless telephone model, that the wireless telephone is capable of receiving a missing call message directing a user to a missing call log, forwarding the stored caller identification information to the wireless telephone for storage in the missed call log on the wireless telephone, wherein the missed call log is operative to store the caller identification information corresponding to calls received but not answered while the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls, and the caller identification information corresponding to calls received while the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein querying a home location register for information indicating that the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls further comprises:

determining whether the wireless telephone is powered on; and

determining whether the wireless telephone is located in a wireless service area in which the wireless telephone may receive calls.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein prior to forwarding the stored caller identification information to the wireless telephone, the method further comprising:

determining from the home location register whether the wireless telephone has become registered to receive calls.

16. A system of capturing and delivering caller identification information to a wireless telephone for calls placed to the wireless telephone during periods in which the wireless telephone is out of service, comprising:

a wireless switch operative to;

receive a call from a calling party directed to the wireless telephone; and

a home location register operative

obtain caller identification information on the calling party from one of a caller name database if the calling parting is calling from a wire line and the caller name database or a home location register if the calling parting is calling from a wireless line,

determine whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls,

send the caller identification information to a caller identification queue for storage, if the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls, the caller identification information being stored in one of a service control point and the home location register, and

forward the stored caller identification information from the caller identification queue to the wireless telephone for storage in a missed call log on the wireless telephone if the wireless telephone becomes registered to receive calls and if it is determined, based on the wireless telephone model, that the wireless telephone is capable of receiving a missing call message directing a user to the missing call log, wherein the missed call log is operative to store the caller identification information corresponding to calls received but not answered while the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls, and the caller identification information corresponding to calls received while the wireless telephone is not registered to receive calls.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the home location register is further operative to receive an IS-41 location request from a wireless switch for determining whether the wireless telephone is registered to receive calls.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the caller identification information includes the name and telephone number of the calling party.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the caller identification information further includes the date and time of the call.