Provision of telephony caller ID service via common instant communications clients

• US 7,912,036 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Richard Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Ni, Suhan
• Application Number:
  US10/794,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20050180553A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,573 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.18, 37914201- 14, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 370352-356, 370/389, 370392-393
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• 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 3/42085 Called party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/436 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 3/53325 Interconnection arrangements between voice mail systems
• 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 7/0009 where voice calls remain entirely in the telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0033 Notification or handling of incoming calls by a computer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/125 Details of gateway equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems email H04Q2213/13375
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

An approach is provided for supporting telephony services over a data network. A communication network establishes a voice session from a calling station to a called station associated with a user. A service platform, in communication with the communication network, obtains Caller ID information corresponding to the voice session, and determines an instant communication client of the user. The Caller ID information is transmitted over the data network to the instant communication client for display of the Caller ID information.

Claims

1. A method for supporting telephony services over a data network, the method comprising:

determining that a voice session from a calling station is destined to called station associated with a user;

obtaining an identifier associated with the calling station;

determining an instant communication client of the user; and

forwarding the identifier over the data network to the instant communication client, wherein the voice session is terminated at the called station and the instant communication client displays the identifier.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the called station is among a plurality of called stations associated with the user, the method further comprising:

receiving another identifier associated with a different called station; and

forwarding the other identifier to the instant communication client, wherein the instant communication client displays the identifiers concurrently.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the instant communication client is among a plurality of instant communication clients, the method further comprising:

forwarding the identifier to one or more of the instant communication clients.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a user database for a profile of the user, wherein the profile specifies the called station for monitoring and the instant communication client for displaying the identifier.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a request to modify the profile of the user; and

modifying the profile based on the request.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the instant communication client is resident on one of a computer system, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a gaming console, and a web appliance.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the voice session is one of a Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) call and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is derived from an Automatic Number Identification (ANI) information.

9. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

receiving another identifier associated with a calling station; and

forwarding the other identifier to the instant communication client, wherein the instant communication client displays the identifiers concurrently.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the other identifier is derived from a Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) number.

11. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

determining whether the instant communication client is available; and

if the instant communication client is not available, storing the identifier for later delivery.

12. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

appending supplemental information to the identifier, wherein the supplemental information includes one of time stamp information and advertisement information.

13. A method according to claim 1, the method further comprising:

associating a user with one or more called stations including the called station; and

associating the user with one or more instant communication clients including the instant communication client.