Method and system for customized caller identification

• US 8,306,202 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2006
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vonage Business Inc (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Vonage Network LLC (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Citron, Jeffrey, Mamakos, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US11/594,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20070127656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,189 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.07, 379/142.15, 455/414.1, 455/415
• US Class Current: 379/142.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/575 Means for retrieving and displaying personal data about calling party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• 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 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A system and method for customized caller identification and call routing are disclosed. A disclosed method of providing customized caller identification information for a phone call includes associating a first phone number in a database with a plurality of user specified identifications, selecting one of the plurality of user specified identifications in response to the phone call placed from the first phone number to a second phone number as a function of the second phone number, and providing the selected one of the plurality of identifications to a device associated with the second telephone number.

Claims

1. A method of routing a call when a caller at a first phone number calls a user at a second phone number comprising:

(a) associating the first phone number in a database with a customized routing instruction selected by the user and a customized identifier selected by the caller that was previously provided by the caller to the user, the customized routing instruction including a third phone number;

(b) selecting the third phone number in response to a phone call placed from the first phone number to the second phone number as a function of the customized identifier; and

(c) routing the phone call from the first phone number to the third phone number.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising modifying the call routing instruction for a selected associated pair of first and second phone numbers.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) routing the phone call from the third phone number to a fourth phone number using the selected call routing instruction.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

(e) routing the phone call from the third phone number to a fourth phone number after a predetermined time.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(d) routing the phone call from the first phone number to at least a third phone number and a fourth phone number simultaneously.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

(e) detecting a channel opening at a terminal device; and

(f) completing the phone call to the terminal device.

7. A method of customizing communications between a caller at a first phone number and a user at a second phone number comprising:

(a) associating a first phone number in a database with a plurality of user specified identifications;

(b) selecting one of the plurality of user specified identifications in response to the phone call placed from the first phone number dialed to a second phone number, the selecting of the user specified identification based on the second phone number; and

(c) providing the selected one of the plurality of user specified identifications to a device associated with the second telephone number;

(d) associating the first phone number with customized routing instruction selected by the user and the selected one of the plurality of user specified identifications, wherein the customized routing instruction including a third phone number;

(e) selecting the third phone number in response to a phone call placed from the first phone number to the second phone number as a function of the customized identifier; and

(f) routing the phone call from the first phone number to the third phone number.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the database is located in a location remote from the user.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(d) displaying text corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of identifications.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(d) displaying an image corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of identifications.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(d) providing an audible tone corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of identifications.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

(d) providing a video corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of identifications.