U.S. patent application number 09/122484 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-23 for method and system for providing enhanced caller identification.
Invention is credited to BOOK, NANCY ANN, HARDZINSKI, MARY LOUISE, LATTER, TERESA FARIAS, MACIEJEWSKI, JAMES THOMAS, MCBLAIN, THOMAS JOSEPH, MOSS, JOHN WESLEY.
Application Number | 20010016036 09/122484 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22402974 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010016036 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LATTER, TERESA FARIAS ; et
al. |
August 23, 2001 |
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED CALLER IDENTIFICATION
Abstract
A method and system provide enhanced caller identification
information to a called party. The system determines whether or not
standard caller identification information associated with a
calling party can be provided to the called party. The system
preferably determines whether the standard caller identification
information is unavailable, incomplete or has been blocked. When
the system determines that the standard caller identification
information cannot be provided, the system transmits a request for
audible caller identification information to the calling party. If
the calling party provides the requested audible caller
identification information, the audible caller identification
information is transmitted to the called party. The called party is
thus provided with information about the calling party that can
assist the called party in deciding whether or not to answer the
call.
Inventors: |
LATTER, TERESA FARIAS;
(KILDEER, IL) ; BOOK, NANCY ANN; (NAPERVILLE,
IL) ; HARDZINSKI, MARY LOUISE; (PALATINE, IL)
; MACIEJEWSKI, JAMES THOMAS; (SPRING GROVE, IL) ;
MCBLAIN, THOMAS JOSEPH; (ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL) ;
MOSS, JOHN WESLEY; (LAKE ZURICH, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
22402974 |
Appl. No.: |
09/122484 |
Filed: |
July 24, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
379/142.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 2213/13256
20130101; H04Q 2213/13103 20130101; H04M 2203/2011 20130101; H04Q
3/0029 20130101; H04Q 3/72 20130101; H04Q 2213/13345 20130101; H04Q
2213/13377 20130101; H04Q 2213/13176 20130101; H04Q 2213/13282
20130101; H04Q 2213/13396 20130101; H04M 2242/22 20130101; H04M
1/57 20130101; H04M 2203/2005 20130101; H04M 1/571 20130101; H04M
3/436 20130101; H04Q 2213/13375 20130101; H04M 3/42059 20130101;
H04M 3/42042 20130101; H04Q 2213/13216 20130101; H04M 1/663
20130101; H04Q 2213/13095 20130101; H04Q 2213/13204 20130101; H04Q
2213/13091 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/142.1 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/56 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station; and (d) canceling the call in
response to input from the called communication station.
2. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station; and (d) transferring the call to a
voice mail system in response to input from the called
communication station.
3. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station; and (d) transferring the call to
another location in response to input from the called communication
station.
4. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station; and (d) transmitting a message to the
calling communication station in response to input from the called
communication station.
5. The method of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the input from the
called communication station comprises dual tone multi-frequency
tones.
6. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station; and (d) transmitting a text message
to the called communication station.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the text message identifies the
name of present service.
8. The method of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6, wherein step (c)
comprises the steps of recording the audible caller identification
information and transmitting the recorded audible caller
identification information to the called telephone station.
9. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a calling
communication station to a called communication station, the method
comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
determining whether a human is available to answer the call; and
(d) connecting the calling communication station to the called
communication station in response to a determination that a human
is not available to answer the call.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:
connecting a service node with the called communication station;
transmitting a request for input to the called communication
station; and determining whether input was transmitted from the
called communication station.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of
disconnecting the service node and the called communication
station; and placing a second call to the called communication
station.
12. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station,
the method comprising the steps of: (a) determining whether
standard caller identification information for the calling
communication station can be provided to the called communication
station; (b) transmitting a request for audible caller
identification information to the calling communication station in
response to a determination that the standard caller identification
information cannot be provided to the called communication station;
(c) determining whether a human is available to answer the call;
and (d) connecting the calling communication station with a voice
mail system in response to a determination that a human is not
available to answer the call.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (c) comprises the steps
of: connecting a service node with the called communication
station; transmitting a request for input to the called
communication station; and determining whether input was
transmitted from the called communication station.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein step (d) comprises the steps of
disconnecting the service node and the called communication
station; and placing a second call to the called communication
station.
15. A method for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station,
the method comprising the steps of: (a) using an advanced
intelligent network to determine whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; (b)
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; (c)
transmitting the audible caller identification information to the
called communication station.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises the step of
determining whether caller identification information for the
calling communication station is unavailable.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises the step of
determining whether the caller identification information for the
calling communication station is incomplete.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein step (a) comprises the step of
determining whether caller identification information for the
calling communication station has been blocked.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) comprises the step of
transmitting a request for the calling party to speak his/her
name.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein step (b) comprises the step of
transmitting a request for the calling party to speak the name of
the party upon whose behalf he/she is calling.
21. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
transmitting a message to the called communication station, the
message comprising accept and reject options and a request for
input from the called communication station.
22. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step determining
whether a human is available to answer the call.
23. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
connecting the call in response to input from the called
communication station.
24. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
canceling the call in response to input from the called
communication station.
25. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
transferring the call to a voice mail system in response to input
from the called communication station.
26. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
transferring the call to another location in response to input from
the called communication station.
27. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
transmitting a message to the calling communication station in
response to input from the called communication station.
28. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of
transmitting a text message to the called communication
station.
29. The method of claim 27, wherein the text message identifies the
name of the present service.
30. A system for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station
comprising: means for determining whether standard caller
identification information for the calling communication station
can be provided to the called communication station; means for
transmitting a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; and means
for transmitting the audible caller identification information to
the called communication station.
31. A system for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station
comprising: a service control point operative to determine whether
standard caller identification information for the calling
communication station can be provided to the called communication
station; a service node coupled with the service control point, the
service node being operative to transmit a request for audible
caller identification information to the calling communication
station in response to a determination that the standard caller
identification information cannot be provided to the called
communication station and being operative to transmit the audible
caller identification information to the called communication
station.
32. The system of claim 31, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station is
unavailable.
33. The system of claim 31, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station is
incomplete.
34. The system of claim 31, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station has been
blocked.
35. The system of claim 31, wherein the service node is operative
to transmit audible messages to the calling communication
station.
36. The system of claim 31, wherein the service node is operative
to transmit audible messages to the called communication
station.
37. The system of claim 31, wherein the service node is operative
to receive and respond to input from the called communication
station.
38. A system for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station
comprising: a service control point operative to determine whether
standard caller identification information for the calling
communication station can be provided to the called communication
station; an intelligent peripheral coupled with the service control
point, the intelligent peripheral being operative to transmit a
request for audible caller identification information to the
calling communication station in response to a determination that
the standard caller identification information cannot be provided
to the called communication station and being operative to transmit
the audible caller identification information to the called
communication station.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station is
unavailable.
40. The system of claim 38, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station is
incomplete.
41. The system of claim 38, wherein the service control point is
operative to determine whether the standard caller identification
information for the calling communication station has been
blocked.
42. The system of claim 38, wherein the intelligent peripheral is
operative to transmit audible messages to the calling communication
station.
43. The system of claim 38, wherein the intelligent peripheral is
operative to transmit audible messages to the called communication
station.
44. The system of claim 38, wherein the intelligent peripheral is
operative to receive and respond to input from the called
communication station.
45. A computer usable medium having computer readable program code
embodied therein for processing a call from a calling party at a
calling communication station to a called communication station,
the computer readable program code comprising: a first computer
readable program code for causing a computer to determine whether
standard caller identification information for the calling
communication station can be provided to the called communication
station; a second computer readable program code for causing a
computer to transmit a request for audible caller identification
information to the calling communication station in response to a
determination that the standard caller identification information
cannot be provided to the called communication station; and a third
computer readable program code for causing a computer to transmit
the audible caller identification information to the called
communication station.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to
telecommunications services and more particularly to caller
identification.
[0002] Telecommunications service providers typically offer
services that attempt to provide customers with information that
enables them to determine whether or not to accept a call before
answering the call. One service that provides such information is
caller identification ("Caller ID"). Standard Caller ID services
generally provide a customer with an indication of who is calling
without requiring the customer to answer the call. These systems
typically retrieve information about the calling party from a
database and provide that information to the called party. Customer
premise equipment (CPE) in the form of a display device is
generally used to provide the called party with a visual readout of
the name and/or telephone number associated with the calling
party.
[0003] However, the effectiveness of Caller ID systems can be
reduced due to a number of different occurrences. One common
occurrence that decreases the effectiveness of Caller ID systems is
the inability of a service provider to provide the standard Caller
ID information for a particular incoming call. A service provider
may not be able to provide the standard Caller ID information if
the Caller ID information is blocked by the calling party, or if
the Caller ID information is unavailable or incomplete. When the
standard Caller ID information cannot be provided, the called party
is not adequately informed about who is calling and cannot
determine whether or not to accept the incoming call before
answering the call. Because the effectiveness of Caller ID systems
is greatly reduced when information cannot be provided, an improved
system and method for providing caller identification information
that overcome these deficiencies are needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a telecommunications system of
a preferred embodiment.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of a preferred embodiment
for providing enhanced caller identification.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of
the telecommunications system of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 4. is a block diagram of a second preferred embodiment
of the telecommunications system of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of a preferred embodiment
for providing enhanced caller identification using the system of
FIGS. 3 or 4.
[0009] FIG. 6 is a more detailed flow chart of a portion the method
of FIG. 5.
[0010] FIG. 7 is a more detailed flow chart of a portion the method
of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0011] By way of introduction, the preferred embodiments described
below include a method and system for providing a called party with
audible caller identification information when standard caller
identification information cannot be provided. In one embodiment,
calls for which standard caller identification information is
blocked, unavailable or incomplete are prevented from being
connected to the called party. Instead of connecting the calls, a
request for audible caller identification information is
transmitted to the calling party. If the calling party provides the
requested audible caller identification information, the audible
information is transmitted to the called party. Caller
identification information can thus be provided to the called party
when standard caller identification information cannot be
provided.
[0012] By way of example, FIG. 1 depicts a system 10 of a preferred
embodiment. The system 10 comprises a network 20, a called
communication station 30 coupled with the network 20 and a calling
communication station 40 coupled with the network 20. The term
"coupled with," as used herein, means directly coupled with or
indirectly coupled with through one or more components. The network
20 preferably comprises computer usable medium having first, second
and third computer readable program codes 22, 24, 26 embodied
therein. It is important to note that while the program codes 22,
24, 26 have been shown as three separate elements, their
functionality can be combined and/or distributed. It is also
important to note that "medium" is intended to broadly include any
suitable medium including analog or digital, hardware or software,
now in use or developed in the future.
[0013] The system 10 is preferably implemented in a
telecommunications network as known to those skilled in the art.
Alternatively, the system 10 can be implemented in a computer
network or any other network that is adapted to transmit, store and
retrieve information. The calling communication station 40 and the
called communication station 30 preferably comprise analog
telephone stations as known to those skilled in the art. According
to an alternative embodiment, the communication stations 30, 40 can
comprise any suitable communication station adapted for use in the
present embodiments as known to those skilled in the art.
[0014] The system 10 of FIG. 1 can be used to implement the method
100 depicted in FIG. 2. When the calling party at the calling
communication station 40 places a call to a called party at the
called communication station 30, the first computer readable
program code 22 determines whether standard caller identification
information associated with the calling communication station 40
can be provided to the called communication station 30 (step 110,
FIG. 2). As used herein, the term standard caller identification
(Caller ID) information means the information associated with a
calling communication station that is typically stored in a
database and automatically retrieved and provided to a called party
as known to those skilled in the art. If it is determined that
standard caller identification information cannot be provided, the
second computer readable program code 24 transmits a request for
audible caller identification information to the calling
communication station 40 (step 120). As used herein, the term
audible caller identification information means audible information
provided by the calling party in response to a request for such
information. If the calling party provides the requested audible
caller identification information, the third computer readable
program code 26 transmits the audible caller identification
information to the called communication station 30 (step 130).
After receiving the audible caller identification information, the
called party can decide whether to proceed with the call or cancel
the call (step 140).
[0015] By way of further example, FIG. 3 depicts a preferred
embodiment of the system 10 described above. The system 200
comprises a service switching point (SSP) 220, a signal transfer
point (STP) 230, a service control point (SCP) 240, a first SCP
database 242, a second SCP database 244, a service node (SN) 250, a
central office 260, called telephone station 222 and calling
telephone station 262. Intelligent network system components,
commonly referred to as advanced intelligent network (AIN)
components, suitable for implementing the present embodiment are
commercially available from several vendors and are known to those
skilled in the art. AIN components can implement computer readable
program code as known to those skilled in the art. Vendors of AIN
components typically have a preferred programming language and
operating platform as known to those skilled in the art.
[0016] SSP 220 preferably comprises an AIN switch that routes
calls, recognizes and responds to triggers, generates queries to
obtain call information and responds to returned call information.
SSP 220 connects called telephone station 222 with central office
260 to enable a calls to be placed between called telephone station
222 and calling telephone station 262. SSP 220 preferably
communicates with SCP 240, central office 260 and SN 250 by
utilizing a signaling protocol such as Signaling System 7 (SS7) or
other such signaling protocols as presently known to those skilled
in the art or developed in the future. SSP 220 preferably generates
queries to SCP 240 and receives and responds to responses to the
queries returned from SCP 240.
[0017] STP 230 preferably comprises a network element that
transfers signaling communications in response to signaling
protocols such as SS7 or other such signaling protocols as
presently known to those skilled in the art or developed in the
future. STP 230 preferably transfers queries from SSP 220 to SCP
240 and transfers responses to the queries from SCP 240 to SSP
220.
[0018] SCP 240 preferably comprises an AIN element that stores call
information and receives and responds to queries. SCP 240
preferably stores call control information in the first SCP
database 242 and can access the stored call control information.
SCP 240 also stores standard caller identification information in
the second SCP database 244 and can access the stored caller
identification information. SCP 240 receives queries generated by
SSP 220 and preferably responds to the queries by performing
database searches to locate the requested call control information
or caller identification information as known to those skilled in
the art. SCP 240 can forward the call control information or caller
identification information to SSP 220.
[0019] SN 250 preferably comprises a network element that enables
communications between telephone stations 222, 262 and the network.
SN 250 can preferably transmit messages to and receive responses
from telephone stations 222, 262. SN 250 can generate announcements
that can be transmitted to telephone stations 222, 262. SN 250 can
transmit responses such as audible caller identification
information from telephone station 262 to telephone station 222 by
connecting telephone stations 222, 262 or by recording and playing
back the responses as known to those skilled in the art. The
announcements transmitted to telephone station 222 preferably
comprise accept and reject options along with requests for input
from the telephone station 222. The requests for input preferably
comprise requests for input that can be used by SN 250 to cancel
calls to telephone station 222, connect calls to telephone station
222, forward calls to a voice mail system or another location such
as another telephone line, and transmit messages to telephone
station 262. As used herein, the term voice mail system means all
types of message recording systems as known to those skilled in the
art. SN 250 can preferably receive and respond to the input
transmitted from telephone station 222. The term input means any
suitable signal such as DTMF tones, voice input, dial pulse input
or modem/fax input as known to those skilled in the art.
[0020] Database 242 preferably comprises a data storage element for
use with SCP 240 as known to those skilled in the art. Database 242
preferably stores call control information that can be implemented
by SSP 220 to control calls. Such call control information is known
to those skilled in the art.
[0021] Database 244 preferably comprises a standard caller
identification with name database as known to those skilled in the
art. Database 244 preferably includes the name of the person
associated with calling telephone station 262 along with the
telephone number that is associated with calling telephone station
262. Database 244 can alternatively comprise a caller assistance
database as known to those skilled in the art. While databases 242,
244 are depicted within a telecommunications system, databases 242,
244 can comprise any suitable databases containing information
adapted for use in the present embodiment and are not limited to
databases located within a telecommunications network. It is also
important to note that while databases 242, 244 are shown as
separate components, they can be implemented as a single
database.
[0022] Central office 260 preferably comprises an AIN network
switch as known to those skilled in the art. Central office 260
enables calls to be placed between calling telephone station 262
and called telephone station 222. Alternatively, central office 260
can comprise a non-AIN network switch as known to those skilled in
the art.
[0023] Telephone stations 222, 262 preferably comprise analog
telephone sets as known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively,
telephone stations 222, 262 can comprise wireless, PCS, ISDN or any
other form of communication station known to those skilled in the
art. Called telephone station 222 preferably includes CPE equipment
for use with caller identification services as known to those
skilled in the art.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, an alternate embodiment of the
system of FIG. 3 is shown. The system 280 comprises an SSP 220; a
called telephone station 222; an STP 230, an SCP 240; a first SCP
database 242, a second SCP database 244, a central office 260 and a
calling telephone station 262, all as described above in reference
to FIG. 3. The system 280 also includes an intelligent peripheral
(IP) 290 that communicates with SSP 220 and performs the same
functions as the SN 250 as described herein.
[0025] The systems depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be utilized to
implement the method 300 depicted in FIG. 5. For purposes of
illustration, assume that a calling party at calling telephone
station 262 places a call to a called party at called telephone
station 222. In an attempt to connect the call, central office 260
routes the call to SSP 220.
[0026] In this embodiment, when the call is routed to SSP 220, a
terminating attempt trigger is activated (step 310) when SSP 220
attempts to connect the call to called telephone station 222. The
trigger generates a query that is sent to SCP 240 (step 320). The
query preferably includes a calling party identification parameter
which can include a calling party presentation restriction
indicator as known to those skilled in the art and requests the
return of standard Caller ID information. The telephone number
associated with the calling telephone station 262 is preferably
included in the calling party identification parameter of the query
as known to those skilled in the art. SCP 240 receives the query
and determines whether or not the called party at called telephone
station 222 subscribes to the present service. In response to a
determination that the called party subscribes to the present
service, SCP 240 analyzes the information included with the query
to determine whether standard Caller ID information can be provided
to called telephone station 222 (step 330).
[0027] If the standard Caller ID information cannot be provided,
SCP 240 accesses database 242 to retrieve call control information
(step 340) and returns the call control information to SSP 220
(step 350). The call control information can be sent to SSP 220 in
response to a lead directory number that uniquely identifies each
SSP as known to those skilled in the art. In response to the call
control information, SSP 220 routes the call to SN 250 or IP 290
(step 360). When SN 250 or IP 290 receives the call, SN 250 or IP
290 generates a request for audible caller identification
information that is transmitted to the calling telephone station
262 (step 370). The request preferably comprises a statement
indicating that the called party doesn't accept calls from
unidentified callers and a request for the calling party to speak
his/her name and/or the name of the company that they represent.
The request preferably comprises an audible message. Alternatively,
the request can be displayed on CPE equipment as known to those
skilled in the art. If the calling party provides an audible
response, SN 250 or IP 290 enables the audible response to be
transmitted to called telephone station 222 (step 380).
Alternatively, if the calling party does not provide the requested
information, the call is canceled (step 390).
[0028] The step of determining whether standard Caller ID
information can be provided (step 330, FIG. 5) preferably comprises
the steps shown in FIG. 6. The SCP 240 preferably first determines
whether standard Caller ID information is unavailable (step 410).
The SCP 240 preferably determines whether the standard Caller ID
information is unavailable by determining whether or not the
calling party identification parameter is present in the query as
known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the SCP 240
preferably determines whether the standard Caller ID information is
incomplete (step 420). The SCP 240 preferably determines whether
the standard Caller ID information is incomplete by determining
whether or not the calling party identification parameter is a
valid telephone number as known to those skilled in the art. In
addition, the SCP 240 preferably determines whether the standard
Caller ID information has been blocked (step 430). The SCP 240
preferably determines whether the standard Caller ID information
has been blocked by determining whether or not the calling party
identification presentation restriction indicator is set to
"presentation restricted" as known to those skilled in the art.
[0029] The step of providing the audible caller identification
information to the called party (step 380, FIG. 5) preferably
comprises the steps shown in FIG. 7. Preferably, called telephone
station 222 rings (step 510) to signify that a call has been placed
to called telephone station 222. While called telephone station 222
is ringing, a text message can be transmitted to called telephone
station 222 and the text message can be displayed on the CPE
equipment at called telephone station 222 (step 520) as known to
those skilled in the art. The text message preferably indicates
that the call is being handled by the present service and
identifies the name of the present service. If the called party
answers the telephone (i.e. the telephone is off hook), the audible
caller identification information that was provided by the calling
party is transmitted to called telephone station 222 (step 530).
The audible caller identification information is preferably
recorded and played back to the called telephone station 222 as
known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the calling
telephone station 262 and the called telephone station 222 can be
connected such that the audible caller identification information
can be transmitted between the telephone stations 262, 222.
[0030] After the audible caller identification information has been
transmitted, a message is transmitted to called telephone station
222 (step 540). The message preferably includes instructions that
allow the called party to accept or reject the call by providing
the appropriate input The message preferably comprises audible
instructions that are transmitted by SN 250 or IP 290 to called
telephone station 222. The accept and reject options preferably
comprise, accepting the call by enabling the connection of the call
to the called telephone station 222, canceling the call by
disabling the connection of the call to the called telephone
station 222, forwarding the call to a voice mail system or another
location and sending a message to calling party. The message sent
to the calling party can comprise a request that the called party
be taken off a telemarketer's call list. Each of these options is
preferably invoked when the called party provides the appropriate
input.
[0031] In response to input provided by the called party, the SN
250 or IP 290 can process the call (step 550). Accordingly, the SN
250 or IP 290 can connect the call, cancel the call, transmit a
message to the calling telephone station 262 or forward the call to
a voice mail system or another location in response to the input
provided by the calling party.
[0032] In a further alternative embodiment, the present systems and
methods can be configured to work in conjunction with answering
machines and voice mail systems. After the called party answers the
telephone (step 530, FIG. 7) a message can be transmitted to the
called telephone station 222 requesting the called party to provide
appropriate input to signify that the call is being answered by a
human. The message preferably comprises an audible message and is
preferably transmitted to the called telephone station 222 by the
SN 250 or IP 290. The input can comprise any suitable signal such
as DTMF tones, dial pulse input, modem/fax input or voice input as
known to those skilled in the art. If the called party provides the
requisite input, the audible caller identification information
provided by the calling party can be transmitted to the called
party. However, if input is not provided within a predetermined
amount of time, the audible caller identification information is
not transmitted to the called party. Instead, the calling party can
be connected with the answering machine or the voice mail system
and the calling party can leave a conventional message. The
preferred time period within which the input must be received to
prevent the calling party from being connected with the answering
machine or voice mail system is three seconds.
[0033] Alternatively, if an answering machine or a voice mail
system answers the call, the answering machine or voice mail system
can immediately transmit a tone input to the SN 250 or IP 290 to
signify that the call is not being answered by a human. In response
to the input, the SN 250 or IP 290 can connect the calling party to
the answering machine or the voice mail system and the calling
party can leave a conventional message.
[0034] In order to connect the calling party with the answering
machine or voice mail system as described herein, the SN 250 or IP
290 can disconnect from the called telephone station 222 and can
place a second call to the called telephone station 222 by dialing
the telephone number associated with the called telephone station
222. This second call can then be answered by the answering machine
or voice mail system so that the calling telephone station 262 is
connected to the answering machine, voice mail system, or called
telephone station 222 and the calling party can leave a
conventional message.
[0035] In a further alternative embodiment, the present system and
method can be configured to work in conjunction with standard
caller identification services. After the trigger is sent from the
SSP 220 (step 320, FIG. 5), the SCP 240 can determine whether the
called party at the called telephone station 222 has subscribed to
the present service. If the called party has not subscribed to the
present service, the call can be handled in accordance with
standard Caller ID procedures as known to those skilled in the art.
In addition, if the SCP 240 determines that the standard caller
identification information can be provided (step 330, FIG. 5), the
call can be handled in accordance with standard Caller ID
procedures as known to those skilled in the art.
[0036] In a further alternative embodiment, a party can be
connected with the called telephone station 222 without having to
speak his/her name through the use of a password override system as
known to those skilled in the art. This can enable the party to,
among other things, speak with a party at the called telephone
station 222 or remotely access any messages left for them and
stored on the answering machine or voicemail system without the
party having to speak his/her name as required by he present
system. The party can place a call to called telephone station 222
from a remote telephone station. If the party calls from a
telephone station for which standard caller identification
information cannot be provided, the party will be instructed to
speak his/her name as described herein. Rather than speaking
his/her name, the party can transmit input, of the form described
herein, to the SN 250 or IP 290, to override the present system and
enable a connection with the called telephone station without
having to speak his/her name. The input can comprise a password or
other suitable identification as known to those skilled in the art.
The SN 250 or IP 290 can receive this input and compare the input
received to data stored within SN 250 or IP 290. The stored data
can comprise passwords or other identification data as known to
those skilled in the art and can be stored in a reference table as
known to those skilled in the art. If the input received matches
the data stored, the SN 250 or IP 290 can enable the party to be
connected to called telephone station 222, without requiring the
party to speak his/her name.
[0037] The present embodiments provide an efficient and effective
method and system for providing caller identification information
to a customer when standard caller identification information is
unavailable, incomplete, or blocked.
[0038] It is to be understood that a wide range of changes and
modifications to the embodiments described above will be apparent
to those skilled in the art and are contemplated. It is therefore
intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as
illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that
it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are
intended to define the spirit and scope of the invention.
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