System and Method of Presenting Caller Identification Information at a Voice Over Internet Protocol Communication Device
A method includes receiving a call from communication device associated with a caller. The call is directed to a second communication device associated with a callee. The method includes determining whether a caller profile associated with the caller is available. The method includes searching at least two networks in response to determining that the caller profile is not available. The method includes creating the caller profile based on the search of the at least two networks and populating a caller identification portal with at least one of a plurality identification characteristics included in the caller profile.
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This application claims priority from and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/214,741, filed Aug. 29, 2005, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF PRESENTING CALLER IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION AT A VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL COMMUNICATION DEVICE,” the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to voice over Internet protocol telephone systems.
BACKGROUNDCaller identification services are ubiquitous in the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Typically, the caller identification services in the PSTN include a caller's ten-digit telephone number and in, some cases, up to thirteen text characters for a name. While this information is useful, it is limited in helping a user identify the caller. Further, the PSTN does not provide a way of storing or retrieving additional information about the caller.
Some Internet Protocol (IP) telephone systems have begun to include additional information. For example, one system can link a caller's name from a caller identification log with an entry in the user's electronic address book, if available. After the call has registered in the call log, the user can click on the caller's name to find out additional contact information, e.g., the caller's address or email address. This system is limited because it is only provided upon request by the user. Further, this system requires a user to be logged into a web site. Additionally, this current system is limited in the type and amount of information that is stored and retrievable.
A method of providing caller identification information to a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone device is disclosed and includes receiving an incoming telephone call. The method also includes determining a destination VoIP telephone device associated with the incoming call. Further, the method includes populating a caller identification portal with a plurality of identification characteristics from a caller profile and presenting the caller identification portal to a display of the destination VoIP telephone device.
In a particular embodiment, the method also includes transferring the call to the destination VoIP telephone device. In another particular embodiment, the caller identification portal has a first mode in which a partial caller identification portal is presented and a second mode in which a full caller identification portal is presented.
In a particular embodiment, the method includes determining whether a user of the destination VoIP telephone device has enabled the first mode or the second mode of the caller identification portal. Moreover, the method includes presenting the partial caller identification portal when the first mode is enabled and presenting the full caller identification portal when the second mode is enabled.
In yet another particular embodiment, the method includes searching a network with an identified caller name, determining whether new information not included in the caller profile is available, and updating the caller profile when new information is available. In a particular embodiment, the network is at least one of the following: an Internet, a local area network, and a peer-to-peer network. Additionally, the network can be search using a telephone number, a social security number, or any other parameter associated with the identified caller.
In still another particular embodiment, the caller identification portal includes at least three of the following: a caller name, a caller work telephone number, a caller cellular telephone number, a caller facsimile number, a caller home telephone number, a caller work address, a caller home address, a caller universal resource locator, a caller work email address, a caller personal email address, a current time, a current date, a caller time zone, a caller summary information window, a previous call history from the caller, a previous call history to the caller, a list of upcoming meetings with the caller, an audio clip, a video clip, and a photograph.
In another embodiment, a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) telephone system is disclosed and includes a VoIP server coupled to a remote VoIP communication device. The VoIP server includes a processor, a computer readable medium that is accessible to the processor, and a caller identification application that is embedded within the computer readable medium. Moreover, the caller identification application includes instructions to determine whether the remote VoIP communication device has a caller identification portal enabled, instructions to populate the caller identification portal with a plurality of identification characteristics from a caller profile associated with an identified caller, and instructions to present the caller identification portal on the VoIP communication device.
In yet another embodiment, a caller identification portal for a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication device is disclosed and includes a plurality of identification characteristics. Further, the caller identification portal includes a full mode button and a partial mode button. When the full mode button is selected, a first set of the plurality of identification characteristics associated with an identified caller is displayed at the VoIP communication device during a call. Also, when the partial mode button is selected, a second set of the plurality of identification characteristics associated with the identified caller is displayed at the VoIP communication device during the call.
As indicated in
In a particular embodiment, as shown in
In particular embodiment, the caller identification application 126 can identify incoming calls and populate a caller identification portal with information related to an identified caller. For example, when a caller is identified, the caller identification application 126 can retrieve a caller profile associated with the caller and populate the caller identification portal with information from the caller profile. Further, the caller identification application 126 can search one or more networks with the name of the identified caller in order to update the caller profile. Additionally, the caller identification application 126 can search the one or more networks with a social security number associated with the identified caller, a telephone number associated with the identified caller, an email address, or another search criteria associated with the identified caller.
In a particular embodiment, when a caller profile is not available for an identified caller, the caller identification application can create a new caller profile for the identified caller. The caller profile can be populated with information available via one or more networks coupled to the VoIP server 102.
Referring to
When the CIP is not enabled at the VoIP communication device, the method proceeds to block 208 and the telephone call is transferred to the intended recipient. The method then ends at state 210. At decision step 204, when the CIP is enabled at the VoIP communication device, the method proceeds to decision step 212. At decision step 212, the VoIP server determines whether a caller that originated the incoming call is identified. If the incoming caller is not identified, the method proceeds to block 208 and continues as shown. On the other hand, if the incoming caller is identified, the method proceeds to decision step 214.
At decision step 214, the VoIP server determines whether a caller profile is available for the identified caller. When a caller profile is available, the method moves to block 216 and the VoIP server populates a caller identification portal with information from the caller profile. The method then proceeds to decision step 218.
On the other hand when the caller profile is not available, the method continues to block 220 and the VoIP server creates a caller profile. At block 222, the VoIP server retrieves available information associated with the identified caller from one or more networks coupled to the VoIP server. In a particular embodiment, the VoIP server uses the name of the identified caller as a search query in order to locate the available information. Moving to block 224, the information is stored within the caller profile. For example, the caller profile can be stored within a computer readable medium, e.g., a memory within or accessible to the VoIP server. The method then proceeds to decision step 218.
At decision step 218, the VoIP server determines whether a full presentation mode is enabled at the VoIP communication device. If not, the method continues to block 226 and the VoIP server transmits a partial CIP to the VoIP communication device associated with the intended recipient of the telephone call. At block 208, the VoIP server transfers the call to the intended recipient. The method then ends at state 210.
At decision step 218, when full presentation is enabled at the VoIP communication device, the method moves to block 228 and the VoIP server transmits a full CIP to the VoIP communication device associated with the intended recipient of the telephone call. At block 206, the VoIP server transfers the call to the intended recipient. The method then ends at state 208.
In a particular embodiment, the method illustrated in
At block 306, the VoIP server searches a second network, such as a local area network, with the name of the identified caller. Thereafter, at decision step 308, the VoIP server determines whether information is available for the identified caller. If so, the method proceeds to block 310 and the VoIP server updates the caller profile with the information. The method then moves to block 312. Returning to decision step 308, if no information is available via the second network, the method moves to block 312.
At block 312, the VoIP server searches a third network, such as a peer-to-peer network, with the name of the identified caller. Continuing to decision step 314, the VoIP server determines whether information is available for the identified caller via the peer-to-peer network. If so, the method proceeds to block 316 and the VoIP server updates the caller profile with the information. The method then ends at state 318. Returning to decision step 314, if no information is available via the third network, the method ends at state 318.
In a particular embodiment, a caller identification application within the VoIP server can be executed in order to perform one or more of the method steps described herein.
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In a particular embodiment, an audio file that is associated with the identified caller can be played when the CIP 500 is presented to the user. For example, the user with a sense of humor may desire that the first movement of Beethoven's fifth symphony be played when someone ominous, e.g., a supervisor, is calling.
As shown in
In a particular embodiment, a user can customize the partial CIP 400 (
Referring to
In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in the capacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-client user network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The computer system 600 can also be implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, the computer system 600 can be implemented using electronic devices that provide voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single computer system 600 is illustrated, the term “system” shall also be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems that individually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructions to perform one or more computer functions.
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In a particular embodiment, as depicted in
In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, such as application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodiments described herein may implement functions using two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, the present system encompasses software, firmware, and hardware implementations.
In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented by software programs executable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can include distributed processing, component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed to implement one or more of the methods or functionality as described herein.
The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readable medium that includes instructions 624 or receives and executes instructions 624 responsive to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to a network 626 can communicate voice, video or data over the network 626. Further, the instructions 624 may be transmitted or received over the network 626 via the network interface device 620.
While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein.
In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capture carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.
With the configuration of structure described above, the system and method of providing caller identification at a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) communication device provides a way to automatically provide caller identification information to the VoIP communication device. Further, two modes of presentation can be provided. For example, in a full mode of presentation a plurality of identification characteristics can be provided to the VoIP communication device. Alternatively, in a partial mode of presentation a portion of the plurality of identification characteristics can be provided to the VoIP communication device. The mode of presentation can depend on a user preference or a size of a display at the VoIP communication device.
Although the present disclosure describes components and functions that may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. For example, standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functions as those disclosed herein are considered equivalents thereof.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- receiving a call from a communication device associated with a caller, wherein the call is directed to a second communication device associated with a callee;
- determining whether a caller profile associated with the caller is available;
- in response to determining that the caller profile is not available, searching at least two networks, wherein the at least two networks are searched using at least one of a name of the caller and an identifier of the communication device, and wherein the at least two networks include at least one of an Internet Protocol network, a local area network, and a peer-to-peer network;
- creating the caller profile based on the search of the at least two networks, wherein the caller profile includes a plurality of identification characteristics associated with the caller; and
- populating a caller identification portal with at least one of the plurality of identification characteristics.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the caller identification portal to the second communication device.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transferring the call to the second communication device.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the caller identification portal includes a full mode button and a partial mode button, and wherein the caller identification portal is populated based on a selection of the full mode button or the partial mode button.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with the plurality of identification characteristics included in the caller profile when the full mode button is selected, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with a subset of the plurality of identification characteristics when the partial mode button is selected, and wherein the subset comprises one or more identification characteristics of the plurality of identification characteristics.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the full mode button is not displayed in response to the selection of the full mode button, and wherein the partial mode button is not displayed in response to the selection of the partial mode button.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
- searching one or more networks to determine whether additional information associated with the caller is available in response to determining that the caller profile is available; and
- when the additional information is available, updating the caller profile to include the additional information.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of identification characteristics further includes at least one of the following: a caller name, a caller work telephone number, a caller wireless telephone number, a caller facsimile number, a caller home telephone number, a caller work address, a caller home address, a caller universal resource locator, a caller work email address, a caller personal email address, a time, a date, a caller time zone, a caller summary information window, a call history of calls from the caller, a call history of calls to the caller, a list of upcoming meetings with the caller, an audio clip, a video clip, and a photograph.
9. An apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- a computer-readable medium accessible to the processor; and
- a caller identification application embedded within the computer readable medium, the caller identification application comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving a call from a communication device associated with a caller, wherein the call is directed to a second communication device associated with a callee; determining whether a caller profile associated with the caller is available; in response to determining that the caller profile is not available, searching at least two networks, wherein the at least two networks are searched using at least one of a name of the caller and an identifier of the communication device, and wherein the at least two networks include at least one of an Internet Protocol network, a local area network, and a peer-to-peer network; creating the caller profile based on the search of the at least two networks, wherein the caller profile includes a plurality of identification characteristics associated with the caller; and populating a caller identification portal with at least one of the plurality of identification characteristics.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise transmitting the caller identification portal to the second communication device.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise transferring the call to the second communication device.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the caller identification portal includes a full mode button and a partial mode button.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with the plurality of identification characteristics included in the caller profile when the full mode button is selected, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with a subset of the plurality of identification characteristics when the partial mode button is selected, and wherein the subset comprises one or more identification characteristics of the plurality of identification characteristics.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the full mode button is not displayed in response to the selection of the full mode button, and wherein the partial mode button is not displayed in response to the selection of the partial mode button.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise:
- searching one or more networks to determine whether additional information associated with the caller is available in response to determining that the caller profile is available; and
- updating the caller profile to include the additional information in response to a determination that the additional information is available.
16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality of identification characteristics further includes at least one of the following: a caller name, a caller work telephone number, a caller cellular telephone number, a caller facsimile number, a caller home telephone number, a caller work address, a caller home address, a caller universal resource locator, a caller work email address, a caller personal email address, a time, a date, a caller time zone, a caller summary information window, a call history of calls from the caller, a call history of calls to the caller, a list of upcoming meetings with the caller, an audio clip, a video clip, and a photograph.
17. A computer-readable storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- receiving a call from a communication device associated with a caller, wherein the call is directed to a second communication device associated with a callee;
- determining whether a caller profile associated with the caller is available;
- in response to determining that the caller profile is not available, searching at least two networks, wherein the at least two networks are searched using at least one of a name of the caller and an identifier of the communication device, and wherein the at least two networks include at least one of an Internet Protocol network, a local area network, and a peer-to-peer network;
- creating the caller profile based on the search of the at least two networks, wherein the caller profile includes a plurality of identification characteristics associated with the caller; and
- populating a caller identification portal with at least one of the plurality identification characteristics.
18. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:
- transmitting the caller identification portal to the second communication device; and
- transferring the call to the second communication device.
19. The computer-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the caller identification portal includes a full mode button and a partial mode button, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with the plurality of identification characteristics included in the caller profile when the full mode button is selected, wherein the caller identification portal is populated with a subset of the plurality of identification characteristics when the partial mode button is selected, and wherein the subset comprises one or more identification characteristics of the plurality of identification characteristics.
20. The computer-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the subset is configurable.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 16, 2017
Patent Grant number: 9628615
Applicant: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. (formerly known as SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.) (Atlanta, GA)
Inventor: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.(formerly known as SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.)
Application Number: 13/854,562