Abstract: A communication such as a telephone call is received, bearing identification information such as caller ID. The received audio signals if any, is encoded and stored. The identification information is used to look up additional information about the sender of the communication, such as by using the caller ID information to search the internet, for example by doing a reverse telephone number lookup. The user is presented with a graphical representation of this, and prior, communications, such as via an html page, and can select individual communications for playback, deletion, and the like. If the user is at a remote location, the encoded communications may be forwarded to that location, such as in the form of email attachments.

Abstract: A system for providing integrated multimedia and voice telephone service by simply dialing a telephone number is provided. One or both parties of a typical voice telephone call placed by the calling party dialing the called party number may simultaneously receive multimedia packets of data associated with the other party if both of the voice telephone devices are connected to or associated with a multimedia display device, and both telephone numbers are associated with clients or subscribers of the multimedia service. Multimedia data that may be provided to one or both parties includes names, office hours, maps of the other party's location, etc.

Abstract: A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided. A calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information. The announcement may be tailored by changing the language of the announcement, for example, to conform to the majority of calls received by the called party. A special designator may be stored in association with account information when the service is ordered. The designator is read before the announcement is played to the calling party. The audible caller identification information is recorded and played to the called party in a message. The message may be tailored by changing the language or format of the announcement.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for reviewing and updating a subscriber's telecommunications services, including a Caller ID service, using a graphical user interface via multiple data networks. The method includes presenting service data to the subscriber via the data networks and transmitting a data message from the subscriber to an intelligent peripheral via at least one of the data networks. The data message indicates a subscriber's desired update to a selected telecommunications service. The method also includes converting the data message into a protocol compatible with an integrated service control point. The converted data message is identical to a data message that the intelligent peripheral would create if the subscriber had entered the desired update via an interactive voice response system.

Abstract: An advanced intelligent network (AIN) for providing the name and telephone number of a calling party to a called party comprising a plurality of central offices and a service control point (SCP). The central offices are equipped with AIN software which enables them to generate triggers which active queries requesting the name of the calling party. The SCP contains subscriber information which enables it to determine the type of query that is associated with each trigger. The SCP also incorporates a database containing telephone numbers and corresponding names. Software incorporated into the SCP enables it to respond to the queries sent to it by searching its database and returning the telephone number and corresponding name of a calling party to a called party's central office and the called party.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for providing an addressee of a stored message with a graphical notification associated with a source of the stored message. In general terms, a communications device of the addressee is presented with the graphical notification in the form of an information signal which relates the stored message to at least one graphical image associated with the source of the stored message.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a first detection circuit which detects a call signal, and a second detection circuit detects information of a partner station sent between call signals. A memory circuit stores information of a communication system of the partner station in association with the information of the partner station. A reading circuit reads the information of the communication system for the detected information of the partner station from the memory circuit in accordance with the information of the partner station detected by the second detection circuit at the time of the detection of the call signal and executes the communication protocol in accordance with the read information of the communication system.

Abstract: A received telephone number is classified into group and stored by a simple operation, and is used as the telephone number when making a call. It comprises a telephone number detector (2) for detecting an incoming telephone number from a telephone line, an operation unit (13) for specifying the group of the detected telephone number, a memory (11) for storing the information of the specified group and the telephone number in correspondence, and LED (15a-15d, 19a-19b) for displaying multiple colors. In the incoming operation, the lamp color is changed to display which group the received telephone number belongs to, and the call receiver easily recognizes the call is from which specific group. Further, when dialing by making use of the stored telephone number, the telephone number is displayed and searched in each group.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for locating and retrieving stored computer files that are related to an incoming telephone call directed to a computer user. A called party receives a telephone call while the called party is operating her computer. A computer telephony interface receives caller identification information on the calling party and uses that information to launch a software synchronization program for locating files stored on the called party's computer that are related to the calling party. A dialog box is displayed on the screen of the called party's computer that provides the caller identification on the calling party and provides an icon for displaying a list of stored files related to the incoming caller. The list of files may be automatically presented to the called party, or the called party may retrieve the list of stored files by selection of the icon presented in the dialog box.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for preserving caller privacy in an advanced intelligent network comprising a service switching point and a second service switching point. The service switching point is adapted to suspend calls directed to a predefined number and forward signaling information associated with the call to the service control point. The service control point is adapted to alter the signaling information if a privacy restriction indicator in the signaling information is activated and to forward the altered signaling information to the service switching point.

Abstract: A telecommunications system (600) distributes text-to-speech synthesis (900) between a telephone network (603) and a telephone subscriber unit (602). The telephone network (603) receives (1102) a telephone call from a first telephone subscriber unit (601) over a first communication channel (604) intended for a second telephone subscriber unit (602), determines (1103) that the second telephone subscriber unit (602) subscribes to a speech-based caller identification service provided by the telephone network (603), converts (1107) text information (707), representing the caller identification of the first telephone subscriber unit (601) into symbols (708), encodes (1108) the symbols (708) to form a data stream (709), opens (1109) a second communication channel (605) between the telephone network (603) and the second telephone subscriber unit (602), and sends (1110) the data stream (709) to the second telephone subscriber unit (602) over the second communication channel (605).

Abstract: A method for augmenting communications between called and calling parties with context information helps either or both parties decide whether and how to accept or initiate a communications event.

Abstract: A picture/sound output equipment with caller identification and volume adjustment functions comprises a main unit provided with buttons and picture/sound output hole for connection to the screen and amplifier; and an incoming-call detection circuit connecting to telephone line on one end and connecting to the main unit on the other end. The incoming-call detection circuit transforms the signals of incoming calls into visual signals and outputs the visual signals. When the picture/sound output equipment is in use and the phone rings, the signals of incoming calls will be located and displayed on the screen, thereby helps users not to miss the phone calls as they watch films.

Abstract: An interaction manager system and method are provided to aid a caller in communicating with a callee. An interaction space is provided to a caller's communication device. This interaction space can include visibility information that informs the caller about the status of the callee, accessibility information that provides the caller with a list of communication channels available to the caller, and continuity information that includes information and action facilitation data that reflect the ongoing interaction between the caller and the callee.

Abstract: A call prevention device. The device includes a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party. The device also includes a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value.

Abstract: A call prevention device. The device includes a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party. The device also includes a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for timed ring suppression are disclosed. After a communications device receives an incoming call and the ringer is activated to produce an initial audible alert, the ringer of the communications device may be silenced for subsequent audible alerts until the calling party hangs up or until the call is further processed.

Abstract: A telephone apparatus of the present invention comprises a telephone number comparator for comparing a telephone number included in caller information delivered from caller identification delivery service with a telephone number registered in an electronic telephone directory, and displays the telephone number registered in the electronic telephone directory in display unit when the telephone numbers match at least in part as a result of the comparison. The telephone apparatus is thus able to display a correct telephone number of the incoming call and dial the telephone number correctly when making a callback.

Abstract: The present invention disclosed a masked phone service, which depending on phone user's original phone number to virtually create multiple new corresponding substitutive phone numbers, called mask phone numbers; to mask phone user's original phone number when on demand; by adding this new created mask phone number, therefore, to make the phone user have at least two phone numbers on single phone device so that the phone user's original phone number and the mask phone number may be separately used for his working and private time respectively, and by this way the phone user's personal privacy is then improved.

Abstract: Name customization features allow users to customize calling name information provided to a telecommunications network for calls placed from their subscriber lines. A local exchange switch provides calling party identification information for an associated subscriber line to the telecommunications network. If a custom name is desired for a given call, the local exchange switch changes, if necessary, a name value in the calling party identification information to the custom value. Subscribers can identify particular numbers and corresponding desired custom names, with the local exchange switch selecting the desired name when an identified number is called. Dialing feature codes from a handset or other device also may control custom name information. When appropriate, subscribers may customize calling number information as well. Preferably, screening methods prohibit subscribers from specifying disingenuous custom information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a caller identification system and method for identifying a caller with a partial phone number look-up table. The caller identification system comprises a database that stores received calls and can be personalized to include information specific to partial phone numbers. In one embodiment, the caller identification system disclosed can be integrated into a cellular phone. In this embodiment, an incoming call initiates a search in a database to retrieve information about the caller. If a match is found, the identity of the caller is displayed. When an exact match is not found, a search for a partial match is executed with wild card values and information about the partial match is displayed. Information for a partial match can be personalized or pre-programmed into the caller ID system such as the city associated with a particular area code or prefix.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic creation of an electronic telephone directory uses intelligent automatic recognition of whether a telephone number is considered by the user as an important one or not. A telephone number is recognized to be an important one when certain user actions or situations relating to this telephone number occur. These include calling back a Caller ID number repeatedly or a certain number of times within a certain time period, receiving the same Caller ID number repeatedly within a certain time period, manually dialing a number that matches one of those in the memories; or, during a Caller ID on Call Waiting, exercising options like dropping the existing call and switching to the new caller, etc. Once a telephone number is determined to be an important one based on these criteria, the number is automatically stored into a permanent memory that is the electronic directory.

Abstract: A telecommunication system enables a called party having a caller identification device to learn the identity of a calling party although the calling party is a credit card caller, a calling card caller, a caller using an Intelligent/Agent service, a caller using a pager or a caller connected to a PBX system. If the calling party's ANI does not fully identify the calling party, information stored in a database is used to supplement the ANI so that the calling party can be identified.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a telephone system in which the actual identity of the calling individual is provided to the called party. The calling individual has at least one identification code (“ID”) associated with him. The invention then maps this unique ID to the actual identification of the calling party and substitutes the calling individual's number for the calling station number in the ANI identification provided to the telephone system.

Abstract: A private branch exchange (PBX) system includes plural extension telephones divided into extension groups, and a PBX which sends information about one of the extension group to a caller. Plural extension interfaces (I/Fs) coupling the extension telephones to the PBX are divided into groups. The PBX calls each of the extension telephones coupled to all the extension I/Fs of the extension groups corresponding to a call-in signal. In the PBX, a memory stores text data about the extension groups. A controller sends the text data about the extension group to a caller's telephone responsive to the call-in signal. The information can be thus displayed on an extension telephone or an outside-line telephone of the caller.

Abstract: A telephone unit capable of checking a caller information even upon incoming call from a caller not registered on a telephone directory of the telephone unit, can be provided. Upon receipt of incoming call notice of a voice call, a voice communication portion obtains a telephone number of the caller from incoming call information by a caller number obtaining portion. The telephone number obtained by the caller number obtaining portion is fed to the caller retrieval portion. When the caller information cannot be found, the caller retrieval portion feeds the telephone number to a data communication portion to transmit a caller information retrieval request including the telephone number of the caller to a caller information retrieving system connected to internet from the data communication portion. A display portion displays the telephone information and the caller information obtained from the caller retrieving portion or the data communication portion.

Abstract: An on-demand caller ID service is disclosed. A customer dials an access code to retrieve calls made to his telephone number. An automated voicemail response system would repeat the telephone numbers and/or names associated with those telephone numbers that called over a predetermined time period, such as the last 24 hours. The customer is billed a per usage charge for each time he accesses the service. The customer may also subscribe to the service. Customers that are not subscribers of caller ID may utilize this service if they are seeking to track down an incoming call that may have been missed during the day. Also, customers who are away from their telephone line may remotely check who has called them by accessing the service.

Abstract: A communication such as a telephone call is received, bearing identification information such as caller ID. The received audio signal, if any, is encoded and stored. The identification information is used to look up additional information about the sender of the communication, such as by using the caller ID information to search the internet, for example by doing a reverse telephone number lookup. The user is presented with a graphical representation of this, and prior, communications, such as via an html page, and can select individual communications for playback, deletion, and the like. If the user is at a remote location, the encoded communications may be forwarded to that location, such as in the form of email attachments.

Abstract: A system for adding internet functionality to a telephone call between a first caller and a second caller. The system comprises a telephony application, responsive to receiving a source telephone number associated with the first caller and a destination telephone number associated with the second caller, for extracting the numbers. A first query is constructed using the source number to access details relating to the first caller and a second query is constructed using the destination number to access details relating to the second caller. An internet related function is then performed in accordance with these details. The internet related function may be to record a telephone conversation and email it to the callers, or to email call or caller details to each of the callers, or to exchange files, such as word processing documents and images etc.

Abstract: Processing a call from a calling party at a calling communication station to a called communication station includes detecting signalling information for the call, including determining whether standard caller identification for the calling communication station can be provided to the called communication station and detecting a privacy level selected by a called party at the called communication station. The call is routed in response to the signalling information and the privacy level. This permits management of privacy levels at the called communication station using the signalling information for the call.

Abstract: Disclosed is a caller identification system that provides unblocking or audible identification on telephone calls from calling parties having blocked or unknown numbers. Calling parties from blocked numbers are given the option of unblocking their name and telephone number for the current call, or to record their name for delivery to the caller ID subscriber. Calling parties from unknown numbers are given the option of recording their name for audible identification. The system provides an audibly distinct ring on a caller ID subscriber's telephone and visually displays a special message on a caller ID subscriber's visual display unit to alert the subscriber that the incoming telephone call will be audibly announced, since the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party are not available to the caller identification system.

Abstract: A method and system for routing Calling Name queries in a locally competitive environment includes the creation of a Calling Name query having both the calling party number and the called party number. The query is routed to a service control point of the local exchange carrier, where the called party number is extracted to determine the Calling Name service provider for the called party. The service control point accesses a series of databases to route the Calling Name query to the proper service provider/destination. The databases include a database storing a table of subscribers and their choice for Calling Name service, a database storing porting status of telephone numbers, and a database storing information about distribution of other local number portability databases.

Abstract: A telephone reads out caller information between rings even if a caller is unregistered. The telephone includes a caller information receiver for receiving a call ring and caller information coming in from a caller identification service, a caller information memory for storing the received caller information, a voice generator for generating voice data from the caller information, a speaker for outputting the voice data, and an output-time monitor for monitoring appropriate and inappropriate time for announcing the caller information in voice form.

Abstract: A method and system for processing an enterprise's incoming customer communications on the basis of the enterprise's business objectives. An enterprise service balancer distributes work based upon enterprise resources and immediate resource availability. The enterprise service balancer provides an instantaneous best possible service for a customer communication (e.g., a call) by matching the customer communication with the most appropriate available resource in the enterprise, as a whole, in accordance with the enterprise's definition of best service. The enterprise service balancer may refrain from moving media for a customer communication to an identified resource until after determining that the identified resource accepts the customer communication for further processing. The enterprise service balancer looks for an enterprise resource having a specific skills set when the enterprise receives a customer communication requiring the specific skills set.

Abstract: A call screening system and method. The method can include receiving an inbound telephone call destined for a called party. Associated caller identification data can be identified from the inbound telephone call. The associated caller identification data can be compared to a filter list of caller identification data. Finally, based upon the comparison, call management rules can be applied to the inbound call to manage the inbound call by either deferring the inbound call to voice mail, or automatically answering the inbound call without requiring pro-active intervention by the called party. Significantly, each of the receiving, identifying, comparing and applying steps is performed in a telephone tranceiving device. Alternatively, the receiving, identifying, comparing and applying steps can be performed centrally in a call processing switch.

Abstract: A unified communications automated personal name addressing system is provided. The system creates personal address books for system subscribers automatically, without requiring the manual entry of name and address pairs by the subscriber. The system enables a subscriber to appropriately address a communication by providing the name of the intended recipient. In particular, the system of the present invention allows a subscriber to conveniently address any type of communication that may be sent from a unified communication server, even while interfacing with the unified communications server using a conventional voice telephone.

Abstract: A directory assistance system in accordance with the inventive arrangements includes a general directory, having a first names list; at least one caller specific directory having a caller specific names list; a caller identification system, the caller identification system identifying a caller, the caller identity being processed to select a caller specific directory from among the at least one caller specific directories; and, a telephone interface for receiving directory queries from the caller. As such, the system can search the caller specific directory responsive to identifying the caller, associating the caller with the caller specific directory, and receiving a directory query. Notably, the directory assistance system can be a voice activated directory assistance system. A method for performing directory assistance is also disclosed.

Abstract: A telecommunication system enables a called party having a caller identification device to learn the identity of a calling party although the calling party is a credit card caller, a calling card caller, a caller using an Intelligent/Agent service, a caller using a pager or a caller connected to a PBX system. If the calling party's ANI does not fully identify the calling party, information stored in a database is used to supplement the ANI so that the calling party can be identified.

Abstract: Telephones, telephone answering devices (“TADs”) or larger systems are equipped to output audio announcements which identify the sources of incoming calls by comparing caller identity (“CID”) data and ring cadence signals in an incoming call with reference parameters. If a match occurs an audio announcement is output. Customized audio announcements may be recorded by a caller so they may be played back as a way of announcing incoming calls or as a greeting. The announcements are stored voices of callers who have originated incoming calls.

Abstract: A system for obtaining location data of calling parties for telephone calls provides location data for display by a called device. Through reception of the name, telephone number, or other calling party identifier as is done through the conventional caller ID service, the called device formulates a query to a database containing location data for calling parties. Existing advanced intelligent network infrastructure may be used to provide caller ID data to the called device, and the called device uses this caller ID data to formulate the query to the database. Additionally, the called device may have access to multiple databases containing location data and may detect an appropriate database to query based upon analysis of the caller ID data that has been received.

Abstract: A system (10) and method (40) for providing audible caller information to telephone service subscribers is presented. The system (10) includes a pre-processor (28) that converts textual caller information from a first data format to a second data format suitable for text-to-speech synthesis (TTS). The pre-processor (28) can be incorporated in a service node/intelligent peripheral (SN/IP) (24) in an advanced intelligent network (AIN). In this configuration, the pre-processor (28) can be used to convert caller-ID with name database entries into a predetermined TTS format. The TTS formatted information can be provided to a TTS synthesized (30) included in the SN/IP (24). In conjunction with a switching service point (SSP) (20), the pre-processor (28) can provide a talking call-waiting feature to subscribers with significantly improved intelligibility.

Abstract: Upon detecting an incoming call, a call screening system determines the CALLER ID information associated with the call and compares it to a database of allowable calling parties. If the calling party is to be allowed to ring through, the call screening system routes the incoming call to one or more communication devices associated with the calling party information in the allowable calling party database. In this manner, certain screened calls only ring through to a handset if authorized, while others are authorized to ring through to a fax machine, an answering machine, another handset, or a remote device connected between a remote handset and the local exchange. A single call screening device having several ports thus filters calls to multiple communications devices. Incoming call screening may be selectively different during different times of the day, for different calling parties, or for different communications devices connected to the call screening device.

Abstract: A holistic, automated, personalized telephone call management system is capable of responding to all incoming calls. The system employs customized software, computer chips, printed circuit board, ANI, where available, and a data input/output module, which are applied in an integrated manner to accomplish a broad array of functions important to modem household communication needs. System accepts operational time factors and telephone numbers as stored data to be matched automatically with the telephone numbers of incoming calls. The telephone rings under certain qualifying criteria, and an incoming call is passed in silent mode to a smart answering machine under other criteria. The smart answering machine is capable of handling emergency call situations, and the integration of call-waiting options. System also has a smart software function to deal with a state of delinquency on any lease/rent contract for the system.

Abstract: A method and telephone apparatus that detects an incoming telephone call and determines if the telephone number of the call's originator has previously been stored in the memory of the telephone is provided. If the originator's telephone number has not been previously stored, it is stored into the memory of the telephone. In addition, if an alphanumeric identifier associated with the originator's telephone number was received with the originator's telephone number, it is also stored into memory. If the alphanumeric identifier was not received, the telephone automatically initiates a call to a remote computer and transmits the telephone number of the originator to the remote computer. The computer assigns an alphanumeric identifier to the telephone number and transmits the alphanumeric identifier back to the telephone which stores the alphanumeric identifier in the telephone memory in association with the telephone number.

Abstract: A method for selecting from a plurality of modes for an incoming call indicator is provided. One of the plurality of modes comprises alternating playing one of a series of user-recorded messages as the incoming call indicator to a called party. When an incoming call is received, the selected mode determines the incoming call indicator.

Abstract: Caller Select allows the user to select incoming telephone numbers in the Caller ID that he wishes to receive and will ring the telephone 34; all other numbers will be rejected and not allowed to ring the telephone 34. Numbers may programmed either by pressing an enter switch 24 during a review controlled by a switch 26 or by going into the program mode by pressing a mode switch 22 and pressing buttons on a touch tone phone 34. The operation is controlled by software running in a low power microprocessor 16. The Caller Select mode may be turned off by a switch 28 which in display of the Caller ID only and ringing by all calls.

Abstract: In a communication device, a number of source identifying information are stored in a memory for respectively identifying calling sources and a number of color information corresponding to the source identifying information are also stored in the memory. When a call is received, the memory is searched for source identifying information identifying the source of the received call. If such identifying information is detected, a lighting arrangement is energized according to the color information stored in the memory corresponding to the detected source identifying information.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for providing caller ID information for outgoing telephone calls from a company which is required to provide caller ID information to the number called. The system reviews each outgoing call at a switch cluster of a carrier to determine if the call requires caller ID information. Should the call require caller ID information, the system will determine if the outgoing telephone call is carrying the originating call's caller ID information or a valid caller ID information packet. If the call is not carrying any caller ID information or an invalid caller ID information packet, the system of the present invention will provide a predetermined caller ID information packet to the switch cluster to be matched with the call. In instances where caller ID information is not required, the system will allow the call to continue without analyzing the caller ID information.

Abstract: The telephone memory aid provides a database to a primary party for storing and retrieving personal information about a secondary party, including summary information related to communication exchanges between the primary and secondary parties. The summary information includes, for example, the date and time of prior telephone calls and the topics discussed. This secondary party information, including the summaries of prior telephone calls, is available for review by the primary party during future phone calls with the secondary party. The telephone memory aid also facilitates entry of information into the database through speech recognition algorithms and through question and answer sessions with the primary and secondary parties.

Abstract: A caller information providing system and caller information transmitting method in a mobile radio communication network is disclosed. When a call comes in, the present invention provides a user at the terminating mobile station a picture information of a caller or caller information including a picture information, audio information, and/or character information of the caller.