Abstract: A system and method for managing contact information is provided. In one implementation, for example, a method comprises accessing a contact record associated with a user of a user communication device, the contact record comprising at least one originating identifier identifying the user communication device and at least one contact field identifying contact information of a contact associated with the user. A contact record map is generated in which an alias identifier is assigned for the contact record. A destination identifier is selected from a plurality of available destination identifiers and assigned to the contact associated with the user. The assigned destination identifier is unique with respect to other contacts associated with the user. The alias identifier and the destination identifier are to the origination identifier identifying the user communication device within the contact record map.

Abstract: Method, system, and computer readable medium for providing an identifier for a caller identifier (ID) function when processing a communication request between a calling party and a called party in a communication network is described. In some examples, an initial identifier for the caller ID function associated with the calling party is received. A determination is made if the calling party has a virtual identifier configured in the communication network. A determination is made if the called party has a predefined identifier associated with the calling party configured in the communication network. The initial identifier is replaced with a terminating identifier based on configuration of the virtual identifier and the predefined identifier in the communication network.

Abstract: An incoming-call management method of mobile telecommunication devices is provided. The method includes offering options for telephone holder and caller, and controls the procedure according to the telephone holder's setting and caller's decisions.

Abstract: A system and method for screening telephone calls to a subscriber telephone number comprises a screening list of telephone numbers assigned to suspect callers and rules defining when a telephone number will be added to or removed from the screening list or ‘greylist,’ and/or modifying a screening value to be assigned to a telephone number in the greylist. Data relating to calls is received from subscribers and processed, and the telephone number is screened in accordance with the rules, based on the screening value assigned to the telephone number and optionally a selected subscriber tolerance level. Subscribers may add any telephone number to a personal list of telephone numbers to be blocked (blacklist) or telephone numbers to be accepted (whitelist).

Abstract: An Internet protocol query for Internet protocol private branch exchanges including a private branch exchange that is connected to the public switched telephone network for receiving a call setup request, the private branch exchange not being enabled for receiving calling name delivery information from a telecommunications circuit; at least one of an incumbent local exchange carrier switch and a competitive local exchange carrier switch in communication with the private branch exchange, the at least one of the incumbent local exchange carrier switch and the competitive local exchange carrier switch having the telecommunications circuit not enabled for calling name delivery information retrieval; a network in communication with the private branch exchange; and a calling name delivery database in communication with the network for receiving calling name delivery queries from the private branch exchange based on the call setup request. Methods for routing calls based on ENUM information is also included.

Abstract: A communication system, comprising at least one telephone appliance having multiple line appearances selectable via associated self-labeling line buttons, and a switch for receiving an incoming call intended for a particular one of the line appearances and in response generating a message containing predetermined information and an indication of an associated one of the line buttons, whereupon the predetermined information is displayed in abbreviated format on the associated self-labeling line button.

Abstract: A system for handling an outbound call from a call originator to a call target including a database storing a plurality of outgoing telephone numbers, each outgoing telephone number having one of two or more area codes; and an information processor controlled by the call originator. The information processor configured to process a trigger comprising at least an area code of a telephone number of the call target; select from the database a telephone number from the plurality of outgoing telephone numbers where the selected telephone number has at least an area code the same as the area code of the telephone number of the call target; set caller identification data of the outbound call to the selected telephone number; and transmit the caller identification data to the call target in connection with the outbound call.

Abstract: A digital photo frame, including a memory for storing a plurality of digital photos, and tags associated with the digital photos, where a tag for a digital photo corresponds to an object appearing in the digital photo, a screen for displaying the digital photos, an interface for making connection with a communicator, wherein the communicator includes a storage for storing a contact list of phone numbers for objects, and a controller, coupled with the memory and the interface, for rendering one of the plurality of digital photos on the screen, and for instructing the communicator via the interface (i) to identify the phone number of a selected object, and (ii) to dial the identified phone number, in response to user activation of a tag associated with the rendered digital photo and corresponding to the selected object.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a communication device. The communication device comprises a database comprising one or more visual IVR menus associated with a plurality of calling devices. Further, the communication device comprises means for receiving a call from a phone number of a calling device, and means for displaying a visual IVR menu associated with the phone number of the calling device.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a system, method, and computer-readable medium for providing audio announcement of communications to a called party in a communication network. The method includes receiving communication from a calling party and performing a lookup of information relating to the calling party in a database via an Internet Protocol connection based on an identifier of at least one of the calling party and the called party. The information comprises one or more audio files. The method then provides the audio announcement to a called party based on the audio files.

Abstract: An incoming call is detected from a calling entity. If the incoming call is associated with a subscription to presence information media data associated with the subscription can be output through an output unit in the telephone terminal. If the incoming call is determined to be associated with a subscription to presence information, it is determined whether the media data is present in the terminal, and if the media data is present in the terminal, the media data is output through an output unit in the telephone terminal.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to monitor incoming and outgoing calls associated with one or more communication devices, identify communication identifiers initiating the incoming calls and communication identifiers targeted by the outgoing calls, determine one or more related communication identifiers for each of the initiating and targeted communication identifiers, record in a communications log the incoming calls with the initiating communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers, and record in the communications log the outgoing calls with the targeted communication identifiers and one or more related communication identifiers. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method to expedite special number calls from a remote terminal that employs call control system comprising a control module and a translations database and is connected to the trunk group between the remote terminal and the local switching office. The translations database maintains translations for its associated remote terminal special number calls, including, but not limited to, 9-1-1 calls. When the call control system recognizes a special number call, it performs a look up in its translation database using the line ID as a key and substitutes a destination number for the special number and a calling line telephone number for the line ID. The call control system forwards the call to the local switching office, which treats the call as a trunk-to-trunk call. Advantageously, one (or more) trunk of the trunk group may be reserved solely for special number calls.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying information operate during a call service based on an IPTV system. When a first user terminal calls a second user terminal, a person-to-person communication enabler in the IPTV system obtains identity information of media streams of a ring tone service corresponding to the first user terminal and/or the second user terminal. The obtained identity information of the media streams of the ring tone service is sent to an Internet Protocol Television service terminal corresponding to a first user and/or a second user, for playing corresponding media streams of the ring tone service.

Abstract: A disclosed set top box or other multimedia receiver suitable for use in a multimedia distribution network includes a remote control interface operable to receive a signal from a remote control device and extract a remote control command from the signal, a processor coupled to the remote control interface and operable to detect the remote control command, and a machine readable storage resource containing computer executable instructions operable to: invoke an aural indication application that returns an audio stream suitable for processing by an audio output device, wherein the audio stream, when processed by the audio output device, causes the audio output device to produce an audibly detectable signal indicative of a function corresponding to the remote control command. The application may generate the audio stream by invoking a speech synthesis module or by retrieving an audio file.

Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to establish communications with a voicemail system, receive a caller identification (ID) associated with a voicemail message stored in the voicemail system, detect a match between the caller ID and one among one or more communication identifiers recorded in an entry of an address book, retrieve an image excerpt associated with the entry of the address book, present the image excerpt at a media device to identify a calling party that recorded the voicemail message. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An approach provides managed caller identification services. An image is retrieved from a repository maintained by a service provider in response to initiation of a communication session by the user with another user. The image is associated with a directory address for a user. The image is transmitted along with the directory address for presentation to the other user during establishment of the communication session.

Abstract: A method for integrating presence services into a telecommunications system that includes a presence server. The method includes receiving a query, by the presence server from service logic, the query including call parameters and call information, regarding a call from a session initiator to a session terminator. The method also includes comparing, by the presence server, the call parameters and the call information with a stored presence profile established for the session terminator, the stored presence profile including preferred treatment information. The method further includes collecting usage information of the session terminator, and automatically generating the preferred treatment information, when the preferred treatment information has not been established. The method then determines a treatment of the call, by the presence server, based upon the stored presence profile and the preferred treatment information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a customized CLI comprise receiving, by a network element, a first SET-UP message from a transmitting device during a call set up. The network element then retrieves an identification of the transmitting device from the first SET-UP message and obtains a first Caller Line Identification (CLI) of the transmitting device corresponding to the retrieved identification. Further, the network element determines whether the first SET-UP message includes a first indicator and retrieves a data message from the first SET-UP message when the first SET-UP message includes a first indicator. The network element then adds the data message, the first CLI, and a second indicator to a second SET-UP message and transmits the second SET-UP message to a receiving device during the same call set up, for displaying a customized CLI on the receiving device, thereby alerting a user of the receiving device of an incoming call.

Abstract: The present invention is related to telecommunications, and in particular, to methods and systems for processing call signaling data. In an embodiment, a call processing system receives a first message from a switch while the switch is processing a call for a calling party, wherein the first message is initiated at least partly in response to a firing of a call event trigger configured within a switch. The first message includes call signaling information, including the calling party's phone number. The calling party's phone number is stored in the call processing system. A communication channel is established over a network between the call processing system and a computer associated with the called party. A message is transmitted to the networked computer, the message including the calling party's phone number, wherein the calling party's phone number is intended to be displayed on the networked computer associated with the called party.

Abstract: Detailed information about a party can be provided during interparty communication. Data-capable mobile devices query at least a public database to retrieve information about a set of parties engaged in communication. The results of the database query are employed to provide detailed caller identification and detail functionality to telephones or communication devices not utilizing traditional landlines or commercial caller identification service. Storage can be included to include address book function, query caching, and user preferences. An interface can be provided to facilitate display of rich caller identification information. The interface can further update displayed information without user input, or provide user selection control to request more information on a selected portion of displayed information. These features can be applied to determine the information about a party that is either receiving a communication or initiating a communication.

Abstract: A method for processing a call placed to a telephony identifier. The method comprises: obtaining information regarding an origin of the call; identifying a group of identities that is associated with the telephony identifier, each identity designating a party reachable by calling the telephony identifier; determining, based on the information regarding the origin of the call, that the call is intended for a particular identity among the group of identities; and causing routing of the call based on information associated with the particular identity. The party designated by each identity may be a different person. Also provided a system for processing a call placed to a telephony identifier.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable medium comprising instructions for providing Internet protocol enabled information delivery are provided. Information from a calling party is received at an Internet protocol enabled device. A lookup of information relating to the calling party is performed in a database via an Internet protocol connection. A message is received from the database comprising information relating to the calling party.

Abstract: A system and method for managing incoming and outgoing communications may include a definition of if, when, and who may communicate with a recipient. The identification of the communication may be concealed in that no actual addresses, phone numbers, or other addressing identifications are required to be exchanged by the communication initiator and recipient. In an example, if the database contains call management settings for a call recipient, the application logic may evaluate the rules to determine if a particular caller is authorized to connect with the call recipient at the current time and date. The application logic may connect the call utilizing the public telephone switch. The caller and call recipient phone numbers may be stored in a database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide ways to locally store and deliver voicemail messages on personal communication devices. An illustrative method includes initiating a call to a recipient's device, receiving an indication the call cannot be established, prompting the user to leave a voicemail, storing the voicemail locally on the communications device, and sending the voicemail to the recipient's device.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a method of initiating a call. The method includes receiving, at a network device over a first network, an identifier associated with a called party. The method determines a first security level associated with the first network and identifies a plurality of networks associated with the called party using the identifier. The method queries a database to determine a second security level for each network in the plurality of networks and automatically selects an identified network from the plurality of networks associated with the called party having the second security level at least equal to the first security level. The method completes a call to the called party using the identified network.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mapping user-defined identities in data communication networks. By mapping and translating identities based on a calling party identifier, a called party identifier, and the carrier instance, enhanced communication services are enabled. Enhanced communication services offer virtual private phone numbers, shared group numbers, and interconnection between different voice and messaging services and applications.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for filtering an incoming call to a communication device. The communication device stores a default ring duration M and a default call frequency N. The communication device may calculate the ring duration of an incoming call, and further determines whether the ring duration reaches the default ring duration M. If the ring duration does not reach the default ring duration M, the communication device determines whether a call frequency of the incoming call reaches the default call frequency N. If the call frequency reaches the default call frequency N, the communication device blocks a phone number of the incoming call.

Abstract: Various embodiments for providing enhanced content sharing on mobile computing devices are described. In one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device may display content and send messages of different types. The mobile computing device may include a content sharing interface to prompt a selection of a recipient for content. The selected recipient may be associated with at least one transport mechanism. The mobile computing device may format the content according to a transport mechanism associated with the selected recipient, open the formatted content in a compose view for the transport mechanism, and to send the formatted content to the selected recipient. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining information relating to a first telephone number, and determining whether the first telephone number corresponds to a first speed dial button on a device. The first speed dial button is highlighted if the first telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button. If the first telephone number does not correspond to the first speed dial button, the method also includes determining whether the first telephone number is associated with a second telephone number, determining whether the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button if the first telephone number is associated with the second telephone number, and highlighting the first speed dial button when it is determined that the second telephone number corresponds to the first speed dial button.

Abstract: A “customized” caller ID service platform is utilized within a telecommunications network (which may be the PSTN, an IP network, or any other network for supporting voice communication) to allow for the caller ID information transmitted to a called party to be tailored to the specific called party. A database within the platform is configured to store a listing of registered subscribers and a set of “pre-defined called numbers” associated with each subscriber. For each listed number, the subscriber provides the specific customized information (for example, an account number) that is to be transmitted to that specific called number as the caller ID information. A registered subscriber is able to gain access to the platform and modify the entries as need be.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that enables automated retrieval of caller ID picture information and association with contact information, while still allowing security control over information or images that are sent to the requesting device. The communication system has a wireless device communicating with a picture server. The wireless device receives an incoming call with caller ID information, and determines if a picture is locally stored for the caller. If no picture is locally stored for the caller, then a request is made to retrieve a picture from the picture server. If the picture server has the requested picture, and the wireless device is authorized to receive the picture, then the picture is downloaded to the wireless device, where the picture is associated with contact information for the caller. The picture of the caller will then be automatically displayed when the caller places future calls.

Abstract: 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. The caller identification portal can include 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.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium storing computer readable program code, the code configured to provide caller identification information to a called party when standard Caller ID cannot be provided. If standard caller ID information cannot be provided for a call, the call is interrupted by the present service and the calling party is prompted for audible caller identification information. In one embodiment, when the audible caller identification is provided, the call is presented to the called party with a distinctive ring at the called telephone station. In another embodiment, the calling party may enter a personal identification number (PIN) to bypass the requirement for audible caller identification information. In still another embodiment, when the PIN is entered, the call is presented with a distinctive ring at the called communication station. In still another embodiment, the called party may send the incoming call to a voice mail system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for providing Programmable Caller ID Screening services. One method monitors a telephone call for a call screening request for commercial, residential, and other identifiers of incoming calls. An action is taken in response to the call screening request. The action could be playing an announcement, terminating the connection, forwarding to voice mail, storing the ICLID information in a database, adding the ICLID information to a Do Not Call list, updating a subscriber's profile with the ICLID information, and/or storing the ICLID information in a subscriber's blocked communications list. The call screening request may comprise a Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency, a softkey entry, and/or a data message. Subsequent incoming calls from the calling telephone number are characterized as undesirable and are screened from alerting or otherwise establishing a communications connection to the called telephone number.

Abstract: A communication system shares terminal identification information (TII) used for identifying a terminal that sends a spam phone call, with another communication system belonging to another network provider, and includes: a storage section that stores the TII of a terminal that sends a spam phone call; a transmission section that transmits the TII stored in the storage section to the other communication system; a reception section that receives the TII used for identifying the terminal that sends the spam phone call; a registration section that registers the TII received by the reception section in the storage section; and a spam phone call determination section that determines whether there is a match between terminal information indicating information of an outgoing call terminal that sends a connection request, and the TII stored in the storage section, thereby determining whether the outgoing call terminal sends a spam phone call.

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: In a network in which to set up a call to a called endpoint a calling endpoint sends (4) the called endpoint a call set-up message including a source information element identifying the calling endpoint and a destination information element identifying the called endpoint, the call is set up on condition that the call set-up message contains a first token value (J) that corresponds to a second token value given by an equation that includes said source information element, said destination information element, and a random information element generated by the network to be associated secretly with the first token value in the network.

Abstract: A system for handling an outbound call from a call originator to a call target including a database storing a plurality of outgoing telephone numbers, each outgoing telephone number having one of two or more area codes; and an information processor controlled by the call originator. The information processor configured to process a trigger comprising at least an area code of a telephone number of the call target; select from the database a telephone number from the plurality of outgoing telephone numbers where the selected telephone number has at least an area code the same as the area code of the telephone number of the call target; set caller identification data of the outbound call to the selected telephone number; and transmit the caller identification data to the call target in connection with the outbound call.

Abstract: It is determined whether a call-connection condition set to a call-connection device is a first call-connection state or a second call-connection state. When the determination result shows that the first call-connection state is set, a call is connected from an originating terminal to a destination terminal. When the determination result shows that the second call-connection state is set, the call is connected from the originating terminal to the destination terminal and conversation-termination processing is performed without waiting for a disconnection request transmitted from the originating terminal or the destination terminal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and computer program products for automatically identifying a calling party using voice recognition. Voice recognition is the computing task of identifying or validating a person's identity using characteristics of their voice. A first voice record is obtained from an identifiable party and associated with a voice identifier. When a second voice record is received from a calling party, the voice in the second voice record is compared to the voice in the first voice record to determine the identity of the calling party. If the there is a match between the voice in the second voice record and the voice in the previously obtained first voice record, then the called party is notified of the identity of the calling party. A voice identifier, when available, is preferably displayed to the called party on a screen instead of caller ID information.

Abstract: A method for managing a phishing call is provided. The method includes receiving an incoming telecommunication request. The method also includes comparing a unique identification associated with the incoming telecommunication request against a set of contact lists. The method further includes, if the unique identification is not found on the set of contact lists, activating a delay timer to prevent a set of user notification components from being triggered for a delay period. The method yet also includes performing a connection analysis to determine status of the incoming telecommunication request. The method moreover includes, if the incoming telecommunication request is terminated during the delay period, updating a phishing call log with data about the incoming telecommunication request, wherein the updating of the phishing call log occurs without the set of user notification components being triggered, responsive to the incoming telecommunication request, during or subsequent to the updating.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for presenting differentiated calling party identifiers representative of a calling party to various called parties based on the identifier information for a particular called party. The differentiated calling party identifier that is conveyed to a called party may be selected from a list of calling party identifiers associated with the calling party. The system receives an indication of an attempt to initiate a call by a calling party which includes identifier information indicative of the called party, determines a calling party identifier to be conveyed to the called party based on the identifier information indicative of the called party and causes an appropriate calling party identifier to be conveyed in association with the initiated call.

Abstract: There is described a method, a system and a terminal for occupying a key and a display field, which is associated with the key, of a first end device of a first subscriber. An address identifies the second end device of a second subscriber, following user input of the first subscriber. The detected address is assigned to the key as a target address for setting up a future connection. Associated subscriber information is determined for the detected address, and the determined subscriber information is assigned to the display field.

Abstract: A method and system for adding a caller (102) in a blocked list is provided. The blocked list is stored at a communication server (104). The method includes receiving (604) a call from the caller (102) at a communication device (108). Further, the method includes receiving (606) a set of inputs at the communication device (108) in response to the call. The set of inputs includes a set of instructions to add the caller (102) in the blocked list. Furthermore, the method includes transmitting (608) a call termination request to the communication server (104). The call termination request includes the set of instructions to add the caller (102) in the blocked list. Transmission of the call termination request initiates addition of the caller (102) in the blocked list at the communication server (104).

Abstract: Method for providing caller information during a telephony ringing signal, including the procedures of storing caller information, associated with at least one of a caller and a callee, on a caller information server, installing a client application on a callee device, dialing a callee device CLI by the caller, identifying a caller device CLI by the callee device, contacting the caller information server by the callee device and providing the caller information server with at least one of the caller device CLI and the callee device CLI, retrieving, by the callee device, from the caller information server the caller information associated with at least one of the caller and the callee according to at least one of the caller device CLI and the callee device CLI, and presenting, on the callee device, the retrieved caller information.

Abstract: A circuit for a telephone such as a mobile radiotelephone. The circuit has a memory for storing phonebook items and for storing group attributes associated with phonebook items, a connection to a radiotelephone receiver for receiving telephone calls and calling party identifications, and a controller for selecting the disposition of received calls. An operating mode is selected (45) from a plurality of operating modes, e.g. “Personal”, “emergency”, “personal-plus-emergency”, “all calls”, “no calls”, etc. A received calling party identification is compared (42) with a phonebook item, and a disposition for a received call (46, 47, 48, 49) is selected dependent on a group attribute for that phonebook item and a present operating mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing detailed information about a party during interparty communication. Data-capable mobile devices query at least a public database to retrieve information about a set of parties engaged in communication. The results of the database query are employed to provide detailed caller identification and detail functionality to telephones or communication devices not utilizing traditional landlines or commercial caller identification service. Storage can be included to include address book function, query caching, and user preferences. An interface can be provided to facilitate display of rich caller identification information. The interface can further update displayed information without user input, or provide user selection control to request more information on a selected portion of displayed information. These features can be applied to determine the information about a party that is either receiving a communication or initiating a communication.

Abstract: A system and method of saving and delivering a voice memo or text memo to identify incoming calls is provided. A user of the system of the invention is given the option of recording a memo on the calls he or she has received through a prompt on a telecommunication device. The user can choose to record a voice memo or text memo after each call. The memos are saved in connection with caller id information pertaining to the number from which the call was placed. When a user of the system receives a call from a number that has a memo saved in relation thereto, the user will be prompted to hear, and may listen to, the voice memo before answering the call. If the memo is in text form, the user can configure the system to provide various processing options. In one processing option, a text to speech audio presentation of the text of the memo is made available to permit the message to be heard over a telephone or networked audio capable PDA device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a caller investigation in order to provide relation information to a called party (200) regarding an unknown calling party (202), when implemented in a service entity (204) serving said called party. A relation query for the calling party is received from the called party, and it is then determined whether the calling party is known and related to any third party directly or indirectly known to the called party by checking a contact list (210-214) defined for said third party. The reliability of the calling party can then be better assessed based on how the calling party is related to the called party, if related at all. The called party may use this information for deciding how to respond to a communication request from said calling party.