Caller Identification Received At Substation Patents (Class 379/88.21)
  • Patent number: 8064578
    Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Michael Silver, Linda Ann Roberts, Hong Thi Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8059813
    Abstract: A control method of a communication terminal having a telephone directory user interface and a communication system, the control method and system include storing a plurality of telephone numbers corresponding to a destination user as telephone directory data, requesting a notification of location information of the destination user to a server, receiving location information of the destination user from a server, and displaying a telephone number corresponding to a current location of the destination user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Akimoto
  • Patent number: 8045968
    Abstract: In the invention, an audiovisual call identifier including image and sound is formed for a mobile communication device. The call identifier is repeated on the display and in the loudspeaker of the communication device when a call comes in, i.e. it functions in the same way as an ordinary ring tone when it is used. The first step in the method is to take a shot including moving image and sound by a video camera. The shot taken is saved in the memory of the communication device as a video clip and set as a call identifier of the communication device. The video clip can be taken either by a video camera belonging to the communication device or by a separate device. The call identifier can be set as a general notification sign or it can be associated with a certain phone number or numbers in the phone memo of the communication device, in which case the video clip is repeated on the display and in the loud-speaker of the communication device when a call comes from the phone number(s) in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Manor Research, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Hanna Heikinheimo
  • Patent number: 8045683
    Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Michael Silver, Linda Ann Roberts, Hong Thi Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8040216
    Abstract: A virtual security guard or receptionist automatically allows entry to an area by determining a user's identity and comparing that to an access list. If the user is authorized, then the user is allowed entry to the area. The receptionist can be implemented by either a sign, or by using a virtual receptionist to shows a picture selected from a media server that has many different pictures. Computer intelligence can be used to allow the receptionist to carry out almost any operation that is carried out by a real receptionist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: UBIQUITY Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Connie Jordan, Kenneth S. Bailey, Christopher Carmichael
  • Patent number: 8036355
    Abstract: In an exemplary method, at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a client communication subsystem to a voice network identifier is detected. Visual content that has been predefined as being associated with the at least one telephony attribute is identified. A request for the visual content is initiated in response to the detecting step. The visual content is received, in response to the initiating step, for display at the client communication subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC
    Inventors: Jimena Velarde, Edwin Elberg, Luis Blando, John P. Valdez, Michael J. Naggar, Mona A. Goldstein, Sudhanshu Sharma, Raul Aldrey
  • Patent number: 8036349
    Abstract: A method that associates the first telephone number of a first user with a second telephone number of a second user that has a relationship with the first user; tracks incoming and outgoing telephone calls; and stores a plurality of telephone messages received by the first user. For each telephone message, the method assigns such telephone message to one of first, second, and third groups; and sorts the plurality of telephone messages for playback. By doing so, the telephone messages may be prioritized such that the first user may be able to more quickly determine whether or not the first user should return a telephone message, often reducing the number of unnecessary telephone calls and improving efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Cary Lee Bates
  • Patent number: 8031843
    Abstract: A system and method for canceling a message sent to a recipient prior to retrieval by the recipient. A telephone call is received by a network from a calling party who desires to cancel a message left for a recipient through an earlier call from the calling party to the recipient after termination of the earlier call. By mapping the calling party's automatic number identifier (ANI) with at least one call record, a voice mailbox of the recipient may be accessed to determine whether the message has been retrieved by the recipient. If the message is still pending, the calling party is provided with the option to cancel the message. Alternatively, the calling party provides the telephone number from where the earlier call originated to a network server, which looks up the ANI of the originating number and then maps the ANI of that number with the at least one call record to enable the cancellation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventor: Richard Palazzo
  • Patent number: 8012024
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for simultaneously indicating, on each of a plurality of communication terminals, instructions transmitted by each terminal and the identity of the respective terminals that transmitted the instructions. Such a feature can be used to indicate the moves of parties playing a game over a telephone line. Once a communications link is established between two or more parties, their terminals are placed in a game mode which activates inband signal detection and player identification circuitry located within the terminals. Multi-colored indicators and player identification displays at each terminal are activated, their color being dependent upon the source of received instructions. In one embodiment, player identification indicators may be incorporated into a touch tone keypad located on the terminals. The keypad's touch tone keys are modified such that each key has two or more color coded indicators incorporated within, each color representing a particular player's move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: New Illuminations LLC
    Inventor: Scott Wolinsky
  • Patent number: 8005195
    Abstract: In a messaging system, a messaging server transmits signals over the telephone network to be received by equipment at, e.g., the customer premises. The receiving equipment converts the signals into meaningful information (e.g., written or audible words, audible tones, and/or lights), and provides that information (e.g., by audible announcement and/or visual display) to the user. The signals can be of a variety of types. For example, the signal can be the Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) signal associated with an incoming telephone call. Alternatively, the ICLID signal can be can be sent with the set-up of a non-associated telephone call, and can correspond to a message code, such as to provide the recipient with notification information such as emergency notification messages. Such notification information can be substantially simultaneously transmitted to a number of sets of receiving equipment (e.g., all homes in a given region).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ClassCo Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Luneau, Ray F. Chadwick
  • Patent number: 7983407
    Abstract: A system receives an emergency call, a local exchange carrier (LEC) charge number, and Calling Party Number (CPN) from a user device, and overrides the LEC charge number with the CPN for Automatic Number Identification (ANI) determination purposes. The system also determines the ANI of the user device based on the CPN, receives an address associated with the user device based on the ANI, and provides the emergency call and the address to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Gray, II
  • Patent number: 7961859
    Abstract: An efficient and effective method and system for providing to a customer an audible call notification of a current call and a subsequently received call waiting call. The present embodiments notify the customer that a current call is waiting in an effective manner that reduces confusion. Confusion is reduced by the combination of audible call waiting indicators and audible caller identification information associated with the calling telephone station. Additionally, both the indicator and the representation of the information can be provided automatically without significant delay. The indication is provided even when standard caller identification information is not available by prompting the caller to provide spoken caller identification information. The spoken caller identification information is provided to the called party along with call disposition options, such as options to accept or reject the call, route the call to voice mail or send a sales refusal message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Rex Norman Bull, James Thomas Maciejewski
  • Patent number: 7940905
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying a name associated with a calling party's telephone number are disclosed. Generally, a first network element determines whether there are any restrictions on the disclosure of a name associated with a calling party's telephone number; obtain the name associated with the calling party's telephone number when it is determined that the calling party's telephone number is present in a database; and transmit the name associated with the calling party's telephone to a second network element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Ron Urban, Wally Malinowski, Jim Kovarik, Bill Wojtozak, Nancy Book, M. Lynda Marek
  • Patent number: 7895042
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for administering a personal interactive voice response service. A personalized greeting is retrieved that is associated with a calling party and with a called party. The calling party's response to the greeting is received, and stored information is retrieved that is associated with the calling party's response and with the called party. The stored information is presented to the calling party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Robert A. Koch
  • Patent number: 7864941
    Abstract: A call processing system comprises an interface and a processing system. The interface is configured to receive call signaling for a call from a call system and receive user information during the call from a user using the call system wherein the call signaling includes an identifier for the call system. The processing system is configured to generate a key for the call, modify the identifier to generate a modified identifier indicating the key, transfer the key and the user information to a database system, and transfer new call signaling for the call to a destination wherein the new call signaling indicates the modified identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Gary P. Bledsoe, Kevin Agee, Terri Potter
  • Patent number: 7860230
    Abstract: A method for screening and routing incoming telephone calls includes extracting caller identification information from an incoming telephone call, providing a plurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ring table, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table, and determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the caller identification information. The method also includes allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the primary ring table includes the caller identification information, and allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondary ring table includes the caller identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Bradley J. Martin
  • Publication number: 20100316200
    Abstract: The present invention enables users of a network service to register with the network as valued shoppers, thereby allowing them to receive specialized treatment when calling registered retailers. The present invention enables retailers to register with the network, thereby allowing them to set preferred service logic for handling valued customer calls by the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Marian CROAK, Hossein ESLAMBOLCHI
  • Patent number: 7848510
    Abstract: A method for recording automatic call distributor calls includes receiving from a caller a call for distribution to one of a plurality of agents and distributing the call to a first agent of the plurality of agents for handling. The method includes creating a call signature associated with the call for recording verification and recording communications of the call to a recording file. The method also includes embedding the call signature in the recording file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Labhesh Patel, Robert T. Bell, Shantanu Sarkar
  • Patent number: 7844037
    Abstract: A computing device is configured to receive an incoming communication from another computing device. The incoming communication may be for purpose of initiating a voice-exchange session. In response to receiving the incoming call, the computing device may identify or determine a message identifier of the other computing device. The message identifier is determined based at least in part on data provided with the incoming communication. The computing device may programmatically address a message to the other computing device using the message identifier determined from the incoming communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: David Champlin, Srikiran Prasad, Lang Chen, Rajan Ranga, Robert Haitani
  • Patent number: 7836074
    Abstract: A method for utilizing the caller identification information stored in call logs to retrieve address book entries stored in a database, enabling a reply to each call in the call log using the communication medium and contact address of choice. Using this method, a customer can access the call logs for various phone numbers using a computer and can link to additional contact information associated with each entry. This additional contact information is stored in an address book database, either locally or on a network. Caller identification information in the call log can be used to search the address book and retrieve alternate addresses spanning a range of possible reply media, such as cell phones, E-mail, PDA, and telefacsimile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Darryl C. Moore, Arnold Chester McQuaide, Jr., Xiaofeng Gao
  • Patent number: 7835512
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of routing a call in a communication system, comprising: defining a set of availability modes for at least one user, each mode including at least one identifier identifying at least one originating telephone number; defining a routing rule for each of said modes; and routing a call for the at least one user in dependence upon the routing rule associated with an active availability mode of the user and the originating telephone number of the call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Avaya UK
    Inventor: Clifford Neil Didcock
  • Patent number: 7826606
    Abstract: A telecommunication network comprises a switching system configured to route a call to a service platform, the service platform configured to transfer a prompt message over the call, collect caller-entered information from a caller over the call in response to the prompt message, and transfer the caller-entered information to a call processing system in the telecommunication network, the call processing system configured to transfer the caller-entered information to a destination processor at a call center, process a destination routing code from the destination processor to determine a destination routing instruction, and transfer the destination routing instruction to the switching system, and the switching system further configured to route the call to a destination in response to the destination routing instruction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Carl E. Rogers, Joseph Brent Donelan, Lori L. Brown, Warren B. Cope, Xinjia Ma, Steven R. Marah, Jeffrey A. Bell
  • Patent number: 7804946
    Abstract: A system (100) and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information can not be provided, even when a subscriber to the service has per line blocking. A service control point (106) detects the directory number to which a terminating attempt trigger is assigned and places this directory number in a parameter for transmission to a service switching point (102) using a forward_call message (206). The per line blocking function does not interfere with transmission of this parameter so that the called party's directory number can be passed for processing and call completion by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Wesley Moss, Thomas Joseph McBlain
  • Patent number: 7801285
    Abstract: In a communication device (20) comprising a message function (SMS, Short Message Service) a certain short message (7) or other reply message is sent in response to an incoming call in a situation where the user can't answer the call him/herself. The reply message can be sent immediately (9) or after a short delay (10, 11), whereby during the delay, the user can choose, whether he/she answers him/herself. The calling party (5) is identified from the CLI information (Caller Line Identity), whereby the reply message can be chosen according to the calling party. Time information can be included in the reply message in order to express at which time by the clock or after a how long time the receiving party is reachable. After that time the automatic reply function based on the reply message is automatically disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Jarmo Mäkelä, Jens Jakobsen, Antti Jauhiainen
  • Patent number: 7796285
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides supplemental data for facsimile image data representing an image of a document for transmission. The supplemental data can describe an aspect of the document, such as by uniquely identifying the document that the facsimile image data represents. The supplemental data can be provided with the image of the document, in a manner that will not essentially obscure the image of the document. The supplemental data can be in a machine readable form that identifies the document and that can be separate from the image of the document. The supplemental data permits facsimile transmitted documents to be processed automatically by facsimile connected systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Dialogic Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Robbins
  • Patent number: 7787602
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a telephone customer to configure telephone service for multiple users at a single location associated with the customer. The location has at least two telephones, at least two phone numbers and a voice mail box. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign one of the phone numbers to one of the telephones. The telephone customer is visually provided an option to assign each of the multiple users exclusive access to at least one of the telephone numbers via their account identifier. The telephone customer is visually provided the option to, for each of the multiple users, allow access or deny access via their account identifier to the voicemail box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventors: Larry B. Pearson, Jeffrey L. Brandt, Douglas Reynolds
  • Patent number: 7756105
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed to minimize wasted bandwidth by suppressing communications between a trunking gateway and a media gateway until a telephone service-related signal is detected during an on-hook state. In an embodiment, the trunking gateway and the media gateway are part of a telecommunications network that utilizes a single fabric for both voice traffic and data traffic. For example, the network could transport all traffic via Internet Protocol packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Occam Networks
    Inventors: Stanley Khouw, Colin Whittaker, Lop Ng
  • Publication number: 20100165070
    Abstract: A method of responding to an incoming call includes receiving the incoming call from a caller. The incoming call includes caller ID information having image data associated with the caller included therein. The image data is displayed on a video telephony device display while audibly announcing receipt of the incoming call. A communication session is established with the caller by presenting a pre-recorded announcement to the caller. In response to the pre-recorded announcement, a message from the caller is received and recorded. The message is rendered while it is being recorded only if a user-selectable mute setting option has not been activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: General Instrument Corporation
    Inventor: Glen P. Goffin
  • Publication number: 20100142685
    Abstract: The present invention relates to telephone call processing. In one embodiment, a call processing system receives from a caller a first call for a user, the first call including call signaling information. The call processing system determines whether the call signaling information includes caller identification information and whether the call signaling information indicates that the caller identification information is restricted. If the caller identification information is restricted, the call processing system instructs the caller to take a first action so that the caller identification information can be provided to the user. The call processing system determines whether the caller has performed the first action during the first call, and if the caller has performed the first action during the first call, the call processing system provides at least a portion of the caller identification information to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: CALLWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dolan, David F. Hofstatter, Lee Kirchhoff
  • Publication number: 20100119046
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert S. Hoblit, Karen Waluk, Thomas Prorock
  • Patent number: 7697666
    Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for optimizing retrieval of customer data needed to handle a call are presented. The method includes the steps of receiving a call at a data center; initiating a query for a business data related to the call; creating a key that identifies the business data related to the call; pre-fetching the business data using the key with a lookup table; caching the pre-fetched business data; attaching the key to the call; routing the call with the attached key to a desktop agent; receiving a request from the desktop agent for the pre-fetched business data; retrieving the cached pre-fetched business data; and transmitting the cached pre-fetched business data to the desktop agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shailesh Gandhi, Peeyush Jaiswal, Yu-Cheng Liu, Naveen Narayan
  • Patent number: 7688954
    Abstract: A method of providing telecommunication service includes receiving caller identification information associated with a call to a communication device and determining whether the caller identification information corresponds to any of a plurality of stored identifiers, each stored identifier associated with audio data. The method further includes transmitting, in response to determining that the caller identification information corresponds to a stored identifier, audio data associated with the corresponding stored identifier to the communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan D. Gatzke, Benjamin H. Verdier
  • Patent number: 7664242
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system and method for masking the identity of a user of a calling telephone. Preferably an information processor is provided to receive over a public switched telephone network a telephone call from the calling telephone. The information processor receives from the user of the calling telephone a destination telephone number and a user-defined telephone number that is to be transmitted to a telephone at the destination telephone number. When the destination telephone answers, the user-defined telephone number is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Tel-Tech Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eli Finkelman, Meir Cohen
  • Patent number: 7657014
    Abstract: A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller's identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Scott C. Holt, M. Scott Laster
  • Patent number: 7647382
    Abstract: A method for providing caller identification information to instant messaging communication participants can include identifying an online presence for at least a first instant messaging client and determining caller identification information for a user associated with the first instant messaging client. The caller identification information can be provided to a second instant messaging client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Vicki L. Colson, Victor S. Moore, Glen R. Walters, Thomas Creamer
  • Patent number: 7639788
    Abstract: Before completing a call initiated at a calling telephony device for a called telephony device; caller identification information for the calling telephony device is obtained for the call. If standard caller identification information is not available, the caller is prompted to provide spoken caller identification information. The caller identification information is communicated to the called telephony device via a connectionless protocol such as VoIP where a continuing connection does not exist between communicating end points. The called party is given call disposition options. The process which controls this operation may be located anywhere in the network, including at switching equipment and at the called telephony device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Douglas F. Reynolds, Jeffrey L. Brandt
  • Patent number: 7623638
    Abstract: A system and method deliver audible caller identification information when standard Caller ID information is invalid or can not be provided. In one disclosed embodiment, the Caller ID information must include a valid number of digits and a valid area code. If the Caller ID information is not valid, a calling party is prompted by an announcement to provide the audible caller identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: John Wesley Moss, James Daniel Kovarik, Kenneth Robert Stroud, Rick Anthony Cherye
  • Patent number: 7561680
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods which allow a calling party to store messages for a called party even if the called party does not already have message storage facilities, provided the calling party and/or called party meet certain parameters. Delivery of the message is controlled by the called party and may require the called party to agree to pay for the message delivery service. In a further embodiment, a call processing system is operable to screen outgoing calls from various callers according to a first set of criteria and if a call is not completed to a called party a second set of criteria is used to determine if a message can be stored awaiting retrieval by the called party. If desired, a return message from a called party to a calling party can be stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Evercom Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Falcone, Randy Hoffman, John J. Viola, Michelle L. Mitchell, Robert Mudd
  • Patent number: 7561676
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for enabling a telephone caller to generate a brief message for transmission to an intended call recipient, as part of the initial procedure of setting up a phone call between the caller and recipient. The message is sent and displayed or otherwise made available to the recipient before the recipient is required to answer the call. The message could comprise a sequence of alphanumeric characters that conveyed an abbreviated message, or otherwise indicates the purpose to the call to the recipient or provides other information. Respective characters could be transmitted as corresponding sequences of binary tones sent to the call recipient between telephone rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lilian Sylvia Fernandes, Vinit Jain, Vasu Vallabhaneni
  • Patent number: 7551731
    Abstract: Embodiments of the system, and method provide for network support for providing caller flexibility on “name”, “number”, and “message” for a calling terminal that is displayed on a called terminal. One embodiment of the method may have the steps of: entering a command to use at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message for a calling terminal, instead of a preassigned caller name and caller number for the calling terminal; looking up the at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message; and using the at least one of an alternate caller name, an alternate caller number and an alternate caller message in place of the preassigned caller name and caller number for the calling terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Visweswararao Durga, Christopher L. Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7529564
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Edward Michael Silver
  • Patent number: 7519394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the provision of operator-specific performance features of different mobile radio network operators for a mobile radio customer, whereby the mobile radio customer has a smart card, on which a user relationship for the mobile radio customer with a mobile radio network operator is stored. The method is characterized in that at least two user relationships are defined on the smart card of the mobile radio customer with differing mobile radio call numbers and with independent performance features and a mobile radio network operator is assigned to each user relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Harald Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7519166
    Abstract: Systems for providing a tune master caller identification (ID) device include a telecommunications network and a caller device configured to provide caller identification information for an incoming telephone call, and a tune master caller ID device that is coupled to a telephone device. The tune master caller ID device receives caller identification information, associates a tune with the caller identification information, and plays the tune associated with the caller identification. The telephone device coupled to the tune master caller ID device provides telephone call processing capabilities. Other systems and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Edward Michael Silver, Linda Ann Roberts, Hong Thi Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20090086944
    Abstract: A communication device is provided. The communication device includes a calling party information receiving unit to receive calling party information, a first call record storing unit to create and store a call record including the calling party information based on receiving conditions of the incoming call, a second call record storing unit to create and store a call record without the calling party information based on receiving conditions of the incoming call, and a call record output unit to output the call records inclusive of the call records stored by the first call record storing unit and by the second call record storing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Suzuyo MURAI
  • Patent number: 7512400
    Abstract: Mechanisms for organizing messages across different message types. This may be accomplished by using a single integrated user interface in which messages across a variety of different message types are represented in a common way. For example, the user experience of placing a telephone call is standardized, regardless of the actual telephone technology (Cell Phone, VoIP, or POTS) used to conduct the telephone conversation. Also, addition to a general log that includes the overall list of messages, each message also has a separate, message-based log, thereby allowing for more flexible querying and organization of the messages regardless of the message type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan T. Starbuck, Deana R. Fuller, Martijn E. Van Tilburg, Mark Anthony McCabe
  • Publication number: 20090080624
    Abstract: A method for caller identification notification, including determining caller identification information associated with a telephone call to a first device. The method further includes sending a notification to a second device when the caller identification information matches a user defined list of caller identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: AT&T KNOWLEDGE VENTURES, LP
    Inventors: David Small, Nalesh Chandra
  • Patent number: 7508927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a call-return process and system, wherein a called party can return a missed call to a caller's private number. A forwarded call is received by a call management system, wherein the forwarded call was originally directed by a caller to a first telephone line associated with a user. The call management system receives call signaling information, including a phone number, associated with the caller. The call management system then determines whether the phone number is a private phone number or a public phone number. If the phone number is private, the call management system notifies the user of the call, and without revealing the caller's phone number to the user, enables the user to return the caller's call.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: CallWave, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Trandal, David J Brahm, Colin Kelley
  • Patent number: RE41692
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Sunil H. Contractor
  • Patent number: RE41997
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal includes timer for detecting the time of an incoming call, a caller number registration table for storing caller numbers, answer message ID numbers and time-dependent switching codes in relation to each other, the time-dependent control codes designating callers for whom answer messages are switched depending on a time zone in which the call is made. There is thus provided a capability of selecting an answer message for a caller based on the caller number included in the incoming call signal and switching between answer messages based on the time of call incoming detected by the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Kinoshita
  • Patent number: RE42459
    Abstract: A mobile communication terminal includes timer for detecting the time of an incoming call, a caller number registration table for storing caller numbers, answer message ID numbers and time-dependent switching codes in relation to each other, the time-dependent control codes designating callers for whom answer messages are switched depending on a time zone in which the call is made. There is thus provided a capability of selecting an answer message for a caller based on the caller number included in the incoming call signal and switching between answer messages based on the time of call incoming detected by the timer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Masaki Kinoshita