US5692038A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for identifying the source of a telephonic communication
Assignee: AT&T Delaware Intellectual Property Inc
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Filing: 1996-11-07
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Granted: 1997-11-25
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Expires: 2016-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A method for identifying the source of a communication, including the steps of: receiving the communication on a calling line; identifying the calling line number associated with the calling line; accessing a database to provide an identity for the source by finding a database entry corresponding to the calling line number; announcing this identity to the source; and requesting confirmation. Priority caller codes can be used to identify the source. Facsimile transmissions also can be identified before the message is delivered.
Inventors
- 👤 Evan Kraus
- 👤 Drina C. Yue
- 👤 Raymond J. Smets
- 👤 Thomas Joseph Moquin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W4/00; H04W4/12; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42229; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04Q3/005; H04Q3/64; H04Q3/66; H04Q3/665; H04Q3/72; H04M11/00; H04M11/02; H04M11/022; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2072; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42059; H04M3/42085; H04M3/42102; H04M3/436; H04M3/48; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13091; H04Q2213/13092; H04Q2213/13095; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13098; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/13141; H04Q2213/13179; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/1325; H04Q2213/13256; H04Q2213/1327; H04Q2213/13274; H04Q2213/13353; H04Q2213/13374; H04Q2213/13375; H04Q2213/13377; H04Q2213/13405; H04Q2213/13513; H04Q2213/13515; H04Q2213/13532; H04Q2213/13541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; announcing said identity to said source; requesting said source to confirm said identity; if confirmed, providing said identity to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; announcing said identity to said source; requesting said source to confirm said identity; if confirmed, providing said identity to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of requesting further comprises: if said source does not confirm said identity, then requesting said source to provide source identification information; and receiving said source identification information.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source; determining if said code is a priority caller code; if said code is a priority caller code, then requesting said source for a priority caller identification and receiving said priority caller identification; providing said priority caller identification to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source; determining if said code is a priority caller code; if said code is a priority caller code, then requesting said source for a priority caller identification and receiving said priority caller identification; providing said priority caller identification to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said identity of said source is not found, then requesting said source for source identification; receiving said source identification; providing said source identification to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said identity of said source is not found, then requesting said source for source identification; receiving said source identification; providing said source identification to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of announcing said source identification provided by said source to said subscriber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of recording said source identification in response to receiving said source identification.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source; obtaining an identity for said source by accessing a personal database to find a database entry corresponding to said code; providing said identity for said source to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for identifying the source of a communication to a subscriber by a call processing system, comprising the steps of: receiving said communication on a first calling line by said call processing system; said call processing system residing within the public switched telephone network; identifying the calling line number associated with said first calling line by automatic number identification; accessing a reverse white pages database to provide an identity for said source by finding a database entry corresponding to said first calling line number; if said database entry does not successfully identify said source, then receiving a code from said source; obtaining an identity for said source by accessing a personal database to find a database entry corresponding to said code; providing said identity for said source to said subscriber; routing said communication to said subscriber on a second calling line; and disposing of said communication.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |