US6041103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interactive call identification
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
•
Filing: 1996-04-16
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Granted: 2000-03-21
•
Expires: 2016-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for interactive call identification of a call to a called party. Identifying messages, either text and voice, can be entered on a call-by call basis by the calling party to provide information regarding the call to enable the called party to screen the incoming call. Such identifying messages can include descriptive information about the identity of the caller, the subject matter of the call or any other user-user information. The identifying message is transmitted in the form of a real-time message sent by the caller and received by the party being called in advance of their accepting the call. The identifying message is created on a call-by-call basis by the calling party. The called party receives the identifying message and, after receiving the message, the called party can accept, forward or reject the incoming call based on the information provided in the identifying message. The calling party has the option of using either real-time or pre-recorded message functions. The calling party can select, via a predetermined access code to enter a personal message (voice or text) directly from the location from which the call is being placed after dialing the desired number. Interactive call identification can be initiated either by the called or calling party.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas F. La Porta
- 👤 Arun N. Netravali
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:25
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/42382; H04M3/436; H04M3/50; H04M3/53; H04M3/533; H04M3/53316; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/72; H04M1/57; H04M2203/00; H04M2203/20; H04M2203/2038; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/42136; H04M3/42153; H04M3/428; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/1307; H04Q2213/13091; H04Q2213/13097; H04Q2213/13102; H04Q2213/13103; H04Q2213/1313; H04Q2213/13134; H04Q2213/13176; H04Q2213/13204; H04Q2213/13206; H04Q2213/13209; H04Q2213/1326; H04Q2213/13271; H04Q2213/13282; H04Q2213/1329; H04Q2213/13377; H04Q2213/13405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for identifying a calling party of a telephone call to a called party, the method comprising the steps of: receiving said telephone call over a first telephone connection from said calling party, said telephone call directed to a telephone number of said called party dialed by said calling party; determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether said calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; receiving said message over said first telephone connection from said calling party, said message containing user-user information, including an identification of said calling party; establishing a second telephone connection to a called party in response to receiving said message; sending said message over said second telephone connection to said called party; receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party; and bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party, if said call processing input represents an instruction to accept the call.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method for identifying a calling party of a telephone call to a called party, the method comprising the steps of: receiving said telephone call over a first telephone connection from said calling party, said telephone call directed to a telephone number of said called party dialed by said calling party; determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether said calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; receiving said message over said first telephone connection from said calling party, said message containing user-user information, including an identification of said calling party; establishing a second telephone connection to a called party in response to receiving said message; sending said message over said second telephone connection to said called party; receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party; and bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party, if said call processing input represents an instruction to accept the call.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said network is an Integrated Services Digital Network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a broad band Integrated Services Digital Network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a packet network.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a POTS network utilizing DTMF signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said method is implemented on a network server.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said method is implemented on an originating switch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said method is implemented on an intermediate switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said method is implemented on a terminating switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
213 words
A telecommunications system, comprising: means for receiving a telephone call over a first telephone connection from a calling party, said telephone call directed to a telephone number of said called party dialed by said calling party; means for determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; means for prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; means for receiving a message from said calling party over said first telephone connection, said message containing user-user information, said user-user information including an identification of the calling party; means for establishing a second telephone connection to a called party in response to receiving said message; means for sending said message over said second telephone connection to said called party; means for receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party; and means for bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection based on said call processing input, thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
213 words
A telecommunications system, comprising: means for receiving a telephone call over a first telephone connection from a calling party, said telephone call directed to a telephone number of said called party dialed by said calling party; means for determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; means for prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; means for receiving a message from said calling party over said first telephone connection, said message containing user-user information, said user-user information including an identification of the calling party; means for establishing a second telephone connection to a called party in response to receiving said message; means for sending said message over said second telephone connection to said called party; means for receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party; and means for bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection based on said call processing input, thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The telecommunications system of claim 10, further including a means for placing the first connection on hold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the message is one of a voice message and a text message.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of receiving the message over the first telephone connection includes the step of prompting the calling party to enter the message.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the step of receiving the call processing input over the second telephone connection includes the step of prompting the called party to enter the call processing input.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of claims 14, wherein the step of receiving the telephone call over the first telephone connection includes the step of placing the telephone call on hold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of processing the telephone call includes the step of forwarding the call over a third telephone connection to an alternate location when the call processing input is an instruction to forward the telephone call.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the telephone call over a first telephone connection includes the steps of: receiving a dialed telephone number at an originating switch; determining whether the dialed telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and routing the call to a server function element to establish the first telephone connection.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of receiving the telephone call over a first telephone connection includes the steps of: receiving a dialed telephone number and an activation code at an originating switch, the activation code indicating that a message will be transferred; and routing the telephone call from the originating switch to a server function element to establish the first telephone connection.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of sending a ring-no answer signal to the calling party when the call processing input is an instruction to reject the telephone call.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of sending an announcement to the calling party when the call processing input is an instruction to reject the telephone call.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the message containing user-user information is a text message.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the text message is entered by a keyboard.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the message is a pre-stored message sent by the calling party.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of converting the text message into an audio message.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15, further including the step of storing the message prior to the step of sending the message over the second telephone connection.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of sending the message over a second telephone connection further includes the steps of: alerting the called party to the message by a call-waiting signal; and allowing the called party to place an existing call to the called party on hold, receive the message, and enter the call processing input.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for interactive identification of a telephone call on a telecommunications network, comprising: an originating switch receiving a telephone call directed to a telephone number of a called party; and a server function element receiving said telephone call forwarded from said originating switch over a first telephone connection, said server function element: 1) determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; 2) prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; 3) establishing a second telephone connection to said called party, 4) sending said message to said called party over said second telephone connection, 5) receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party in response to said message, and 6) bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection based on said call processing input, thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
194 words
A system for interactive identification of a telephone call on a telecommunications network, comprising: an originating switch receiving a telephone call directed to a telephone number of a called party; and a server function element receiving said telephone call forwarded from said originating switch over a first telephone connection, said server function element: 1) determining whether said telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number or whether the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; 2) prompting said calling party to enter a message in both of the following situations: a) when the telephone number is a subscriber's telephone number; and b) when the calling party has entered an activation code with the dialed telephone number; 3) establishing a second telephone connection to said called party, 4) sending said message to said called party over said second telephone connection, 5) receiving a call processing input over said second telephone connection from said called party in response to said message, and 6) bridging said first telephone connection to said second telephone connection based on said call processing input, thereby establishing an end-to-end connection from said calling party to said called party.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the server function element is physically located in the originating switch.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the server function element is physically located in the terminating switch of the telecommunications network associated with the called party.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the server function element is physically located in a network server of the telecommunications network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the server function element is physically located in an intermediate switch of the telecommunications network, the telephone call being routed from the originating switch to a terminating switch associated with the called party via the intermediate switch.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommunications network is an Integrated Services Digital Network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommunications network is a broad band Integrated Services Digital Network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommunications network is a packet network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the telecommunications network is a POTS network utilizing DTMF signals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 27, wherein the message is one of a voice message and a text message.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 36, wherein the server function element prompts the calling party to enter the message containing user-user information.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 37, wherein the server function element prompts the called party to enter the call processing input.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 38, wherein the server function element places the telephone call received from the originating switch on hold.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 39, wherein the server function element processes the telephone call by forwarding the call over a third telephone connection to an alternate location when the call processing input is an instruction to forward the telephone call.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 40, wherein the originating switch receives a dialed telephone number, determines whether the dialed telephone number is a subscriber's number, and routes the call to the server function element to establish the first telephone connection.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 41, wherein the originating switch receives a dialed telephone number and an activation code with the telephone call, the activation code indicating that a message will be transferred.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 42, wherein the server function element sends a ring-no answer signal to the originating switch when the call processing input is an instruction to reject the telephone call.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 43, wherein the server function element sends an announcement to the called party when the call processing input is an instruction to reject the telephone call.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 44, wherein the message containing user-user information is a text message.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 45, wherein the message is pre-stored in a calling device associated with the calling party.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 46, wherein the server function element converts the text message into an audio message.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 47, wherein the server function element stores the message before sending the message to the terminating switch.
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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) | 2003-03-21 | 2003-09-20 | 2004-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-21 | 2007-09-20 | 2008-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-21 | 2011-09-20 | 2012-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |