Patent ID: 6278773
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04N,H04Q

Abstract:
In a network system including a server and a client system capable of connecting to the server via a communication link, wherein the network system shares a segment of the communication link with a telephone system, a method of identifying a caller who makes an incoming telephone call over the segment of the communication link, the method comprising the acts of:maintaining telephone number information stored in a memory device at the client system, wherein the telephone number information includes telephone numbers associated with names;receiving, at the client system, an incoming telephone call with Caller ID information including a particular telephone number associated with the incoming telephone call and not including a name associated with the particular telephone number;comparing the incoming telephone number to the telephone number information to determine whether the name associated with the particular telephone number has been stored in the telephone number information in the memory device;if the name has been stored, displaying the name stored in the telephone number information to a user of the client system; andif the name has not yet been stored, performing the acts of:enabling the user to receive the incoming telephone call without displaying the name to the user;after the incoming call is terminated, and when the client system connects to a server using the network system, automatically making a request to a telephone directory database server for the name associated with the particular telephone number; andreceiving and storing the name associated with the particular telephone number in the telephone number information in the memory device for future use.