Patent ID: 6718021
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for allowing a subscriber connected to the Internet to receive a customized call alert associated with an incoming call from a calling party to the subscriber, comprising:receiving the incoming call at a terminating switch; suspending the call at the terminating switch; launching a query in response to a request from the calling party to establish a connection with the subscriber; accessing a service control point (SCP) in response to the query; determining the subscriber's Internet status, the subscriber's Internet status comprising whether the subscriber is actively connected to the Internet via an always on connection; ascertaining that the subscriber's Internet status is active; determining identification information associated with the calling party; sending a message from an Internet caller identification server (ICID), via the Internet, to client software on the subscriber's computer, including notification and caller identification information associated with the incoming call; and initiating a sound file associated with the caller identification information.