Abstract:
A caller identification (ID) system includes a first caller ID unit located at a first location. The first caller ID unit is operatively coupled to a telephone network to reveal telephone numbers. A second caller ID unit is coupled to the telephone network and located at a second location, other than the first location. A transmitter is included in the first caller ID unit for transferring caller ID information between the first and second caller ID units over the telephone network such that the caller ID information from the first caller ID unit is conveyed to the second caller ID unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to network communication services and, more particularly, to a system and method of sending and receiving caller identification information to remote locations over a telephone network.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Caller identification (caller ID or CID) systems currently provide a subscriber with the telephone number of the person or machine calling the subscriber&#39;s phone. These systems typically provide a display device, which textually presents the caller information at the subscriber&#39;s premises. When a subscriber travels or is otherwise away from the caller ID box, caller ID information is no longer available. Solutions to this problem include a speech synthesis system, which is capable of reading out the caller ID information to a user. The caller id information is spoken back using synthesized speech, but is not stored at the remote location. This requires that the user write down or in some other manner record the information being presented. This is also a slow process the user must wait for the information to be read to them.  
           [0003]    Accordingly, a need exists for conveying and storing caller ID information to a remote user in a convenient manner.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    A caller identification (ID) system in accordance with the present invention includes a first caller ID unit located at a first location. The first caller ID unit is operatively coupled to a telephone network to reveal telephone numbers. A second caller ID unit is coupled to the telephone network and located at a second location, other than the first location. A transmitter is included in the first caller ID unit for transferring caller ID information between the first and second caller ID units over the telephone network such that the caller ID information from the first caller ID unit is conveyed to the second caller ID unit.  
           [0005]    A method for transferring caller identification (ID) information in accordance with the present invention includes receiving caller ID information over a telephone network from a telephone company at a first caller ID unit. Responsive to an event, the caller ID information is transmitted to a remote unit over the telephone network. The caller ID information is processed at the remote unit. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the illustrative embodiments now to be described in detail in connection with accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a caller identification (ID) system having the capability of sending caller identification information remotely in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a block/flow diagram showing a method for transferring caller ID information in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a block/flow diagram showing a method for transferring caller ID information in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0010]    It should be understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustrating the concepts of the invention and are not necessarily the only possible configuration for illustrating the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    The present invention provides a system and method for transporting and storing caller identification information over a telephone network to a remote user location. The caller identification (caller ID or CID) information is received remotely and stored in a textual form for easy retrieval and usage. In one embodiment, the user is able to retrieve stored caller ID information from a pre-designated location, for example, home/office, when they are traveling or otherwise not present at the pre-designated location.  
         [0012]    It should be understood that the elements shown in the FIGS. may be implemented in various forms of hardware, software or combinations thereof. Preferably, these elements are implemented in hardware on one or more appropriately programmed general-purpose devices, which may include a processor, memory and input/output interfaces. The elements shown in the FIGS. may also be implemented in software on one or more of the appropriately programmed general-purpose devices.  
         [0013]    Referring now in specific detail to the drawings in which like reference numerals identify similar or identical elements throughout the several views, and initially to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram shows an illustrative caller ID system in accordance with the present invention. The illustrative embodiment shows a caller ID box  10  at a subscriber&#39;s pre-designated location  12  (e.g., home, office or other location e.g., where a phone bill is sent). Box  10  includes the capability of receiving caller ID information from a telephone company  14  over a telephone network  16 . Box  10  stores the caller ID information for one or more telephone calls. Box  10  is preferably coupled to a telephone  26  or other communications device, which can receive telephone calls.  
         [0014]    Box  10  may be programmed to intermittently send stored telephone numbers to a remote location  18 . In other words, box  10  may optionally include a timing device  28  which triggers a transmit mode to send telephone numbers stored therein after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. The caller ID information may be sent to a programmed destination by employing a telephone number or other destination address (e.g., website, modem address, etc.) stored in its memory.  
         [0015]    Alternately, box  10  may be configured to receive a command from remote location  18  by, for example, a subscriber&#39;s request made by employing a telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), a computer or other device. A caller ID box  20  or other unit capable of receiving caller ID information is located at remote site  18  and receives the caller ID information from caller ID box  10 . When a call is placed to the telephone, which box  10  is connected to, a code can be entered or other action may be taken to set box  10  into a transmit mode. Box  10  would then transmit the caller ID information to unit  20  from which the command is made. For purposes of this disclosure, remote site  18  includes any communication device other than the predesignated location device. The remote device may be physically located in the same building or even in the same room and the predesignated device. The difference between the remote site and the predesignated site may be, simply, different in telephone numbers.  
         [0016]    The caller ID information sent to unit  20  can be immediately displayed or stored for later retrieval. Handshaking and communication between box  10  and unit  20  is preferably performed over a communication network or link  22 . The link  22  may include a telephone network, such as a public switched telephone network (PSTN), a cable network, a wireless network, a satellite network, etc. Once stored the textual caller ID information may be portable along with unit  20 . Box  10  includes a transmitter  30  and optionally a receiver  32 . Transmitter  30  may employ standard modem protocols, or other transmission protocols (e.g., caller ID type 1, type or type 3 protocols or the like) to send caller ID information to unit  20 . Receiver  32  is configured to be responsive to commands received from unit  20 . Unit  20  preferably includes a transmitter  30  and a receiver  32  for respectively sending a command and receiving caller ID information (by employing the appropriate protocol(s)).  
         [0017]    Communication between box  10  and unit  20  may be handled using existing modem or proprietary protocols. Unit  20  preferably operates using existing caller ID protocols to receive information. With the addition of having the ability to resend the stored caller ID information upon the user request, the user could call home from the office and retrieve the caller ID information that is currently stored in his/her caller ID product at home. Both box  10  and unit  20  would be in an off-hook state and only box  10  would have to be capable of sending the caller ID information. Unit  20  preferably includes a display  34  capable of displaying the caller ID information received therein. In preferred embodiments, unit  20  includes memory storage  36  to store received caller ID info therein.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 2, a block/flow diagram showing an illustrative method for remotely retrieving caller ID information is shown in accordance with the present invention. In block  100 , a call is received by a telephone system at a predesignated location, e.g., a subscriber&#39;s home telephone. The subscriber&#39;s home telephone includes caller ID service. The caller ID service records the telephone number of the caller in block  102 . The caller ID box at the predesignated location includes a transmitter/receiver capable of sending caller ID information through a telephone network when prompted to do so by receiving a command through the telephone network. In block  104 , a command signal is sent from a remote location to the caller ID box. The command signal may be generated by, for example, a personal digital assistant, a caller ID box, a telephone having a display, a computer or any other telecommunications device having a display or speaker (which can audibly render the information). In block  106 , upon receiving the command, caller ID information is sent from the predesignated location&#39;s caller ID box to the remote device. The remote device is preferably able to display and store the information therein, in block  108 . The caller ID information from the predesignated location is now made available at the remote location, and may be stored for future reference.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 3, a block/flow diagram showing another illustrative method for remotely retrieving caller ID information is shown in accordance with the present invention. In block  200 , a call is received by a telephone system at a pre-designated location, e.g., a subscriber&#39;s home telephone. The subscriber&#39;s home telephone includes caller ID service. The caller ID service records the telephone number of the caller in block  202 . The caller ID box at the predesignated location includes a transmitter capable of transmitting the caller ID information over a telephone network after a time interval or other event. Other events may include transmissions of caller ID information after each telephone call is received or after a predetermined number of phone calls have been received.  
         [0020]    In block  204 , after the triggering event occurs, the caller ID box at the predesignated location sends the caller ID information stored thereon to a remote location. An address or telephone number may be pre-recorded in the caller ID box to identify the destination where the caller ID information will be sent. A device at the remote destination may include, for example, a personal digital assistant, a caller ID box, a telephone having a display, a computer or any other telecommunications device having a display. Caller ID information is sent from the predesignated location&#39;s caller ID box to the remote device. The remote device is preferably able to display and store the information therein, in block  206 .  
         [0021]    Although the embodiment which incorporates the teachings of the present invention has been shown and described in detail herein, those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments that still incorporate these teachings. Having described preferred embodiments for caller ID product and method with the ability to receive and send caller ID information to remote locations (which are intended to be illustrative and not limiting), it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by persons skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiments of the invention disclosed which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as outlined by the appended claims. Having thus described the invention with the details and particularity required by the patent laws, what is claimed and desired protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.