Patent Publication Number: US-2005129221-A1

Title: Alerting of network-associated information associated with a telephone call

Description:
NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION  
      A portion of the disclosure of this patent document and its figures contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention generally relates to telecommunications and, more particularly, to a transmitter and a separate call-alerting receiver.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      CallerID is a great service. CallerID, and other similarly-named services, display the calling telephone number and other listing information. When a telephone call is received, a subscriber may view this listing information before accepting the telephone call.  
      Telephones with this CallerID feature, however, have a common problem. A subscriber must locate the telephone before the listing information can be viewed. When a ring is heard, often times the subscriber scrambles to find the telephone. If the subscriber has an answering system, such as voicemail or an answering machine, the subscriber scrambles to find the phone before the preset number of rings activates the answering system. When the subscriber does locate the telephone, the subscriber is often frustrated at seeing the calling telephone number. The subscriber scrambled to find the telephone, only to discover the call is not desired. There is, accordingly, a need in the art for methods, systems, and devices for alerting a subscriber of the listing information associated with a telephone call, and a need for alerting the subscriber without first locating the telephone.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The aforementioned problems, and other problems, are reduced by methods, systems, and devices for alerting a subscriber to network-associated information associated with a telephone call. This invention allows a subscriber to view/hear listing information, and other information, associated with telephone calls. This listing information, however, may be viewed/heard without first locating a telephone. The system of this invention includes a base station and wireless, remote accessory device. When a telephone call is received, the base station wirelessly transmits only network-associated information associated with a telephone call to the accessory device. The accessory device then presents the network-associated information to the subscriber. This network-associated information may include the calling telephone number and any listing information associated with the calling telephone number. If the subscriber wishes to accept the telephone call, the subscriber may then locate the telephone. If the subscriber, however, wishes to ignore the telephone call, the subscriber can ignore the ring and allow the telephone call to forward to an answering system.  
      This invention also monitors the status of a telephone call. When the telephone call is received, the base station wirelessly transmits only the network-associated information to the accessory device. The accessory device may then continuously present the network-associated information. That is, the calling telephone number, any other listing information, and any other network-associated information, is continuously presented during the telephone call. Even if the telephone call is accepted, the accessory device continues to present the network-associated information during the telephone call. A parent, for example, may ignore the incoming telephone call when the calling party is a friend of a child&#39;s. Even though the child answers the telephone call, this invention allows the parent to monitor the telephone call. The parent not only knows the calling party, but the parent also knows the duration of the telephone call. The parent thus knows to whom the child talks and how long the child talks. If the parent does not recognize the calling telephone number, the continuously presented network-associated information can provide other information that helps the parent identify the calling party.  
      This invention offers similar advantages for originating calls. When a telephone call originates from the subscriber&#39;s residence/business, the subscriber can view the network-associated information associated with the outgoing telephone call. Using the parental example, when a child places a telephone call, the parent can view the called telephone number. If the parent does not recognize the called telephone number, the network-associated information can provide other information that helps the parent identify the called party (e.g., toll-free numbers, pay-per-minute numbers, payphones, and other revealing information). Because the network-associated information is continuously presented during the telephone call, the parent again knows the duration of the telephone call. The parent thus knows to whom the child talks and how long the child talks.  
      This invention discloses methods, systems, and devices for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call. One of the systems includes a base station wirelessly transmitting to an accessory device. The base station receives the telephone call via a communications network. The base station includes a transmitter transmitting only network-associated information to the accessory device. The network-associated information represents signaling within the communications network, and the network-associated information is outside a voice-band of the telephone call. The accessory device includes a receiver and a display. The receiver receives the network-associated information, and the display presents the network-associated information. When the telephone call is received, the accessory device presents the network-associated information to the subscriber, thus informing the subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.  
      Another of the embodiments describes a method for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call. Here a telephone call is received at a base station. The telephone call comprises network-associated information representing signaling within the communications network, and the network-associated information lies outside a voice-band of the telephone call. The method wirelessly transmits only the network-associated information from a transmitter to an accessory device. The accessory device then presents the network-associated information on a display. The accessory device presents the network-associated information to the subscriber, thus informing the subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.  
      Still more of the embodiments describe a device for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call. A receiver wirelessly receives network-associated information from a base station. The network-associated information represents signaling within the communications network, and the network-associated information is outside a voice-band of the telephone call. A display then presents the network-associated information, thus informing a subscriber of the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.  
      Other systems, methods, and/or computer program products according to embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon review of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and/or computer program products be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention are better understood when the following Detailed Description of the Invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustrating one of the embodiments of this invention for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a base station shown in  FIG. 1 , according to the embodiments of this invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an accessory device shown in  FIG. 1 , according to more embodiments of this invention; and  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call, according to the embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).  
      Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named manufacturer.  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustrating one of the embodiments of this invention.  FIG. 1  shows a system  10  for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call  12 . The system  10  comprises a base station  14  and a wireless accessory device  16 . When the base station  14  receives the telephone call  12  via a communications network  18 , the base station  14  wirelessly communicates network-associated information  20  to the accessory device  16 . As this patent will explain, the network-associated information  20  comprises “out of band” signaling from the communications network  18 . That is, the network-associated information  20  comprises signaling messages communicated within the communications network  18 , and these signaling messages lie outside the voice band of the telephone call  12 . When the accessory device  16  receives the network-associated information  20 , the accessory device  16  presents the network-associated information  20  to a subscriber. The subscriber is thus informed of the network-associated information  20  associated with the telephone call  12 .  
       FIG. 1  shows the communications network  18 . The communications network  18  may include an intelligently-controlled telecommunications switch  22  receiving voice and/or data signals from the Public Switched Telephone Network  24  and/or from a data network  26 . The telecommunications switch  22  includes a communications server  28  controlling many features of the telecommunications switch  22 . The communications server  28 , for example, may include Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) componentry. If, however, the telecommunications switch  22  operates as a packet-based “softswitch,” then the communications server  28  uses software control to provide voice, data, and video services by dynamically changing connection data rates and protocols types. The signaling between the telecommunications switch  22 , the Public Switched Telephone Network  24 , the communications server  28 , and the data network  26 , however, is well understood in the art and will not be further described. If a reader desires a more detailed explanation, the reader is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,719 issued to Weisser (Jul. 4, 1995), with the “Summary of the Invention” and the “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment” sections incorporated herein by reference. The reader is also directed to U.S. Pat. No. 5,917,817 issued to Dunn et al. (Jun. 29, 1999), with the “Summary of the Invention” and the “Detailed Description” sections incorporated herein by reference. As those of ordinary skill in the art also understand, if the telecommunications switch  22  operates as a packet-based “softswitch,” then the communications server  28  interfaces with the telecommunications switch  22  via a packet protocol, such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). The communications server  28  includes voice service protocols, triggers, and operations that allow the Public Switched Telephone Network  24  and the data network  26  to interoperate.  
      The system  10  alerts a subscriber of the network-associated information  20  associated with the telephone call  12 . The base station  14  receives the telephone call  12  via the communications network  18 . If the telephone call  12  is a plain-old telephone call, the telephone call  12  comprises both voice signals and data signals. That is, the telephone call  12  comprises voice-band signals and “out of band” data signals. These “out of band” data signals include the network-associated information  20  that accompanies the telephone call  12 . If the telephone call  12  has a voice-over Internet Protocol (“Voice-over-IP”) structure, the telephone call  12  comprises packets of information communicated according to various packet protocols. These packets of information include both voice packets and data packets, and the data packets represent the network-associated information  20  that accompanies the telephone call  12 . Whatever the structure of the telephone call  12 , the base station  14  receives the telephone call  12  via the communications network  18 . The base station  14  then filters/discards the voice portion from the network-associated information  20 . The base station  14  then wirelessly transmits only the network-associated information  20  to the accessory device  16 . That is, the base station  14  transmits the network-associated information  20  without transmitting, or independent of, the voice portion of the telephone call  12 . The accessory device  16 , then, only wirelessly receives the network-associated information  20 . The accessory device  16  does not receive the voice portion of the telephone call  12 , regardless of whether the telephone call  12  comprises voice-band signals and/or voice packets.  
      The accessory device  16  receives the network-associated information  20 . The accessory device  16  then presents the network-associated information  20  to a subscriber. The network-associated information  20  may be visually-presented and/or audibly presented. When the telephone call  12  is received, the accessory device  16  thus informs the subscriber of the network-associated information  20  associated with the telephone call  12 . The subscriber may then accept the telephone call  12  by causing a telephonic device  30  to go off-hook.  
      The network-associated information  20  is independent of the voice portion of the telephone call  12 . The network-associated information  20  is/are signals and/or messages that accompany the telephone call  12 . The network-associated information  20  may include an incoming calling line identification (ICLID) signal. This ICLID signal identifies the calling telephone number. The ICLID signal may also identify a name and/or address associated with the calling telephone number (commonly referred to as “listing information”). The network-associated information  20 , however, may also include information digits associated with the ICLID signal. These information digits describe whether the call is a local call or a long-distance call, any access code for a service provider, and the type of calling station/terminal (e.g., coin-operated phone, non-coin-operated phone, dual-tone modal frequency phone, rotary-dial phone, prison phone). The information digits may also describe coding that blocks the delivery of the ICLID service. The network-associated information  20  may also include telephone call handling messages/information, telephone call routing messages/information, the duration of the telephone call  12 , and the time the telephone call was placed/received. The network-associated information  20  may also include signaling messages, such as SS 7  messages within the communications network  18 .  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the base station  14 . The base station  14  comprises a processor  32  and a transmitter  34 . An antenna  36  couples to the transmitter  34  and converts electromagnetic waves to current. The processor  32  controls the transmitter  34 , and the processor  32  may also perform signal processing functions for electromagnetic signals of any desired frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum. Various memory devices, such as Read-Only Memory (ROM)  38 , Random-Access Memory (RAM)  40 , and cache memory  42 , store instructions, software programming, and the network-associated information  20 . A power supply  44  (such as an AC power supply and/or a battery) provides an electrical power source for the processor  32  and the transmitter  34 . The base station may also include a telephone input  46  for receiving the telephone call  12 . This telephone input  46  is typically a modular jack for connection of a telephone line (neither shown for simplicity), although the base station  14  itself may wirelessly receive the telephone call  12 . As  FIG. 2  shows, the base station  14  may include display circuitry  48 , speaker circuitry  50 , ringer circuitry  52 , and/or a piezoelectric device  54 . When the base station  14  receives the telephone call  12 , the processor  32  may command the display circuitry  48 , the speaker circuitry  50 , the ringer circuitry  52 , and/or the piezoelectric device  54  to alert the subscriber of the incoming telephone call  12 . That is, the display circuitry  48  may cause a liquid crystal display  56  to flash a message/light, a light-emitting diode  58  to activate, and/or a bulb  60  to activate. The ringer circuitry  52  could cause a ringer  62  to activate, and the speaker circuitry  50  may cause a speaker  64  to emit sounds. The display circuitry  48 , the speaker circuitry  50 , the ringer circuitry  52 , and/or the piezoelectric device  54  alert the subscriber of the incoming telephone call  12 . As those of ordinary skill in the art understand, the display circuitry  48  may additionally or alternatively activate other display devices, such as flat-panel displays, cathode ray devices, and plasma devices.  
      The base station  14  wirelessly communicates the network-associated information  20 . The network-associated information  20  comprises signaling messages that lie outside the voice band of the telephone call  12  and/or that do not include voice information/signals. When the base station  14  receives the telephone call  12 , the base station  14  filters/discards the voice portion from the network-associated information  20 . The base station  14  then wirelessly transmits only the network-associated information  20  to the accessory device (shown as reference numeral  16  in  FIG. 1 ). That is, the base station  14  transmits the network-associated information  20  without transmitting, or independent of, the voice portion of the telephone call  12 .  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the accessory device  16 . The accessory device  16  receives the wirelessly transmitted network-associated information  20  associated with the call (shown as reference numeral  12  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The accessory device  16  comprises a processor  56  and a receiver  58 . An antenna  60  couples to the receiver  58  and converts electromagnetic waves to current. The processor  56  controls the receiver  58 , and the processor  56  may perform signal processing functions for electromagnetic signals of any desired frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum. Various memory devices, such as Read-Only Memory (ROM)  62 , Random-Access Memory (RAM)  64 , and cache memory  66 , store instructions, software programming, and the network-associated information  20 . A battery  68  provides an electrical power source for the processor  56  and the receiver  58 . The accessory device  16  may include display circuitry  70 , speaker circuitry  72 , ringer circuitry  74 , and/or a piezoelectric device  76 . When the accessory device  16  receives the network-associated information  20 , the processor  56  may command the display circuitry  70 , the speaker circuitry  72 , the ringer circuitry  74 , and/or the piezoelectric device  76  to alert the subscriber of the incoming network-associated information  20 . That is, the display circuitry  70  may cause a liquid crystal display  78  to flash a message/light, a light-emitting diode  80  to activate, and/or a bulb  82  to activate. The ringer circuitry  74  could cause a ringer  84  to activate, and the speaker circuitry  72  may cause a speaker  86  to emit sounds. The piezoelectric device  76  may alert the subscriber by buzzing and/or by producing a tactile alert, such as a vibration or vibrating motion. The display circuitry  70 , the speaker circuitry  72 , the ringer circuitry  74 , and/or the piezoelectric device  76  alert the subscriber of the incoming network-associated information  20 . As those of ordinary skill in the art understand, the display circuitry  70  may additionally or alternatively activate other display devices, such as flat-panel displays, cathode ray devices, and plasma devices.  
      The accessory device  16  also displays the network-associated information  20 . When the receiver  58  receives the wirelessly transmitted network-associated information  20 , the processor  56  commands the display circuitry  70  to present the network-associated information  20 . The display circuitry  70 , for example, presents the incoming calling line identification (ICLID) signal associated with the incoming telephone call. This ICLID signal identifies the calling telephone number, a name, and/or an address associated with the calling telephone number. The display circuitry  70  may also present the information digits associated with the ICLID signal, thus identifying many characteristics/features/attributes of the calling station/terminal. The display circuitry  70 , for example, may present the information digits associated with a local or long-distance call, any access code for a service provider, and/or the type of calling station/terminal (e.g., coin-operated phone, non-coin-operated phone, dual-tone modal frequency phone, rotary-dial phone, prison phone). The information digits may also describe coding that blocks the delivery of the ICLID service, thus informing the subscriber that the calling party has “blocked” the ICLID signal. The display circuitry  70  may also present telephone call handling messages/information, telephone call routing messages/information, the duration of the telephone call, and the time the telephone call was placed/received. The display circuitry  70  may also present signaling messages, such as SS 7  messages.  
      The accessory device  16  preferably continuously displays the network-associated information  20 . When the receiver  58  receives the wirelessly transmitted network-associated information  20 , the processor  56  commands the display circuitry  70  to present the network-associated information  20 . The accessory device  16  of this invention continuously presents the network-associated information  20  during the telephone call (shown as reference numeral  12  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Not only is the network-associated information  20  presented upon receipt, but the network-associated information  20  is presented even after the telephone call is answered. The accessory device  16  of this invention continuously presents the network-associated information  20  until an on-hook condition is detected. Because the network-associated information  20  is continuously presented, the accessory device  16  informs the subscriber of the calling telephone number and any listing information associated with the calling telephone number. The network-associated information  20  also informs the subscriber of the duration of the telephone call and any information digits associated with the calling telephone number. The accessory device  16 , for example, allows a parent to know when telephone calls are received, the identity of the calling party, and even the duration of the telephone call.  
      The processors  32  and  56  may be a digital signal processor (DSP) and/or a microprocessor. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., for example, manufactures a full line of ATHLON™ microprocessors (ATHLON™ is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., One AMD Place, P.O. Box 3453, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94088-3453, 408.732.2400, 800.538.8450, www.amd.com). The Intel Corporation also manufactures a family of microprocessors (Intel Corporation, 2200 Mission College Blvd., Santa Clara, Calif. 95052-8119, 408.765.8080, www.intel.com). Other manufacturers also offer microprocessors. Such other manufacturers include Motorola, Inc. (1303 East Algonquin Road, P.O. Box A3309 Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, www.Motorola.com), International Business Machines Corp. (New Orchard Road, Armonk, N.Y. 10504, (914) 499-1900, www.ibm.com), and Transmeta Corp. (3940 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054, www.transmeta.com). Texas Instruments offers a wide variety of digital signal processors (Texas Instruments, Incorporated, P.O. Box 660199, Dallas, Tex. 75266-0199, Phone: 972-995-2011, www.ti.com) as well as Motorola (Motorola, Incorporated, 1303 E. Algonquin Road, Schaumburg, Ill. 60196, Phone 847-576-5000, www.motorola.com). Those of ordinary skill in the art understand that this invention is not limited to any particular manufacturer&#39;s processor.  
      The accessory device  16  may be programmed to selectively alert of the network-associated information  20 . When the accessory device  16  receives the network-associated information  20 , the processor  56  commands the display circuitry  70 , the speaker circuitry  72 , the ringer circuitry  74 , and/or the piezoelectric device  76  to alert the subscriber of the incoming network-associated information  20 . The accessory device  16 , however, may be programmed to only alert the subscriber when selected network-associated information  20  is wirelessly received. The various memory devices (the Read-Only Memory  62 , the Random-Access Memory  64 , and the cache memory  66 ) could store subscriber-specified information. When the accessory device  16  receives the network-associated information  20 , the processor  56  compares the wirelessly received network-associated information  20  to the stored subscriber-specified information. If the processor  56  finds a match, the processor  56  then executes any stored instructions. The accessory device  16  may thus be programmed to alert, or to not alert, upon receipt of matching network-associated information  20 . The subscriber, for example might store selected telephone numbers in memory. If the wirelessly received ICLID signal matches one of the selected telephone numbers stored in memory, only then would the accessory device  16  alert the subscriber. The subscriber, for example, might only want to be alerted when the telephone call is from a relative, friend, or other desired party. If a match is found, conversely, the accessory device  16  might be programmed to not alert the subscriber and, thus, screen incoming telephone calls. If the ICLID signal is blocked by the calling party, the accessory device  16  could be programmed to not alert the subscriber. The accessory device  16 , similarly, may be programmed to not alert the subscriber if the network-associated information  20  is associated with a certain area code, a toll-free number, pay phones, and/or collect calls. The accessory device  16 , similarly, may be programmed to not alert the subscriber if the network-associated information  20  shows the call is placed/received during specified hours/days (such as sleeping hours, dinner time, holidays, weekends, or appointments).  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method for alerting a subscriber of network-associated information associated with a telephone call. A telephone call is received at a base station (Block  88 ). The telephone call includes network-associated information representing signaling within the communications network, the network-associated information outside a voice-band of the telephone call (Block  90 ). Only the network-associated information is wirelessly transmitted from a transmitter (TX) to a remote accessory device (Block  92 ). When the network-associated information is received, the remote accessory device produces an alert (Block  94 ). The alert may be visual (Block  96 ), audible (Block  98 ), and/or tactile (Block  100 ). The network-associated information is then presented to the subscriber (Block  102 ). The method thus alerts the subscriber to the network-associated information associated with the telephone call.  
      This invention offers similar advantages for originating calls. When a telephone call originates from the subscriber&#39;s residence/business, the subscriber can view network-associated information associated with the outgoing telephone call. The base station  14  can wirelessly transmit the called telephone number to the accessory device  16 . The base station  14  can also wirelessly transmit other network-associated information associated with the outgoing telephone call. As the telephone call is processed by the communications network  18 , the communications network  18  communicates the network-associated information  20  to the base station  14 . The base station  14  can itself present this network-associated information  20 . The base station  14  may also wirelessly transmit the network-associated information  20  to the accessory device  16 . The subscriber is thus able to monitor originating telephone calls.  
      While the present invention has been described with respect to various features, aspects, and embodiments, those skilled and unskilled in the art will recognize the invention is not so limited. Other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.