Patent Publication Number: US-2003223560-A1

Title: Caller ID printing device

Description:
[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/384,141, filed May 29, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to telephone systems, and more particularly to a system and method for printing caller ID information associated with a telephone call.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] Practically since the invention of the telephone, people have been taking messages for persons unable to take telephone calls. Both in business and residential settings, people often transcribe voice mail, or simply jot down a message from a live caller. However, taking such messages is time-consuming and subject to error. Often, a caller&#39;s name is misspelled or number is written erroneously, the time of the call is forgotton, etc. It would be desirable to provide a reliable, time-saving system and method for taking telephone messages.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] A caller ID printing device is provided. The printing device typically includes a controller configured to detect caller ID information from an incoming call and a printer configured to automatically print the caller ID information and a message template onto a printed call record.  
       [0005] The advantages of the present invention will be understood more readily after a consideration of the drawings and the Detailed Description. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a caller ID printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0007]FIG. 2 is a detail view of a call record of the system of FIG. 1.  
     [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the caller ID printing device of FIG. 1. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0009] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a caller ID printing system according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at  10 . System  10  typically includes a caller ID printing device  12  configured to receive a call sent from a calling party telephone  14  to a called party telephone  16  via a public switched telephone network (PSTN)  18 . For each call received, caller ID printing device  12  is configured to print a call record  20  including caller ID information  22  detected from the call, and a message template  24 , as described below. It should be appreciated that the printing device does not require the presence of a telephone  16  in order to function, and that telephone  16  may alternatively be connected in parallel to the caller ID printing device  12 . Additionally, or in the alternative, the caller ID printing device may be in serial or parallel connection with a caller ID display unit, a telephone answering machine, or other device.  
     [0010] Caller ID printing device  12  typically includes a telephone interface  26  configured to receive calls from PSTN  18 . Caller ID information is typically sent over the phone line between the first and second ring signals of an incoming call. Telephone interface  26  is configured to monitor the telephone line, and after a ring signal and valid caller ID signal are received from PSTN  18 , that information is forwarded to a controller  28 . Controller  28  typically includes a processor  32  configured to access memory  34 . A caller ID decoder program  38  and a message template  36  typically are stored in memory  34 . Typically, processor  32  is configured to execute the caller ID decoder  38  and read the caller ID information passed to it from telephone interface  26 . Processor  32  further is configured to cause printer  30  to print call record  20  containing caller ID information  22  read from each call in a human-readable form, as well as message template  24  that the user may use to record additional information about the call.  
     [0011] As shown in FIG. 2, caller ID information  22  typically includes a time  22   a  and date  22   b  at which the call was received. Caller ID information  22  may further include a calling party telephone number  22   c  and/or a calling party name  22   d.  In one aspect of the invention, the printing device may be capable of printing a caller&#39;s date, time of day, area code, phone number, and the caller ID name associated with the caller&#39;s phone number.  
     [0012] The caller ID printing device may be configured to print the caller ID information at the same time as the message template. Alternatively, the caller ID printing device may be configured to print the caller ID information prior to, or after the printing of the message template. For example, the caller ID printing device may be configured to print the caller ID information automatically as soon as it has been decoded. For example, the caller ID printing device may print the caller ID information between receipt of the first and second ring signals. In some embodiments, the printed caller ID information may be used to screen an incoming call in order to decide whether to answer the call or not.  
     [0013] Message template  24  typically includes items such as message-related indicia. These message related indicia may include “extension number,” “extension name,” “returned call,” “will call again,” “call back,” “wants appointment,” “wants to see you,” “urgent,” and “has new joke.” It should be appreciated that a variety of other indicia may be provided that are generally applicable, or that may be customized for a particular individual, particular occupation, or a place of business. The indicia may be preprinted on the call record, or the printing device may print such indicia as needed.  
     [0014] Each message-related indicia typically is followed by a line or blank space in which the message taker may record relevant information. Typically, the message taker will form-feed the call record, by pressing form-feed button  40 , shown in FIG. 3, and position the message template  24  within a writing area  42  and hand-write the information within the blank spaces provided in message template  24 . Typically, writing area  42  includes a flat writing surface bounded at an upper end by an upper serrated bar  44  and at a lower end by lower serrated bar  46 . The user may separate individual call records  20  formed on a single roll of paper by tearing the call records at an appropriate location using bar  44 . Alternatively, the paper may not be threaded under bar  44  and may, instead, be torn using only the lower bar  46 . In addition, a power indicator  48  may be provided to let the user know that the power is turned on to the device. Caller ID printing device  12  additionally may include ports  50  and  52  configured to receive connections from PSTN  18  and called party telephone  16 .  
     [0015] Caller ID printing device  12  further may include a receptacle  54  positioned adjacent a surface of the device, including a well  56  adapted to hold a writing implement, such as a pen or pencil.  
     [0016] In one aspect of the invention, the printer paper used by the printing device may be 2¼″ (56 mm.) thermal paper on a roll that sits on a spindle and feeds through the machine so that each caller ID message can be neatly torn from the paper roll. Although the printing device may use thermal offset printing, any other printing method that creates a legible record of the caller ID information is a useful printing method for the purposes of the present disclosure.  
     [0017] The printing device may include a power source such as one or more batteries, or an external power supply, such as a connection to a conventional 120V AC wall outlet. The printing device may include a back-up power supply unit to maintain a supply of electricity during times when power is interrupted, but such a back-up power supply unit is not necessary for operation of the printing device.  
     [0018] The present invention has the advantage that a message taker need not write the called time, date, telephone number, and calling party name for each message taken. Rather, the message taker may take advantage of the call records  20  printed by caller ID printing device  12  and easily and quickly record relevant message-specific information within message template  24  and distribute the call record to the intended message recipient. In one aspect of the invention, the printing device may be configured to automatically print a note every time the device receives caller ID information. If the user desires additional space on the printed call record to write notes, the user may trigger form-feed button  40  to advance the paper. Thus, the present device is thought to save time and resources over prior message-taking methods. The only action required of the user is the initial setup which includes plugging the printing device into the power outlet and a phone jack, and loading paper into the print device. Caller ID information may be printed immediately and automatically after the first ring of each incoming call without any user intervention.  
     [0019] The printing device may also be used as a note-taking device, in the absence of an incoming call. That is, where the printing device is kept, for example, at a bedside, it is convenient for the user to advance the roll of paper over writing surface  42  in order to write a message or notes on the paper. The paper may then be further advanced and torn off for future reference or distribution.  
     [0020] The printing device may be small and compact, to facilitate placement wherever the printing device would be convenient. For example, the printing device may be appropriately sized to rest upon a night table.  
     [0021] Manufacture of the printing device may include configuring a telephone interface to receive an incoming call, configuring a controller to detect caller ID information from the incoming call, configuring the controller to send the caller ID information to a printer, and configuring the printer to automatically print the caller ID information received from the controller onto a printed call record. Manufacture may also include associating the controller with both the telephone interface and the printer, for example by interconnecting the controller, the interface and the printer with the appropriate wiring, and placing the associated components within an attractive case. Such manufacture may also include configuring a mechanism to advance the printer paper supply, such as the form-feed button discussed above.  
     [0022] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. The description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein, and claims may be presented in a later related application to any novel and non-obvious combination of these elements. Where the disclosure recites “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such disclosure should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.