BRANCH CALLING AND CALLER ID BASED
`CALL ROUTING TELEPHONE FEATURES
`
`Samuel F. Wood
`
`Jerry A. Klein
`
`Margaret Susan Asprey
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`5
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`This application is a division of U.S. Application Serial No. 10/426,279, filed April
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`10
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`30, 2003, entitled "Branch Calling and Caller ID Based Call Routing Telephone Features,"
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`which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 09/565,565, filed May 4, 2000,
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`entitled "Telephone Call Control System for the Public Switched Telephone Network," now
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`U. S. Paten No. 6,574,328, both incorporated herein by reference.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`15
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`This invention relates to telephone services and, in particular, to a system for
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`allowing a subscriber to select features of the subscriber's telephone service and to various
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`novel features that can be selected.
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`BACKGROUND
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`People have used various means for limiting interruptions due to the telephone. In the
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`20
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`past, people used switchboards and secretaries to screen incoming, or inbound, calls. Voice
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`mail systems took over some of this role both in the home and in the central office. Today,
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`there are web-based companies managing 3rd-party call control, via the toll-switch network,
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`which allow users to enter call control information through a web portal. There are also edge
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`devices in each of the public telephone company's central offices which provide local control,
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`25
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`but offer an extremely limited number of features and do not provide true 3rd-party call
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`control.
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`The web-based toll systems provide good user interaction but they are not economical
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`and cannot take advantage of local number portability because they do not provide local
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`control and connectivity.
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`1
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 1
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) consists of a plurality of edge
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`switches connected to telephones on one side and to a network of tandem switches on the
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`other. The tandem switch network allows connectivity between all of the edge switches, and
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`a signalling system is used by the PSTN to allow calling and to transmit both calling and
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`5
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`called party identity.
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`Until now, optional features were provided by the local service telephone company
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`(telco) through the edge switch at the central office (CO). It was not possible to provide
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`optional features through any other means. Control of these features was done through the
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`first party (calling party) or the second party (called party), or worse yet, manually by calling
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`10
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`the business office.
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`In the past, numerous devices have been built that allow the connection of two lines
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`together at an edge switch. These devices can be used to add features to a telephone network
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`by receiving a call on one line and then dialing out on another line. The problem with these
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`devices is that, because they are connected through an edge switch, transmission losses and
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`15
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`impairments occur, degrading the overall connection. In addition, signalling limitations
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`prevent full control, by the subscriber or the system, over the call.
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`A preferred embodiment of the inventive system described herein connects at the
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`tandem, thereby eliminating these problems.
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`In the edge devices residing in the PSTN central offices, the 1st party (the calling
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`20
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`party) has numerous features available (dialing options). The 2nd party (called party) also has
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`options available such as call forwarding, but these features typically require access from the
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`first or second party's device and are extremely awkward to program. The user interaction is
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`not only awkward, it is limited and requires interaction with the telephone company to
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`provision them. In other words, past systems for provisioning, meaning addition,
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`25 modification, or control of telephone features, required a subscriber to make the feature
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`selection through the telephone business office. Central office workers would then implement
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`the provisioning under request of the business office.
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`Call Forwarding is one popular provision. There is signification transmission
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`degradation for Call Forwarding to take place. The calling party pays for a call to the edge
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`2
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 2
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`device, and the edge subscriber, the called party, pays for the call to the forwarding number.
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`For enhanced inbound call control to occur, a direct 3rd-party call control means is needed.
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`A variety of services have arisen to address the problems mentioned above. Many of
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`these systems allow the called party to make changes to his/her call forwarding attributes
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`5 which do not allow direct 3rd-party call control. These services provide good user interaction,
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`some via the internet, but they rely upon the toll network through the use of "800" numbers.
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`This requires the subscriber to pay by the minute and does not allow the subscriber to take
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`advantage of number portability in order to obtain 3rd-party call control. There are other toll
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`network mechanisms for remote call forwarding. For example, MCI offers a service where
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`10
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`the customer can remotely change the forwarding target number for "800" numbers.
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`Contacting the ultimate end-user before terminating the first incoming call is similar to the
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`manner in which "800" credit calls and collect calls are processed, but these are not done at
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`the local subscriber level.
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`In addition to these toll services, there are edge devices that perform some of the
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`15
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`same services. Edge devices such as phones and PBXs that include voice mail, inter-active
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`voice response, call forwarding, speed calling, etc., have been used to provide additional call
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`control. These devices allow the phone user direct control over incoming and outgoing calls.
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`The disadvantage of edge devices is that they add cost, degrade voice and transmission
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`quality, can be difficult to program, are not easily programmed remotely, can require the user
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`20
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`to pay for two lines, provide lower quality of service, and cannot provide the same level of
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`functionality as a system that controls the PSTN directly. There are Voice Over Internet
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`Protocol (VoiP) products emerging that provide better user interfaces and control but they do
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`not take advantage and voice quality of the PSTN.
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`25
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`SUMMARY
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`A system for allowing a subscriber to remotely control features is described herein
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`along with various telephone features that may be programmed into the system. A subscriber
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`may be any customer using the telephone service, in contrast to employees of the PSTN who
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`may use special communication networks within the PSTN. Two such features are caller ID
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`3
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 3
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

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`(CID) based call routing and branch calling. The system allows the subscriber to set up a
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`feature where the CID signal is detected within the PSTN and automatically associated with
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`stored information relating to the caller. The stored information may have been previously
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`entered into a memory within the PSTN by the subscriber via the world wide web. The CID
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`5
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`signal may be also used to route the call to one of more forwarding numbers or to take any
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`other action, such as blocking the call. This feature also allows the subscriber to use the CID
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`signal to display certain information even though the caller may have her CID blocked.
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`Another feature described herein is referred to as branch calling, which allows a call
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`to be forwarded to multiple telephones simultaneously, where the first telephone answered
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`10
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`terminates the calling of the other telephones (or any other end units).
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`The preferred system described herein adds direct control of third party call control
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`features, but does not suffer from any of the disadvantages listed above, and allows the
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`subscriber to manage his/her telephone system in a dynamic and exceptionally useful manner
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`that is not currently available through the existing PSTN. The system allows enhanced direct
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`15
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`third-party call control features, such as selective call routing and remote dialing, to be added
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`to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) using local call control and providing
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`dynamic provisioning of the system by the subscriber. Direct 3rd-party control means that the
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`ability to provision the 3rd-party features is directly available to a subscriber, eliminating the
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`need to go through the telephone company (telco) business office.
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`20
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`In one embodiment, the system includes a processor (referred to herein as a tandem
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`access controller) connected to the PSTN which would allow anyone to directly provision,
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`that is to say set-up and make immediate changes to, the configuration of his or her phone
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`line. In another embodiment, a tandem access controller (TAC) subsystem is connected
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`internally to the PSTN in a local service area. The TAC provides features, selected by the
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`25
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`subscriber, to all edge switches connected to the PSTN tandem switch. Connecting directly to
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`the PSTN tandem switch (or embedding the system into the tandem switch) eliminates the
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`signal degradation problems previously described.
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`In one embodiment, the system allows provisioning of features via the internet under
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`direct control of the subscriber. Recently, several products have been introduced that provide
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`30
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`a means of controlling features via the public internet. However, all these devices fall short in
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`4
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 4
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`that they require the subscriber to obtain an "800" number or some other number that requires
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`the subscriber to pay a toll charge each time a call is made. The system connects locally, so
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`no toll charges are incurred.
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`The offered features are implemented by software programs run by the processing
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`5
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`system.
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`The web-enhanced services in one embodiment of the invention coexist with and
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`overlay the local phone service at the local level, thereby providing good economics and user
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`interaction, single number access to multiple subscriber devices, connectivity without
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`transmission impairments and true, direct 3rd-party call control.
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`10
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`The present system relies upon use of local telephone facilities thereby eliminating all
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`the extra charges associated with making toll calls. It also allows the user to take advantage
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`of number portability and keep his/her existing public phone number.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`15
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`Fig. 1 illustrates the tandem access controller (TAC) in one embodiment of the
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`present invention connected to the existing PSTN tandem switch, the TAC providing features
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`for the subscriber's telephone as requested by the subscriber via the web.
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`Fig. 2 illustrates a system similar to Fig. 1 but showing multiple tandem switches and
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`TACs and also showing how the subscriber may, in additional to using the standard
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`20
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`telephone, make phone calls using Voice Over IP via a conventional digital telephone.
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`Fig. 3 is a flowchart of one method that a person may use to set up a subscriber
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`account and to designate features the subscriber would like for his/her telephone.
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`Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method that can be performed by the TAC in response to the
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`subscriber (or other service) controlling the TAC, using the web (or other packet-based
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`25
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`system), to change the subscriber's telephone provisioning or perform another function, such
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`as make a VoIP call.
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`Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method that can be performed by the TAC in response to an
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`inbound call to the subscriber.
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`5
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 5
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`Fig. 6 is a flowchart of a method performed by the subscriber and the TAC when the
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`subscriber desires to make an outbound call via the web or using a conventional telephone.
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`Fig. 7 illustrates a system, using the TAC, that allows wireless cell phones to obtain
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`the same provisioning options as the conventional telephones.
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`5
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`Fig. 8 illustrates a system, using the TAC, that allows fax and modem calls to benefit
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`from the provisioning offered by the TAC.
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`Fig. 9 is a flowchart of possible scenarios using the caller ID based feature.
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`Fig. 10 is a flowchart of possible scenarios using the branch calling feature.
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`6
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 6
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
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`Fig. 1 shows a tandem access controller (TAC) 10 that allows an authorized
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`subscriber 12 to establish 3rd-party control criteria for calls to the subscriber's telephone 14
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`(having a "public" phone number that callers dial). In one embodiment, the TAC 10 is a
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`5
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`programmed processor. The TAC 10 may use any combination of hardware, firmware, or
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`software and, in one embodiment, is a conventional computer programmed to carry out the
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`functions described herein.
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`The TAC 10 is connected to or inside the conventional PSTN tandem switch 16 such
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`that calls may flow through the TAC 10 in the same manner as the existing PSTN tandem
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`10
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`switch, except that additional 3rd-party features are applied to the call. As is well known,
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`PSTN tandem switches are exchanges that direct telephone calls (or other traffic) to central
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`offices 17, 18 or to other tandem switches. Details of the operation of the existing phone
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`network may be found in the publication entitled "New Net SS7 Tutorial," by ADC
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`Telecommunications, copyright 1999, incorporated herein by reference. Additional details
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`15 may be found in the numerous books describing the PSTN.
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`The PSTN tandem switch 16 directs a first call (from the calling party 20 to the
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`subscriber's phone 14 using the subscriber's public phone number) to the TAC 10, which in
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`tum places a second call, subject to 3rd-party control information, to the subscriber's
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`"private" phone number without yet terminating the first call. The TAC 10 is connected
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`20 within the subscriber's local service area so calls from TAC 10 to the subscriber do not incur
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`a toll. When the subscriber 12 terminates (or answers) the second call, the TAC 10 terminates
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`the first call and connects it to the second call, thereby connecting the calling party 20 to the
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`subscriber 12. Hence, the calling party essentially calls the TAC 10, using the subscriber's
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`public phone number, and the TAC 10, after processing the call using the selected features,
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`25
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`calls the subscriber, as appropriate, using the subscriber's private phone number and connects
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`the two calls. The process is transparent to the parties.
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`The TAC 10 is connected inside the PSTN in the sense that it is not an edge device
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`such as a PBX or central office (CO) switch because it does not connect directly to
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`subscribers. Rather, it redirects calls to subscribers. The TAC 10 provides intelligent
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`30
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`interconnection between a calling party and a subscriber.
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`7
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 7
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`The reader should keep in mind that although only one tandem switch 16 is shown in
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`Fig. 1, the invention will apply equally well to a network of tandem switches, as shown in
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`Fig. 2. Fig. 2 also illustrates how the subscriber can make calls using voice over IP via a
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`conventional digital telephone 21.
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`5
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`Fig. 1 illustrates the preferred method for an authorized subscriber to modify the 3rd(cid:173)
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`party control criteria by means of the world wide web 22 (and web server 23) using an
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`internet browser. By "authorized" we mean a subscriber who is registered and has logged- in
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`with appropriate security and password controls. The subscriber 12 interacts with the web 22
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`via the Internet to quickly and easily specify the enhanced 3rd-party call control features.
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`10 Web 22 then relays this information, in appropriate form, to the TAC 10. Preferably, the link
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`to the TAC 10 uses a secure protocol. Examples of features that can be selected by the
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`subscriber include: conditional call blocking, call forwarding, call altering, time of day
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`conditions, day of week conditions, follow-me, caller recognition/password, caller ID, call
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`screening/retrieval from voice mail, speed dialing, interactive voice response, and speech
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`15
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`recognition. Any other feature could be added. These features can be implemented in the
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`TAC 10 using known software techniques since such features are known. Message outgoing
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`call control includes: click-to-dial calling and group calling/messaging.
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`The invention may also include ivr/vm/voverip.
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`Fig. 1 uses a public internet portal connected via a data link to the TAC 10 or other
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`20
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`interface system. As a registered subscriber, a user logs onto the portal (Fig. 3) and is granted
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`access, allowing the user to make additions or changes to features such as speed calling, call
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`forwarding, selection of such descriptors as time of day, busy status, caller ID status, etc. A
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`user-friendly web page leads the subscriber through the various procedures and available
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`features. The selections made by the subscriber are translated into provisioning data and
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`25
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`transmitted to the TAC 10. The TAC 10 in tum keeps track of incoming and outgoing calls
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`based on this information.
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`The subscriber can also program a set of the call control features via a telephone link
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`in the event a data link connection is unavailable.
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`Fig. 4 is a flowchart of actions that may be taken by the TAC 10 in response to the
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`30
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`subscriber (or other service) controlling the TAC, using the web or other packet-based
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`8
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 8
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`system, to change the subscriber's telephone provisioning or perform another function, such
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`as make a VoIP call.
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`Fig. 5 is a flowchart of actions taken by the TAC 10 in response to an inbound call
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`(using the subscriber's public phone number) to the subscriber. Examples of some of the
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`5
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`actions taken by the TAC 10 are:
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`Receives SS7 data indicating an incoming call
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`Stores phone numbers downloaded from provisioning system
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`Charts identity of calling party
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`Checks time of day
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`10
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`Stores lists of numbers in groups used for processing incoming calls
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`Places outgoing calls in response to incoming calls according to information
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`downloaded on the data link.
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`Incoming call data is received by the TAC 10 from the tandem switch 16. The TAC
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`10 processor checks calling and called numbers, class of service, time of day, number lists,
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`15
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`etc. In some cases additional data is gathered from the calling party via a DSP (Digital Signal
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`Processing) system and stored in the system memory. The DSP system is used to play call
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`progress tones and voice announcements as required. Voice announcements can be played
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`through the DSP system. In response to the call data, an outgoing call to the subscriber 12
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`may be placed back through the tandem switch 16 by TAC 10. The TAC 10 links the two
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`20
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`calls and monitors the connection.
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`Information about the call may be collected by the TAC 10 and sent to the subscriber
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`or a 3rd party for display. Such information may be the length of the call or information used
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`to bill the subscriber for the use of the system. The provisioning system can also collect
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`control information from a 3rd party and relay it back to the TAC 10, which will then affect
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`25
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`the call accordingly.
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`Fig. 6 is a flowchart of actions taken by the subscriber 12 and the TAC 10 when the
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`subscriber desires to make an outbound call via the web or using a conventional telephone.
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`9
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 9
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`When using the web to place a call, the subscriber may simply click a name on the computer
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`screen 26 using a mouse.
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`Fig. 7 illustrates a system, using the TAC 10, that allows wireless cell phones 28 to
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`obtain the same provisioning options as the conventional telephones 14. A local cell 30 and a
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`5
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`cell switch 32 are also shown in Fig. 7.
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`Fig. 8 illustrates a system, using the TAC 10, that allows fax and modem calls to
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`benefit from the provisioning offered by the TAC 10. The TAC 10 may interface the ISP 36
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`through the web 22.
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`One embodiment of the invention allows a subscriber to view the current state of
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`10
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`his/her telephone via the Internet. Internet is a term of art by which we mean an
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`interconnection of packet switched networks. Prior to this system there was no way for a user
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`to examine the status of a telephone line. Recently, several products have been introduced
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`that provide a means of examining the voice message boxes.
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`An internet portal is connected via a data link to the TAC 10. When a user logs onto
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`15
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`the internet portal and is granted access to an individual subscription, the user can examine
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`the status of calls/features. This information is transmitted from the TAC 10 to the web portal
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`and translated into user viewables. The TAC 10 keeps track of incoming and outgoing calls
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`based on this information.
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`The TAC 10 may be implemented using conventional processor hardware. The
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`20
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`connection to the tandem switch 16 may be as simple as a telephone circuit, since the TAC
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`10 receives an incoming call from a caller and processes the call. Devising the
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`software/firmware use to control the TAC 10 is well within the capability of those skilled in
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`the art since the various control features that can be made available are generally already
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`known.
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`25
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`Certain advantages that can be obtained using the invention include the following:
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`Web-Based Telecom Navigator
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`Manage Incoming Call Control
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`•
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`Conditional Call Blocking/Forwarding/ Alerting
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`10
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 10
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`•
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`Time-of-Day, Day-of-Week, Follow-Me, Caller Recognition/Password,
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`Caller ID, etc.
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`•
`
`•
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`Call Screening/Retrieval from Voice Mail
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`Interactive Voice Response and Speech Recognition
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`5
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`Manage Outgoing Call Control
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`•
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`Click-to-Dial Calling
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`• Group Calling and Messaging
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`Web-Based Billing
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`10
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`Web-Driven Personal Communications Management
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`Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
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`On-Line "Personal Digital Assistant"
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`On-Line "Telcom Navigator"
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`Inspired User Interaction
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`15
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`Secure and Reliable Technology
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`20
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`Cost-Effective Single Phone Number Access
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`CLEC Status
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`•
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`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
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`Free Local Calls, Incoming Calls (not 800 Toll Service)
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`Retain Current Number (Local Number Portability)
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`Low-Cost Calling Throughout LATA
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`Flat-Rate Foreign Exchange
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`Single Installation Covers Entire LATA
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`• VoIP Toll-Bypass
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`11
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 11
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`5
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`10
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`Compatible With Existing Devices, Standards
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`•
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`Standard DTMF and VoIP Phones
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`• Wireless Phones
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`•
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`Standard Wired/Wireless and PIM Browsers
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`Web-Based Personal Digital Assistant
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`Centralized and Consistent Personal Data
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`•
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`•
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`•
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`Build Once, Use Anywhere
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`Private/Public Phone Directories and Calendars
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`"Post-It" Style Annotation of Numbers
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`Web Dialing
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`•
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`Click-to-Dial from Web Pages, Directories, Calendars
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`• Multiple Phone List Management
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`Unified Messaging
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`15
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`• Voice Mail Access, Prompts, Alert Via Web
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`User Interaction
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`Expected Behavior
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`20
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`•
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`•
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`Compatible with Familiar Products (e.g. Palm Pilot)
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`Commonality Between All Wired and Wireless
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`Mode-Based Definition and Selection
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`• Vacation, Dinner Time, Go Away, Family Call Waiting
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`•
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`Templates
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`Leaming Modes
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`12
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 12
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`•
`
`•
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`Persona-Based User Interaction Design
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`Speech recognition
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`• Windows drag and drop
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`Automatic Data Capture
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`5
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`•
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`Build Phone List Based on Collected Usage Information
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`• Drag and Drop Into Lists
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`Secure and Reliable Technology
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`Separate Web-Site and Link Gateway
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`10
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`• No Direct External Access to Gateway
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`• Additional Security Layer
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`• No Denial-of-Service to Voice Links
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`VoIP Link Degradation Detection
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`• Automatic Cutover to PSTN
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`15
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`E-Commerce Security
`
`•
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`Billing Encryption
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`Caller ID Based Call Routing
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`One advantage of using TAC 10 is its ability to enhance caller ID information. Caller
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`20
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`ID is a common feature where a calling party's telephone number is transmitted to the called
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`party's telephone so it can be displayed on a small display screen in the telephone. This
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`caller ID information is provided by the calling party's central office switch. Signaling
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`System No. 7 (SS7) is a global standard for telecommunications and defines the procedures
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`and protocol by which network elements in the PSTN exchange information (including the
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`25
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`caller ID) over the telephone network for call set up, routing, and control. In some telephone
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`13
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`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 13
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

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`sets, including wireless telephones, the name of the caller associated with the telephone
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`number is also displayed on the called party's display screen.
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`TAC 10 can use this automatically generated caller ID signal to provide an enhanced
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`set of caller ID related features. One such feature is the association of the standard caller ID
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`5
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`information with additional information about the caller stored in a memory addressed by
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`TAC 10. The enhanced caller ID information provided through TAC 10 provides a valuable
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`tool to the subscriber in handling incoming calls. The basic caller ID information, such as
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`the caller's telephone number and name, can still be sent to the subscriber's phone and
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`displayed in a conventional manner while the enhanced caller ID information may be
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`10
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`displayed on the phone display or on the subscriber's computer monitor via the web.
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`The caller ID signals, pursuant to the SS7 protocol, are detected by TAC 10 when a
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`calling party calls the subscriber using the subscriber's public telephone number, as
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`previously described. TAC 10 then uses the basic caller ID data to address a look-up table
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`(LUT) containing any additional information that the subscriber has entered into the LUT's
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`15 memory locations for association with that caller ID data. Fig. 8 shows such a LUT 40
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`within or connected to TAC 10.
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`In one example, the subscriber may identify a prospective calling party's telephone
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`number to TAC 10 via the Internet and then associate the number with any other information
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`for storing in LUT 40. Such other information may be all the possible callers using the
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`20
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`calling telephone, personal information regarding the calling party, billing information,
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`business information, account numbers, past discussions with the caller, or any other
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`information. When TAC 10 detects the caller ID signals, TAC 10 addresses LUT 40 and
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`downloads the retrieved information to the subscriber's telephone display or to the
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`subscriber's computer via the web. Since TAC 10 (including LUT 40) stores this additional
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`25
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`information, the subscriber is not required to personally provide processing or memory
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`devices for this feature.
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`Multiple subscribers use the same TAC 10 and LUT 40 but only the memory
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`locations in LUT 40 authorized for access by a particular subscriber are available to that
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`subscriber.
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`14
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 14
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`A subscriber may program TAC 10 using the various means described previously to
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`perform any number of features on an incoming telephone call based upon the caller ID data.
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`Such features include forwarding a call associated with that particular caller ID data to one or
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`more other telephones, or blocking calls associated with that particular caller ID data. Such
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`5
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`calls may be forwarded or blocked only at certain times or on certain days as requested by
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`the subscriber. All of the other features previously described may also be applied based upon
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`the caller ID.
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`When the calling party elects to block her caller ID information, displaying the
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`caller's number and name on the subscriber's telephone may violate the privacy act, so such
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`10
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`a restriction should be programmed into the system. However, TAC 10 may still use the
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`caller ID information for various legal purposes. For example, the subscriber may not wish
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`to receive phone calls from a particular phone number or calling party. The subscriber may
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`transmit to TAC 10 the caller ID information (e.g., the telephone number and/or the name)
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`and instruct TAC 10 to either forward the call, block the call, or transmit any additional
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`15
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`information from LUT 40 to the subscriber's phone display or computer monitor for
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`screening the caller.
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`If caller ID information does not exist, such as where the local telephone company
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`does not offer caller ID, TAC 10, when receiving the incoming call, can transmit an
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`automatic message to the caller to enter identification information. TAC 10 then uses that
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`20
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`information to address LUT 40 to identify any associated information in LUT 40 for
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`transmission to the subscriber. TAC 10, in a recorded or simulated voice, can request the
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`caller to enter her phone number via the telephone keypad. Alternatively, TAC can request
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`that the caller speak her name or number, which would then be played to the subscriber or
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`converted to text or a code by TAC 10 to address LUT 40. Alternatively, the caller can enter
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`25
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`a personal identification number or any other type of code (e.g., the caller's name) via the
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`keypad, which would identify the caller to TAC 10. Once obtained, the caller ID information
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`entered can be used to route the incoming call via TAC 10 in any way programmed by the
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`subscriber. Call routing can be based on time of day, the caller ID, any web input
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`instructions, a direction by the calling party itself, or any other variable.
`
`15
`
`YMAX CORPORATION v. FOCAL IP, LLC
`FOCAL IP, LLC EX2042 - 15
`Application No. 11/948,965
`IPR2016-01258
`
`

`

`This technique is contrasted with 800-type services, which are reverse long distance
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`services requiring the owner of the 800 number to pay for the incoming call. With 800
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`numbers, the caller ID must be unblocked to identify the amount of the toll. With the
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`inventive technique, even blocked caller ID calls can result in information about the caller
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`5
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`being transmitted to the subscriber or used by TAC 10 to selectively perform a function.
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`Fig. 9 is a flowchart of various scenarios that may be carried out using the caller ID
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`feature.
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`In step 50 of Fig. 9, an incoming call is received by TAC 10, as previously described,
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`by a calling party calling the subscriber's public telephone number. In all embodiments
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`10
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`described herein, the end unit called may be a residential telephone or other communication
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`device connected to the PSTN via a central office, such as a computer, fax machine, or other
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`communication device. The services provided by TAC 10 may be for residential telephone
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`service or for business telephone service.
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`In step 52, using the SS7 protocol, TAC 10 detects the caller ID signal (CID), if any.
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`15
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`Even if the calling party has a blocked CID, the CID is still transmitted to TAC 10; however
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`the blocked caller ID cannot be displayed on the called party's telephone. If the CID is
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`detected, the process continues to steps 54 and 56, which determine whether the CID is
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`associated with any data in a look-up table. Existing data in the look-up table associated with
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`the CID indicates that the caller is a previous caller. If caller ID information is known
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`20 without ever previously receiving a call from that party, the additional information can still
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`be entered into the look-up table, and the calling party will be treated as not a new caller in
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`step 54.
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`Assuming the caller has information stored in the look-up table, this additional
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`information is retrieved by TAC 10 and displayed on a web page (step 58) that is accessible
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`25
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`by the subscriber via the web. In addition, the caller's name and telephone number may also
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`by displayed (step 60). The information may also be transmitted to the sub