United States Patent
`US 6,996,217 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12)
`Goldman
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Feb. 7, 2006
`
`
`US006996217B2
`
`(54) CONVERTING AUTOMATIC NUMBER
`IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION TO
`CALLER ID INFORMATION
`
`.
`
`............ 379/142
`8/1998 Kennedy et al.
`5,799,060 A *
`
`9/1998 Elliott et al.
`.......
`5,809,121 A
`2/1999 Silverman ........ eee 379/142
`5,875,240 A
`5/1999 Pickeral ...... eee 379/127
`5,901,207 A
`5/1999 Tannenbaum etal. ...... 379/142
`5,901,209 A
`sie
`5,903,636 A
`5/1999. Malik veseccssssssseecssssseses 379/142
`Inventor: rye Y. Goldman,Los Altos, CA
`(75)
`5,907,605 A *
`5/1999 Ramirez et al.
`...
`.
`(
`)
`
`5,974,115 A * 10/1999 Chan etal... eee 379/27
`.
`5,982,866 A
`11999 Kowalski scscsssssseessssses sy0/127
`(73) Assignee: Unblockable, Inc., Los Altos, CA (US)
`6,018,668 A
`1/2000 Schmidt 0... 455/518
`;
`;
`a
`;
`6,078,646 A *
`6/2000 McLaughlin etal. ....... 379/142
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`6,137,870 A
`10/2000 Scherer oo... eee 379/127
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`
`US.C. 154(b) by 419 days. 6,175,620 B1=1/2001 Rouge et al. ow... 379/207
`
`6,178,232 B1
`1/2001 Latter et al.
`....
`.. 379/88.21
`6,198,812 B1
`3/2001 Weber ........ cee eeeeeceeceeee 379/142
`
`eescseeeeeese 379/111
`6,233,325 Bl
`5/2001. Frech et al.
`7/2001 Council et al. on... 379/121
`6,259,779 B1
`
`6,301,480 B1 * 10/2001 Kennedyetal. ............ 455/445
`6,310,943 B1 * 10/2001 Kowalski ............... 379/127.03
`
`.......... 379/142.05
`6,324,271 B1
`11/2001 Sawyeret al.
`........... 379/142.01
`6,332,021 B2
`12/2001 Latter et al.
`6,421,428 Bl *
`7/2002 Carman etal... 379/88.2
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Rexford Barnie
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Workman Nydegger
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`.
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/080,347
`(22)
`Filed:
`Feb. 21, 2002
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(51)
`
`US 2003/0156693 Al Aug. 21, 2003
`Int. Cl.
`HO4M 1/56
`(2006.01)
`(52) US. Cd.
`ceccccccccsecrecreereereee 379/142.01; 379/127.01;
`379/207.15
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............ 379/127.02,
`379/127.01, 126, 142.01, 142.02, 142.04,
`379/142.06, 127.03, 127.06, 127.05, 142.17,
`379/142.1, 201.08, 201.02, 201.01, 207.15,
`379/207.13, 207.14
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,090,034 A *
`5/1978 Moylan ............ 379/127.01
`5,033,076 A *
`7/1991 Jones et al. we 379/172
`
`5,046,088 A *
`... 379/127.01
`9/1991 Margulies ....
`
`5,163,087 A * 11/1992 Kaplan «0... 379/93.03
`
`« 379/142.01
`5,341,414 A *
`8/1994 Popke .........
`
`5/1996 Paulus et al. oe. 379/142
`5,521,969 A *
`
`7/1996 Blumhardt «0.0.0.0... 379/142
`5,533,106 A *
`
`5,537,470 A
`FI1996 Lee wees
`cceeneeeeceeee 379/266
`
`8/1996 Silverman ...............0. 379/142
`5,550,905 A
`......... 379/142.01
`5,563,931 A * 10/1996 Bishopet al.
`5,734,706 A
`3/1998 Windsoret al.
`............ 379/142
`
`A telephone system for reliably providing caller identifica-
`tion information to telephone call recipients such that they
`can choose whether or not to answer a telephone call. The
`telephone system includes a decoder module for receiving a
`toll-free telephone call and decoding automatic number
`identification (ANI) information included within the toll-
`free telephone call. The system also includes a converter
`module for converting the decoded ANI information into
`caller ID information. The system also includes a forwarding
`module for making an outgoing telephonecall to a toll-based
`telephone numberofthe call recipient and sending the audio
`data of the original toll-free telephone call and the caller ID
`information with the outgoing telephonecall. In this manner,
`ANIinformation is used to generate caller ID information
`even if the calling party has blocked its caller ID informa-
`tion.
`
`5 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`405
`CALLING PARTY
`
`
`430
`440
`
`REQUEST FOR
`OTMF
`TELEPHONE
`SIGNALS
`NUMBER
`
`45
`
`TELEPHONE SERVER
`410
`
`
`450
`
`CALLER
`10
`
`|_—-435
`
`CALL RECIPIENT
`
`APPLE 1009
`
`APPLE 1009
`
`1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`405
`
`
`
`Potential
`Caller
`
`
`fn"
`
`Number ~“
`
`Subscriber
`
`Destination
`(Toll-Based)
`Number
`
`ANI
`Compatible
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Fetes|TmESS|ns
`
`
`ww
`
`in?
`
`eeee
`
`ll —_we
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`212
`
`aN
`
`Phone Call
`ANI Compatible
`
`
`rr ~~nmon
`Phone Call
`
`Decoder
`
`
`
`
`
`Converter
`
`235
`
`Toll-Based
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.7, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`300L
`
`310]
`
`315
`
`
`
`
`RECEIVE TELEPHONE
`ALL TO ANI COMPATIBLE
`
`
`
`
`NUMBER
`
`
`~
`DECODE ANO CONVERT
`ANI INFORMATION
`
`
`
` 320
`IDENTIFY DESTINATION
`TELEPHONE NUMBER
`
`
`
`
`.
`SEND AUDIO DATA AND
`CALLER ID INFORMATION
`
`TO DESTINATION NUMBER
`
`
`
`
`325
`
` 405
`CALLING PARTY
`
`440
`430
`TELEPHONE.
`OTHE
`SIGNALS
`NUMBER
`
`
`TELEPHONE SERVER
`
`425
`
`
`
`
`CALLER|_—435
`
` 450
`l0
`
`410
`
`
`
`CALL RECIPIENT
`
`FIG. 4
`
`4
`
`

`

`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`1
`CONVERTING AUTOMATIC NUMBER
`IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION TO
`CALLER ID INFORMATION
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. The Field of the Invention
`
`2
`The second telephone information service is called auto-
`matic numberidentification (ANI). This service is designed
`to enable owners of toll-free telephone numbers or other
`numbers, such as premium service telephone numbers, to
`identify callers. A toll-free telephone numberis a telephone
`numberthat charges the call recipient for all incomingcalls
`rather than the caller. Currently, toll-free telephone numbers
`begin with one of several non-geographic area codes, which
`This invention relates generally to the field of telecom-
`include 800, 866, 877 and 888. Premium service telephone
`munications.
`In particular, embodiments of the present
`numbers include those with a non-geographic area code of
`invention relate to a system of converting automatic number
`900, many of which offer information or services for a fee
`identification (ANI) information into caller identification
`paid by the caller based on the duration of the call.
`(caller ID) information.
`Like caller ID, the ANI service attaches additional infor-
`2. Background and Related Art
`mation to telephone calls to enable the call recipient to
`Telephone identification services are used to provide
`determine whether or not
`to accept
`the call. The ANI
`information about a calling party to a call recipient. Identi-
`information may contain more than just
`the name and
`fication services arose out of a need for call recipients to
`telephone numberof the caller; it may contain certain billing
`have information about the caller before answeringatele-
`information, such as a caller’s current balance with the call
`phonecall. In a residential setting, this interest pertains to an
`recipient. Also like caller ID, the ANI information may be
`individual’s desire to avoid contact with salespeople and
`visually displayed on a computer or other device that is
`other undesired callers. Businesses typically use toll-free
`configured to decode the ANI information. Unlike caller ID,
`telephone numbersto allow clients to contact them at no cost
`ANIinformation cannoteasily be blocked by individuals or
`to the clients. These toll-free telephone numbers charge the
`companies who wish to remain anonymous. Also unlike
`call recipient rather than the caller for the fees associated
`caller ID, telephone companies do not offer any form of
`with a particular call. This creates an even stronger need for
`blocking service which universally blocks ANI information
`businesses that use a toll-free telephone number to avoid
`from being transmitted. ANI providesa virtually guaranteed
`answering undesired calls by receiving information about
`method of obtaining the identity of a caller before deter-
`the caller before accepting the call.
`mining whether to answer a telephonecall.
`There are two commontypes of telephone identification
`While ANI offers an alternative to caller ID, ANI is
`services currently used in the United States. Caller ID is a
`typically only offered on relatively expensive telephone
`residential identification service which provides the tele-
`lines, such as T-1 lines. Expensive private branch exchange
`phone number and nameof the caller to the call recipient.
`(PBX) equipmentthat is generally impractical for residential
`Individuals must subscribe to a caller ID service plan and
`use is required to decode ANI information. Thus,residential
`configure their telephones with devices that display the
`call recipients are typically limited to caller ID information
`caller ID information.If a telephone numberis designated as
`rather than ANIto identify callers and, accordingly, often are
`a subscriberto caller ID, the telephone companysendsa data
`unable to receive the caller ID information, particularly for
`packet relating to the identification of the caller while the
`telephone calls that are likely to be unwanted.
`telephone is ringing. The data packet is generated by the
`Therefore, there is a need for a system that provides the
`telephone company who can identify the telephone number
`reliable caller identification information of ANI butis con-
`of a caller and the ownerof that telephone number. The data
`sistently available to residential users like caller ID. Such a
`packet
`is decoded by an external display device or an
`system should be cost effective, user friendly and conform-
`internal device within the telephonethat displays the caller
`ing to current FCC regulations.
`ID information. This service then allows the recipient to
`visually inspect the identification of the caller before decid-
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`ing whether or not to answerthe telephone.
`Unfortunately, caller ID is not very effective in practice at
`providing the identification of callers that residential sub-
`scribers most likely wish to avoid. Telephone companies
`allow anyone to conceal their caller ID information for a
`small monthly fee. Most telemarketing companies realize
`that people do not wish to receive their calls and therefore
`conceal their caller ID information, in an effort to make it
`more likely that people will continue to accept their tele-
`phonesolicitations. This practice of allowing any company
`or individual to conceal their caller ID information under-
`mines the entire purpose of caller ID.
`In addition, many regional telephone companies do not
`provide caller ID services for incoming telephonecalls that
`originate from out of the companies’ area of operation. Call
`recipients of such regional telephone companies are there-
`fore unable to determine the identity of many callers.
`Moreover, caller ID operates as part of a cooperative system,
`and callers or telephone companies, with the appropriate
`equipment, can spoof a telephone numbersuchthat caller ID
`information can be altered or circumvented. In any of these
`situations,
`the call recipient
`is unable to determine the
`identify of the caller.
`
`the system
`In one presently preferred embodiment,
`includes providing each call recipient who subscribes to the
`service with a toll-free telephone numberin addition to the
`standard residential toll-based telephone number, of desti-
`nation number, assigned to the call recipient. The toll-free
`telephone numberis then used by the call recipient in all
`situations when a telephone number must be given out in a
`public setting.
`Whenevera caller calls the toll-free telephone number,
`ANIinformation pertaining to the caller’s telephone number
`is automatically included with the telephonecall even if the
`caller has disabled his caller ID. The system receives the
`included ANI information but does not yet accept or take the
`telephone call
`to an off-hook state. The received ANI
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`These and other problemsin the priorart are addressed by
`embodiments of the present invention, which relates to a
`system for reliably providing caller identification informa-
`tion to telephone call recipients such that they can choose
`whether or not to answer a telephonecall. In addition, the
`system provides a call recipient with the ability to obtain
`identification information about a caller evenif the caller has
`blocked his caller ID information or is out of area.
`
`5
`
`

`

`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`3
`information is converted into a caller ID data format. The
`system then calls out
`to the call recipient’s destination
`number, spoofing the caller ID to that of the originalcaller,
`rather than the actual telephone number used by the server
`to call out to the destination number. The entire process is
`done in a time frame that is short enough that the caller ID
`information is displayed to the call recipient and the recipi-
`ent has time to analyze the caller ID information before the
`caller assumesthe recipient is not available. If the recipient
`decides to take his phone off hook to answer the call, the
`server in turn answers the telephonecall received from the
`caller by going off hook and connects the two telephone
`calls. If the recipient decides not to answer the call, then
`likewise the server need not answerthe original call, and
`thus no call is ever completed and no charges should occur.
`Additional features and advantages of the invention will
`be set forth in the description which follows,and in part will
`be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the
`practice of the invention. The features and advantages of the
`invention may be realized and obtained by means of the
`instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the
`appended claims. These and other features of the present
`invention will become morefully apparent from the follow-
`ing description and appended claims, or may be learned by
`the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited
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`the system
`to answer a telephone call. In addition,
`not
`provides call recipients with the ability to obtain identifica-
`tion information about a caller even if the caller has blocked
`his caller ID information. Also, while embodiments of the
`present invention are described in the context of a telephone
`system for the purpose of reliably providing caller identifi-
`cation information to call recipients, it will be appreciated
`that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to
`other applications as well.
`The following discussion is intended to provide a brief,
`general description of a suitable computing and communi-
`cations environment in which the system may be imple-
`mented. Although not required,
`the invention will be
`described in the general context of computer-executable
`instructions, such as program modules, being executed by
`computers in network environments. Generally, program
`modules include routines, programs, objects, components,
`data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or imple-
`ment particular abstract data types. Computer-executable
`instructions, associated data structures, and program mod-
`ules represent examples of the program code means for
`executing steps of the methods disclosed herein. The par-
`ticular sequence of such executable instructions or associ-
`ated data structures represents examples of corresponding
`acts for implementing the functions described in such steps.
`Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention
`may be practiced in network computing environments with
`many types of computer system configurations, including
`personal computers, hand-held devices, mobile telephones,
`personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), multi-processor
`and other advantages and features of the invention can be
`systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer
`obtained, a more particular description of the invention
`electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe
`briefly described above will be rendered by reference to
`computers, and the like. The invention mayalso be practiced
`specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the
`in distributed computing environments where local and
`appended drawings. Understanding that
`these drawings
`remote processing devices are linked (either by hardwired
`depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not
`links, wireless links, or by a combination of hardwired or
`therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the
`wireless links) through a communications network and both
`invention will be described and explained with additional
`the local and remote processing devices perform tasks.
`specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying
`drawings in which:
`Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which illustrates an
`environment diagram for the system for reliably providing
`FIG. 1 is an environment diagram for a system according
`caller identification information to call recipients such that
`to the invention for reliably providing caller identification
`they can choose whether or not to answer a telephonecall,
`information to call recipients such that they can choose
`designated generally at 100. FIG. 1 illustrates the relation-
`whether or not to answera telephonecall.
`ships between the subscriber 110, potential caller 105 and
`FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting a system for reliably
`45
`the telephone server 125 that are established as a subscriber
`providing caller identification information to call recipients
`becomes associated with the invention and prior toatele-
`such that
`they can choose whether or not
`to answer a
`phone call being processed. The subscriber 110 is an indi-
`telephone call.
`vidual or business that wishesto receive reliable identifica-
`illustrating a method
`flow chart
`FIG. 3 is a logical
`tion information about all potential callers before answering
`performed according to the invention by a telephone server
`a telephonecall. As used herein, the term “subscriber”refers
`to convert ANI information to caller ID information and to
`to any call recipient who has accessto or receivesthe caller
`identification information services described herein.
`
`forward a telephonecall to a call recipient.
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment
`that requires callers having blocked caller ID to enter their
`telephone numbers.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe
`the presently preferred embodimentof the invention. It is to
`be understood that
`the drawings are diagrammatic and
`schematic representations of the presently preferred
`embodiment, and are not limiting of the present invention,
`nor are they necessarily drawn to scale.
`In general, the present invention relates to a system for
`reliably providing caller identification information to tele-
`phonecall recipients such that they can choose whether or
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`The subscriber 110 is assigned a telephone numberthatis
`compatible with receiving automatic numberidentification
`information. This telephone numberis illustrated in FIG. 1
`as ANI compatible telephone number 120. In general, the
`term “ANI compatible telephone number,” as used herein,
`extends to toll-free telephone numbers, premium service
`telephone numbers (e.g., “900” numbers) and other such
`telephone numbers that, when used by callers to make
`telephonecalls, receive ANI information associated with the
`caller. The subscriber 110 publishes ANI compatible tele-
`phone number 120 and/or gives this telephone number to
`potential callers. Thus, the ANI compatible telephone num-
`ber 120 is used as an entryway to publiccallers.
`Subscriber 110 also has a destination telephone number
`115, which is, for example, a toll-based telephone number,
`
`6
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`

`

`US 6,996,217 B2
`
`5
`and may be the subscriber’s residential number, mobile
`number, work number, business number, etc. In general,
`destination telephone number 115 is associated with the
`telephone or telephonesthat the subscriber uses to receive a
`telephone call while learning of the identify of the caller
`using the caller identification services of the invention. An
`incoming telephonecall to the subscriber’s ANI compatible
`telephone number is connected to a call placed from the
`telephone server 125 to the destination telephone number
`115 as will be described below in greater detail in reference
`to FIGS. 2 and 3.
`
`Reference is next made to FIG. 2, which furtherillustrates
`the system for reliably providing caller identification infor-
`mation to call recipients, designated generally at 200. A
`caller 205, or calling party, is any individual, business or
`computer that initiates a telephone call. The call may be
`initiated from a conventional
`telephone or a computer
`switching service. Caller ID is a service provided by each
`regional telephone companythat allows anyone to obtain
`identification information about a caller before accepting a
`telephone call. The service generally costs between $5 and
`$10 a month for anyone who wishesto receive this infor-
`mation. Telephone companies generally also provide a ser-
`vice to block out a subscriber’s caller ID information from
`being transmitted to a call
`recipient. This service also
`generally costs between $5 and $10 a month. Thecaller 205
`in FIG. 2 has paid to have his caller ID blocked from being
`sent out to call recipients. If a caller subscribes to the caller
`ID blocking service, anyone he or she calls will not be able
`to receive the caller ID information. For example, a telemar-
`keter who knows that his telephone calls at 7 pm are
`generally undesirable will
`likely pay for
`the caller
`ID
`blocking service, such that the recipients of his calls will be
`forced to listen to his sales pitch. The system illustrated in
`FIG. 2 works the same whether the caller has blocked his
`caller ID or not.
`With continued reference to FIG. 2, the caller 205 calls a
`ANI compatible telephone number associated with a par-
`ticular subscriber 210 to attempt
`to establish an audio
`connection with the subscriber. Whenevera caller 205 calls
`a ANI compatible telephone number, ANI information is
`sent in addition to the audio data. Therefore, the toll-free
`telephone call includes both ANI information and an audio
`connection with audio data. The ANI information includes
`identification information about the caller 205 and, unlike
`caller ID, cannot be blocked by the caller by simply paying
`a small fee to the telephone company. Since the caller 205
`is calling a ANI compatible telephone numberin the illus-
`trated example, ANI information 212 is automatically sent
`as part of the telephone call. The ANI
`information is
`generated by the telephone company that processes and
`transmits the telephonecall from caller 205. The telephone
`company hasthe ability to identify where a telephone call
`originates from and who is the owner of that telephone
`number.
`The audio connection and the ANI information 212 from
`the caller 205 are initially sent to telephone server 225. The
`telephone server 225 is a computerized telephone system
`that processes and routes telephone calls made to numerous
`ANI compatible telephone numbers from onephysical loca-
`tion. According to the invention, the telephone server 225
`can be operated by an entity that
`is separate from the
`telephone company or companies that process and transmit
`telephone calls from callers. Indeed, the telephone server
`225 can be operated without the express cooperation of such
`telephone companiesand enablescaller ID information to be
`inserted into telephone calls from which caller ID informa-
`tion would otherwise be blocked by the telephone company.
`The telephone server 225 in the described system does not
`take telephone calls received from caller 205 into an off-
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`hookstate, but rather simply processes the ANI information
`contained within the telephone calls. As described above,
`ANI compatible telephone numbers are assigned to sub-
`scribers of the system, such that the telephone server 225,
`which receives all toll-free telephone calls on behalf of
`subscribers, eventually routes the telephone calls on to the
`destination telephone numbers associated with the ANI
`compatible telephone numbers. Once a telephone call is
`detected on one of the ANI compatible telephone numbers
`monitored by the telephone server 225, the telephone server
`225 receives the ANI information 212 that automatically
`accompaniesthe toll-free telephone call.
`With continued reference to FIG. 2, the telephone server
`225 is equipped with a decoder device or module 220 that
`decodes the ANI information 212 into text based strings.
`This device may be implemented using computer software
`or a hardware device. A data string is a memory unit thatis
`capable of storing a series of alphanumeric characters. The
`telephone server 225first analyzes the strings and selects the
`strings which pertain to the identity of the caller. The
`telephone server 225 then utilizes a encoder device or
`module 222 to encode the phone number into caller ID
`format,
`thereby generating a caller ID information 235.
`Caller ID has a standard data format that can be received and
`displayed by numerous telephones and caller ID boxes.
`Those of skill in the art, upon learning of the disclosure
`made herein, will understand how to convert
`the ANI
`information or the strings derived therefrom to caller ID
`information.
`
`The telephone server 225 includes a forwarding device or
`module 224 that forwards the audio connection portion of
`the original toll-free telephone call and the caller ID infor-
`mation 235 to the subscriber 210. As used herein, the term
`“forward” refers to any appropriate process for transmitting
`the audio data from the original incomingtelephonecall and
`the caller ID information to the call recipient using the
`destination telephone number.
`In order to determine the destination telephone number
`that is to receive the audio data of the incoming toll-free
`telephone call that has been received by telephone server
`225, the telephone server uses a subscriber database, such as
`the database 130 illustrated in FIG. 1. Subscriber database
`130 of FIG. 1 correlates destination (e.g., toll-based) tele-
`phone numbers 115 assigned to subscribers with ANI com-
`patible (e.g., toll-free, premium service) telephone numbers
`120 assigned to the subscribers. The subscriber database 130
`is a standard database having, for example,
`three fields,
`including a subscriber’s namefield 140, an ANI compatible
`number field 142 that includes the ANI compatible tele-
`phone numberassociated with the particular subscriber, and
`a destination numberfield 144 that includes the destination
`telephone numberassociated with the particular subscriber
`and with the ANI compatible telephone number. Otherfields
`may be useful such as a price per forwarded call, current
`balance, auxiliary destination or
`toll-based telephone
`number,etc.
`In addition to a one-to-one correspondence between ANI
`compatible telephone numbers and toll-based, or
`destination, numbers assigned to subscribers, subscriber
`database 130 can includerules to determine how to make an
`outgoing call or to otherwise forward the audio data of the
`incoming toll-free telephone call to the call recipient. For
`instance, the database may allow one ANI compatible tele-
`phone numberto be associated with multiple destination
`numbers, depending on the time of day, the calling party’s
`ANI, or other criteria. In this manner, incoming calls are
`routed to a destination number (or numbers) that is most
`likely to be accessible by the call recipient. Similarly, the
`subscriber database 130 can associate multiple ANI com-
`patible telephone numbers with a single destination tele-
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`US 6,996,217 B2
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`7
`phone numberand,accordingly, with a single call recipient.
`Other operations that can be performed on the incoming
`telephone call made to the ANI compatible telephone num-
`ber based on the rules include, but are not
`limited to,
`generating an automatic busy signal, directing the calling
`party to voice mail, playing a recorded message, terminating
`the telephonecall, and substantially any other operation that
`can be performed on an incoming telephonecall.
`The subscriber database 130 can also identify the corre-
`sponding subscriber with an ANI compatible telephone
`number. This may be useful in a billing scheme that bills
`subscribers per forwarded telephone call rather than a flat
`fee. Those skilled in the art will recognize that techniques
`other than the use of a subscriber database can be used to
`identify the destination telephone numberto which the audio
`data of toll-free telephonecall and the caller ID information
`are to be forwarded. For instance, telephone server 225 can
`use a set of rules defined by the subscriber or the service to
`identify the destination telephone number.
`Referring now to FIG. 2, the forwarding module 224 of
`telephone server 225 performs the forwarding process,
`according to one embodiment, by making an outgoing
`telephonecall from the telephoneserver 225 to call recipient
`210 using the destination telephone number(e.g., the toll-
`based telephone numberassigned to the call recipient). The
`audio data of the incomingtoll-free call is connected to the
`outgoing telephone call made to the destination telephone
`number, such that the call recipient 210 receives the audio
`data and can communicate with caller 205 if the call
`recipient decides to accept the call. It is noted that this
`embodiment does not require the cooperation or assistance
`of the telephone companythat has transmitted the incoming
`toll-free telephone call. Thus, transmitting the audio data in
`a new outgoing telephonecall to call recipient 210 in this
`manneris performed by telephone server 225 rather than the
`telephone company,and is therefore different from conven-
`tional call forwarding services provided by the telephone
`company.
`Preferably, but not necessarily, call recipient 210 is in the
`local calling area of telephone server 225, which enables the
`outgoing telephone call to be made to call recipient 210
`without incurring long distance charges. In other words, the
`outgoing telephone call can be a local telephonecall. If a
`large number of subscribers, particularly in a variety of
`geographic regions, are to receive the services described
`herein, multiple telephone servers can be operated in a
`variety of local calling areas to reduce or eliminate long
`distance charges.
`In another embodiment, telephone server 225 can enlist
`the assistance of the telephone company bysignaling to the
`telephone company that the incoming telephonecall is to be
`forwarded to the destination number.
`In this case,
`the
`outgoing, forwarded telephone call can be made on a sepa-
`rate physical line or on a different channel of the same line
`as the incoming call.
`In either case, the caller ID information 235 that has been
`converted by telephone server 225 is transmitted to call
`recipient 210 in addition to the audio data. Preferably, the
`incomingtoll-free telephone call is forwarded as described
`above without being taken to an off-hook state or, in other
`words, without answering the incoming telephonecall at the
`telephone server 225. In this manner, caller 205 continues to
`hear a ring signal as the audio data of the telephonecall is
`forwarded and, in the event that the subscriber 210 is not
`available or decides not to answer the telephone call, the
`telephone server 225 and, indirectly, the subscriber 210, do
`not experience the costs that would otherwise be associated
`with answering the toll-free telephone call at the telephone
`server 225.
`
`The subscriber 210 then receives the telephone call that
`has been made to the destination number and the converted
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`caller ID information 235 indicating the identity of the
`caller. In the illustrated embodiment, the subscriber uses a
`caller ID device 240 to decode and visually display the
`identity information contained within the caller ID informa-
`tion 235. Alternatively, the subscriber 210 may utilize a
`telephone that incorporates a caller ID display within the
`handset or console.
`In any of these situations,
`the call
`recipient can use conventional residential or businesstele-
`phone equipmentthat has caller ID display capabilities to
`learn of the identity of callers, including those who have
`blocked their own caller ID information. If the subscriber
`210 decides to take his phone off hook to answerthe call, the
`telephone server 225 in turn answers the telephone call
`received from the caller by going off hook and connects the
`two telephone calls. If the subscriber 210 decides not to
`answerthe call, then likewise the telephone server 225 need
`not answer
`the original call, and thus no call
`is ever
`completed and no charges should occur.
`In order to prevent callers from attempting to circumvent
`the caller ID systems of the invention, the telephone server
`225 can take further measures to verify the identity of the
`caller. In particular, some callers in the past have avoided
`identification by spoofing the ANI, or telephone number, of
`another caller, thereby appearing to call recipients to be
`someoneother than whot