WO1998030005A1

WO1998030005A1 - Anonymous caller's distinctive alerting

Info

Publication number: WO1998030005A1
Application number: PCT/US1997/024269
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian Storrs
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc.
Priority date: 1996-12-27
Filing date: 1997-12-23
Publication date: 1998-07-09
Also published as: AU5730398A

Abstract

A local exchange (10) includes a logic device (28) for producing a specified ring control signal pattern. The logic device (28), which is coupled to receive a calling information signal, produces a plurality of ring patterns according to the state of a caller ID blocking signal transmitted within the calling information signal. The logic device either examines the state of a specified signal or the character set of a caller ID field to determine whether to generate a different or standard ring control signal to cause a different or standard ring pattern to occur. A method includes setting a ring signal for a specified on time and resetting the ring signal for a specified off time in various combinations to create the unique ring patterns. In one embodiment, a common or standard ring pattern is used whenever a caller ID is not blocked and a different ring pattern is used when the caller ID is blocked.

Description

ANONYMOUS CALLER'S DISTINCTIVE ALERTING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and more specifically to those systems for identifying the originating source of a phone call. Description of Related Art Traditionally, the home telephone has been an instrument for communication between individuals and their friends and families. No longer is this case. Today, a large percentage of all received phone calls are from organizations for their own purposes, namely, trying to market a product or service or trying to obtain information. The home telephone has become an instrument for telemarketers and for organizations to reach persons who might prefer to remain unknown to such organizations. The home telephone is then used for its intended purpose by the one paying for it only a portion of the time.

In response to the great demand for phone company features to help stem back this form of invasion of privacy, phone companies are now offering several different subscriber features. One subscriber feature is known as "caller ID". A person subscribing to caller ID utilizes a caller ID display to determine the phone number and perhaps name of the party originating an incoming call. Typically, the caller identifying information is displayed while a call is being placed and the phone is ringing.

Another subscriber feature is that of anonymous call rejection. A subscriber to this feature can either selectively or perpetually have a local switch reject all anonymous calls whose caller ID is not to be shown on a called party's caller ID display. Each of the above-mentioned features have their drawbacks. In the case of the caller ID display, a called party must look at the caller ID display to determine who is the calling party. Having to get up from the easy chair or from the dinner table is often inconvenient, especially if the call is one which the called party does not want to take. Typically, relatives and friends allow their caller ID to be displayed. Governmental organizations, large companies and telemarketing organizations, however, frequently block their caller ID so as to prevent a called party from readily determining their phone number. By blocking the number, the calling party prevents display of the caller's ID on the called party's caller ID display. Thus, the called party must get up and walk over to the phone to view the caller ID display to determine whether the calling party is a friend and whether to accept the call.

On the other hand, the problem with subscribing to the feature of anonymous call blocking is that important calls will occasionally be blocked. Accordingly, when one of these calls is in fact legitimate and even important to the called party, the call is still blocked.

Because some subscriber features are frequently inconvenient, such as caller ID, while other subscriber features, such as anonymous call rejection, result in important calls being occasionally blocked, there is a need to audibly alert the called party of the most basic type of identity of the calling party, namely, whether the calling party is anonymous, or one whose number is being blocked or whether the calling party is one whose information is being displayed on the caller ID display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A logic device within a switch receives a caller ID signal along with the information of an incoming call to determine whether the calling party phone number may be transmitted to the called party thus rendering the call identifiable. The logic device then generates standard and distinct ring patterns, accordingly. The caller ID signal indicates whether the caller ID is to be blocked or to be displayed on the caller ID display in one of several ways. A first way the caller ID signal indicates whether a call may be rendered identifiable is by the contents of a field for carrying the calling party phone number. If the field contains a valid phone number, the call may be rendered identifiable. A second way the caller ID signal so indicates is by the state of a caller ID blocking signal which is a part of the caller ID. The specified logic states of the caller ID blocking signal define whether a call is identifiable. Accordingly, the logic device produces a ring control signal which results in a first select ring pattern if the caller ID is to be blocked or is otherwise anonymous and a second select ring pattern if the caller ID is identifiable. The select ringing pattern thus allows one to determine whether a call is an anonymous call or identifiable by the ring pattern of the telephone. Because the call is allowed to pass through and is not automatically rejected, important calls are not rejected and are allowed to be received and perhaps recorded or screened. At the same time, the called party can detect that a call is being placed whose caller ID is blocked or otherwise not available . In this manner, the person need not go to the phone needlessly to view the caller ID display to determine whether to pick up a call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of a local exchange which includes a logic device for controlling the generation of select ring signal patterns; Figure 2 is a timing diagram illustrating various ring control signal patterns used to produce different ring patterns;

Figure 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the generation of a typical and an exemplary different ring pattern according to whether a caller ID is blocked; and

Figure 4 is a functional block diagram of one embodiment of the logic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a local exchange 10 which includes a logic device 28. Local exchange 10 includes a router 12 which is coupled to receive an incoming call from line 14 and to route the incoming call to telephone 16 over called party line 18. A ring generator 20 is coupled to a switch 22 by line 24. Switch 22 is coupled to called party line 18 by line 26 and is also coupled to a logic device 28 by line 30 to receive a ring control signal therefrom. Logic device 28 includes a clock 32 for defining on and off periods of time by logic device 28 to create specified ring control signal patterns. Logic device 28 is also coupled to called party line 18 by line 34 to extract a caller ID blocking signal 36 from a calling information signal 38 being transmitted from router 12 along called party line 18 to telephone 16. Logic device 28 produces a specified ring control signal pattern on line 24 according to whether the caller ID is blocked, by setting a ring control signal 40. As will be described below, the manner in which ring control signal 40 is set and transmitted over line 24 depends upon the information extracted from caller ID blocking signal 36.

An incoming call is received on line 14 by local exchange 10. In the system shown in Figure 1, router 12 connects line 14 to called party line 18. The system of Figure 1 is functional in nature. It is understood by those skilled in the art, that the signals on line 34 are necessarily the same as those on line 18. Logic device 28, therefore actually receives the entire calling information signal 38. The caller ID blocking signal 36, which is shown traveling down line 34, merely represents the information which logic device 28 processes and uses for its logical operations. Thus, the labeled signals within the figure represent the functionality of the system.

Calling information signal 38 includes the calling party caller ID as well as a signal representing whether that caller ID is to be transmitted to the called party phone and to the called party caller ID display coupled to the called party phone. In one embodiment, logic device 28 evaluates the status of the caller ID blocking signal 36 to determine what ring control signal 40 pattern should be generated for telephone 16. By way of example, if the caller ID blocking signal 36 indicates that the caller ID is to be transmitted to telephone 16, then logic device 28 sets a standard ring pattern. If, on the other hand, caller ID blocking signal 36 reflects that the caller ID is not to be transmitted to called party line 18, then logic device 28 will cause a specified and different ring pattern to occur wherein a person within hearing distance of telephone 16 can readily identify that the incoming call is anonymous and is one whose caller ID is not being received and is not displayable on the caller ID display 17. If a calling exchange does not support the caller ID subscriber feature, and thus no calling information signal 38 is sent, a distinct ring pattern is generated. In another embodiment of the invention, a ring pattern is generated only if the calling party is identifiable. I the calling party is calling anonymously or if the local switch to which the calling party is connected does not provide identification information; then a standard ring pattern is generated on the called party phone . While the system of Figure 1 shows that logic device 28 extracts a caller ID blocking signal 36 from calling information signal 38, other embodiments are possible. By way of example, and in another embodiment, calling information signal 38 does not include a caller ID blocking signal. Rather, the calling party caller ID is not transmitted with calling information signal 38 whenever the caller ID is to be blocked and not shown to the called party or whenever the calling party phone number is unavailable. Accordingly, a character set reflecting that the calling information signal 38 does not actually include a calling party caller ID is transmitted within calling information signal 38. In this embodiment, logic device 28 analyzes the contents of the signals received on line 34 to determine that the caller ID, i.e., is a valid calling party phone number, is not being transmitted to called party line 18. From analysis, logic device 28 determines the appropriate ring pattern.

Logic device 28 sets a ring control signal 40 on line 24 for the period of time, as indicated by clock 32, that telephone 16 is to ring. Once the specified amount of time as indicated by clock 32 has expired, logic device 28 resets ring control signal 40 thereby causing switch 22 to open the connection ring generator 20 and called party line 18. As may be seen, switch 22 couples ring generator 20 to called party line 18 whenever ring control signal 40 is set on line 24 by logic device 28.

Referring now to Figure 2, there are shown several timing diagrams which represent various ring patterns according to whether a caller ID is blocked.

Waveform 210 represents a typical ring pattern produced by logic device 28 of Figure 1 when a caller ID is not blocked. As may be seen, the ring signal is set for a first on period and then is reset for a first off period. Typical values for the first on period and first off period are 600 milliseconds and 300 milliseconds. Because this ring pattern is the standard ring pattern familiar to most telephone subscribers, this ring pattern is generated by logic device 28 of Figure 1 whenever a caller ID is not being blocked. If the call is anonymous or not identifiable, the on and off periods, in one embodiment, are 800 milliseconds and 200 milliseconds, respectively.

Referring now to the waveform 220 of Figure 2, a different ring pattern is generated by logic device 28 of Figure 1 whenever an anonymous call is being received. As may be seen, the ring pattern of waveform 220 is notably different than the ring pattern of waveform 210. For this exemplary waveform, the first on period of waveform 210 has been replaced by three on periods and two off periods in the same total amount of time. Specifically, the ring signal is set for a second (2d) on period of time and then is reset for a second (2d) off period of time. In this embodiment, the ring signal is set a total of three times, each for a second (2d) on period of time, and is reset twice for a second (2d) off period of time. Continuing to examine the waveform 220, the third off period, namely the off period between the string of pulses 225 is, in this example, equal to the first off period of waveform 210. It is understood of course that a third off period could be longer or shorter than the first off period and need not be the same.

Referring now to waveform 230 of Figure 2, there is shown yet another exemplary ring pattern to identify that a caller ID is blocked and that a call is anonymous. Specifically, the ring pattern includes a third on period followed by a fourth off period followed by a third on period followed by a fifth off period. Thereafter, the wave pattern repeats. In each of the waveforms 220 and 230 there is shown a different ring pattern or waveform which identifies that a caller ID is being blocked. Certainly, many variations in the length of time which forms an on period or an off period may be adjusted. Alternatively, a different ring pattern may used to indicate that a caller ID is being displayed while the typical ring pattern is used to indicate that an anonymous call is being received. For example, a waveform similar to waveform 210 is used to identify that the caller ID is being blocked while waveforms 220 and 230 are used to reflect that the caller ID is not being blocked. As may be seen therefore, a different ring pattern may be used either to identify that the caller ID is being blocked or that it is not being blocked. Moreover, two distinguishable patterns, by example, the ring patterns of waveforms 220 and 230, may be used to reflect whether the caller ID is blocked or not blocked, respectively. In general, distinct ring patterns are generated by changing the on and off periods to change the relative durations of the on and off periods as well as to change the overall waveform pattern.

Referring now to Figure 3A, there is shown a process for operating the exchange of Figure 1 for creating ring pattern waveforms similar to those of Figure 2 for identifying an anonymous call as it is being received. First, a call is received (step 300) . Then, a determination is made as to whether the caller ID is blocked (step 302) . If the caller ID is not blocked, a standard ring pattern is generated (step 304) . If the caller ID is blocked, a distinctive ring pattern is generated (step 306) . It is understood, alternatively, that a different ring pattern may be generated whenever a caller ID is not blocked.

Referring now to Figure 3B, there is shown a process for operating the exchange of Figure 1 for creating ring pattern waveforms similar to those of Figure 2 for identifying an anonymous call as it is being received. Once a call is received (step 310) , a determination is made as to whether the caller ID is blocked (step 320) . If the caller ID is not blocked, the ring signal is set to cause the phone to ring (step 330) . The ring signal remains set so long as a first on time has not expired (step 340) . Once the first on time has expired, the ring signal is reset (step 350) . The ring signal continues to be reset until a first time off period has expired (step 360) . Once the first time off has expired (step 360) the ring signal is set again (step 330) . While not specifically shown in Figure 3, it is understood that this method or process only occurs so long as the called party has not picked up the receiver, the calling party has not depressed the switch hook, or a system time out has not occurred.

If a caller ID is determined to be blocked or the calling party phone number is not available for identifying the calling party (step 320), then the ring signal is set (step 400) . The ring signal remains set so long as a second (2d) time on has not expired (step 410) .

Once the second (2d) time on has expired, the ring signal is reset (step 420) . The ring signal remains reset so long as the second (2d) time off period has not expired

(step 430) . Once the second (2d) time off has expired, the system determines whether any rings remain in the ring pattern (step 440) . By steps remaining in the ring pattern what is meant is whether, by way of example, any of the second (2d) on periods of ring pattern portion 225 remain (of Figure 2) . If any rings do remain in the ring pattern, the ring signal is set (step 400) . If no rings in the remaining ring pattern exist (step 440) then the system determines whether a third time off period has expired (step 450) . So long as the third time off period has not expired the ring signal remains reset from step 420. Once the third time off period has expired (step 450) , then the ring signal is set (step 400) . As was mentioned before, this ring pattern is continued so long as the called party has not picked up, the calling party has not depressed the switch hook, or the system has not timed out.

It is understood that variations on the above processes may be developed to achieve the same effect. For example, as was mentioned in regard to the discussion of Figure 2, the ring patterns may be modified to identify different events.

With respect to the above methods, the steps of setting the ring signal, namely steps 330 and 400 reflect the setting of a signal which causes switch 22 of Figure 1, to couple a ring generator to a called party line. Variations of the implementation of Figure 1 may be developed. Thus, steps 330 and 400 actually include the setting of a signal which causes a switch to couple a ring generator to a called party line to cause the telephone or telephones coupled to a called party line to ring. Usually, the ring signal is an 86 volt RMS (root mean square) signal which cycles at 20 Hz rate. Similarly, steps 350 and 420 which include resetting the ring signal both include the setting of a signal which causes, by way of example, switch 22 of Figure 1, to decouple the ring generator from the called party line. Each of the various steps for determining whether a first, a second, a third, or a fourth time on or time off period has expired involves monitoring the amount of time that has expired since a ring signal was either set or reset thereby causing a new state to be reached when a specified amount of time has expired. In the examples illustrated above, the specified time periods include first, second and third time on periods and a first, second, third and fourth time off periods. It is understood of course that these specified time values may be modified so as to achieve the same effect but with different values. Referring now to Figure 4, one embodiment of the logic device 28 of the invention is shown which includes a first ring pattern generator 410 and a second ring pattern generator 420, both coupled to receive from line 430 a caller ID signal generated from an external source. The first and the second ring pattern generators 410 and 420 are operable to determine whether a ring pattern should be generated according to the logic state of the caller ID blocking signal. If the caller ID signal is defined by a first state, then the first ring pattern generator 410 actuates and generates a first ring pattern signal. If the caller ID blocking signal is defined by a second state, then the second ring pattern generator 420 activates and generates a second ring pattern signal. Both the first and the second ring pattern generators include an output terminal coupled to a line 440. The ring signal on line 440 causes a telephone to ring. The first state is a state reflecting that the calling party phone number is to be transmitted to the called party. The second state reflects that the calling party phone number is not available or is not to be transmitted to the called party. Although a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. Circuitry for generating ring control signals, which ring control signals cause a switch to couple a ringing generator to a called party line to cause a called party telephone to ring, the circuitry coupled to receive a specified caller ID signal, the circuitry comprising: a first ring pattern device for generating a first ring control signal to the switch to cause a first ring pattern whenever the specified caller ID signal is characterized by a first state; and a second ring pattern device for generating a second ring control signal to the switch to cause a second ring pattern whenever the specified caller ID signal is characterized by a second state .

2. Circuitry for generating ring control signals, which ring control signals cause a switch to couple a ringing generator to a called party line to cause a called party telephone to ring, the circuitry coupled to receive a specified caller ID signal, the circuitry comprising: a logic device for generating a first ring control signal whenever the specified caller ID signal is characterized by- a first state and for generating a second ring control signal whenever the specified caller ID signal is characterized by a second state, the first and second ring control signals causing the called party telephone to have a first and a second ring pattern, respectively.

3. The circuitry of claim 2 wherein the specified caller ID signal is comprised of a field for carrying the phone number of the calling party.

4. The circuitry of claim 3 wherein the first ring control signal is generated by the circuitry when the field for carrying the phone number carries a number that identifies the calling party.

5. The circuitry of claim 3 wherein the second ring control signal is generated by the circuitry when the field for carrying the phone number carries a number reflecting that an anonymous call is being placed.

6. The circuitry of claim 3 wherein the caller ID signal is further comprised of a caller ID blocking signal indicating whether the calling party number is to be transmitted to the called party, the circuitry being adapted to transmit the calling party phone number to the called party responsive thereto.

7. A logic device within a local exchange, the logic device being coupled to receive a specified caller ID signal, the logic device having a ring control output terminal for producing a ring signal wherein a called party phone rings so long as the logic device output terminal produces a ring signal, the logic device comprising: means for generating a first ring pattern whenever the specified caller ID signal is set to a first state, the first state indicating that a calling party's caller ID is blocked; and means for generating a second ring pattern whenever the specified caller ID signal is set to a second state, the second state indicating that calling party's caller ID is not blocked.

8. A method of informing a called party having a called party phone that a calling party caller ID is displayable, the method comprising the steps of: determining whether a calling party caller's ID is to be transmitted to the called party phone; creating a first ring pattern on the called party phone if the calling party caller ID is to be transmitted to the called party line; and creating a second ring pattern on the called party phone if the calling party caller ID is to not be transmitted to the called party line.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining step includes the step of examining a caller ID signal.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the determining step further includes the step of analyzing a caller ID number field formed within the caller ID signal to determine if the caller ID number field includes a valid calling party phone number.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the determining step further includes the step of analyzing a caller ID blocking signal .