WO1999044374A1

WO1999044374A1 - Method and apparatus for personally identifying a calling party to a called party

Info

Publication number: WO1999044374A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/002401
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jangsik Lee
Original assignee: Ericsson Inc.
Priority date: 1998-02-27
Filing date: 1999-02-04
Publication date: 1999-09-02
Also published as: AU2581999A

Abstract

A method and apparatus of communicating between a calling party (20) and a called party (22) through a communications network (12) is provided in a communication system (10) including a communication network accessible by a plurality of transmitter/receivers (14, 16) to transmit communications signals between the transmitter/receivers. The communication network includes a control system (18) configured to enable the communication network to communicate a personal identification signal (52) from a calling party transmitter/receiver to a called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause a tolled connection to be established with the communication network. The tolled connection is a type of connection that incurs a toll when established by a called party activating a called party transmitter/receiver to cause the connection to be established. The personal identification signal conveys the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FORPERSONALLY IDENTIFYINGA CALLINGPARTY TO A CALLED PARTY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a cornmunications network, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for personally identifying a calling party to a called party prior to the called party accepting a call initiated by the calling party through a communications network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In communication systems, it is known to identify a calling party to a called party by transmitting and displaying to the called party a hardware identification code, such as a phone number, for the particular transmitter/receiver, such as a telephone or modemed computer, utilized by the calling party to place the call. The equipment code is displayed to the called party before the called party accepts the call, thereby providing the called party with an opportunity to determine whether to communicate with the calling party prior to accepting the call from the calling party. This method of identification is commonly referred to as "Caller ID".

However, "Caller ID" is a misnomer because the equipment code conveys the identity of the particular transmitter/receiver utilized by the calling party, rather than conveying the true identity of the calling party. While this allows the called party to know what particular transmitter/receiver has been utilized for placing the call, it does nothing to provide the true identity of the calling party to the called party. This -2-

creates a problem when a called party is willing to accept a call from a particular calling party, but is unfamiliar with the equipment code of the particular transmitter/receiver utilized by the calling party to place the call. Conversely, this also creates a problem when the called party does not wish to communicate with the calling party, but accepts a call from the calling party because the calling party has utilized a transmitter/receiver having an equipment code that the called party associates with a party from which the called party would accept a call.

These problems become even more critical when the called party incurs a toll for accepting a call, such as occurs in many cellular phone systems. In such systems, the called party can potentially incur numerous unwanted tolled calls because the called party cannot be sure of the true identity of the calling party. Conversely, rather than incoming unwanted tolled calls, the called party may unnecessarily reject desirable calls because, again, the called party cannot be sure of the true identity of the calling party.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a communications network is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) processing a request from a calling party transmitter/receiver through a communications network for a primary connection with a called party transmitter/ receiver; b) establishing an initial connection through the communications network that enables the calling party transmitter/receiver to communicate a personal identification signal to the called party transmitter/receiver before the primary connection is established with the called party transmitter/receiver, the initial connection being established without requiring any input by the called party to the called party transmitter/receiver, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party; and

(c) communicating the personal identification signal through the communication network from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/ receiver to cause the primary connection to be established with the called party transmitter/receiver.

In one form, the method further includes the step of establishing the primary connection by the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver.

In one form, the method further includes the step of transmitting a response signal to the calling party transmitter/receiver through the communications network indicating that the initial connection has been established.

In one form, the step of transmitting a response signal occurs prior to the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

In one form, the step of transmitting a response signal includes the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party transmitter/receiver through the communications network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/ receiver to be operated to cause the primary connection to be established.

In one form, the method further includes the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party transmitter/receiver through the communications network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/receiver to be operated to cause the primary connection to be established. -4-

In one form, the step of transmitting a status signal occurs prior to the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

In one form, the method further includes the step of transmitting an equipment identification signal through the communications network to the called party transmitter/receiver conveying the identity of the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party.

In one form, the step of transmitting an equipment identification signal occurs prior to the steps of communicating a personal identification signal.

In one form, the method further includes the step of simultaneously displaying to the called party both the equipment identification signal and the personal identification signal.

In one form, the method further includes the step of sequentially displaying the equipment identification signal and the personal identification signal to the called party. In one form, the step of communicating the personal identification signal includes the steps of communicating a start code indicating the start of the personal identification signal, and communicating an end code indicating the end of the personal identification signal.

In one form, a method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a communications network is provided. The method includes the step of communicating a personal identification signal through a communication network from a calling party transmitter/receiver to a called party transmitter/receiver prior to the calling party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause a tolled connection with the communication network to be established. The tolled connection is a type of connection that incurs a toll when established by a called party activating a -5-

called party transmitter/receiver to cause a connection to be established. The personal identification signal conveys the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party for the calling party transmitter/receiver. In one form, the method further includes the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party through the communication network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/receiver to make the tolled connection. The transmitting step occurs prior to the communicating step.

In one form, the method further includes the step of transmitting the personal identification signal from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the communication network in response to the status signal.

In one form of the invention, a communication system is provided that includes a communication network accessible by a plurality of transmitter/receivers to transmit communication signals between the transmitter/receivers, the communication network including a control system for enabling the communication system to perform the following sequence:

(a) process a request from a calling party transmitter/receiver for a primary connection with a called party transmitter/receiver;

(b) establish an initial connection that enables the calling transmitter/ receiver to communicate a personal identification signal to the called party transmitter/ receiver before the primary connection is established with the called party transmitter/receiver, the initial connection being established without requiring any input by the called party to the called party transmitter/receiver, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party, and -6-

(c) communicate the personal identification signal from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause the primary connection to be established with the called party transmitter/receiver. In one form of the invention a communication system is provided that includes a communication network accessible by a plurality of transmitter/receivers to transmit communication signals between the transmitter/receivers, the communication network including a control system configured to enable the communication network to communicate a personal identification signal from a calling party transmitter/receiver to a called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the transmitter/receiver to cause a tolled connection with the communication network to be established. The tolled connection is a type of connection that incurs a toll when established by a called party activating a called party transmitter/receiver to cause the connection to be established. The personal identification signal conveys the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a communications systems for implementing the method and apparatus according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a communication network according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT -7-

With reference to Fig. 1, the invention may be realized in a communications system 10 including a communication network 12, a calling party transmitter/receiver 14 capable of communicating through the communication network 12, and a called party transmitter/receiver 16 capable of communicating through the communication network 12. The communication network 12 includes a control system

18. According to the invention, the communication system 10 is configured to convey the identity of a calling party 20 to a called party 22 prior to the called party permitting the establishment of a primary connection requested by the calling party 20 through the communication network 12. For purposes of this application, a primary connection is a type of connection that must be established by the called party 22 activating the called party transmitter/receiver 16 to cause the primary connection to be established. Conventionally, a primary connection is established by the called party 22 activating the called party transmitter/receiver 16 to accept the primary connection in response to a signal, such as a ring, indicating that a primary connection is requested. A tolled connection is one form of a primary connection. A tolled connection is a type of primary connection that incurs a toll when established.

The communication network 12 includes any telecommunication and/or data communication network capable of connecting a pair of transmitter/receivers for two-way communication. Many types of such networks 12 are well-known and include, by way of example and without limitation, public switched telephone networks, private branch exchanges, public land mobile telecommunications systems, microcellular communications networks, universal mobile telecommunication systems, satellite communication systems, networked cellular telephone base stations, and any combination of the aforementioned systems and apparatuses. The control system 18 is -8-

an integrated part of the communication network 12. Again, many types of such control systems 18 are well-known and include, by way of example without limitation, mechanical controllers, electro-mechanical controllers, programmable electronic controllers, and various combinations of the aforementioned controllers. Because many types of communication networks 12 and associated control system 18 are well-known in the art and may be utilized to practice the invention without modification other than to the control scheme implemented by the control system 18, a more detailed description of the communication network 12 and control system 18 is not required herein.

The calling party transmitter/receiver 14 and the called party transmitter/ receiver 16 include any type of subscriber unit or communication terminal apparatus capable of accessing the communication network 12 to allow communications between the calling party 20 and the called party 22. Many types of transmitter/receivers 14, 16 are well-known and include, by way of example and without limitation, telephones, cellular phones, and modemed computers. The transmitter/receivers 14, 16 include respective user interfaces 24 and

26, each of which includes an input device 28 for accepting input from a user 20, 22 and an output device 30 for providing output to a user 20, 22. Microphones, video cameras, telephone key pads, computer key boards, and touch screen monitors are a few examples of the many well-known types of input devices 28. Speakers, liquid crystal displays, light emitting diodes, printers, and computer monitors are a few examples of the many well-known output devices 30 used in connection with transmitter/receivers 14, 16. Because there are many types of transmitter/receivers 14 that are well known in this art and may be utilized to practice the invention without modification other than to the control scheme implemented by the control system 18, a more detailed description of -9-

the transmitter/receivers 14, 16 and their associated components 24, 26, 28, 30 herein is unnecessary to practice the invention.

To practice the invention, the control system 18 is configured to implement a control scheme that enables the communication network 12 to perform the steps illustrated by the flow chart in Fig. 2 and the signal lines in Fig. 1. More specifically, at block 40 in Fig. 2, the control system 18 enables the communication network 12 to process a request 42 from the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 for a primary connection with the called party transmitter/receiver 16. This step is known and, as shown in Fig. 1, is conventionally initiated by the calling party entering a request code 44, such as a telephone number assigned to the called party transmitter/receiver 16, into the input device 28 of the transmitter/receiver 14. Preferably, in response to the request 42, the communication network will transmit a notification signal 46 to the called party 22 through the called party transmitter/receiver 16 and its associated output device 30 indicating that a primary connection has been requested, as seen in Fig. 1. As seen at block 50 in Fig. 2, the control system 18 enables the communication network 12 to establish an initial connection that allows the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 to communicate a personal identification signal 52 to the called party transmitter/receiver 16 prior to the called party 22 activating the called party transmitter/receiver 16 to cause the primary connection to be established. For purposes of the application, a personal identification signal 52 is a signal that conveys the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver 14 that is used by the calling party. Additionally, for purposes of the application, the initial connection is a type of connection that is established without any input to the transmitter/receiver 16 from the called party 22. Thus, the initial connection is established without requiring the called party 22 to respond to a signal indicating that -10-

a connection is to be established. One example of an initial connection is the connection utilized in current communication systems to transmit the equipment identification code for so-called "Caller I.D.". It should be understood that the step illustrated by block 50 in Fig. 2 may be performed concurrently with the step illustrated by block 40, or sequentially after the step illustrated by block 40.

As seen at block 54 in Fig. 2, concurrent with or after establishment of the initial connection, the control system 18 enables the personal identification signal 52 to be communicated through the communication network 12 from the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 to the called party transmitter/receiver 16 prior to the called party 22 activating the called party transmitter/receiver 16 so as to cause the primary connection to be established. The personal identification signal 52 is initiated by the calling party 20 entering a personal identification code or image 56 into the input device 28 of the calling party transmitter/receiver 14. By way of example, the personal identification code 56 may be a data string, an alphanumeric string, and/or an image that can be transmitted as the signal 52 to convey the identity of the called party that does not depend upon the particular transmitter/receiver 14 being used. The personal identification code 56 may be entered concurrently with or after the request code 44. Further, after the personal identification code 56 is entered into the calling party transmitter/receiver 14, the personal identification signal 52 may be communicated in real time from the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 through the communications network 12 to the called party transmitter/receiver 16 for immediate output to the called party 22 from the output device 30 of the called party transmitter/receiver. Alternatively, after the personal identification code 56 is entered into the transmitter/ receiver 14, the personal identification signal 52 may be temporarily stored in memory -11-

58 associated with the communication network 12, and then communicated to the called party transmitter/receiver 16 after the initial connection is established.

As seen at block 60 in Fig. 2, after the personal identification signal 52 has been conveyed to the called party 22, the called party 22 may cause the primary connection to be established by activating the transmitter/receiver 16. Alternatively, the called party 22 may reject the request for the primary connection by not activating the transmitter/receiver 16 so as to cause the primary connection to be established.

Although not required for all embodiments of the invention, as seen in Fig. 1 and at phantom block 62 in Fig. 2, the invention contemplates that the control system 18 may enable the communication network to transmit a response signal 64 to the calling party 20 through the transmitter/receiver 14 and its output device 30 indicating that the initial connection has been established. Preferably, the response signal 64 is transmitted to the transmitter/receiver 14 to trigger the transmission of the personal identification signal 52 from the calling party 20 through the transmitter/ receiver 14.

As seen in Fig. 1 and at phantom block 66 in Fig. 2, while not required for all embodiments, the control system 18 may also enable the communication network 12 to check the availability of the transmitter/receiver 16 to make the primary connection, and then transmit a status signal 68 to the calling party 20 through the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 and its output device 30 indicating the availability of the transmitter/receiver 16 to accept the primary connection. This step is known, and conventionally produces either a busy signal 68 to the calling party 20, or a ring through signal 68 to the calling party 20. In some embodiments of the invention, the status signal 68 may serve as the response signal 64 to indicate that the initial connection has been established. More specifically, the control system 18 may enable the -12-

communication network 12 to transmit the status signal 68 after the initial connection has been established, thereby conveying to the calling party 20 and the calling party transmitter/receiver 14 that the initial connection has been established. As with the response signal 64, the status signal 18 can be used to trigger the transmission of the personal identification signal 52 from the calling party 26 through the transmitter/receiver 14. In this regard, it should be understood that the personal identification signal can be transmitted regardless of whether the status signal 68 is a busy signal or a ring through signal.

As seen in Fig. 1 and at phantom block 70 in Fig. 2, while not required in all embodiments, the control system 18 may also enable the communication network

12 to communicate an equipment identification signal 72 from the calling party transmitter/ receiver 14 to the called party transmitter/receiver 16. For purposes of this application, an equipment identification signal 72 is a type of signal that conveys the identity of the transmitter/receiver 14 regardless of the identity of the particular calling party 20 that is using the transmitter/receiver 14. As previously discussed in the background section, this step is known and conventionally transmits the telephone number assigned to the transmitter/receiver 14. For purposes of the invention, the equipment identification signal 72 may be transmitted before, after, or concurrently with the personal identification signal 52. In some embodiments of the invention, the transmitter/receiver 16 is configured to output the personal identification signal 52 and the equipment identification signal 72 concurrently. In other embodiments of the invention, the transmitter/receiver 16 is configured to output the personal identification signal 52 and the equipment identification signal 72 sequentially.

The operation of the foregoing is best explained by way of example in connection with a conventional telecommunication system configured to implement one -13-

embodiment of the invention. In this example, the transmitter/receivers 14, 16 are in the form of conventional telephones or cellular phones having a liquid crystal output display 30 and a keypad input device 28. The telephones 14, 16 can access a public switched telephone network 12 that is controlled by a control system 18 incorporating a programmable electronic controller. The programmable electronic controller is configured to implement the control scheme of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2. In the example, the calling party 20 dials the telephone 14 to input the telephone number of the called party's telephone 16, thereby requesting a primary connection with the telephone 16 that will incur a toll when established. The public switched telephone network 12 processes the request of the primary connection by identifying the telephone 16 and locating an appropriate connection path for the primary connection. Simultaneously with these functions, the network 12 checks the availability of the telephone 16 to accept a primary connection, and establishes an initial connection that will allow a personal identification signal 52 and the telephone number 72 of the telephone 14 to be transmitted from the telephone 14 to the telephone 16. Next, the network 12 communicates the telephone number 72 of the telephone 14 to the telephone 16, which then displays the telephone number 72 on its liquid crystal display 30. Concurrently, with the previous step, the network 12 transmits a status signal 68 (in the form of a busy signal or a ring through signal) to the calling party 20 through the liquid crystal display 30 of the telephone 14. The status signal 68 alerts the calling party 20 to input into the keypad 28 the calling party's personal identification code 56, which in this example is a four digit alphanumeric code known to both the calling party 20 and the called party 22 as the calling party's personal identification code. This initiates communication of the personal identification signal 52 through the network 12 to the telephone 16 for output through the display 30 to the called party 22. It should be noted that the signal -14-

52 may be output through the display 30 to the called party 22 regardless of whether the telephone 16 is available to accept a primary connection. Accordingly, the signal 52 may be output through the display 30 even if the telephone is busy with another primary connection. Upon receipt of the personal identification signal 52, the called party 22 determines the identity of the calling party 20 and decides whether to establish the primary connection and incur a toll by activating the telephone 16 to cause the primary connection to be established, or reject the primary connection by refusing to activate the telephone 16 to cause the primary connection to be established.

Claims

-15-CLAIMS

1. A method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a communication network, the method comprising the steps of: processing a request from a calling party transmitter/receiver through a communication network for a primary connection with a called party transmitter/ receiver; establishing an initial connection through the communication network that allows the calling party transmitter/receiver to communicate a personal identification signal to the called party transmitter/receiver before the primary connection is established with the called party transmitter/receiver, the initial connection being established without requiring any input by the called party to the called party transmitter/receiver, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party; and communicating the personal identification signal through the communication network from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause the primary connection to be established.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of establishing the primary connection by the called party activating the called party transmitter/ receiver. -16-

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a response signal to the calling party transmitter/receiver through the communication network indicating that the initial connection has been established.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of transmitting a response signal occurs prior to the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of transmitting a response signal comprises the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party transmitter/ receiver through the communication network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/receiver to be operated to cause the primary connection to be established.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party transmitter/receiver through the communication network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/receiver to be operated to cause the primary connection to be established.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of transmitting a status signal occurs prior to the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of communicating a personal identification signal includes the step of transmitting the personal identification signal in response to a status signal indicating that the called party transmitter/receiver is busy. -17-

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transmitting an equipment identification signal from the communication network to the called party transmitter/receiver identifying the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transmitting an equipment identification signal occurs prior to the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of transmitting an equipment identification signal occurs after the step of communicating a personal identification signal.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of simultaneously displaying to the called party both the equipment identification signal and the personal identification signal.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of sequentially displaying the equipment identification signal and the personal identification signal to the called party.

14. A method of communicating between a calling party and a called party through a communication network, the method comprising the step of: communicating a personal identification signal through a communication network from a calling party transmitter/receiver to a called party transmitter/receiver -18-

prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause a tolled connection with the communication network to be established, the tolled connection being a type of connection that incurs a toll when established by a called party activating a called party transmitter/receiver to cause the connection to be established, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of transmitting a status signal to the calling party through the communication network indicating the availability of the called party transmitter/receiver to make the tolled connection, the transmitting step occurring prior to the communicating step.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of transmitting the personal identification signal from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the communications network in response to the status signal.

17. A communication system comprising: a communication network accessible by a plurality of transmitter/ receivers to transmit communications signals between the transmitter/receivers, the communication network including a control system for enabling the communication network to perform the following sequence: -19-

a) process a request from a calling party transmitter/ receiver for a primary connection with a called party transmitter/receiver, b) establish an initial connection that enables the calling party transmitter/receiver to communicate a personal identification signal to the called party transmitter/receiver before the primary connection is established with the called party transmitter/receiver, the initial connection being established without requiring any input by the called party to the called party transmitter/receiver, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party, and c) communicate the personal identification signal from the calling party transmitter/receiver to the called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause the primary connection to be established with the called party transmitter/receiver.

18. A communication system comprising: a communication network accessible by a plurality of transmitter/ receivers to transmit communications signals between the transmitter/ receivers, the communication network including a control system configured to enable the communication network to communicate a personal identification signal from a calling party transmitter/receiver -20-

to a called party transmitter/receiver prior to the called party activating the called party transmitter/receiver to cause a tolled connection with the communication network to be established, the tolled connection being a type of connection that incurs a toll when established by a called party activating a called party transmitter/receiver to cause the connection to be established, the personal identification signal conveying the identity of the calling party to the called party regardless of the particular transmitter/receiver that is used by the calling party.