Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Seiected Caller Information Display
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to telecommunications, and
in particular to systems, methods and media for enhanced caller ID
information.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[00031 Some Digital Video Recorders (DVRs, also known as
Personal Video Recorders or PVRs), Satellite/Cable Receivers and other
types of television Set-Top Boxes (STBs) include Caller ID Display
functionality, where the phone number and name asso<:iated with an
incoming phone call is displayed on the television screen.
[00041 Published United States patent applicafion No.
20030012353 A] by Tang, et al., filed July 9, 2001, and entitled PHOTO
CALLER ID, describes a system and method for providing a photo
enhanced caller ID service where a photo image associated with a
subscriber is stored at a central office and transmitted with a telephone
Enhanced Caller ID with -
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specifiication
Page 1 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
call and is displayed on the television screen of the recipient of the
incoming call. Alternafively, the image is displayed on a screen of the
recipient's telephone set. Tang, at el., however, do not describe a
system whereby the recipient selects, or pre-selects, the image
associated with the caller together with, or alternatively, select
personal information of the caller such as spouse's name, children's
names, birthdays, business address and telephone, ernail addresses
and so forth. Tang, et al., further do not describe a solution where the
enhanced caller ID information is stored on the recipient's set-top box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005J The present invention is further described in the detailed
descrlption that follows, by reference to the noted drawings, by way of
non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention, in
which reference numerals represent the same parts throughout the
several views of the drawings, and in which:
[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a specific exemplary
embodiment of an enhanced caller ID solution of the present
invention.
[0007] Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a detail of a ca{ier ID
display of Figure 1.
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 2 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
[0008] Figure 3 is a schemafic drawing of an exemplary image
database for selecting an image for display in an exemplary
embodiment of an enhanced Caller ID system of the present invention.
100091 Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of a specific exemplary
embodiment of an enhanced caller ID solution of Figure 1 showing a
call recipient-selected image associated with the caller in a display
field of the invention.
[0010] Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in
the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when
executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the
methodologies of the present invention,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE iNVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing, the present invention, through
one or more of its various aspects, embodiments and/or specific
features or sub-components, is thus intended to bring out one or more
of the advantages that will be evident from the description. The
present invention is described with frequent reference to te4evision set-
top boxes. If is understood, however, that a set-top box is merely an
example of o specific embodiment of the present invention, which is
directed broadly to networked inferactive television within the scope of
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected CaHer Information Display
Specification
Page 3 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
the invention. The terminology, examples, drawings and embodiments,
therefore, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
[0012] Some DVRs, Satellite/Cable Receivers and other types of
STBs currently include Caller ID Display functionality that allow the
phone number and name associated with an incoming phone call to
display on the television screen. The next generation of STBs, however,
will include storage and access capabilities for media beyond
standard television content. Storage and access features may also be
available with game consoles connected to the television, particularly
those consoles that provide online, multiplayer, capabilities over a
network. In facf, the term STB is considered, for the purposes of this
disclosure, to include such consoles.
[0013] The media includes storage of and access to a user's
digital photo collection and address book. The storage may be local,
i.e., stored on the STB's hard drive, or remote, i.e., sfored on a network
resource such as a server.
10014] The present invention provides solutions for linking Caller ID
Display functionality with Photo and/or Address Book or other database
information elements, resulting in a richer STB Caller ID Display
experience. An advantage of the present invention is that the call
recipient selects the information to associate with the caller. This is
advantageous because it is the recipient that is in the best position to
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specfflcation
Page 4 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
know which information, including which image or images, is most
usefui to the recipient in relation to the caller.
[0015] For instance, were the caller to select an image of him or
herself for caller ID display, he or she might select an outdated,
unrecognizable, image that does not, in fact, inform the recipient of
who is calling. The recipient may not even be able to discern the
gender or age of the caller. When, however, the recipient is abie to
select an image, for example, even household children who cannot
read caller ID information in a text display would be able to recognize
the caller because the image would be an image that the child is most
likely familiar with, since the image was selected by the family rather
than by the caller.
[0016] Additionally, caller selected images may be inappropriate
for viewing by all household members of the recipient, yet the recipient
is unable to prescreen the image before it is displayed. This may be a
parficular problem when the caller ID image is displayed on the family
television screen during family television viewing. The present invention
provides a solution to these and other problems of enhanced caller lD,
including an easy to use interface that allows the recipient to control
what is displayed on their television screen.
[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a specific exemplary
embodiment of an enhanced calier ID solution of the present
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller fnformation Display
Spec ific ation
Page5of24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
invention. Television 110 is connected to set-top box or other device
120 which in turn is connected to a telecommunications network (not
shown). Person 130 is watching television 110 when an incoming
phone call arrives. STB 120 alerts person 130 of the incoming call and
displays caller ID information 140 on television screen 115. Basic caller
ID information may be displayed from the standard caller ID service to
which person 130 subscribes through his or her telephone service
provider.
100181 Display 140 includes photo display inset 141, caller ID text
information boxes 142, 143, 144, and 145. Boxes 142 through 145
include, for example, caller first name (142) caller last riame (143),
caller phone number (144) and additional information (145) such as
caller email address. Edit function buttons 146 and 147 are also
displayed and are managed used the set-top box remote (not shown)
or manually using manual function control butfons (not shown)
provided on the set-top box housing.
[0019] Any customized caller ID information (beyond basic
information provided by the service provider) is obtained from the set-
top box, or other device, storage media using the caller ID information
from the service provider to map information pre-selected by person
130 and associated with the caller to display in enhanced display 140.
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 6 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
[00201 In the event that person 130 has not pre-selected
information associated with the caller, person 130 may use edit
functions accessed by button 146 to pull up a menu on screen 1 ] 5 that
allows person 130 to navigate through one or more databases
accessible by storage media devicei20, such as a set-top box or
game console, to add select information about the caller to the
various fields 142-145 of display 140. Of course, it is understood that
fields 142-145 are purely illustrative in content and number, and that
embodiments of the present invention. provide more or fewer
information fields, and the amount of information contairied in each
field, to which person 130 may add as much or as little information
about the caller as desired. Certain embodiments provide for person
130 to add or delete fields, or change the amount of information in
each field, as desired within the resolution and space constraints of
screen 115. Button 147 provides, for example, a cancel function to
clear the caller ID display from the display screen.
[00211 Additionally, television 110 continues to display the
programming being viewed prior to the incoming call by virtue of
picture-in-picture capability, or other analogous technology,
supporfed by STB 120 or television 110 for uninterrupted viewing during
the phone call,
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 7 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of a detail of a caller ID
display of Figure 1. Display 140 provides text information fields that
show, for exampie, the caller's first name 142, last name 143, telephone
number 144, and additional information 145, such as the name of the
caller's spouse. Optionally selectable Edit button 146 provides edit
capability to edit the information, including but not lirriited to an
image, to be displayed. Button 146 opens a menu (not shown) to
access additional information to include in display 140. Save functions
(not shown) allow the call recipient to save edited information in
storage media device 120 after editing the information and the menu
is closed. Optionally selectable Cancel button 147 clears display 140
from the TV screen.
[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of an exemplary image
database for selecting an image for display in an exemplary
embodimenf of an enhanced Caller ID system of the present invention.
Database 130 provides a variety of images 320 that a user can seiect
for display. Images 320 may be provided from a variety of sources,
such as an electronic address book, a digital camera, a camera
phone, a hard drive, a floppy disk or CD-ROM or other electronic
sforage medium, a PDA (including BlackBerryTM-type devices), an
email attachment, a network server, an online source, the world wide
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 8 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
web, or any source for an electronic image within the constraints of
space and resolution of the invention.
[0024] Database 310 is accessed by activating optionally
selectable Edit button 146 from display 140 and navigating through the
accessible databases to bring up an image database. An image 330
is selected by a user and added to display 140 in field 141 by activating
Add button 340. Database display 310 is closed by activating Cancel
button 350 to exit without editing or without saving any edit.
[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic drawing of a specific exemplary
embodiment of an enhanced caller ID solution of Figure 1 showing a
call recipient-selected image associated with the caller in a display
field of the invention. Display field 141 contains image 330, which was
either pre-selected by the call recipient or was selected using the edit
function of display 140 when display 140 was presented in connection
with an incoming call from the caller.
[0026] In addition to image or photo display, the present
invention further provides embodiments that allow the user to display a
wide variety of personal information about the caller. Edit function 146
provides access to any data accessible through an electronic
database and allows the call recipient to associafe such data with the
caller's Caller ID for display on a caller ID display screen. Caller
personal information, for the purposes of this disclosure includes, but is
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 9 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
not limited to, the name of the caller's spouse, the genders and names
of the caller's children, the caller's email address, the caller's business
contact information, the caller's residential or business address, the
species and names of the caller's pets, the caller's website URL, the
caller's relationship to the call recipient (such as familial relationship, if
any), and the caller's gender and marital status.
(00271 In additional to television screen display, the present
invention contemplates enhanced caller ID display on a display screen
of a communications terminal such as a cell phone, a Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA) including BlackBerry - type devices, a personal
computer, a Voice over Intemet Protocol (VoIP) terminal, an Internet
Protocoi Television (IPTV), and so forth.
100281 Figure 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in
the form of a computer system 600 within which a set of instructions,
when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more
of the methodologies discussed herein. In some embodiments, the
machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the
machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines.
In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity
of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network
environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)
network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer,
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specificcstion
Page 10 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-
fop box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a
mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer, a desktop
computer, a personal digital assistant, a communications device, a
wireless telephone, a land-line tefephone, a control system, a camera,
a scanner, a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted
device, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any
machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or
otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be
understood that a device of the present invention includes broadly any
electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication.
Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term "machine" shall
also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or
jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one
or more of the methodologies discussed herein.
[00291 The compufer system 500 may include a processor 502
(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU),
or both), a main memory 504 and a static memory 506, which
communicate with each other via a bus 508. The computer system 500
may further include a video display unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal
display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state dispiay, or a cathode ray tube
(CRT)). The computer system 500 may include an input device 512
Enhanced C oller ID with
Recipient-Selected Call zr Information Display
Specific ction
Page 11 :# 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
(e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 514 (e.g., a mouse), a disk
drive unit 516, a signal generation device 518 (e.g., a speaker or
remote control) and a network interface device 520.
[0030] The disk drive unit 516 may include a machine-readable
medium 522 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g.,
software 524) embodying any one or more of the mefhodofogies or
functions described herein, including those methods illustrated in herein
above. The instructions 524 may also reside, completely or at least
partia!!y, within the main memory 504, the static memory 506, and/or
wifhin the processor 502 during execution thereof by the computer
system 500. The main memory 504 and the processor 502 also may
constifufe machine-readable media. Dedicated hardware
implementations including, but not limifed to, appiication specific
integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and ofher hardware
devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods
described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and
systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic
and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in
two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices
with related control and data signals communicated between and
through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific
Enhanced Caller ID with
i2ecipient-Seiected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 12 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software,
firmware, and hardware implementations.
[0031] In accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention, fhe methods described herein are intended for operation as
software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore,
software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed
processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel
processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to
implement the methods described herein.
[00321 The present invention contemplates a machirie readable
medium containing instructions 524, or that which receives and
executes instructions 524 from a propagated signal so that a device
connected to a network environmenf 526 can send or receive voice,
video or data, and to communicate over the network 526 using the
instructions 524. The instructions 524 may further be transmitted or
received over a network 526 via the network interface device 520.
[0033) While the machine-readable medium 522 is shown in an
example embodiment to be a single medium, the term "machine-
readable medium" should be taken to include a single medium or
multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed datab(ise, and/or
associated caches and servers) that store the one or rriore sets of
instructions. The term "machine-readable medium" shall also be taken
cnhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specificafion
Page 13 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying
a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the
machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the
present invention. The term "machine-readable medium" shall
accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state
memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or
more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or
other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical
medium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a
signal embodying computer instructions in a transmission medium;
and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained
information archive or set of archives is considered a distribuflon
medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the
invention is considered to include any one or more of a machine-
readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and
including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which
the software irnpiementations herein are stored.
[0034] Although the present specification describes components
and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to
particular standards and protocols, the invention is not limited to such
standards and protocols. Each of the standards for lnternet and other
packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP)
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 14 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are
periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having
essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards
and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.
[0035] The illustrations of embodiments described herein are
infended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various
embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete
description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems
that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other
embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing
the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and
derived therefrom, such that structural and logical subsfitutions and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of this
disclosure. Figures are merely representational and may not be drawn
to scale. Cerfain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while
others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specifica#ion and drawings
are to be regarded in an illustra#ive rather than a restrictive sense.
j00361 Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be
referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term
"invention" merely for convenience and wifhout intending to
voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or
inventive concept if more than one is in facfi disclosed. Thus, although
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specfflcation
Page 15 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it
should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve
the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments
shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or
variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above
embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described
herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the
above description.
[0037] The Abstract of the Disciosure, is provided to comply with
37 C.F.R. 1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to
quickly ascertain the nafure of the technical disclosure. if is submitted
with the undersfanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the
scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed
Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together
in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disciosure.
This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an
intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than
are expressly recited in each claim. Rafher, as the following claims
reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single
disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby
incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing
on its own as a separate embodiment.
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specfflcation
Page 16 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
5. Tne' rnear"r71 o? -,larrrl 4 1he :nstructions turtne=r cause the mocnir'rr,
io oerl'orm Cfeterrnrnir-it7 wrrf?irirrr rrii; rrrrcauC r~ ur~~crc~ rcu.
(0038] In accordance with various embodiments of the present
invention, the methods described herein are intended for operation as
software programs rurYAnQr,9Od@;dqQf1 LOAO() processor. Dedicated
Recipient-Se3ecred Caller Information Display
hardware implementations irgplvdp=}Wf not limited to, applicafion
Page 19 of 24
specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other
hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the
methods described herein. Furthermore, alternative software
implementations including, but not limited to, distributed processing or
component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual
machine processing can also be constructed to implement the
methods described herein.
10039] It should also be noted that the software implementations
of the present invention as described herein are optionally stored on a
tangible storage medium, such as: a magnetic medium such as a disk
or tape; a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk; or a solid
state medium such as a memory card or other package that houses
one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access
memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories. A digital file
attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set
of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a
tangible storage medium. The invention is considered to include a
tangible storage medium or distribution medium, including but not
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page 17 of 24
CA 02615818 2008-01-17
limifed to a propagated signal, as listed herein and including art-
recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software
implementations herein are sfored.
100401 Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
present invention extends to machine-readable media ("MRM")
contain instructions for execution by a programmable machine such as
a computer. MRM is broadly defined to include any kind of computer
memory such as floppy disks, convenfional hard disks, CD--ROMs, Flash
ROMS, nonvolatile ROM, RAM, Storage Media, email attachments, solid
state media, magnetic media, and signals containing instructions,
together with processors to execute the instructions.
100411 The invention has been described with reference to
several exemplary embodimenfs. It is understood, however, that the
words that have been used are words of description anci illustration,
rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made within the
purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended,
without departing from the scope and spirif of the invention in all its
aspects. Although the invention has been described with reference to
particular means, materials and embodiments, the inverition is not
intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed; rather, the invention
extends to all functionally equivalent technologies, structures, methods
and uses such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
Enhanced Caller ID with
Recipient-Selected Caller Information Display
Specification
Page18of24
