Method and system for providing information for identifying callers based on partial number
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the present invention include a caller identification system and method for identifying a caller with a partial phone number look-up table. The caller identification system comprises a database that stores received calls and can be personalized to include information specific to partial phone numbers. In one embodiment, the caller identification system disclosed can be integrated into a cellular phone. In this embodiment, an incoming call initiates a search in a database to retrieve information about the caller. If a match is found, the identity of the caller is displayed. When an exact match is not found, a search for a partial match is executed with wild card values and information about the partial match is displayed. Information for a partial match can be personalized or pre-programmed into the caller ID system such as the city associated with a particular area code or prefix.
1. A caller identification system comprising:
a communication interface for receiving at least part of a partial phone number associated with an incoming telephone call from a telephone external to the communication interface;
a memory for storing a database comprising at least one partial phone number and a corresponding identifier;
a processor for determining if said phone number of said incoming telephone call matches at least one partial phone number in said database and, if so, for retrieving its associated identifier; and
a display for displaying the associated identifier,
wherein the communication interface is also for sending the associated identifier to the telephone external to the communication interface.
2. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the associated identifier is a geographic location determined by an area code.
3. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the associated identifier is a cellular carrier responsible for an area code and a prefix.
4. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the associated identifier is a city determined by an area code and a prefix.
5. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the associated identifier is a text string associated with an area code, a prefix and at least one subsequent numeric digit.
6. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the database is pre-programmed with generic data.
7. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the database is user customizable.
8. A system as described in claim 1 , further comprising a ring-tone generator for generating one of a plurality of ring tones in accordance with the associated identifier.
9. A system as described in claim 1 , further comprising a tone generator for generating a tone when a match is found between the incoming phone number and the database.
10. A system as described in claim 1 , wherein the communication interface uses a wireless communication channel.
11. In an electronic system, a method for providing caller information comprising:
a) receiving a partial phone number of an incoming phone call from an external telephone;
b) indexing a database stored in a memory for a match with said at least part of said phone number, the database having a plurality of partial phone numbers each with an associated identifier;
c) accessing an identifier associated with said match of b);
d) displaying said identifier of c); and
e) sending the said identifier of c) to the external telephone.
12. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the associated identifier is a geographic location determined by an area code.
13. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the associated identifier is a cellular carrier responsible for an area code and a prefix.
14. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the associated identifier is a city determined by an area code and a prefix.
15. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the associated identifier is a text string associated with an area code, a prefix and at least one subsequent numeric digit.
16. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the database is pre-programmed with generic data.
17. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the database is user customizable.
18. A method as described in claim 11 , further comprising generating one of a plurality of ring tones in accordance with the associated identifier.
19. A method as described in claim 11 , further comprising generating a tone when a match is found between the incoming phone number and the database.
20. A method as described in claim 11 , wherein the at least part of a phone number is received using a wireless communication channel.