WO2011151655A1

WO2011151655A1 - Telehphone caller identification

Info

Publication number: WO2011151655A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/051053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Marks
Original assignee: Clear Caller Limited
Priority date: 2010-06-03
Filing date: 2011-06-03
Publication date: 2011-12-08
Also published as: GB201009291D0; GB2480922B; GB201109336D0; GB2480922A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapted telephone handset (100) suitable for enabling a visually impaired person to identify an incoming caller by way of a pictogram display and a corresponding system (200) for managing the association of pictograms with particular caller identities. In the handset (100), an incoming call is received via a call receiving unit (101). A call identifying unit (102) is operable to extract details of the number from which the incoming call originates and compare these caller identity details with caller identity details stored in a caller identity (store 103) to thereby determine the identity of the incoming caller. A pictogram look up engine (104) is then operable to perform a look up in a pictogram data store (105) based on the caller identity. In the event that there is a pictogram stored in the pictogram store (105) associated with the caller identity, this pictogram is output to display (screen 106) for display. The pictogram is suitably formatted such that its display on the screen (106) takes up all or substantially all of the screen. By providing such a large pictogram rather than merely displaying a name containing a number of letters in a relatively small font, identification of incoming callers is facilitated for visually impaired and other users of the handset (100). To allow users of the handset to distinguish between different incoming callers, each caller identity in the caller identity store (103) may have a distinctly different associated pictogram.

Description

Telephone Caller Identification

The present invention relates to telephone caller identification and telephone handsets operable to implement telephone caller identification.

In most telephone systems a user may be informed of an incoming call directed to their telephone handset by a suitable alert. Depending upon the type of handset and system this may comprise one or more of an audible alert, a vibratory alert and a visual alert. Typically, the visual alert may include illumination of the part of the handset and in suitably equipped handsets the display of the caller's number and/or the name associated with the caller's number in the handset memory. In some handsets it is also possible to capture an image of a caller and associate that with their number. In this manner, this captured image may be displayed in place of or alongside the caller's name and/or number. To implement such a facility, the user of a handset must be able to demonstrate considerable technical skill in capturing an image, storing it, finding the stored image and assigning it to a particular incoming caller identity. Furthermore, this will need to be manually undertaken for each caller identity.

An intrinsic problem with each of these above schemes is that handset displays are typically relatively small, hence any displayed text listing the caller identity or captured image of the incoming caller is also relatively small. Furthermore, in many instances, the text or captured image covers only part of the display screen or is obscured by other displayed information, such as the current time, current network, current signal strength, current battery level and the like. As such, many handsets are not well adapted to enable visually impaired persons to identify a caller before answering a call or indeed for other persons without visual impairment to identify an incoming caller without close attention. As such, visually impaired persons in general and the elderly or vulnerable in particular may be anxious about being unable to identify an incoming caller before answering. In this context, visually impaired persons would include any persons with limited ability to read small fonts or make out small details on a handset display. These might include persons with correctable or permanent visual impairments.

This problem has been addressed in the past by varying an audible alert, typically by assigning a different ring tone to different users. Whilst this does provide a way of distinguishing between different callers, it may still be difficult to remember which ring tone is associated with which caller. An alternative provided by some handsets allows users to prerecord voice tags to be associated with particular incoming callers. This suffers from the same issues in respect of considerable technical skill being required to set up the handset as the image capture method above. Furthermore, users may be concerned that a handset that audibly announces the identity of an incoming caller is inappropriate in view of the possibility of the caller identity being overheard. Additionally or alternatively, the user may not wish to disturb others nearby with a ring tone, for instance if in a quiet location. As such, there are clear drawbacks to this proposed solution.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and/or method by means of which the above problems can be at least partially overcome or alleviated. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a telephone handset suitable for visually indicating the identity of an incoming caller for a visually impaired user on a display screen, the handset comprising: a call receiving unit suitable for receiving an incoming call; a call identifying unit operable to determine the identity of the incoming caller based on the number of the incoming call; a pictogram look up engine operable to perform a look up in a pictogram data store based on the caller identity, retrieve a pictogram associated with the caller and output the pictogram to a display screen in such a format that the display of pictogram takes up all or substantially all of the display screen.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of visually indicating the identity of an incoming caller of a telephone handset for a visually impaired user on a display screen, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the incoming call; determining the identity of the incoming caller based on the number associated with the incoming call; performing a look up in a pictogram data store based on the number to thereby retrieve an associated pictogram; and output the retrieved pictogram to the display screen in such a format that the display of the pictogram covers all or substantially all of the display screen.

The provision of a whole (or substantially whole) screen image of a pictogram related to the identity of the caller rather than a name can help the visually impaired since such a symbol is relatively larger and thus easier to identify than a series of letters making up a name. Additionally, the provision of such a symbol may be of benefit to other users who wish to be able to tell at a glance the identity of the caller or other users who wish the identity of the caller to remain masked to bystanders. Furthermore, the use of symbols rather than text for caller identity ensures the invention is readily applicable to use with different languages or alphabets.

Typically, the incoming call is a voice call. Additionally or alternatively, the call is a data message. Such messages may be text based (e.g. SMS or the like), or multimedia messages (e.g. MMS or the like). Such messages may also include emails.

The pictogram is preferably displayed as an incoming call alert. As such, the pictogram may be displayed along with any other alert provided by the handset.

Pictograms may be associated with caller identities by way of a pictogram association engine. The pictogram association engine may be provided in the handset or may be provided at a remote location. If the pictogram association engine is provided at a remote location it may be in intermittent or constant communication with the handset via connection means provided within the handset.

The pictogram association engine may automatically associate pictograms with caller identities. Alternatively, the pictogram association engine may provide a selection of proposed associations that may be accepted or rejected manually. The pictogram association engine may be operable to communicate to the pictogram look up engine and pictogram data store the approved associations. To enable manual acceptance or rejection, the pictogram association engine may be provided with a user interface. The user interface may be presented on the display screen of the handset or on the display screen of another device in communication with the pictogram association engine. Such other device may be an internet enabled computer, a locally connected computer or similar. The connection means may be operable using any suitable communications network. Typically the communications network would be a cellular communications network running to an agreed standard. Examples would include, but are not limited to 3G, GPRS, GSM and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the network may be any other suitable form of wireless network such as a WiFi network, Bluetooth or the like.

Pictograms associated with identified callers may be stored in the pictogram data store in an appropriate format.

The pictogram association engine may be connected to a pictogram library. The pictogram library may comprise a data store comprising a plurality of predetermined pictograms. The predetermined pictograms may each be based on a single letter or symbol or on a combination of one or more letters and/or symbols.

The predetermined pictograms are preferably comprised of two colours only.

Typically, these may be two strongly contrasted colours e.g. black and white but alternative combinations can be used if desired or appropriate. Each predetermined pictogram may be provided in multiple formats, the different formats optimised for different possible handsets.

The pictogram association engine may be operable to associate pictograms with all stored caller identities in a handset or with only selected caller identities. The selected identities can be selected manually or automatically. In the event the caller identities are selected automatically, the selection may be based upon any suitable criteria. In particular the pictogram association engine may be operable to access the call log records of the handset and may select frequent identified callers. The pictogram association engine is preferably operable to associate pictograms from the pictogram library with specific caller identities heuristically. The heuristic criteria to be applied may be stored in a pictogram logic store connected to pictogram association engine. In this manner, the nature of the pictograms associated with caller identities may be related to the caller identities thereby helping a (visually impaired or otherwise) user recognise the caller identity from the associated pictogram. The heuristic criteria may include any one or more of the following: one or more prominent letters in the caller identities, meaning of all or part of caller identity (e.g. presenting pictogram in green if the caller identity includes the string green or a synonym thereof), speed dial or keypad shortcut associated with a caller identity, frequency of calls received and/or made to a caller identity, relation to a caller identity (e.g. work contacts, family, friends).

In a preferred implementation the heuristic criteria for associating pictograms with caller identities is based upon the first letter of the caller identity. In such an embodiment, conflicts (more than one caller identity with the same first letter) may be resolved by applying priority to the contact identity with the most call activity.

In addition caller identities, the pictogram association engine is preferably operable to associate pictograms with operational data stored in a telephone handset. The operational data may be operational data relating to applications active or selectable for activation. The operational data may additionally or alternatively comprise phone status data. The phone status data may include, but is not limited to: signal strength, battery level, time, date, warning alerts or similar. Phone status data pictograms may be displayed periodically, and/or in response to changes in phone status and/or in response to user requests. In embodiments wherein the phone status pictograms are displayed in response to user request, successive requests may cause the handset to cycle through display of a sequence of different phone status data pictograms.

The pictogram association engine may be in communication with an account management engine. The account management engine may be operable to back up details of pictograms and associations relating to a particular handset remotely. The account management engine may also be operable to charge a user via a suitable payment gateway.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a pictogram management system for associating pictograms with identity data or operational data stored in a telephone handset, the system comprising: data connection means for connecting to said handset and accessing identity data or operational data from said handset; a pictogram association engine operable to analyse the selected accessed identity data or operational data heuristically, retrieve a pictogram matching the heuristic criteria from a pictogram library for each selected item of identity data or operational data, and associate said retrieved pictogram with said matched item of identity data or operational data.

The system of the third aspect of the present invention may incorporate any and or all aspects of the previous aspects of the present invention as desired or as appropriate.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of associating a pictogram with identity data or operational data stored in a telephone handset, the method comprising the steps of: accessing the stored identity data or operational data; analysing the selected accessed identity data or operational data heuristically; retrieving a pictogram from a pictogram library matching the heuristic criteria for each selected item of identity data or operational data; and associating said retrieved pictogram with the matched item of identity data or operational data.

The method of the fourth aspect of the present invention may incorporate any or all features of the previous aspects of the present invention as desired or as appropriate.

The identity data may be caller identity data. The operational data may be operational data relating to applications active or selectable for activation. The operational data may additionally or alternatively comprise phone status data. The phone status data may include, but is not limited to: signal strength, battery level, time, date, warning alerts or similar. Phone status data pictograms may be displayed periodically, and/or in response to changes in phone status and/or in response to user requests. In embodiments wherein the phone status pictograms are displayed in response to user request, successive requests may cause the handset to cycle through display of a sequence of different phone status data pictograms.

In order that the invention is more clearly understood, one embodiment is now described further herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: -

Figure la is a schematic block diagram of a cellular phone handset according to the present invention; Figure lb is a schematic block diagram of a pictogram management system for operation in connection with the handset of figure 1; and

Figure 2 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating one method of associating pictograms with caller identities according to the present invention.

The present invention relates to an adapted telephone handset 100 suitable for enabling a visually impaired person to identify an incoming caller by way of a pictogram display and a corresponding system 200 for managing the association of pictograms with particular caller identities. Of course, the skilled man will appreciate that the invention may be useful to other non-visually impaired users who wish to be able to identify incoming callers readily at a glance or who wish the identity of incoming callers to be known to themselves but to be masked from onlookers.

Turning first to figure la, there is shown a schematic illustration of a handset 100 according to the present invention. For the sake of clarity, figure la and the following description only shows features of the handset 100 involved in providing the caller identity functionality of the present invention. The skilled man will of course appreciate that the handset may incorporate any or all other features of known telephone handsets, if desired or if appropriate.

In the handset 100, an incoming call is received via a call receiving unit 101. A call identifying unit 102 is operable to extract details of the number from which the incoming call originates and compare these caller identity details with caller identity details stored in a caller identity store 103 to thereby determine the identity of the incoming caller. A pictogram look up engine 104 is then operable to perform a look up in a pictogram data store 105 based on the caller identity. In the event that there is a pictogram stored in the pictogram store 105 associated with the caller identity, this pictogram is output to display screen 106 for display. As will be clear to the skilled man, in addition to displaying the pictogram on the screen 106, other means of alerting a user (e.g. ring tone, vibration unit, LED or the like) to an incoming call may be simultaneously activated. In this manner, the user of the handset 100, can be alerted to the call and identify the incoming caller by way of the pictogram. It would also be clear to the skilled man that such methodology could additionally be applied to incoming messages or emails.

The pictogram is suitably formatted such that its display on the screen 106 takes up all or substantially all of the screen. By providing such a large pictogram rather than merely displaying a name containing a number of letters in a relatively small font, identification of incoming callers is facilitated for visually impaired and other users of the handset 100.

To allow users of the handset to distinguish between different incoming callers, each caller identity in the caller identity store 103 may have a distinctly different associated pictogram. More typically, a user may only have associated pictograms for a subset of the caller identities in the caller identity store 103, say the most frequent callers or those callers of most importance to the user. Callers without a specific pictogram assigned and callers whose identity is note contained in the caller identity store 103 may result in no pictogram being displayed or an unidentified caller pictogram being displayed.

Each pictogram is typically identical to or based upon a standard letter, symbol or upon a combination of one or more letters and/or symbols. Each pictogram is also typically comprised of only two strongly contrasting colours. The pictograms may be static or animated, as desired or as appropriate. These factors can further increase the legibility of the pictogram to visually impaired and other users.

In a preferred implementation, each associated pictogram may be based on a prominent letter in the name of a caller. Typically, this would be the first letter of their first name but might alternatively be the first letter of their surname or a middle initial. A further possibility is for the pictogram to be based on a symbol that sound like is in another way reminiscent of the caller's name or a letter or syllable in the caller's name. It is additionally or alternatively possible for the pictogram to be based on a speed dial or keypad short cut associated with the caller identity. Each of the above can help a user recall particular associations between caller identities and pictograms.

The particular pictogram associations may be applied manually by a user of the handset by selecting suitable pictograms for one or more caller identities from a pictogram library. In a more preferred implementation, pictograms may be assigned to caller identities by way of a pictogram association engine. Typically, this would be by way of the pictogram association engine providing proposed associations of pictograms to one or more caller identities for review and approval by a user. Alternatively, the pictogram association engine may operate entirely without user intervention.

The pictogram association engine may be implemented on the handset 100 but is more preferably implemented on a remote pictogram management system 200 in communication with the handset 100. In such cases both the handset 100 and the pictogram management system 200 are provided with suitable data connection means 110, 210 capable of allow communication therebetween via a suitable link or network.

The pictogram association engine 201 is provided as part of the pictogram management system 200 and is connected to a pictogram library 202. The pictogram library 202 is a store of a plurality of potentially useable pictograms. Typically, the library stores multiple versions of each pictogram each version optimised for display on a particular handset or in a particular colour. In order to determine the appropriate versions of pictograms for a particular handset 100, the pictogram association engine 201 may be able to interrogate the handset 100 via the data connection means 110, 210. It may then look up the properties of the handset 100 in a Wireless Uniform Resource File (WURFL) 203 and determine the appropriate pictogram versions for use.

The pictogram association engine 201 is operable to propose pictogram associations heuristically. The heuristic criteria to be applied may be stored in a logic store 204. Typically, the heuristic criteria may be applied both to selecting which caller identities need an associated pictogram and to which pictogram should be associated with each selected caller identity. The heuristic criteria may include the most prominent letters in the caller identities, the meaning or sound of all or part of the callers identities, the frequency of calls to/from a particular caller identity and the user's relation to a caller identity. In this context, details of call frequency can be obtained by interrogation of the call log 107 within the handset 100 via the data connection means 110, 210. In order to allow a user to control the operation of the pictogram association engine 201 a remotely accessible user interface 205 is provided. Typically, this interface may be accessed via a personal computer. This allows the user (who may be visually impaired) to view the proposed picto grams, proposed pictogram associations and the user interface clearly on a large screen. Of course, if desired or appropriate, the interface 205 may be accessed from any suitable connectable device. Typically, the handset 100 and the device used to access the interface 205 have independent connections to the pictogram management system 200. It is however possible, if desired or appropriate, for the handset to be connected to the device used to access the interface 205 directly via a wired or wireless link. In such an alternative arrangement, it would be possible for the connected device to be configured to operate directly as a pictogram management system 200 for one or more handsets 100.

The pictogram management system 200 may provide an account management engine 206 which can be operable to store details of any pictograms assigned or proposed by the pictogram association engine 201. This can act as an online back up of the pictogram association and may also act as an online back up of caller identity details. The account management engine 206 may further be connected to a suitable payment gateway 207 to enable users to be charged as necessary.

In one preferred implementation, the pictogram look up engine 104 may be implemented as an application running on the handset 100. Such an application could be downloaded from a remote server. In such cases, the pictogram management system 200 may be implemented as an application on a server and the user interface 205 may be a website. In typical use, the user of handset 100 may view the website 205 and decide to set up the pictogram caller identity system. The pictogram management system 200 would then send a message to the handset 100 containing a link to enable download of the pictogram look up engine application 104. Once the pictogram look up engine application 104 is installed, it uploads to the pictogram management system 200 the stored caller identities from the handset 100 and any additional information required to apply the heuristic criteria.

Following the upload of data, the pictogram association engine performs its heuristic analysis and proposes, via the website 205, a number of suggested pictogram associations for caller identities for approval or amendment by the user. One the user has approved the pictogram associations, the pictograms and the associations are downloaded to the handset 100. Future incoming calls to the handset 100 can then be identified by way of pictogram.

If at any time the user wishes to vary or update their pictogram associations, they can achieve this via the website 205. The alterations will then be down loaded to their handset 100. Similarly, should the user lose or change their handset, the current pictogram association details can be readily downloaded from the pictogram management system 200. In the event that the user has a different model of handset, this can be detected by the WURFL 203 and suitable versions of the relevant pictograms may be provided.

The typical steps in the set up process on website 205 are illustrated in figure

2. At 11 the pictogram association engine application 201 starts up. At 12, the user is provided with a choice to assign pictogram associations to their contents at this time or not. If the user chooses not to assign pictogram associations, the pictogram association engine application 201 shuts down 13; if the user chooses to assign pictogram associations, the pictogram association engine application 201 generates a help screen informing a user about the process 14. At this time the pictogram association engine application 201 can also generate a prompt 15 if the pictogram association engine application 201 has been run for this user previously. The prompt 15 will allow the user to select whether to set up only those identities currently without assigned pictogram associations.

At 16, the pictogram association engine application 201 displays the first caller identity allows at 17 the user to choose whether to assign a pictogram association. If the user chooses to assign a pictogram association, the pictogram association engine application 201 performs a heuristic analysis on the caller identity at 18 and displays a proposed pictogram association to the user. The user is then prompted at 19 to indicate whether they approve this proposed association. If the user approves, the pictogram association engine application 201 reverts to 16 and displays the next caller identity. If the user does not approve the association, the pictogram association engine application 201 enables the user to select an alternative pictogram for association from the pictogram library 202.

Once all caller identities have had a pictogram (or no pictogram) assigned or after the user has otherwise exited the pictogram association engine application 201, the relevant pictograms and their association details are downloaded to the handset 100.

In addition to the above, the skilled man will appreciate that one or more pictograms may be assigned to operational data. The operational data may relate to the phone status and might thus provide a user with information as to battery level, signal level or similar. In such instances, the pictogram may be based on the name of the operational property and/or a known symbol for the operational property. The operational data may further relate to identification of applications running or available to run. In such cases, the pictogram may be based upon the name of or the icon representing the application.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details of the above embodiment which is described by way of example only.

Claims

1. A telephone handset suitable for visually indicating the identity of an incoming caller for a visually impaired user on a display screen, the handset comprising: a call receiving unit suitable for receiving an incoming call; a call identifying unit operable to determine the identity of the incoming caller based on the number of the incoming call; a pictogram look up engine operable to perform a look up in a pictogram data store based on the caller identity, retrieve a pictogram associated with the caller and output the pictogram to a display screen in such a format that the display of pictogram takes up all or substantially all of the display screen.

2. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the incoming call is a voice call or a data message.

3. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the pictogram is displayed as an incoming call alert.

4. A telephone handset as claimed in any preceding claim wherein pictograms are associated with caller identities by way of a pictogram association engine.

5. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pictogram association engine is provided in the handset.

6. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pictogram association engine is provided at a remote location in intermittent or constant communication with the handset via connection means provided within the handset.

7. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the pictogram association engine is operable to communicate to the pictogram look up engine and the pictogram data store the approved associations.

8. A telephone handset as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the pictogram association engine is connected to a pictogram library comprising a plurality of predetermined pictograms.

9. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 8 wherein the predetermined pictograms are based on a single letter or symbol or on a combination of one or more letters and/or symbols.

10. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the predetermined pictograms are comprised of two colours only.

11. A telephone handset as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the pictogram association engine is operable to associate pictograms from the pictogram library with specific caller identities heuristically.

12. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 11 wherein the heuristic criteria to be applied are stored in a pictogram logic store connected to pictogram association engine.

13. A telephone handset as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 12 wherein the pictogram association engine is in communication with an account management engine operable to back up details of pictograms and associations relating to a particular handset remotely.

14. A telephone handset as claimed in claim 13 wherein the account management engine is operable to charge a user via a suitable payment gateway.

15. A method of visually indicating the identity of an incoming caller of a telephone handset for a visually impaired user on a display screen, the method comprising the steps of: receiving the incoming call; determining the identity of the incoming caller based on the number associated with the incoming call; performing a look up in a pictogram data store based on the number to thereby retrieve an associated pictogram; and output the retrieved pictogram to the display screen in such a format that the display of the pictogram covers all or substantially all of the display screen.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the incoming call is a voice call or a data message.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 wherein the pictogram is displayed as an incoming call alert.

18. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the pictogram association engine is operable to communicate to the pictogram look up engine and the pictogram data store the approved associations.

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein there is provided a pictogram library comprising a plurality of predetermined pictograms.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the predetermined pictograms are based on a single letter or symbol or on a combination of one or more letters and/or symbols.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the predetermined pictograms are comprised of two colours only.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein pictograms from the pictogram library are associated with specific caller identities heuristically.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the heuristic criteria include any one or more of the following: one or more prominent letters in the caller identities, meaning of all or part of caller identity, speed dial or keypad shortcut associated with a caller identity, frequency of calls received and/or made to a caller identity, relation to a caller identity.

24. A pictogram management system for associating pictograms with identity data or operational data stored in a telephone handset, the system comprising: data connection means for connecting to said handset and accessing identity data or operational data from said handset; a pictogram association engine operable to analyse the selected accessed identity data or operational data heuristically, retrieve a pictogram matching the heuristic criteria from a pictogram library for each selected item of identity data or operational data, and associate said retrieved pictogram with said matched item of identity data or operational data.

25. A pictogram management system as claimed in claim 24 wherein the identity data is caller identity data.

26. A pictogram management system as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25 wherein the operational data is operational data relating to applications active or selectable for activation or wherein the operational data comprises phone status data including: signal strength, battery level, time, date or warning alerts.

27. A pictogram management system as claimed in claim 26 wherein phone status data pictograms are displayed periodically, and/or in response to changes in phone status and/or in response to user requests.

28. A method of associating a pictogram with identity data or operational data stored in a telephone handset, the method comprising the steps of: accessing the stored identity data or operational data; analysing the selected accessed identity data or operational data heuristically; retrieving a pictogram from a pictogram library matching the heuristic criteria for each selected item of identity data or operational data; and associating said retrieved pictogram with the matched item of identity data or operational data.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the identity data is caller identity data.

30. The method of claim 28 or claim 29 wherein the operational data is operational data relating to applications active or selectable for activation or wherein the operational data comprises phone status data including: signal strength, battery level, time, date or warning alerts.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein phone status data pictograms are displayed periodically, and/or in response to changes in phone status and/or in response to user requests.