Caller identification in a communication system

Abstract

A communication system for providing caller identification services, the communication system comprising a processing system configured to store a data structure having a plurality of codes associated with a plurality of caller numbers, and translate one of the codes into one of the caller numbers using the data structure, and a communication interface configured to receive a first call request for a call and transfer a second call request for the call including the one caller number wherein the first call request includes a called number and the one code appended to the called number.

1 . A method of operating a communication system to provide caller identification, the method comprising: 
 storing in a data structure a plurality of codes in association with a plurality of caller numbers;    receiving a first call request for a call wherein the first call request includes a called number and one of the codes appended to the called number;    translating the one code into one of the caller numbers using the data structure; and    transferring a second call request for the call including the one caller number.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving the first call request comprises receiving the first call request over a dedicated access line.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one code is pre-fixed to the called number.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein translating the one code into the one caller number comprises using a service control point.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first call request comprises a service control point query.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second call request comprises a service control point response.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein translating the one code into the one caller number comprises using a remote processor.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first call request comprises a call center remote processor query.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the second call request comprises a call center remote processor response.  
   
   
       10 . A communication system for providing caller identification services, the communication system comprising: 
 a processing system configured to store a data structure having a plurality of codes associated with a plurality of caller numbers, and translate one of the codes into one of the caller numbers using the data structure; and    a communication interface configured to receive a first call request for a call and transfer a second call request for the call including the one caller number wherein the first call request includes a called number and the one code appended to the called number.    
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the communication interface is configured to receive the first call request over a dedicated access line.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the first call request comprises the one code pre-fixed to the called number.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processing system comprises a service control point.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the processing system comprises a call center remote processor.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the first call request comprises a service control point query.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the second call request comprises a service control point response.  
   
   
       17 . A software product for operating a communication system, the software product comprising: 
 software configured to direct the communication system to store a data structure having a plurality of codes associated with a plurality of caller numbers, translate one of the codes into one of the caller numbers using the data structure, receive a first call request for a call, and transfer a second call request for the call including the one caller number wherein the first call request includes a called number and the one code appended to the called number; and    a storage system configured to store the software.    
   
   
       18 . The software product of  claim 17  wherein the first call request comprises the one code pre-fixed to the called number.  
   
   
       19 . The software product of  claim 17  wherein the storage system comprises a service control point.  
   
   
       20 . The software product of  claim 17  wherein the storage system comprises a call center remote processor.