Discovering and using phone number location information

Abstract

A telephone number identification system ("TNIS") and techniques for facilitating telephonic communications (including but not limited to audible communications, text messages, video communications, and multimedia communications) between calling parties and called parties operating electronic devices configured for telephonic communication via telephone numbers are described. The TNIS operates in any client-side electronic device associated with or including a phone, identifying the formats of incoming or outgoing telephone numbers, which are associated with particular countries and include geographic area identifiers and subscriber numbers.; The geographic area identifiers are used to identify one or more possible geographic locations associated with the calling or called parties, one or more possible time zones, and / or estimate the cost of telephonic communications between calling and called parties. Calling and called parties are informed of identified information via user interfaces, and decide whether to establish the telephonic communications via telephony networks and / or other communication networks.

Description

Background technique [0001] Before accepting a telephone communication, such as a voice call, from a calling party, the called party may wish to know certain information about the calling party. [0002] Calling Number Identification (also known as Caller ID) is a telephone service available from many telephone network operators that sends the calling party's telephone number and / or identity to the called party's phone number before the called party accepts the call. Telephony equipment (eg, telephone or separate device). [0003] While using caller ID services, the called party typically does not know the calling party's phone number and / or identity, and the called party would benefit from additional information about the calling party and / or the telephone communication before accepting the communication. [0004] Caller ID also does not address the situation where the calling party desires to initiate a telephone communication to a specific telephone number belonging to the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0003] While using caller ID services, the called party does not generally recognize the calling party's telephone number and / or identity, and the called party would benefit from additional information about the calling party and / or the telephone communication prior to accepting the communication

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