Systems and methods for caller identification customization and remote management of communication devices

Abstract

Methods, devices, systems and computer program products are described for implementing on a communication device customized caller ID and remote functional management of a communication device via shared secret exchange between calling and called parties. Customized caller ID provides for a calling party to identify themself regardless of the device they are using to place to call. Other remote functional management, such as call priority tagging, provides for the calling party to prioritize the call or otherwise customize a call ID message to the called party. By exchanging shared secrets amongst the calling and called parties, the customized caller ID method and remote functional management are secure, thereby eliminating the likelihood of unauthorized tampering by unknown parties. Shared secret exchange also provides for authorized callers to remotely access and manage the communication device, such as, for example, to remotely lock down or place the communication device in an off state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing communication device management at a network device, comprising:
 receiving, at a network device, a communication call request including a calling device identification number and a shared secret; and   communicating a call request to a called party that includes the calling device identification number and the shared secret.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving, at a network device, a communication call request including a calling device identification number and a shared secret further comprises receiving, at a network device, a communication call request including a calling device identification number, a trigger and a shared secret. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , communicating a call request to a called party that includes the calling device identification number and the shared secret further comprises communicating a call request to a called party that includes the calling device identification number, the trigger and the shared secret. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the called party receives the call request, verifies the shared secret and performs a communication device function that is associated with the shared secret. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the called party receives the call request, verifies the shared secret and provides an output signal that identifies a caller associated with the shared secret. 
     
     
         6 . At least one processor configured to perform the actions of:
 receiving, at a network device, a communication call request including a calling device identification number and a shared secret; and   communicating a call request to a called party that includes the calling device identification number and the shared secret.   
     
     
         7 . A method for identifying a caller identification in a communication network, comprising:
 receiving, at a network device, a communication call request including a calling device identification number and a shared secret;   referencing a client database to determine a caller identification associated with the shared secret; and   communicating a call request to a called party that includes the caller identification associated with the shared secret.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising referencing a predetermined database to determine a call priority associated with the shared secret. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein communicating a call request to a called party that includes the caller identification associated with the shared secret further comprises communicating a call request to a called party that includes the call priority. 
     
     
         10 . A network device, comprising:
 a client database that associates shared secrets with caller identification;   a shared secret module that includes shared secret recognition logic operable to recognize a shared secret in a call request and reference the client database to determine a caller identification associated with the shared secret; and   a communications module operable to communicate to a called party the call request that includes the caller identification associated with the shared secret.