Telecommunication service for prioritizing and enhancing privacy of incoming calls
First Claim
1. A telecommunication system and apparatus for prioritizing and enhancing privacy of incoming telephone calls comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems which provide a plurality of virtual telephone numbers linked to a single ordinary telephone line and number, wherein each of said central office switching systems connects to a plurality of local communication lines for routing an incoming telephone call to said subscriber;
a database for storing call attributes for processing incoming calls; and
a service management system connected to said database for storing call attributes;
wherein in response to an incoming call said service management system routes incoming calls associated with said virtual telephone numbers and ordinary telephone numbers in accordance with said call attributes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for allowing a telephone subscriber to effectively monitor and select incoming telephone calls wherein a single actual telephone number and incoming telephone line comprises a plurality of virtual telephone numbers. A telephone subscriber may efficiently block or screen incoming calls in a courteous manner without preventing the receipt of any desired incoming call or emergency telephone call. In addition, the telephone subscriber may screen incoming telephone calls without setting up a comprehensive and labor intensive database system. The telephone subscriber is required to offer different groups of individuals several different virtual telephone numbers representing various incoming caller restrictions which are linked to a single incoming telephone line thereby effectively screening incoming telephone calls without any user-intervention.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A telecommunication system and apparatus for prioritizing and enhancing privacy of incoming telephone calls comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems which provide a plurality of virtual telephone numbers linked to a single ordinary telephone line and number, wherein each of said central office switching systems connects to a plurality of local communication lines for routing an incoming telephone call to said subscriber;
a database for storing call attributes for processing incoming calls; and
a service management system connected to said database for storing call attributes;
wherein in response to an incoming call said service management system routes incoming calls associated with said virtual telephone numbers and ordinary telephone numbers in accordance with said call attributes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of enhancing privacy of incoming telephone calls comprising the steps of:
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linking a plurality of virtual telephone numbers to an ordinary telephone number and telephone line;
assigning and storing call attributes for processing said incoming telephone calls on a call attribute database;
receiving said incoming telephone call;
correlating the characteristics of said incoming telephone call with pre-determined call attribute restrictions stored on said call attribute database;
routing said incoming telephone call in accordance with said call attributes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A telecommunication system and apparatus for prioritizing and enhancing privacy of incoming telephone calls comprising:
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a communication line comprising an ordinary telephone line and associated ordinary telephone number;
a plurality of virtual numbers associated with said ordinary telephone line;
a database for storing call attributes for processing incoming calls wherein said database comprises a routing means for routing said incoming telephone calls.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeBinay Sugla
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Original AssigneeBinay Sugla
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InventorsSugla, Binay
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Application NumberUS09/780,629Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current379/211.01CPC Class CodesH04M 3/42102 Making use of the called pa...H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening ...
