Passive call blocking method and apparatus

• US 20030021403A1
• Filed: 07/30/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pineapple34, LLC
• Original Assignee: LongBoard, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Clifton T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/210.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A process and apparatus to support passive call blocking, a call block that is performed in a manner that the caller does not recognize as a call block. When passive call blocking is utilized, blocked callers receive a passive response, such as a continuous telephone ring, instead of an error message or rejection notification. The caller is thus unaware or uncertain that they have been blocked. Blocked calls are determined by comparing caller identification information with a caller database.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a passive call block assistant configured to send a false ringing indication to a caller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a call manager configured to identify caller identification information.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the call manager is configured to match the caller identification information with an entry in a caller database.

4. A method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller, the call including caller identification information;

sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the caller identification information matches an entry in a caller database.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

accepting the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

prompting a subscriber to block the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

accepting the call when the subscriber does not block the call after being prompted.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

sending the false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber blocks the call after being prompted.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a SIP Cancel.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller, the call including caller identification information;

accepting the call when the caller identification information matches an entry in a caller database.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

prompting a subscriber to accept the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber does not accept the call after being prompted.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

accepting the call when the subscriber accepts the call after being prompted.

18. The method of claim 13, where in the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a SIP Cancel.

22. A computer-readable medium encoded with data and instructions, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to:

match caller identification information with an entry in a caller database;

send a false ringing indication to a caller when the caller identification information matches the entry in the caller database.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the instructions further comprising:

accepting the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, the instructions further comprising:

prompting a subscriber to block the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, the instructions further comprising:

accepting the call when the subscriber does not block the call after being prompted.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, the instructions further comprising:

sending the false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber blocks the call after being prompted.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, the instructions further comprising:

responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, the instructions further comprising:

receiving a SIP Cancel.

31. A computer-readable medium encoded with data and instructions, the data and instructions causing an apparatus executing the instructions to:

match caller identification information with an entry in a caller database;

accept a call when the caller identification information matches the entry in the caller database.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, the instructions further comprising:

sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, the instructions further comprising:

prompting a subscriber to accept the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, the instructions further comprising:

sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber does not accept the call after being prompted.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, the instructions further comprising:

accepting the call when the subscriber accepts the call after being prompted.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, wherein the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, the instructions further comprising:

responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, the instructions further comprising:

receiving a SIP Cancel.

40. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a call from a caller, the call including caller identification information;

means for sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the caller identification information matches an entry in a caller database.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

means for accepting the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

means for prompting a subscriber to block the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

means for accepting the call when the subscriber does not block the call after being prompted.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, further comprising:

means for sending the false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber blocks the call after being prompted.

45. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

46. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

means for receiving a SIP Cancel.

49. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a call from a caller, the call including caller identification information;

means for accepting the call when the caller identification information matches an entry in a caller database.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising:

means for prompting a subscriber to accept the call when the caller identification information does not match the entry in the caller database.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for sending a false ringing indication to the caller when the subscriber does not accept the call after being prompted.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

means for accepting the call when the subscriber accepts the call after being prompted.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the call is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Invite.

55. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the false ringing indication is a Session Initiation Protocol 180 Ringing.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:

means for responding to the SIP Invite with a SIP 100 Trying.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising:

means for receiving a SIP Cancel.

58. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface for receiving a call from a caller;

a processor configured to send a false ringing indication to the caller.