Systems and methods for call processing

• US 20040114747A1
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Jeghelian, Leo S., Erringer, Alan B., Trandal, David S., Brahm, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/462,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20040114747A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides processes and apparatus for discouraging unwelcome calls. A call, including caller signaling information, is received from a caller. A determination is made that the caller is, or potentially is a telemarketer based on Caller ID information content. The caller is then provided with special call handling.

Claims

1. A method of processing calls from telemarketers, the method comprising:

receiving, at a call manager system a forwarded call from a caller intended for a called party, the forwarded call including signaling information related to the caller;

inferring that the caller is potentially a telemarketer based at least in part on determining that the signaling information does not include the caller'"'"'s phone number; and

generating at least one of a Special Information Tone (SIT) and an SS7 call reject indicator at least partly in response to inferring that the caller is potentially a telemarketer.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the forwarded call is forwarded because the called party'"'"'s line is busy.

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the forwarded call is forwarded at least in part because called party'"'"'s line is configured to forward calls on a ring-no-answer condition.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the SS7 call reject indicator is an SS7 class 10 cause code.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the SS7 call reject indicator is at least one of an SS7 class 10 cause code, an SS7 000 cause code, and an SS7 001 cause code.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the SS7 call reject indicator is a user busy indicator.

7. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the SIT is an intercept SIT.

8. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the caller dropped the call within a predetermined amount of time after causing the caller to be provided with at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT);

designating the dropped call as a blocked call if the caller dropped the call within the predetermined amount of time; and

notifying a called party of the blocked call.

9. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising requesting the caller to cease calling the called party.

10. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide identifying information;

opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party; and

transmitting the identifying information over the Internet to the networked computer.

11. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to reject the caller'"'"'s call.

12. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to connect the caller to the called party.

13. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to record a message from the caller.

14. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving a forwarded call from a caller intended for a called party, the forwarded call including caller signaling information;

determining that the caller is potentially a telemarketer in response to the signaling information indicating at least one of Caller ID unavailability and Caller ID private; and

providing a blocking signal at least partly in response to determining that the caller is potentially a telemarketer.

15. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the call is forwarded because the called party'"'"'s line is busy.

16. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the blocking signal includes a Special Information Tone.

17. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the blocking signal includes a single tone.

18. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the blocking signal is generated before the forwarded call is accepted from an SS7 perspective.

19. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the blocking signal is provided after the forwarded call is answered.

20. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein the blocking signal includes an SS7 instruction.

21. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising playing a branding tone.

22. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising receiving over a network an instruction from the called party to block telemarketing calls.

23. The method as defined in claim 14, further comprising determining if telemarketer blocking is enabled for the called party.

24. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a caller for a called party, the call including caller signaling information;

determining that the caller is potentially a telemarketer in response to the signaling information indicating at least one of Caller ID unavailability and Caller ID private; and

providing the caller with at least one of a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) and an SS7 call reject indicator.

25. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising providing the at least SIT tone portion while the called party'"'"'s telephone line is busy.

26. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising receiving over a network a call processing instruction for the call from the called party via a client application executing on a computer.

27. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising receiving a call processing instruction for the call from the called party.

28. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein the act of providing the caller with at least one of a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) and an SS7 call reject indicator further comprises generating at least a first of a three-tone SIT before accepting the call.

29. The method as defined in claim 24, further comprising streaming a message from the caller to a called party computer.

30. A call processing apparatus, comprising:

a first instruction configured to determine that a caller is potentially a telemarketer at least partly in response to signaling information associated with the call indicating at least one of Caller ID unavailability and Caller ID private; and

a second instruction configured to provide the caller with at least one of a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) and an SS7 call reject indicator.

31. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, further comprising a client application configured to execute on a computer, the client application further configured to provide a called party with a telemarketing call processing interface for instructing how the call is to be handled.

32. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) includes a single tone.

33. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) includes two tones.

34. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) includes three tones.

35. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) is provided before the call is accepted.

36. The call processing apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein the portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) is provided after the call is answered.

37. A method of call processing, the method comprising:

receiving a caller'"'"'s call at a call processing system;

inferring that the call is from a telemarketer based on call signaling data; and

providing specialized call treatment at least partly in response to inferring that the call is from a telemarketer.

38. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the inference that the call is from a telemarketer is based at least in part on a number of calls placed by the caller within a predetermined period of time to a first set of called parties.

39. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the inference that the call is from a telemarketer is based at least in part on a number of calls placed by the caller within a predetermined period of time to a first number of called parties.

40. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the inference that the call is from a telemarketer is based at least in part on prior identification by at least a first call recipient that the caller is a telemarketer.

41. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the inference that the call is from a telemarketer is based at least in part on prior identification by at least a first quantity of call recipients that the caller is a telemarketer.

42. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the inference that the call is from a telemarketer is based at least in part on at least one of Caller ID unavailability and Caller ID private.

43. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) after the call is answered.

44. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) before the call is accepted.

45. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing an SS7 call rejection signal.

46. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the specialized call treatment includes recording the caller'"'"'s name and transmitting the name to a called party'"'"'s computer terminal.

47. The method as defined in claim 37, wherein the specialized call treatment includes informing the caller that calls from telemarketers are not welcome.

48. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

causing the caller to be provided with at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT);

determining if the caller dropped the call within one of a predetermined amount of time and a predetermined amount of rings after causing the caller to be provided with at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT);

designating the dropped call as a blocked call if the caller dropped the call within the predetermined amount of time; and

notifying a called party of the blocked call.

49. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

instructing the caller to activate a first telephone input; and

based at least in part on the activation of the first telephone input by the caller, ceasing the specialized call treatment.

50. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

instructing the caller to activate a first telephone input; and

based at least in part on the activation of the first telephone input by the caller, recording a message from the caller.

51. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising:

instructing the caller to activate a first telephone input;

based at least in part on the activation of the first telephone input by the caller, storing in computer readable memory voice information from the caller; and

transmitting the voice information to a user so that the user can screen the call.

52. The method as defined in claim 37, further comprising receiving an indication from a called party that calls from the caller should be treated that same as a non-telemarketer call.

53. A method of call processing, the method comprising:

receiving a caller'"'"'s call at a call processing system;

comparing signaling information associated with the call with information in a telemarketer database;

based on the comparison, determining that the caller is a telemarketer; and

providing specialized call treatment at least partly in response to determining that the call is from a telemarketer.

54. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the call was forwarded from a first called party'"'"'s line.

55. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the telemarketer database is authorized by a governmental entity.

56. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the telemarketer database is generated at least in part by a subscriber of the call processing system.

57. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the telemarketer database is generated at least in part by a user listening to a recorded caller message and providing an indication that the caller is a telemarketer.

58. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the telemarketer database is associated with a particular subscriber of the call processing system.

59. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) after the call is answered.

60. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT) before the call is accepted.

61. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the specialized call treatment includes providing an SS7 call rejection signal.

62. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the specialized call treatment includes recording the caller'"'"'s name and transmitting the name to a subscriber'"'"' computer terminal.

63. The method as defined in claim 53, wherein the specialized call treatment includes informing the caller that calls from telemarketers are not welcome.

64. The method as defined in claim 53, further comprising:

generating at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT);

determining if the caller dropped the call within a predetermined amount of time;

designating the dropped call as a blocked call; and

notifying a called party of the blocked call.

65. The method as defined in claim 53, further comprising:

instructing the caller to activate a first telephone input; and

based at least in part on the activation of the first telephone input by the caller, ceasing the specialized call treatment.

66. The method as defined in claim 53, further comprising requesting the caller to press at least a first telephone key to thereby generate at least a first DTMF signal.

67. The method as defined in claim 53, further comprising:

instructing the caller to activate at least a first telephone input;

based at least in part on the activation of the first telephone input by the caller, storing in computer readable memory voice information from the caller; and

transmitting the voice information to a user so that the user can screen the call.

69. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving, at a call manager system a forwarded call from a caller intended for a called party, the forwarded call including signaling information related to the caller;

determining that the called party is a subscriber of the call manager system service; and

at least partly in response to determining that the called party is a subscriber of the call manager system service, causing the caller to be provided with at least one of a Special Information Tone (SIT) portion and an SS7 call reject indicator.

68. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising receiving a DTMF signal at least partly in response to the caller activation of the first telephone input.

70. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the forwarded call is forwarded because the called party'"'"'s line is set to one of forward calls on busy (BCF), ring-no-answer (RNA), forward all calls, or do-not-disturb.

71. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the forwarded call is forwarded at least in part because called party'"'"'s line is configured to forward calls on ring-no-answer condition.

72. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the SS7 call reject indicator is an SS7 class 10 cause code.

73. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the SIT is an intercept SIT.

74. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the Special Information Tone (SIT) portion includes one tone.

75. The method as defined in claim 69, wherein the Special Information Tone (SIT) portion includes three tones.

76. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising:

determining if the caller dropped the call within a predetermined amount of time after causing the caller to be provided with the Special Information Tone (SIT) portion;

designating the dropped call as a blocked call; and

notifying the called party of the blocked call.

77. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising requesting the caller to cease calling the called party.

78. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide identifying information;

opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party; and

transmitting the identifying information over the Internet to the networked computer.

79. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to reject the caller'"'"'s call.

80. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to connect the caller to the called party.

81. The method as defined in claim 69, further comprising:

prompting the caller to provide the caller'"'"'s name;

opening a communication channel over a network with a computer associated with the called party;

streaming the caller'"'"'s name to the networked computer; and

receiving an instruction from the called party to record a message from the caller.

82. A method of designating a call, comprising:

causing a caller to be provided with at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT);

determining if the caller dropped the call within one of a predetermined amount of time and a predetermined amount of rings after causing the caller to be provided with at least a portion of a Special Information Tone (SIT); and

designating the dropped call as a blocked call if the caller dropped the call within the one of a predetermined amount of time and a predetermined amount of rings.

83. The method as defined in claim 82, further comprising notifying a called party of the blocked call.

84. The method as defined in claim 82, further comprising counting a number of blocked calls to a called party.

85. The method as defined in claim 82, further comprising:

counting a number of blocked calls to a called party; and

providing the called party with the number.

86. A method of call processing, the method comprising:

receiving a caller'"'"'s call at a call processing system;

inferring that the call is potentially from a telemarketer; and

requesting that the caller enter at least a first code; and

at least partly in response to receiving the first code, allowing the caller to contact a called party.

87. The method as defined in claim 86, wherein the caller is allowed to contact the called party by recording a message for the called party.

88. The method as defined in claim 86, wherein the caller is allowed to contact the called party by connecting the caller'"'"'s call to the called party.

89. The method as defined in claim 86, wherein the act of inferring is based at least in part on call signaling data.

90. The method as defined in claim 86, wherein the act of inferring is based at least in part on information stored in association with the caller'"'"'s phone number.

91. A method of processing calls, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of calls intended for a called party, the calls including caller signaling information;

determining that the calls are potentially from at least a first telemarketer in response to the signaling information indicating at least one of Caller ID unavailability and Caller ID private; and

providing a blocking signal to only a portion of the calls at least partly in response to determining that the calls are potentially from the at least first telemarketer.