System and method for a network-based call reception limiter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of directing a call comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call from a calling party;
communicating one or more identifiers associated with the calling party through a communications network to a called party; and
connecting the call to a third party other than the called party.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network-based call reception limiter is disclosed. The network-based call reception limiter prevents calls from ringing to a telephone. The network does so by directing calls made from a calling party to a third party, rather than directing the call to the party to which the calling party intended to be connected (the called party). The network may communicate the identity and/or calling time of the calling party to the called party during the period that the network directs calls away from the called party.
62 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method of directing a call comprising the steps of:
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receiving a call from a calling party;
communicating one or more identifiers associated with the calling party through a communications network to a called party; and
connecting the call to a third party other than the called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of directing a call comprising the steps of:
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receipt by a communications network of a call from a calling party;
determining a call reception status of a called party;
if the call reception status is set to a restricted call reception status;
comparing one or more identifiers of the calling party with information in a database and connecting the call to;
the called party if one of the identifier(s) correspond to the information in the database;
ora third party if none of the identifier(s) correspond to the information in the database; and
communicating information regarding the calling party through the communications network to the called party. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for directing a call comprising:
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a database configured to communicate with a first network element;
the first network element configured to;
receive a query from a second network element to determine a call reception status of a called party;
communicate with the database to determine the call reception status; and
communicate the call reception status to the second network element. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A system for directing a call comprising:
a database configured to communicate with a first network element, the first network element configured to;
receive a first query from a second network element to determine a call reception status of a called party;
receive a second query containing one or more identifiers of a calling party from the second network element;
communicate with the database to determine the call reception status;
communicate the call reception status to the second network element;
communicate with the database to determine a response to the second query; and
communicate the response to the second network element. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
Specification