System and method for privacy management

• US 20050018832A1
• Filed: 08/13/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, Scott C., Hill, Nicholas P., Simpson, Anita H., Hussain, Aamir M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2027 Live party detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A privacy management system is disclosed for when a calling party has a private telephone number. Privacy screening services allow a subscriber to manage and monitor incoming telephone calls, such that unwanted calls are not terminated to the subscriber. When a calling party calls the subscriber to this privacy screening service, the privacy management system manages the call according to whether the calling party number is known and public, known and private, or unknown. If the calling party number is known and public, the call is routed to the subscriber. If, however, the calling party is known and private, an announcement is played to the calling party, asking the calling party for permission to override his or her privacy. If the calling party is unknown, the calling party is asked to record his/her name.

Claims

1. A privacy management system that permits a subscriber to screen calls made to the subscriber, comprising:

a first service switching point connected to a subscriber telephone that receives a telephone call from a calling party that is intended for the subscriber and in response to the call initiates a query to determine whether the call is from a public telephone number, a private telephone number, or an unknown telephone number;

a second service switching point connected to a service node and the first service switching point; and

a service control point in communication with the first and second service switching points that receives the query and responds to the query;

wherein when the telephone call is from a public number, the telephone call is forwarded directly to the subscriber, and optionally when the telephone call is from a private number or unknown number, the telephone call is directed to the service node through the second service switching point, wherein the service node requests from the calling party whether calling party information may be forwarded to the subscriber before forwarding the telephone call to the subscriber, and if authorized provides that information from the service control point, wherein the system is configured for preserving and delivering the calling party number from a private calling party to the subscriber.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein if the calling party denies permission, then the call is disconnected.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein if the calling party grants permission, then the call is forwarded to the subscriber with information relating to the calling party.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the permission is granted by the calling party by pushing a number on the telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein when the call is from an unknown number, the service node requests permission from the calling party to forward information relating to the calling party to the subscriber.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein if the calling party denies permission, then the call is disconnected.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein if the calling party grants permission, then the call is forwarded to the subscriber with information relating to the calling party.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the permission is granted by the calling party by stating a name of the calling party.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the subscriber receives information relating to the name of the calling party and decides whether to accept the call.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein when the subscriber refuses the call, the call is disconnected.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein when the subscriber accepts the call, the calling party and the subscriber are connected.

12. A privacy management system for controlling a telephone call from a calling party to a subscriber, the privacy management system comprising:

a first service switching point connected to a subscriber telephone;

a second service switching point connected to a service node and the first service switching point;

means for determining whether the telephone call is from a public number, a private number, or an unknown number;

means for forwarding the telephone call directly to the subscriber when the telephone call is determined to be from a public telephone number;

means for directing the telephone call to the service node through the second service switching point, when the telephone call is determined to be from a private or unknown telephone number;

means for requesting authorization from the calling party before forwarding the telephone call to the subscriber;

means for preserving the calling party number; and

means for providing the calling party number to the subscriber if authorized,

wherein when the call is from a private number, the system is configured for preserving the calling party number and terminating the call to the subscriber.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein when the call is from a private number, the service node requests permission by a press of a button from the calling party to forward information relating to the calling party to the subscriber.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein when the call is from an unknown number, the service node requests the calling party to state a name of the calling party to be forwarded to the subscriber.

15. A method for managing privacy by controlling calls received by a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party number directed to the subscriber;

determining whether the call is from a public number, a private number, or an unknown number; and

forwarding the call directly to the subscriber if the call is from a public number;

or

inquiring permission from the calling party to forward private number information to the subscriber if the call is from a private number, wherein, if the call is from a private number, the system preserves the calling party number for presentation to the subscriber;

or

requesting identification information from the calling party to forward to the subscriber if the call is from an unknown number.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

forwarding the call made from a private number to the subscriber if the calling party grants permission;

or

forwarding the call made from an unknown number to the subscriber if the calling party provides identifying information.