Methods and systems for preemptive rejection of calls

• US 20050053206A1
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Zafar, Shadman, Reformato, John R., Reding, Craig L., Chingon, Robert A., Helbling, Christopher L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.190
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/573 Line monitoring circuits for detecting caller identification
• 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 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

Methods and systems for screening a call are disclosed. Methods and systems consistent with the present invention screen calls. A first server receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party. The first server then determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user and determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid when the real-time call management function is not enabled. A call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid. The first server provides a notification of the call to a device associated with the user when the real-time call management function is enabled. A second server initiates the call screening function when the user selects a call screening option included in the notification.

Claims

1. A method for screening a call, comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

providing a notification of the call to a device associated with the user following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

accepting the call for the device based on a determination that the calling party number is valid.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid based on a determination that the user has not responded to the notification after a predetermined period of time, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the call screening function comprises:

playing an announcement to the calling party.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein playing an announcement comprises playing a Special Instruction Tone (SIT) cadence and prompting the calling party to record a name or enter an override code.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

routing the call to the device associated with the user based on a determination that the calling party entered a valid override code.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

ending the call based on the determination that the calling party does not record a name and does not enter a valid override code.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

placing a second call to the user at the device and playing a recording of the calling party when the calling party records a name.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

disposing of the call to the user from the calling party based on a response to the second call by the user.

10. A method for screening a call, comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

retrieving data corresponding to the user using the information pertaining to the call;

determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

selecting a device associated with the user to receive a notification of the call based on the retrieved data;

providing the notification of the call to the selected device following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the call screening function comprises:

playing an announcement to the calling party.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein playing an announcement comprises playing a Special Instruction Tone (SIT) cadence and prompting the calling party to record a name or enter an override code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

routing the call to the device associated with the user based on a determination that the calling party entered a valid override code.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

ending the call based on the determination that the calling party does not record a name and does not enter a valid override code.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

placing a second call to the user at the device and playing a recording of the calling party when the calling party records a name.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the call screening function further comprises:

disposing of the call to the user from the calling party based on a response to the second call by the user.

17. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

means for receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

means for determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

means for determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

means for providing a notification of the call to a device associated with the user following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

means for initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising:

means for accepting the call for the device based on a determination that the calling party number is valid.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, comprising:

means for determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid based on a determination that the user has not responded to the notification after a predetermined period of time, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the call screening function comprises:

means for playing an announcement to the calling party.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein means for playing an announcement comprises means for playing a Special Instruction Tone (SIT) cadence and means for prompting the calling party to record a name or enter an override code.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the call screening function comprises:

means for routing the call to the device associated with the user based on a determination that the calling party entered a valid override code.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the call screening function comprises:

means for ending the call based on the determination that the calling party does not record a name and does not enter a valid override code.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the call screening function comprises:

means for placing a second call to the user at the device and playing a recording of the calling party when the calling party records a name.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the call screening function comprises:

means for disposing of the call to the user from the calling party based on a response to the second call by the user.

26. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

means for receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

means for retrieving data corresponding to the user using the information pertaining to the call;

means for determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

means for determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

means for selecting a device associated with the user to receive a notification of the call based on the retrieved data corresponding to the user;

means for providing the notification of the call to the selected device following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

means for initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

27. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

provides a notification of the call to a device associated with the user following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiates the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option; and

a processor that runs the program.

28. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

retrieves data corresponding to the user using the information pertaining to the call;

determines whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determines whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

selects a device associated with the user to receive a notification of the call based on the retrieved data corresponding to the user;

provides the notification of the call to the selected device following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiates the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option; and

a processor that runs the program.

29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for screening a call, the method comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

providing a notification of the call to a device associated with the user following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the method comprising:

accepting the call for the device based on a determination that the calling party number is valid.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, the method comprising:

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid based on a determination that the user has not responded to the notification after a predetermined period of time, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is invalid.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the call screening function comprises:

playing an announcement to the calling party.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein playing an announcement comprises playing a Special Instruction Tone (SIT) cadence and prompting the calling party to record a name or enter an override code.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the call screening function comprises:

routing the call to the device associated with the user based on a determination that the calling party entered a valid override code.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the call screening function comprises:

ending the call based on the determination that the calling party does not record a name and does not enter a valid override code.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the call screening function comprises:

placing a second call to the user at the device and playing a recording of the calling party when the calling party records a name.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the call screening function comprises:

disposing of the call to the user from the calling party based on a response to the second call by the user.

38. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for screening a call, the method comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

retrieving data corresponding to the user using the information pertaining to the call;

determining whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determining whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

selecting a device associated with the user to receive a notification of the call based on the retrieved data corresponding to the user;

providing the notification of the call to the selected device following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

initiating the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the call screening function comprises:

playing an announcement to the calling party.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein playing an announcement comprises playing a Special Instruction Tone (SIT) cadence and prompting the calling party to record a name or enter an override code.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the call screening function comprises:

routing the call to the device associated with the user based on a determination that the calling party entered a valid override code.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the call screening function comprises:

ending the call based on the determination that the calling party does not record a name and does not enter a valid override code.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the call screening function comprises:

placing a second call to the user at the device and playing a recording of the calling party when the calling party records a name.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the call screening function comprises:

disposing of the call to the user from the calling party based on a response to the second call by the user.

45. A method for screening a call, comprising:

receiving notification of a call to a user at a device associated with the user, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option, the notification being received following a determination that a real-time call management function is enabled for the user, wherein when the real-time call management function is not enabled for the user, a call screening function is performed if a calling party number associated with the calling party is determined to be invalid;

receiving input from the user indicative of selection of the call screening option; and

sending, to a server, information reflective of the selection of the call screening option, wherein the server initiates the call screening function responsive to the selection of the call screening option.

46. A device for screening a call, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

receives notification of a call to a user at a device associated with the user, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option, the notification being received following a determination that a real-time call management function is enabled for the user, wherein when the real-time call management function is not enabled for the user, a call screening function is performed if a calling party number associated with the calling party is determined to be invalid;

receives input from the user indicative of selection of the call screening option; and

sends information to a server reflective of the selection of the call screening option, wherein the server initiates the call screening function responsive to the selection of the call screening option;

a user interface that displays the notification; and

a processor that runs the program.

47. A system for screening a call, comprising:

a voice network;

a data network;

a plurality of devices associated with a user; and

a service center operable to;

receive information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

determine whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determine whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

provide a notification of the call to one of the plurality of devices associated with the user via the data network following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option;

and initiate the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

48. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

a first server operable to receive information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

determine whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determine whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid; and

provide a notification of the call to a device associated with the user following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

a second server operable to initiate the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.

49. An apparatus for screening a call, comprising:

a first server operable to receive information pertaining to a call to a user from a calling party;

retrieve data corresponding to the user using the information pertaining to the call;

determine whether a real-time call management function is enabled for the user;

determine whether a calling party number associated with the calling party is valid following a determination that the real-time call management function is not enabled, wherein a call screening function is performed when the calling party number is determined to be invalid;

select a device associated with the user to receive a notification of the call based on the retrieved data corresponding to the user; and

provide the notification of the call to the selected device following a determination that the real-time call management function is enabled, the notification including a user-selectable call screening option; and

a second server operable to initiate the call screening function when the user selects the call screening option.