Controlling incoming communication by issuing tokens
First Claim
1. A method in a communication system comprising:
- detecting a communication originating from a caller and intended for a designated recipient;
receiving from the caller a token which was previously generated and stored in a token log within the communication system and made available to one or more potential callers of the designated recipient, which token is comprised of one or more codes that, when taken together, are distinct from both the caller'"'"'s network identifier and the designated recipient'"'"'s network identifier;
attempting to locate the received token in the token log; and
automatically processing the communication in a specific way based on locating the received token in the token log and checking one or more conditions occurring within the communication system.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device is part of a communication system which is equipped with a token log. Tokens can be created by the operator of the communication device and issued to individuals who desire to communicate with the token issuer. Issued tokens are stored in the token log, potentially with settings that define how incoming calls or messages accompanied by a given token are to be automatically processed. When an incoming call or message is received, the communication system determines if a token is provided, if the token is valid, and possibly what settings are associated with that token in the token log. The communication system responds to the incoming communication according to the settings. Also, the communication system facilitates the issuance of new tokens to potential future callers.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method in a communication system comprising:
-
detecting a communication originating from a caller and intended for a designated recipient;
receiving from the caller a token which was previously generated and stored in a token log within the communication system and made available to one or more potential callers of the designated recipient, which token is comprised of one or more codes that, when taken together, are distinct from both the caller'"'"'s network identifier and the designated recipient'"'"'s network identifier;
attempting to locate the received token in the token log; and
automatically processing the communication in a specific way based on locating the received token in the token log and checking one or more conditions occurring within the communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A communications system comprising:
-
a token log for recording settings that are associated with specific tokens;
a token generating module for generating tokens;
a user interface that allows a device operator to associate one or more specific settings with one or more specific tokens;
a data module that provides storage and retrieval of tokens and associated settings;
a processing module that responds to incoming calls according to settings specified in the token log.
-
-
20. A communication system comprising:
-
means for detecting a communication originating from a caller and intended for a designated recipient;
means for receiving from the caller a token which was previously generated by an operator of the communication system and stored in a token log within the communication system and made available to one or more potential callers of the designated recipient, which token is comprised of one or more codes that, when taken together, are distinct from both the caller'"'"'s network identifier and the designated recipient'"'"'s network identifier;
means for attempting to locate the received token in the token log; and
means for automatically processing the communication in a specific way based on locating the received token in the token log and checking one or more conditions occurring within the communication system.
-
Specification