SELECTIVE CALL REJECT FEATURE FOR A TELEPHONE

• US 20090041222A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: MetroPCS Wireless Incorporated (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: GUVEN, MESUT
• Granted Patent: US 8,351,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/210.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set

Abstract

A telephone includes first circuitry enabling communications with a telephone network. A call block list includes at least one user designated number. A call blocking logic module is implemented within the first circuitry and selectively blocks incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list.

Claims

1. A telephone comprising:

first circuitry enabling communications with a telephone network;

a call block list including at least one user designated number; and

a call blocking logic module implemented within the first circuitry for selectively blocking incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list.

2. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module further provides the ability to selectively block all incoming calls to the telephone.

3. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module further provides the ability to selectively block all outgoing calls from the telephone.

4. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list has at least one user designated call type associated therewith.

5. The telephone of claim 4, wherein the call blocking logic module further selectively blocks incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list and the at least one user designated call type associated therewith.

6. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list has a user designated time period associated therewith, the user designated time period defining a selected period time the at least one designated number is selectively blocked.

7. The telephone of claim 6, wherein the call blocking logic module further selectively blocks incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list and the user designated time period.

8. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module enables a user to store a received call number as the at least one user designated number.

9. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module enables a user to enter a number to store as the at least one user designated number.

10. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module blocks incoming calls having a caller ID of the incoming blocked from the telephone.

11. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the call blocking logic module blocks incoming calls based upon a code in a presentation indicator field of an incoming call.

12. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list is password protected.

13. The telephone of claim 12, wherein the call blocking logic module further enables information associated with the at least user designated number to be changed responsive to entry of the password.

14. The telephone of claim 1, wherein the at least one telephone number in the call blocking list is downloaded to the call blocking list from a remote location.

15. A telephone comprising:

first circuitry enabling communications with a telephone network;

a call block list including at least one user designated number, wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list has at least one user designated call type associated therewith, further wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list has a user designated time period associated therewith, the user designated time period defining a selected period time the at least one designated number is selectively blocked; and

a call blocking logic module implemented within the first circuitry for selectively blocking incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list, the at least one user designated call type associated therewith and the user designated time period.

16. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module further provides the ability to selectively block all incoming calls to the telephone.

17. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module further provides the ability to selectively block all outgoing calls from the telephone.

18. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module enables a user to store a received call number as the at least one user designated number.

19. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module enables a user to enter a number to store as the at least one user designated number.

20. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module blocks incoming calls having a caller ID of the incoming blocked from the telephone.

21. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the call blocking logic module blocks incoming calls based upon a code in a presentation indicator field of an incoming call.

22. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the at least one user designated number of the call block list is password protected.

23. The telephone of claim 22, wherein the call blocking logic module further enables information associated with the at least user designated number to be changed responsive to entry of the password.

24. The telephone of claim 15, wherein the at least one telephone number, the at least one user designated call type and the user designated time in the call blocking list are downloaded to the call blocking list from a remote location.

25. A method for selectively blocking calls associated with a telephone connected to a telephone network, comprising the steps of:

defining a call block list including at least one user designated number at the telephone;

selectively blocking incoming calls at the telephone responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of defining all incoming calls as the at least one user designated call.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selectively blocking further comprises the step of selectively blocking all outgoing calls to the at least one user designated number.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of designating a call type associated with the at least one user designated number.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of selectively blocking further comprises the step of selectively blocking incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list and the at least one user designated call type associated therewith.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of designating a time period associated with the at least one user designated number, the user designated time period defining a selected period time the at least one designated number is selectively blocked.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of selectively blocking further comprises the step of selectively blocking incoming calls to the telephone over the telephone network responsive to the at least one user designated number in the call block list and the user designated time period.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of storing a received call number as the at least one user designated number.

33. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of entering a number to store as the at least one user designated number.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selectively blocking further includes the step of blocking incoming calls having a caller ID of the incoming blocked from the telephone.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of selectively blocking further includes the step of blocking incoming calls based upon a code in a presentation indicator field of an incoming call.

36. The method of claim 25, further including the step of protecting the defined call block list using a password.

37. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of defining further comprises the step of downloading the at least one telephone number to the call blocking from a remote location.