TELEPHONE CALL BLOCKING
First Claim
1. A cellular telephone handset of the type operable to connect voice calls or messages to other handsets or devices, the handset comprising:
- a user interface means for requesting a connection to another handset or device;
a connection means for providing the requested connection via a suitable network; and
a filtering engine comprising;
a connection identification unit operable to identify the requested connection;
a comparison unit operable to compare the requested connection with a stored list of connections to determine whether the requested connection is permitted;
a connection enabling unit operable in response to the comparison unit to enable or disable the connection means; and
a messaging engine operable to communicate with a separate controller device via the connection means to maintain and/or update said stored list.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to controlling the operation of one or more controlled handsets. This is achieved by means of a filtering engine incorporated into the handset, to disable the handset from making unauthorized connections. The filtering engine is operable to communicate with a master handset or a system controller. This can allow review of the control operation and may additionally allow rapid update of the filtering criteria. In one typical example, the master handset may be held by a parent, guardian or other responsible adult and the controlled handsets may be held by one or more children. In an alternative example, it may be possible for the master handset to be held by a supervisor and the controlled handsets to be provided to supervised workers.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A cellular telephone handset of the type operable to connect voice calls or messages to other handsets or devices, the handset comprising:
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a user interface means for requesting a connection to another handset or device; a connection means for providing the requested connection via a suitable network; and a filtering engine comprising; a connection identification unit operable to identify the requested connection; a comparison unit operable to compare the requested connection with a stored list of connections to determine whether the requested connection is permitted; a connection enabling unit operable in response to the comparison unit to enable or disable the connection means; and a messaging engine operable to communicate with a separate controller device via the connection means to maintain and/or update said stored list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system comprising:
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one or more controlled handsets comprising; a user interface means for requesting a connection to another handset or device; a connection means for providing the requested connection via a suitable network; and a filtering engine comprising; a connection identification unit operable to identify the requested connection; a comparison unit operable to compare the requested connection with a stored list of connections to determine whether the requested connection is permitted; a connection enabling unit operable in response to the comparison unit to enable or disable the connection means; and a messaging engine operable to communicate with a separate controller device via the connection means to maintain and/or update said stored list; and a master handset operable to communicate with the or each controlled handset, the master handset further comprising;
a filtering control engine operable to receive and display communications from the or each controlled handset and operable to generate and send an update messages to the or each controlled handset. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification