Automated call screening
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
- programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party identity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party and a voice messaging facility;
receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call;
accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and
connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for facilitating call completions utilizing a call identification telephone number which is transmitted along with an incoming call. A user of the call processor of the invention can program a list of anticipated or preferred call identification telephone numbers, together with destinations to which it is desired to route the respective incoming calls. During an incoming call, the call processor matches the associated call identification telephone number with a preprogrammed number and thereby completes the call according to the programmed destination.
335 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party identity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party and a voice messaging facility; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving calling party location identifying information of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the location of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and transmitting to a called party a prerecorded voice message identifying the geographical area defining the area of origination of the incoming call. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call; storing the identity of the calling party in a route directory of a call processor in association with one of a plurality of destinations; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory; and programming said call processor with an area code look-up table for cross-referencing a voice message which is transmitted to the called party concerning the geographical area of origination of the incoming call.
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12. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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on the premises where an intended called party is located, generating in a call processor an accessible list of numbers uniquely identifying calling parties; associating each said number with a desired destination selected from a plurality of destinations including the intended called party; and accessing said accessible list of numbers in response to an incoming call and routing the call to the destination referenced in said accessible list of numbers. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to whom a call can be directed to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to said user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing said user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route destination associated with each said identifying indicia, the call route desitnation selected from a plurality of destinations including said user and a voice messaging facility. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 25)
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23. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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providing a programming mode in a call processor for allowing a user to program the call processor to control the routing of incoming calls directed to the user; and providing a program within said call processor for allowing the user to enter calling party identifying indicia and a call route desitnation associated with each said identifying indicia; storing voice messages associated with respective geographical areas; matching the call identification number of an incoming call with one said message; and transmitting said matched message to a called party. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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26. A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia, said destination selected from a plurality of destination including the user and a voice messaging facility; a comparator for comparing a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; and call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-referenced in said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indica. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 31)
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29. A call processor for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a call identification number identifying a calling party; a memory for storing the call identification number; a look-up table programmable by a user of the call processor for listing indicia for identifying calling parties and for cross-referencing a destination to said indicia; a comparator for comapring a call identification number received in association with an incoming call to said call processor with entries in said look-up table; call route directing apparatus for connecting the incoming call to the destination cross-reference din said look-up table on an affirmative comparison of the call identification number via said calling party identifying indicia; a voice recording unit for recording voice messages to be transmitted to the users during incoming calls so that the users are informed of information concerning the call; and said voice recording unit comprising a plurality of messages each related to a geographical area, and further including means for cross-referencing an area code portion of a received call identification number with one said message. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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32. A method for controlling routing of a telephone call, comprising the steps of:
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programming a route directory with at least one potential calling party indentity to be associated with one of a plurality of destinations including an intended called party; receiving an incoming telephone call directed to a switching system and receiving an identity of a calling party placing the incoming call without requiring a data link separate from the data line on which the incoming telephone call is being made; accessing the route directory in response to the incoming call to determine the destination route of the incoming call based upon the identity of the calling party; and connecting the incoming call to the destination specified in the route directory. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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Specification