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Call screening method

  • US 5,604,792 A
  • Filed: 06/07/1995
  • Issued: 02/18/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/12/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A call screening method for allowing subscriber to screen calls made to him/her from callers, the method comprising the steps of:

  • storing at a system controller station data that is received from a plurality of subscribers at a plurality of respective subscriber stations, such data including a private telephone number of each subscriber station;

    providing a public telephone number for each of said subscriber stations, each of said public telephone numbers terminating at said system controller station;

    indexing each public telephone number to its corresponding private telephone number in said system controller station;

    receiving a call at said system controller station from a caller who dials a particular public telephone number for a particular subscriber;

    identifying the particular public telephone number for the particular subscriber;

    retrieving the private telephone number of the particular subscriber on the basis of the particular public telephone number;

    placing a second call to the particular subscriber by dialing the particular subscriber private telephone number;

    playing an introductory message to the caller in communication with said system controller station and prompting the caller to record a message identifying the caller;

    if the particular subscriber picks up the second call, playing the caller'"'"'s message so that the particular subscriber may hear the caller'"'"'s message but the caller does not hear or know that the particular subscriber is hearing the message; and

    connecting the caller and the particular subscriber for full two-way communication upon the authorization of the particular subscriber.

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