Telephone call screening

• US 5,651,053 A
• Filed: 01/26/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter P. Mitchell
• Original Assignee: Peter P. Mitchell
• Inventors: Mitchell, Peter P.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US08/378,962
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/196, 379/197, 379/199, 379/210, 379/213, 379/201, 379/207, 379/142, 379/373, 379/375, 379/215, 379/249
• US Class Current: 379/210.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/308 Personal name recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13527 protocols - X.25, TCAP etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A Call Screening service assists a subscriber to the service to screen incoming calls. In response to an incoming call, the subscriber is given a special ring. When the subscriber answers the call, a caller who has placed the call is identified to the subscriber without connecting the subscriber to the caller. This is accomplished by prompting the caller to speak through the phone into a recording machine. The recording of the caller'"'"'s name is played to the subscriber, who then has the option, still without being connected to the caller, to accept the call, refuse the call, or enable the caller to leave a recorded message for later access by the subscriber. This function is accomplished by pressing a key on a telephone keypad or by uttering a command. A special caller list can be created enabling preferred callers to reach the subscriber without being screened, and a refusal list can be generated for automatically blocking calls from disfavored callers. A new and effective way of terminating calls in mid-conversation is also provided.

Claims

1. A method of providing a service assisting a subscriber to the service to screen incoming calls, the method comprising the steps of:

ringing the subscriber in response to an incoming call from a calling station;

while maintaining the subscriber answering the call disconnected from a caller who has placed the incoming call, identifying the caller to the subscriber;

while still maintaining the subscriber disconnected from the caller, giving the subscriber the option to accept the call, refuse the call, or enable the caller to leave a recorded message for later access by the subscriber; and

in response to a mid-call trigger during an accepted call, disconnecting the subscriber from the caller, advising the caller that the subscriber does not wish to continue the conversation, and giving the subscriber the option of automatically blocking further calls from the same calling station.