Automated call screening

• US 5,724,408 A
• Filed: 04/12/1994
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aspect Communications Corporation (Alvaria Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Syntellect Technology Corp.
• Inventors: Morganstein, Sanford J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MATAR, AHMAD
• Application Number:
  US08/226,453
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/201, 379/265, 379/266, 379/142, 379/67, 379/88, 379/89, 379/188, 379/214, 379/198
• US Class Current: 379/88.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• 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 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13194 Four wire connection, transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13336 Store & forward, messaging systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/62 : for connecting to private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/70 : Identification of class of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

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.

Claims

1. A call processor for controlling a route of a telephone call from a calling party, comprising:

a telecommunications interface operable to receive signals from a telephone line;

a call identification number receiver operable to receive a call identification number concurrently transmitted with the telephone call on said telephone line from said telecommunications interface, said call identification number indicating a telephone number of said calling party on said telephone line;

a digital announcement circuit operable to provide a greeting to said calling party, said greeting including a request of said calling party for destination determining information of a receiving party associated with the telephone call, said receiving party being one of a plurality of receiving parties associated with a single main called number;

a receiver circuit operable to decode said destination determining information from said calling party, said destination determining information identifying an extension number associated with said receiving party desired by said calling party;

processing circuitry operable to control elements of the call processor and operable to route the telephone call to a destination associated with said call identification number as programmed by said receiving party desired by said calling party, said destination selected from a plurality of destinations associated with said call identification number including said receiving party desired by said calling party and a facility for recording voice messages, each receiving party capable of uniquely programming said processing circuitry to route each telephone call to a destination associated with said call identification number.

2. The call processor of claim 1, wherein said processing circuitry includes a look up table associated with each receiving party, wherein each receiving party can separately program said associated look up table to associate call identification numbers with said destinations.

3. The call processor of claim 1, further comprising:

a digital recording facility for recording and storing messages associated with said call identification number received by said call identification number receiver, said messages including information pertaining to said identity of said calling party and a geographical source of the telephone call.

4. The call processor of claim 3, wherein said digital recording facility includes a list of area codes and exchange codes, said digital recording facility comparing said call identification number of said list to determine a geographical location of said source of the telephone call.

5. The call processor of claim 4, wherein said digital recording facility transmits at least one of said messages to said receiving party desired by said calling party prior connecting the telephone call to said receiving party.