System and method of restricting incoming calls by comparing the forwarded-from directory number to a directory number stored within the network

• US 5,878,338 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Alperovich, Vladimir, Valentine, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOFOCLEOUS, MICHAEL D
• Application Number:
  US08/690,121
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 455/461, 455/433, 455/445, 455/414, 455/432, 455/417
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/428 Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
• 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 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively restricting only forwarded calls. Upon realizing that an incoming call was incorrectly forwarded, the terminal receiving the incoming call transmits to a telecommunications exchange an indication requesting activation of a subscriber feature that will restrict only forwarded calls from the terminal forwarding the call. The directory number for the terminal forwarding the call is retrieved from a register. That retrieved directory number is correlated with the directory number representing the terminal incorrectly receiving the forwarded call and the correlated data is stored at a database. Upon the receipt of the next incoming call, the telecommunications exchange determines that the call is forwarded. Then, the directory number associated with the forwarding party is compared against the data previously correlated and stored in the database. If the directory number associated with the forwarding party matches the directory number stored in the database, the call is rejected.

Claims

1. A method for selectively blocking calls forwarded from a first terminal toward a second terminal, said method for blocking calls comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call placed to said first terminal and forwarded to said second terminal;

identifying said incoming call as a forwarded incoming call by examining a redirection counter contained in a call setup signal;

retrieving, from data previously correlated, a previously stored directory number by indexing a directory number representing said second terminal, said previously stored directory number stored in a node of a wireless telecommunications network;

comparing said previously stored directory number with a forwarded-from number associated with said forwarded incoming call; and

rejecting said incoming call if said previously stored directory number matches said forwarded-from number associated with said forwarded incoming call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying said incoming call as a forwarded incoming call further comprises the steps of:

extracting said redirection counter from said call setup signal;

comparing said redirection counter to zero; and

signaling that the call was forwarded if said redirection counter is greater than zero.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of comparing said previously stored directory number with said forwarded-from number further comprises the steps of:

extracting said forwarded-from number representing said first terminal from a call setup signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said node of a wireless telecommunications network comprises a Signal Control Point within an Intelligent Network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said node of a wireless telecommunications network comprises a Home Location Register.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said forwarded-from number is contained in a calling party number parameter of a call setup signal.

7. A telecommunications system comprising:

a telecommunications exchange for routing calls, forwarding calls, and selectively blocking forwarded calls;

a first terminal, connected to said telecommunications exchange, for initiating a call;

a second terminal, having a first directory number, said second terminal connected to said telecommunications exchange, said second terminal comprising the destination of said call initiated by said first terminal;

a third terminal, having a second directory number, said third terminal connected to said telecommunications exchange, said third terminal comprising the destination of calls forwarded by said telecommunications exchange destined for said second terminal; and

wherein said telecommunications exchange operates to;

determine that the call initiated by said first terminal to said second terminal should be forwarded to said third terminal;

examine a redirection counter contained in a call setup signal to determine whether the call was forwarded;

compare said first directory number with a previously stored third directory number correlated to said second directory number in response to a determination that the call was forwarded, said third directory number identifying a terminal from which forwarded calls should be blocked; and

reject forwarding of said call if said first directory number associated with said second terminal matches said previously stored third directory number.

8. The telecommunications system of claim 7, wherein said telecommunications exchange comprises:

an Intelligent Network, wherein said Intelligent Network comprises;

a Signal Switching Point; and

a Signal Control Point.

9. The telecommunications system of claim 7, wherein said telecommunications exchange comprises:

a Gateway Mobile Switching Center;

a Home Location Register; and

a Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register.

10. The telecommunications system of claim 7, wherein said third terminal comprises a wireless station.

11. The telecommunications system of claim 7 further comprising:

a database for storing data correlating said second directory number with the directory number from which forwarded calls were requested to be blocked.

12. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said database is contained within a Home Location Register.

13. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said database is contained within a Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register.

14. The telecommunications system of claim 11, wherein said database is contained within a Signal Control Point.

15. A method of activating a subscriber feature to restrict forwarded calls, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a first directory number representing a first terminal in a first register associated with a Signal Switching Point contained within an Intelligent Network wireline telecommunications system;

receiving an indication from a second terminal for activating said subscriber feature;

retrieving said stored first directory number from said first register in response to receiving said indication;

storing, at a second register associated with a Signal Control Point contained within said Intelligent Network, said retrieved first directory correlated number with a second directory number representing said second terminal in response to receiving said indication; and

rejecting an incoming call that is forwarded from a terminal having a directory number stored in said second register.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of storing said first directory number representing said first terminal further comprises the steps of:

receiving a first call originated by a third terminal and forwarded from said first terminal to said second terminal; and

extracting said first directory number from a call setup signal associated with said first call.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call towards said second terminal;

retrieving said first directory number from said second register;

determining that said incoming call has been forwarded from said first directory number; and

rejecting said incoming call in response to said determination.

18. A method of activating a subscriber feature to restrict forwarded calls, said method comprising the steps of:

storing a first directory number representing a first terminal in a first register associated with an Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register;

receiving an indication from a second terminal for activating said subscriber feature;

retrieving said stored first directory number from said first register in response to receiving said indication;

storing, at a second register associated with a Home Location Register connected to said Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register, said retrieved first directory number correlated with a second directory number representing said second terminal in response to receiving said indication; and

rejecting an incoming call that is forwarded from a terminal having a directory number stored in said second register.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of storing said first directory number representing said first terminal further comprises the steps of:

receiving a first call originated by a third terminal and forwarded from said first terminal to said second terminal; and

extracting said first directory number from a call setup signal associated with said first call.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said step of storing said retrieved first directory number further comprises the steps of:

storing said first directory number correlated with said second directory number at said second register;

transferring said first directory number from said second register to a third register associated with said Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said indication comprises an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data packet.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

receiving an incoming call towards said second terminal;

retrieving said first directory number from said second register;

determining that said incoming call has been forwarded from said first directory number; and

rejecting said incoming call in response to said determination.