Method and apparatus for screening calls in telephone networks
First Claim
1. A method of local call screening in a telephone network, the network comprising a plurality of switching units, each or the switching units having a plurality of access lines for an associated plurality of subscribers and storage means for a plurality of profiles, each profile being associated with a respective one of the subscribers and comprising data defining a personal local calling area the content of which personal local calling area has been predetermined by that particular subscribers the method comprising the steps ofmonitoring the access lines and detecting a subscriber identifier and a destination number dialled by the subscriber setting up a call,in dependence upon the subscriber identifier, accessing the personal profile of that subscriber,comparing at least some of the digits of the detected destination number with said data anddetermining the call to be local or long distance in dependence upon such comparison.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone network comprises at least one switching unit having a plurality of subscriber access lines each having an associated calling number and, a storage device storing a plurality of listings of destination numbers. Each listing is associated with a respective one of the calling numbers and defines defining a personalized local calling area for that particular calling number. The switching unit detects a destination number dialed by a caller setting up a call, accesses the personalized local calling area listing for that calling number, and compares the detected destination number with the selected listing to determine whether the call is local or long distance. Each of the listings may comprise numbers having between three and ten digits. Provision may be made for the subscriber to create the personalized calling area by adding entries to, or deleting entries from, a standard local calling area common to a group of subscribers. The storage device may comprise central storage storing a plurality of listings for each of a plurality of switches in the network, and local storage associated with each of the switches for storing the plurality of listings for that particular switch.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of local call screening in a telephone network, the network comprising a plurality of switching units, each or the switching units having a plurality of access lines for an associated plurality of subscribers and storage means for a plurality of profiles, each profile being associated with a respective one of the subscribers and comprising data defining a personal local calling area the content of which personal local calling area has been predetermined by that particular subscribers the method comprising the steps of
monitoring the access lines and detecting a subscriber identifier and a destination number dialled by the subscriber setting up a call, in dependence upon the subscriber identifier, accessing the personal profile of that subscriber, comparing at least some of the digits of the detected destination number with said data and determining the call to be local or long distance in dependence upon such comparison.
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12. A telephone network having provision for local call screening using personal local calling areas, the network comprising
a plurality of switching Units, each of the switching units having a plurality of access lines for Ad associated plurality of subscribers, storage means storing a plurality of profiles, each profile being associated with a respective one of the subscribers and comprising data defining a personal local calling area the content of which personal local calling area has been predetermined by that particular subscriber and call screening means comprising detector means for detecting a subscriber identifier and a destination number dialled by a subscriber setting up a call, selection means for accessing the storage mean, and selecting the profile corresponding to the detected subscriber identifier, and comparator means for comparing at least some digits of the detected destination number with said data and determining the call to be local or long distance in dependence upon such comparison.
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23. A telephone network comprising:
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a plurality of switching units, each of the units having a plurality of access lines for an associated plurality of subscribers; storage means storing a plurality of profiles, each profile being associated with a respective one of the subscribers and comprising data defining an individual local calling area for that particular subscriber, said data comprising numbers having between three and ten digits; and
call screening means comprisingmeans for detecting a destination number dialled by a subscriber setting up a call and detecting a subscriber calling number; means for accessing the storage means and selecting the profile corresponding to the detected subscriber calling number, and means for comparing at least some of the digits of the detected destination number with the numbers defined by the selected profile, beginning with most significant digits, and, if said at least part of the destination number is found, determining the call to be a local call;
the network further comprising database means accessible by each of the switching units and havinga store storing, for each of the switching units, a said plurality of profiles, means for communicating with a caller and enabling the caller to determine content of the profile associated with a particular subscriber calling number, and means for transferring to each of the switching units copies of the profiles for the plurality of subscribers associated with that switching unit; wherein the store at the database means stores data identifying, for each switching unit, a plurality of predefined sets of said numbers available to subscribers associated with that switching unit, the plurality of predefined sets comprising at least one group of predefined sets with an associated group identifier, the storage means at the switching unit stores said plurality of predefined sets of numbers, the communicating means is arranged to enable the subscriber to make said selection by selecting individual predefined sets or groups thereof, and the means for transferring is arranged to incorporate the selection of sets in the profile before transference of the copy to the switching unit.
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Specification