Method and apparatus for screening calls in telephone networks

• US 5,966,433 A
• Filed: 02/14/1996
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Canada (BCE Incorporated), Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation), Stentor Resource Centre, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bell Canada (BCE Incorporated), Nortel Networks Corporation, Stentor Resource Centre, Inc.
• Inventors: Samson, Luc, Trepanier, Gilles, Courville, Bernard, Tougas, Michel, Kelly, Ron
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/601,608
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201, 379/207, 379/210, 379/211, 379/220, 379/188, 379/200, 379/219, 379/221, 379/230
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13405 Dual frequency signaling, DTMF
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0016 Arrangements providing connection between exchanges

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.

Claims

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.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in a said network further comprising database means linked to each of the switching units and having a store storing, for each of the switching units, a said plurality of profiles, wherein the content of the personalized local calling area is established by the prior step by the subscriber of accessing the database unit and selecting numbers for inclusion in the profile for that subscriber, the database unit transferring a copy of the profile to the corresponding switching unit and at the switching unit, storing the profile for use in screening subsequent calls by that subscriber.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, the database unit storing a said plurality of profiles for each of the plurality of switching units, the method further comprising the step of, at the database unit, identifying the switching unit with which the subscriber is associated, and restricting the selection to numbers previously determined to be available to said plurality of subscribers associated with that switching unit.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, the database unit being at a location remote from the switching unit, the method step of transferring a copy of the profile from the database unit to the switching unit with which the subscriber is associated being effected via an operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning network.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the profiles comprises numbers each having up to ten digits and the comparison step compares the digits of the detected destination number with the numbers defined by the selected profile sequentially beginning with the most significant digits.

6. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the selection step effectively adds numbers to, or deletes numbers from, a standard local calling area listing defining destination numbers available to all of said plurality of subscribers.

7. A method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the prior steps of storing at the database unit data identifying, for each switching unit, a plurality of predefined sets of said numbers available to subscribers associated with that switching unit, and storing at the switching unit said plurality of predefined sets of numbers, wherein the step of communicating with the subscriber includes the step of enabling the subscriber to select sets from said plurality of predefined sets of numbers.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least some of the predefined sets are in a group identified by a group identifier and the subscriber is enabled to select the group of sets by selecting the group identifier.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the profile numbers comprise one or more individual numbers having up to ten digits in addition to said sets.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile numbers comprise up to ten digits.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the profile numbers comprise at least three digits.

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.

13. A network as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a database unit accessible by each of the switching units, the database unit having

a store storing, for each of the switching units, a said plurality of profiles,

means for communicating with callers via the switching units and enabling a caller to determine content of the profile associated with a particular subscriber identifier, and

means for transferring to each of the switching units copies of the plurality of profiles for that switching unit, each profile copy identified with the corresponding subscriber,

each switching unit having means for substituting such copy profile for any existing profile stored for that subscriber identifier.

14. A network as claimed in claim 13, the database unit further comprising means for identifying the switching unit with which the subscriber is associated and restricting the selection to numbers previously determined to be available to said plurality of subscribers associated with that switching unit.

15. A network as claimed in claim 13, wherein the database unit is located at a location remote from the switching units, and the means for transferring a copy of the profile from the database unit to the switching units is arranged to effect the transfer via an operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning network.

16. A network as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the profiles comprises numbers each having up to ten digits and the comparing means is arranged to compare the digits of the detected destination number with the numbers defamed by the selected profile sequentially beginning with the most significant digits.

17. A network as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the profiles defines numbers to be added to, or deleted from, a standard local calling area listing defining destination numbers available to all of said plurality of subscribers.

18. A network as claimed in claim 12, 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 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 a selection from said plurality of predefined sets of numbers, and the means for transferring is arranged to incorporate the selection of sets in the profile for transfer to the switching unit.

19. A network as claimed in claim 18, wherein the plurality of predefined sets comprises at least one group of predefined sets with a group identifier and the means for communicating with the subscriber is arranged to enable the subscriber to select said group by selecting said group identifier.

20. A network as claimed in claim 18, wherein the storage means stores one or more individual numbers having up to ten digits in addition to said sets.

21. A network as claimed in claim 12, wherein said numbers in said profile comprise up to ten digits.

22. A network as claimed in claim 12, wherein said numbers comprise at least three digits.

23. A telephone network comprising:

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 comprising

means 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 having

a 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.