Apparatus, method and system for personal telecommunication call screening and alerting

• US 6,289,084 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Bushnell, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Application Number:
  US09/087,442
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/74, 379/77, 379/88-2-, 379/88.13, 379/88.16, 379/199, 379/210-212, 379/142, 379/188, 379/34, 379/372-376, 379/354-356, 379/192, 379/201, 379/207, 379/93.23, 379/100.14, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 709/217-219, 455/3.1, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/461
• US Class Current: 379/67.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• 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 3/533 Voice mail systems

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system are illustrated which provide for personal telecommunication incoming call screening and alerting. In the various embodiments, the incoming call screening and alerting utilizes a personalized affinity database, based upon individual calling behaviors and patterns. In the preferred embodiment, the affinity database includes telephone numbers and names for outgoing calls (dialed numbers), and for those incoming calls that have a predetermined minimum duration following answering (minimum off hook time period). As a consequence, erroneous or unwanted incoming calls are not included within the affinity database. The preferred system includes a line unit couplable to customer premise equipment (such as a telephone), a network signaling interface, a network trunk interface, a memory, and a processor. The processor includes instructions for determining whether received network signaling information includes caller identification information, which matches an affinity number, such as a number from which a consumer would like to receive a telephone call. For automatic call screening and alerting, the processor has further instructions for assigning a first priority to a corresponding network communication when the caller identification information matches an affinity number, such as providing a distinctive ring or allowing the communication during certain periods of time, and for assigning a second priority to the corresponding network communication when the caller identification information does not match an affinity number, such as routing the incoming call to an automatic messaging or voice mail system.

Claims

1. A method for personal telecommunication call screening and alerting, the method comprising:

(a) receiving an incoming telecommunication call;

(b) determining whether caller identification information from the incoming telecommunication call is associated with an affinity number from an affinity database, the affinity database having a plurality of affinity numbers, the plurality of affinity numbers having been determined by including telephone numbers corresponding to outgoing telecommunication calls, and by including telephone numbers from received incoming calls having a user selected, predetermined minimum off-hook duration;

(c) when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number and when the incoming telecommunication call is received during a first user determined period of time, assigning a first priority and providing a user alert to the incoming telecommunication call; and

(d) when the caller identification information is not associated with an affinity number or when the incoming telecommunication call is received during a second user determined period of time, assigning a second priority and not providing a user alert to the incoming telecommunication call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) when the incoming telecommunication call does not include caller identification information, assigning the second priority to the incoming telecommunication call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the user alert is a distinctive ring.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing telecommunication messaging and answering to the incoming call having the second priority.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing telecommunication messaging to the incoming call having the second priority.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the affinity database is maintained as an affinity stack.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein any affinity numbers, of the plurality of affinity numbers, having a comparatively higher frequency of use are clustered in an upper portion of the affinity stack.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein any affinity numbers, of the plurality of affinity numbers, having a comparatively higher duration of use are clustered in an upper portion of the affinity stack.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises:

(c1) when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number, further determining whether the affinity number has a first affinity;

(c2) when the affinity number has the first affinity, assigning the first priority to the incoming telecommunication call; and

(c3) when the affinity number does not have the first affinity, assigning a third priority to the incoming telecommunication call.

10. An apparatus for personal telecommunication call screening and alerting, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface for receiving an incoming telecommunication call;

a receiver coupled to the network interface, the receiver for decoding caller identification information from a received incoming telecommunication call;

a memory, the memory storing an affinity database having a plurality of affinity numbers;

a user input interface coupled to the processor for entry of a number corresponding to an outgoing telecommunication call;

a user output interface coupled to the processor, the user output interface for generating a user alert; and

a processor coupled to the memory, to the user input interface, to the user output interface and to the receiver, wherein the processor includes instructions for determining whether decoded caller identification information from the received incoming telecommunication call is associated with an affinity number from the affinity database;

the processor having further instructions for determining the plurality of affinity numbers by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to the outgoing telecommunication call and by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to a received incoming telecommunication call having a predetermined minimum off-hook duration;

the processor having further instructions for assigning a first priority and providing the user alert to the received incoming telecommunication call when the decoded caller identification information is associated with an affinity number and when the incoming telecommunication call is received during a first user determined period of time, and for assigning a second priority and not providing the user alert to the received incoming telecommunication call when the decoded caller identification information is not associated with an affinity number or when the incoming telecommunication call is received during a second user determined period of time.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor includes further instructions for assigning the second priority to the received incoming telecommunication call when the incoming telecommunication call does not include caller identification information.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the user output interface includes a ringer circuit and the user alert is a distinctive ring.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user input interface receives user input of the first and second user determined periods of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user output interface includes answering and messaging circuitry for providing telecommunication messaging and answering to the received incoming telecommunication call having the second priority.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user output interface includes messaging circuitry for providing telecommunication messaging to the received incoming telecommunication call having the second priority.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor includes further instructions for maintaining the affinity database as an affinity stack.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher frequency of use.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher duration of use.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor includes further instructions for determining, when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number, whether the affinity number has a first affinity;

the processor including further instructions for assigning the first priority to the received incoming telecommunication call when the affinity number has the first affinity, and for assigning a third priority to the received incoming telecommunication call when the affinity number does not have the first affinity.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is embodied within customer premise equipment.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the apparatus is embodied within a telephone.

22. A system for personal telecommunication call screening and alerting, the system comprising:

a line unit couplable to customer premise equipment, the line unit for reception of a number corresponding to an outgoing telecommunication call and for generating a user alert;

a network signaling interface for receiving network signaling information;

a network trunk interface for receiving corresponding network communications;

a memory, the memory storing an affinity database having a plurality of affinity numbers; and

a processor coupled to the memory, to the line unit, to the network signaling interface, and to the network trunk interface, wherein the processor includes instructions for determining whether received network signaling information includes caller identification information which is associated with an affinity number from the affinity database;

the processor having further instructions for determining the plurality of affinity numbers by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to the outgoing telecommunication call and by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to a user received incoming telecommunication call having a predetermined minimum off-hook duration;

the processor having further instructions for assigning a first priority and providing the user alert to a corresponding network communication when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number and when the corresponding network communication is during a first user determined period of time, and for assigning a second priority and not providing the user alert to the corresponding network communication when the caller identification information is not associated with an affinity number or when the corresponding network communication is during a second user determined period of time.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor includes further instructions for assigning the second priority to the corresponding network communication when the network signaling information does not include caller identification information.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the user alert is a distinctive ring.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the line unit receives user input;

and wherein the first and second user determined periods of time are determined by user input.

26. The system of claim 22, further comprising voice mail circuitry coupled to the line unit and the network trunk interface for providing telecommunication messaging and answering for the corresponding network communication having the second priority.

27. The system of claim 22, further comprising messaging circuitry coupled to the line unit and the network trunk interface for providing telecommunication messaging for the corresponding network communication having the second priority.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor includes further instructions for maintaining the affinity database as an affinity stack.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher frequency of use.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher duration of use.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor includes further instructions for further determining, when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number, whether the affinity number has a first affinity;

the processor including further instructions for assigning the first priority to the corresponding network communication when the affinity number has the first affinity, and for assigning a third priority to the corresponding network communication when the affinity number does not have the first affinity.

32. The system of claim 22, wherein the system is embodied in a network switch.

33. The system of claim 22, wherein the system is embodied in a central office.

34. A system for personal telecommunication call screening and alerting, the system comprising:

a line unit couplable to customer premise equipment, the line unit for reception of a number corresponding to an outgoing telecommunication call and for generating a user alert;

a memory, the memory storing the affinity number in an affinity database having a plurality of affinity numbers; and

a processor coupled to the memory and to the line unit, wherein the processor includes instructions for determining whether caller identification information is associated with an affinity number from the affinity database;

the processor having further instructions for determining the plurality of affinity numbers by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to the outgoing telecommunication call and by including in the affinity database a number corresponding to a user received incoming telecommunication call having a predetermined minimum off-hook duration;

the processor having further instructions for assigning a first priority and providing a user alert to a corresponding communication when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number and when the corresponding communication is during a first user determined period of time, and for assigning a second priority and not providing a user alert to the corresponding communication when the caller identification information is not associated with an affinity number or when the corresponding communication is during a second user determined period of time.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor includes further instructions for assigning the second priority to the corresponding communication in the absence of caller identification information.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the user alert is a distinctive alert.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the line unit receives user input;

and wherein the predetermined period of time is determined by user input.

38. The system of claim 34, further comprising voice mail circuitry coupled to the line unit for providing telecommunication messaging and answering for the corresponding communication having the second priority.

39. The system of claim 34, further comprising messaging circuitry coupled to the line unit for providing telecommunication messaging for the corresponding communication having the second priority.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor includes further instructions for maintaining the affinity database as an affinity stack.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher frequency of use.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the processor includes further instructions for clustering, in an upper portion of the affinity stack, any affinity numbers of the plurality of affinity numbers having a comparatively higher duration of use.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor includes further instructions for further determining, when the caller identification information is associated with an affinity number, whether the affinity number has a first affinity;

the processor including further instructions for assigning the first priority to the corresponding network communication when the affinity number has the first affinity, and for assigning a third priority to the corresponding network communication when the affinity number does not have the first affinity.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the system is embodied in a network switch.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the system is embodied in a central office.