Call blocking system

• US 6,330,317 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1999
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gryphon Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: CallCompliancecom Incorporated (CallCompliance.com)
• Inventors: Garfinkel, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/435,955
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/196, 379/197, 379/198, 379/199, 379/200, 379/900
• US Class Current: 379/196
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• 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 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

The integration of various federally required and state mandated do-not-call lists for telemarketers into a system that automatically blocks outgoing calls from a number of companies (“Customer Companies”) taking into account factors such as preexisting customers which may legally be contacted is disclosed. The system reviews outgoing calls by a telemarketer, compares it to the general do-not-call lists and the specific customer company do-not-call list and override permitted call list to make a determination if the call should be completed. This integration is due to the incorporation of a general purpose computer in a central location that is connected to all the major telephone carriers switch cluster locations and operated by a service provider. The “do-not-call” database of originating/destination pairs, as well as the logic for blocking or permitting telephone calls, is stored in this computer. This computer makes all blocking decisions in real-time based on the originating and destination number combinations of the call.

Claims

1. A method for blocking outgoing telephone calls for a number of companies in accordance with one or more do-not-call lists comprising the steps of:

reviewing each outgoing telephone call to a telephone switch at a primary switch cluster of a telephone carrier to determine if the telephone call was made from a telephone subject to call blocking review;

holding calls subject to call blocking review while forwarding the origination/destination pair information corresponding to the originating telephone number or AuthCode and the destination telephone number to a control computer;

comparing the destination number to one or more lists of blocked telephone numbers, said lists having information relevant to more than one company; and

depending only on whether the origination/destination pair information appears on one or more of the lists, either blocking the telephone call at the switch or completing the call.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein each telephone number or AuthCode corresponding to an originating telephone placing a call subject to blocking review has a code associated with said number or AuthCode and the numbers on said list or lists being associated with said code so that a telephone number appearing on a do-not-call list will only block a call from a phone having the associated code.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the list or lists contain information for two or more groups of telephones from which call originate, each group with different identification codes.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein one of the lists is a list of blocked numbers compiled by an originating telephone group.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein one of the lists is a list of blocked numbers compiled by other than the originating telephone group.

6. A method according to claim 5 where a destination appears on a list compiled by other than the originating telephone group, the number may then be compared with an override list which would allow the call to be placed despite appearing on said list compiled by other than the caller.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the destination numbers on the override list are tagged by originating caller code and the do-not-call list compiled by other than a group is only overridden when the override number is tagged with the number of the originating caller code.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the do-not-call lists and the override lists for a group are updated by the caller through use of the Internet.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said telephone switch is a switch which accepts calls from a number of telephones only some of which are subject to call blocking review.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said telephone switch is a public switch operated by a common carrier.