Method and apparatus for providing call screening on cordless telephone equipment using three-way calling

• US 6,389,293 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Terrestrial Comms LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cidco Communications Corporation (Hopto Inc.)
• Inventors: Anglikowski, Ronald E., Jensen, Mark C., Eisenloeffel, William, Sieffert, James E., Clore, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/568,530
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 455/462, 455/412, 455/413, 455/444, 455/415, 455/426, 455/194.1, 379/102, 379/188, 379/100.16, 379/93.33, 379/217
• US Class Current: 455/462
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party service or three-way call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A cordless telephone includes a ring detector state machine module to facilitate the answering of a call received at the cordless telephone. A screening state machine module enables three-way connection and aural monitoring of the incoming call on the cordless telephone.

Claims

1. A memory to provide a cordless telephone used by a called party with a call screening function, the memory comprising:

instructions for receiving an incoming telephone call from a calling party;

instructions for connecting the incoming telephone call to a voicemail service of the called party;

instructions for establishing a three-way connection between the calling party, the called party, and the voicemail service;

instructions for muting the cordless telephone so that the called party may listen as the calling party leaves a message on the voicemail service without the calling party having knowledge that the called party is listening; and

instructions for providing a two-way connection between the calling party and the called party upon interception of the incoming telephone call by the called party,

wherein the instructions for receiving, connecting, establishing, and muting are configured to execute without human intervention.

2. A method for screening an incoming telephone call received by a called party on a cordless telephone, comprising:

receiving an incoming telephone call from a calling party;

connecting the incoming telephone call to a voicemail service of the called party;

establishing a three-way connection between the calling party, the called party, and the voicemail service;

muting the cordless telephone so that the called party may listen as the calling party leaves a message on the voicemail service without the calling party having knowledge that the called party is listening; and

providing a two-way connection between the calling party and the called party upon interception of the incoming telephone call by the called party,

wherein the receiving, connecting, establishing, and muting are executed without human intervention.