Adaptive call screening method
First Claim
1. A telephone having call-screening capabilities, comprising:
- a. a memory for storing call-screening data used by said telephone to screen incoming calls from selected numbers;
b. programmable logic for automatically updating said call-screening data when a call is made to a previously screened number so that calls from said previously screened number will be accepted.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone having call-screening capabilities includes a memory for storing call-screening data. The call-screening data is used by the telephone to screen incoming calls. Incoming calls can be accepted, rejected, or diverted based on the call-screening data stored in memory. The call-screening data is automatically updated when a call is made to a previously screened number provided that certain predetermined conditions are satisfied, so that calls can be received from the previously screened number. Updates may be made, for example, when the call to the previously screened number is unanswered, when it is diverted to a recording device, or when the call is made to a number from which a previously screened call was made. The phone can be programmed so that updates automatically expire after a predetermined time period has elapsed.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A telephone having call-screening capabilities, comprising:
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a. a memory for storing call-screening data used by said telephone to screen incoming calls from selected numbers;
b. programmable logic for automatically updating said call-screening data when a call is made to a previously screened number so that calls from said previously screened number will be accepted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A call screening method for a telephone having call-screening capability, comprising:
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a. storing call-screening data in a memory;
b. screening incoming calls to said telephone based on said call-screening data so that calls from selected numbers are screened;
c. updating said call-screening data in response to a call being made to a screened number so that calls can be received from said screened number. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification