Automatic telephone silent call screening system

• US 6,456,706 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carolyn S. Blood, Erwin K. Lohner
• Original Assignee: Carolyn S. Blood, Erwin K. Lohner
• Inventors: Blood, Carolyn S., Lohner, Erwin K.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEAVER, SCOTT LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US09/643,581
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.15, 379/88.16, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/88.28, 379/142, 379/167, 379/177, 379/201, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/214, 379/354, 379/355, 379/357, 379/373, 379/376, 379/37, 379/142.01, 379/167.01, 379/201.1, 379/188, 379/194, 379/199, 379/207.14, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/214.01, 379/355.02, 379/373.01, 379/376.02
• US Class Current: 379/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges

Abstract

A user programmable telephone call screening device which screens incoming telephone calls by comparing a caller'"'"'s identifying code to user programed codes and either diverting the call, without ringing the phone, to an answering device or ringing the phone for pickup by the intended recipient. The screening device is automatically deactivated to permit all incoming calls to ring through after an out going 911 or other user defined emergency call is made. The screening device also functions to permit the user to look up and automatically dial a call to phone numbers entered into the screening device'"'"'s memory by the user. The screening device'"'"'s programmable CPU and memory permit many functions to be incorporated into the device including, in-coming and out-going call blocking by area code, phone number and time of day, call forwarding, pager notification and recording out-going call information to permit the user to verify calls against telephone company billing records or for other purposes.

Claims

1. An improved screening device comprising

an input port for connecting to a telephone grid;

an output port for connecting to a telephone set;

a display panel;

a memory circuit;

a processing circuit connected to the input port, to the output port, to the display panel, and to the memory circuit, wherein the processing circuit screens incoming telephone calls upon being set to do so and wherein the processing circuit deactivates screening of incoming telephone calls based upon a corresponding setting followed by an activation of the setting;

wherein an emergency number is set in the processing circuit, wherein a telephone call called by a user of the telephone set made to the emergency number causes the processing circuit to deactivate the screening of connections to incoming telephone calls by activation of the setting.

2. The improved screening device according to claim 1 wherein the processing circuit further comprises a programmable caller identifier for screening one or more telephone lines.

3. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising non-volatile memory for storing caller identification codes.

4. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising a user activated automatic dialer.

5. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising an integral answering device.

6. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising one or more caller information display devices.

7. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising one or more visual ringing devices.

8. The improved screening device as described in claim 1 further comprising an integral communication port to connect to a separate computing device.

9. The improved screening device according to claim 1 for being installed in a computing device which is comprised of a programmable caller identifier 911 for screening one or more telephone lines.

10. The improved screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit accesses a database disposed in the memory circuit;

wherein a caller identifier number is associated with a certain telephone caller;

wherein the certain caller is associated with information disposed in the database upon incoming of the caller identifier number through the input port.

11. The improved screening device according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit accesses a database disposed in the memory circuit;

wherein a caller identifier number is associated with a certain telephone caller;

wherein the certain caller is enabled to ring through to the recipient upon an incoming of the caller identifier number through the input port.

12. The improved screening device according to claim 1, further comprising

a keyboard connected to the processing circuit.

17. The improved screening device as described in any of claims 2-8 or 9-16 which is further comprised of programmable additional features including variable ring selection, auto dial retry, call forwarding, call blocking, off site call back, pager notification, call audit, temporary caller identification(ID) and re-enter of identification codes.

18. The improved screening device as described in any of claims 2-8 or 9-16 which is further comprised of a removable programmable central processing unit (CPU) to provide for additional features.

13. An improved screening device comprising

an input port for connecting to a telephone grid;

an output port for connecting to a telephone set;

a display panel;

a memory circuit;

a processing circuit connected to the input port, to the output port, to the display panel, and to the memory circuit, wherein the processing circuit screens incoming telephone calls upon being set to do so and wherein the processing circuit deactivates screening of incoming telephone calls based upon a corresponding setting followed by an activation of the setting;

wherein an emergency number is set in the processing circuit, wherein a telephone call called by a user of the telephone set made to the emergency number causes the processing unit to deactivate the screening of connections to incoming telephone calls by activation of the setting;

and wherein the processing circuit then permits unrestricted callbacks after the placement of the emergency call by the user.

14. The improved screening device as described in claim 13 further comprising a user activated automatic dialer.

15. The improved screening device as described in claim 13 further comprising an integral voice messaging device.

16. The improved screening device as described in claim 13 which is further comprised of one or more visual ringing devices.

19. The improved screening device according to claim 13, further comprising

a keyboard connected to the processing circuit.

20. An improved screening device comprising

an input port for connecting to a telephone grid;

an output port for connecting to a telephone set;

a display panel;

a memory circuit;

a processing circuit connected to the input port, to the output port, to the display panel, and to the memory circuit, wherein the processing circuit screens incoming telephone calls upon being set to do so and wherein the processing circuit deactivates screening of incoming telephone calls based upon a corresponding setting followed by an activation of the setting;

wherein an emergency number is set in the processing circuit, wherein a telephone call called by a user of the telephone set made to the emergency number causes the processing unit to deactivate the screening of connections to incoming telephone calls by activation of the setting;

and wherein the processing circuit permits any recipient of the telephone call to the emergency number to call back without having to match numbers in any way with any listing of a police telephone number, a fire department telephone number, or an emergency telephone number disposed in the memory circuit.

21. An improved screening device comprising

an input port for connecting to a telephone grid;

an output port for connecting to a telephone set;

a display panel;

a memory circuit;

a processing circuit connected to the input port, to the output port, to the display panel, and to the memory circuit, wherein the processing circuit screens incoming telephone calls upon being set to do so and wherein the processing circuit deactivates screening of incoming telephone calls based upon a corresponding setting followed by an activation of the setting;

wherein an emergency number is set in the processing circuit, wherein a telephone call called by a user of the telephone set made to the emergency number causes the processing unit to deactivate the screening of connections to incoming telephone calls by activation of the setting;

and wherein the processing circuit permits any recipient of the telephone call to the emergency number to call back without having to bypass in any way a screening function of the processing circuit.