Wireless communication device with call screening
First Claim
1. A method for providing a screening list for a cellular communication device specifying calling party numbers and associated call handling, comprising:
- receiving the screening list via a wireline communication channel from a personal computer at a subscriber'"'"'s premises, wherein said screening list is configured or updated from said personal computer;
if the cellular communication device is active and registered with a telecommunications network, delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device via a wireless communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device automatically responds to incoming calls in accordance with the screening list; and
otherwise, storing the screening list in a database of the telecommunications network until the cellular communication device is active and registered with the telecommunications network.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cellular telephone maintains a screening list of calling party numbers, and specifies call handling therefor. A mobile switching center is responsive to selected types of the specified call handling. The call handling can depend on whether the call is local or non-local, which is affected by the location of the cellular telephone. The call handling can also depend on the time at which the call is made. A subscriber updates his or her screening list via personal computer, and transmits via a communication network the updated screening list to a message center which sends the updated screening list to the cellular telephone via wireless communication. A calling party number can be specified as a wildcard.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method for providing a screening list for a cellular communication device specifying calling party numbers and associated call handling, comprising:
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receiving the screening list via a wireline communication channel from a personal computer at a subscriber'"'"'s premises, wherein said screening list is configured or updated from said personal computer;
if the cellular communication device is active and registered with a telecommunications network, delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device via a wireless communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device automatically responds to incoming calls in accordance with the screening list; and
otherwise, storing the screening list in a database of the telecommunications network until the cellular communication device is active and registered with the telecommunications network.
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2. A cellular communication device that uses a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the cellular communication device including:
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a processor for;
(a) when the cellular communication device is active and registered, coordinating reception of the screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device, and (b) coordinating call handling for an incoming call in accordance with the screening list; and
a memory for storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies the call handling. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a cellular communication device, a method of using a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the method comprising:
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when the cellular communication device is active and registered, receiving a screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device;
storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies call handling;
receiving incoming call information relating to an incoming call;
comparing the incoming call information with the screening list; and
responding to the incoming call in accordance with the screening list. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A telecommunications network comprising:
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a first network element for receiving and storing a screening list for a subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling for the subscriber, wherein the first network element receives the screening list over a first communication channel from a computing device of the subscriber, and wherein the first network element stores the screening list for delivery to a cellular communication device of the subscriber when the cellular communication device is active and registered; and
a second network element for delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of providing a screening list to a cellular communication device of a subscriber, the method comprising:
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receiving a screening list for a subscriber from a computing device of the subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling; and
if the cellular communication device is active and registered, transmitting the screening list to the cellular communication device over a communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, thereby enabling the cellular communication device to direct handling of incoming calls in accordance with the screening list stored in the cellular communication device, otherwise, storing the screening list in a network element for delivery of the screening list to the cellular communication device over the communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device programmed thereby to perform a method of providing a screening list, the method comprising:
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receiving input indicating call handling for a screening list for a cellular communication device of a subscriber;
formatting the screening list for transmission over a first communication channel; and
transmitting the screening list over the first communication channel, wherein a network element stores the screening list if necessary until the cellular communication device is active and registered, whereupon the screening list is delivered to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification