Selective filtering of incoming telephone calls

• US 6,697,479 B1
• Filed: 10/12/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Colson, James C., Robbins, James Patrick, Barnes, Stacey Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Escalante, Ovidio
• Application Number:
  US09/415,718
• Time in Patent Office: 1,596 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/207.15, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/215.01, 379/350, 379/352, 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.06, 379/142.08, 379/210.02
• US Class Current: 379/215.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/10 Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/06 Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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

Abstract

Selective filtering of an incoming telephone call is provided wherein a caller ID information of a third party wishing to converse with a first party already engaged in conversation with a second party is retrieved. The priority level associated with the third party is then determined and compared to a priority level associated with the second party. In the event that the third party has a higher priority level than the second party, the first party is alerted to the occurrence of the incoming call. Alternatively, if the third party has a lower priority level than the second party, the incoming call to an alternate destination.

Claims

1. A method for providing to a first party engaged in a telephonic conversation with a second party and having a call-waiting function activated, selective filtering of an incoming telephone call from a third party which includes an associated call waiting signal, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a caller ID information of said third party;

determining a priority level associated with said third party;

comparing a priority level associated with said second party to said priority level of said third party, and

responsive to said third party having a lower priority level than said second party, suppressing said associated call waiting signal utilizing a suppression circuit at said first party'"'"'s location, otherwise alerting said first party to an occurrence of said incoming call.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of redirecting, in response to said third party having a lower priority level than said second party, said incoming call to an alternate destination.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein said alternate destination is a voicemail of said first party.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of alerting said first party to said incoming call includes enabling a call waiting function.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said priority level of said second party is defined by said first party during said telephonic conversation.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third parties are coupled to a telecommunication network that is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a packet network.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of alerting first party to said incoming call includes generating an audible tone.

8. A telephone apparatus for allowing a first party engaged in a telephonic conversation with a second party and having a call waiting function activated to selectively filter an incoming telephone call from a third party which includes an associated call waiting signal, said telephone apparatus comprising:

an incoming call detection circuit coupled to a telecommunication network for detecting and retrieving a caller ED information of said third party;

a memory device for storing data relating to assigned priority levels associated with a plurality of caller ID information corresponding to a plurality of calling parties;

a processor coupled to said incoming call detection circuit and said memory device for determining and comparing priority levels associated with said second and said third parties; and

a suppression circuit coupled to said processor, that suppresses said associated call waiting signal at said first party'"'"'s location in response to said third party having a lower priority than said second party.

9. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 8 further comprising switching means for redirecting, in response to said third party having a lower priority level than said second party, said incoming call to an alternate destination.

10. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said alternate destination is a voicemail of said first party.

11. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said suppression circuit includes a switch and a filter.

12. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said priority level of said second party is defined by said first party during said telephonic conversation.

13. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said telecommunication network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a packet network.

14. The telephone apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said suppression circuit includes an audible tone generator.

15. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions for implementing a method for providing to a first party engaged in a telephonic convention with a second party and having a call waiting function activated, selective filtering of an incoming telephone call from a third party which includes an associated call waiting signal, said computer executable instructions when executed, perform the steps of;

retrieving a caller ID information of said third party;

determining a priority level associated with said third party;

comparing a priority level associated with said second party to said priority level of said third party, and

responsive to said third party having a lower priority level than said second party, suppressing said associated call waiting signal utilizing a suppression circuit at said first party'"'"'s location, otherwise alerting said first party to an occurrence of said incoming call.

16. The computer executable instructions as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of redirecting, in response to said third party having a lower priority level than said second party, said incoming call to an alternate destination.

17. The computer executable instructions as recited in claim 16 wherein said alternate destination is a voicemail of said first party.

18. The computer executable instructions as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of alerting said first party to said incoming call includes enabling a call waiting function.

19. The computer executable instructions as recited in claim 15 wherein said priority level of said second party is defined by said first party during said telephonic conversation.

20. The computer executable instructions as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of alerting said first party to said incoming call includes generating an audible tone.