System and method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone
First Claim
1. A method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone, wherein the call interruptions are produced by a caller placing a call to the telephone, the method comprising:
- the telephone storing a list of exception parties to a no-call feature prior to receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone determining if a no-call feature is enabled;
the telephone determining if the caller is one of the exception parties by comparing the identity of the caller to the list of exception parties;
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is one of the exception parties, the telephone generating a ring signal in response to the telephone call even though the no-call feature is enabled; and
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is not one of the exception parties, the telephone;
answering said telephone call prior to the telephone ringing; and
playing a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken, wherein the telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the telephone call.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises an improved telephone system and method that reduce call interruptions to a telephone, i.e., reduce interruptions caused by a caller placing a call to the telephone. If the no-call feature is enabled and a call is received by the telephone, the telephone answers the incoming telephone call in response to receiving the telephone call. The telephone then plays a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken. The telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the incoming telephone call. The telephone does not generate an audible ring signal in response to the telephone call received from the caller. The telephone system further comprises an exemption logic unit for allowing calls placed by certain callers to come through even when the no-call feature is enabled. The user indicates the exception parties to the no-call feature prior to receiving a call from an external party or at a later time. If the caller is determined to be an exception party after a telephone call is received, a ring signal is generated, and the user may then answer the call in a normal fashion. Several methods are used to determine whether the caller is an exception party. In one method, the voice of the caller is analyzed using voice recognition techniques to determine the identity of the caller. Alternatively, a caller is asked to enter a personal identification number. Upon entering the correct identification number, the call is allowed through. A third method of identifying the caller comprises using information obtained from a Caller ID unit.
80 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone, wherein the call interruptions are produced by a caller placing a call to the telephone, the method comprising:
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the telephone storing a list of exception parties to a no-call feature prior to receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone determining if a no-call feature is enabled;
the telephone determining if the caller is one of the exception parties by comparing the identity of the caller to the list of exception parties;
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is one of the exception parties, the telephone generating a ring signal in response to the telephone call even though the no-call feature is enabled; and
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is not one of the exception parties, the telephone;
answering said telephone call prior to the telephone ringing; and
playing a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken, wherein the telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone, wherein the call interruptions are produced by a caller placing a call to the telephone, the method comprising:
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the telephone storing a list of non-exception parties to a no-call feature prior to receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone receiving the telephone call from the caller;
the telephone determining if a no-call feature is enabled;
the telephone determining if the caller is one of the non-exception parties by comparing the identity of the caller to the list of non-exception parties;
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is not one of the non-exception parties, the telephone generating a ring signal in response to the telephone call even though the no-call feature is enabled; and
if the no-call feature is enabled and if the caller is one of the non-exception parties, the telephone;
answering said telephone call prior to the telephone ringing; and
playing a message to the caller indicating that no calls are being taken, wherein the telephone plays the message after the telephone answers the telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A telephone, comprising:
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a microphone for transmitting a user'"'"'s voice to a caller;
a speaker for transmitting the caller'"'"'s voice to the user;
a ringer for sounding a telephone ring to alert the user to incoming calls;
exception logic configured to store a list of exception parties and to determine if incoming calls are from an exception party by comparing the identity of the caller to the list of exception parties;
a no-call logic unit coupled to a telephone line, wherein if a no-call feature is enabled, said no-call logic unit answers all incoming calls that are not from an exception party and plays a no-call message to the caller and disables the ringer from sounding the telephone ring; and
wherein if the no-call feature is not enabled or if an incoming call is from an exception party, the no-call logic does not answer the incoming call and causes the ringer to sound the telephone ring to alert the user so that the user may converse with the caller through the microphone and speaker. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification