Call screening method and apparatus

• US 6,807,256 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holt, Scott C., Laster, M. Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AGDEPPA, HECTOR A
• Application Number:
  US09/530,124
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88-1-, 379/142.01, 455/415, 455/445, 455/567
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller'"'"'s identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.

Claims

1. A process for screening an incoming call from an incoming caller wherein the apparatus for carrying out the process comprises a mobile station and a service provider, said process comprising the following steps of:

receiving at the mobile station the incoming call from the incoming caller;

responsive to receiving the incoming call at the mobile station, further including the steps of;

sending communication from the incoming caller to the service provider regarding the incoming caller;

sending communication from the service provider to the mobile station regarding the incoming caller;

wherein said communication comprises audio; and

selecting one of a set comprising (1) accepting the incoming call and (2) rejecting the incoming call.

14. The process of claim 1, said process further comprising the steps of:

at the mobile station, initiating a timer, wherein the timer expires a predetermined amount of time after initiation; and

responsive to the timer expiring, selecting one of a set comprising;

(1) disconnecting the incoming call, (2) stopping a ringer in the mobile telephone from ringing, and (3) rejecting the incoming call.

2. A process for screening an incoming call from an incoming caller, wherein the process is implemented in a mobile station, said process comprising the following steps of:

a) receiving an incoming call from an incoming caller;

responsive to receiving the incoming call, further including the steps of;

b) placing said incoming caller on hold;

c) communicating with a service provider;

d) placing the service provider and the incoming caller on multi-party hold; and

e) signalling the service provider to begin screening.

3. The process of claim 2, said process further comprising the following step:

f) receiving communication from the service provider indicating information received from the incoming caller.

4. The process of claim 3, said process further comprising the following step:

g) selecting one of a set comprising (1) accepting the call and (2) rejecting the call.

5. The process of claim 4, said process further comprising the following steps:

h) in the event that accepting the call was selected in step g), disconnecting communication with the service provider; and

i) in the event that rejecting the call was selected in step g), signalling the service provider that the service provider should handle the incoming call.

15. The process of claim 2, said process further comprising the steps of:

initiating a timer, wherein the timer expires a predetermined amount of time after initiation; and

responsive to the timer expiring, selecting one of a set comprising;

(1) disconnecting the incoming call, (2) stopping the mobile telephone from ringing, and (3) rejecting the incoming call.

16. The process of claim 15, said process further comprising the steps of:

prior to initiating the timer, calling the service provider;

prior to the timer expiring, receiving a message from the service provider responsive to calling the service provider;

prior to the timer expiring, selecting one of a set comprising;

(1) disconnecting the incoming call, and (2) stopping the timer responsive to the message from the service provider; and

responsive to stopping the timer, putting the incoming caller and the service provider in a multi-party hold.

6. A process for screening an incoming call from an incoming caller, wherein the process is implemented in a service provider, said process comprising the following steps of:

a) receiving communication from a mobile station indicating a desire to connect, responsive to the mobile station receiving an incoming call from an incoming caller;

b) connecting with the mobile station;

c) receiving communication from the mobile station to begin screening the incoming call from the incoming caller;

d) collecting information regarding the incoming caller; and

e) communicating information collected in step d) to the mobile station.

7. The process of claim 6, said process further comprising the following step:

f) receiving communication from the mobile station indicating further action desired by a user of the mobile station.

8. The process of claim 7, said process further comprising the following step:

g) communicating the further action desired by the mobile station'"'"'s user to the mobile station.

9. The process of claim 8, said process further comprising the following step:

h) in the event that the communication received in step f) indicates a desire to accept the call, disconnecting communication with the mobile station.

10. The process of claim 9, said process further comprising the following step:

i) in the event that the communication received in step f) indicates a desire to reject the call, prompting the incoming caller for information.

11. The process of claim 10, said process further comprising the following step:

j) disconnecting communication with the mobile station.

17. The process of claim 6, said process further comprising the steps of:

initiating a timer, wherein the timer expires a predetermined amount of time after initiation; and

responsive to the timer expiring, disconnecting the incoming call.

18. The process of claim 17, said process further comprising the steps of

prior to the timer expiring, providing the mobile station with a screening message;

prior to the timer expiring, receiving a message from the mobile station responsive to providing the mobile station with the screening message;

prior to the timer expiring, selecting one of a set comprising;

(1) signalling the incoming caller that the incoming call was rejected, and (2) signalling the mobile station that the incoming call was accepted.

12. A process for screening an incoming call from an incoming caller wherein the apparatus for carrying out the process comprises a mobile station and a service provider, said process comprising the following steps of:

a) receiving at the mobile station an incoming call from an incoming caller;

b) at the mobile station, placing said incoming caller on hold;

c) sending communication from the mobile station to a service provider indicating a desire to connect;

d) receiving communication at the service provider from the mobile station indicating a desire to connect;

e) connecting the mobile station and the service provider;

f) placing the service provider and the incoming caller on multi-party hold;

g) sending communication to the service provider from the mobile station signalling the service provider to begin screening;

h) receiving communication from the mobile station at the service provider signalling the service provider to begin screening;

i) collecting information from the incoming caller;

j) sending communication regarding information collected in step i) from the service provider to the mobile station;

k) receiving communication from the service provider to the mobile station regarding information collected in step i);

l) selecting one of a set comprising (1) accepting the call and (2) rejecting the call;

m) in the event that accepting the call was selected in step l), disconnecting the connection between the service provider and the mobile station; and

n) in the event that rejecting the call was selected in step l), signalling the service provider that the service provider should handle the incoming call.

13. Apparatus for screening an incoming call for use in cellular telecommunications, said apparatus comprising:

a service provider;

and a mobile station adapted to receive an incoming call, the mobile station programmed to connect with the service provider responsive to receiving the incoming call;

wherein said service provider is programmed to collect information regarding an incoming caller'"'"'s identification and to communicate at least part of said information to said mobile station;

and wherein said mobile station is programmed to receive communications from said service provider regarding said information and to communicate said information to a user of said mobile station,

wherein said information comprises audio;

whereby said user can select one of a set comprising (1) accepting the incoming call and (2) rejecting the incoming call.