Call prevention device and method

• US 6,839,414 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enzmann, Mark J., Zellner, Samuel N., Moton, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, QUOC DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/044,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/142.08, 379/188, 379/191, 379/196, 379/197, 379/199, 379/200, 379/207.13, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/211.01, 379/213.01, 379/215.01, 379/114.14, 379/139, 379/137, 379/70, 379/88.11, 379/88.19, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 379/93.02, 379/93.03, 379/93.04, 379/93.23, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412, 455/414, 455/415, 455/417
• US Class Current: 379/142.06
• 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 1/64 Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations centralised dictation systems H04M11/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• 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 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

A call prevention device. The device includes a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party. The device also includes a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value.

Claims

1. A call prevention device, comprising:

a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party to a called party; and

a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data, wherein the caller profile includes caller ID information relating to at least one prior calling party that has placed a call to the called party, and wherein the caller ID information relating to the at least one prior calling party has been collected from the call that the at least one prior calling party has placed to the called party, and the processing unit for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value, wherein the message includes an audible warning that includes at least the caller ID data and the total call value.

2. A call prevention device, comprising:

a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication network before a connection is established when a call is made by a calling party; and

a processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user defined value, wherein the message includes an audible warning that includes at least the caller ID data and the total call value.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing unit is further for allowing the call to proceed to a call connecting device when the call total value does not exceed the user defined value.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the call connecting device includes a telephone set.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the call connecting device includes a computer.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the caller ID data include at least a caller name and a caller number.

7. The device of claim 2, further comprising an accepted caller database for permitting a call from an accepted caller to bypass routing of the processing unit so as to continue the call through a connecting device.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing unit is further for supplementing the caller profile with the caller ID data.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the connecting device includes a telephone set.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the connecting device includes a computer.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing unit is further for disconnecting the call after the audible warning is issued to the calling party.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing unit is further for transferring the call to an answering device if a connection is not established.

13. The device of claim 2, further comprising a messaging unit.