System and method for privacy management

• US 6,876,735 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• 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., Hill, Nicholas P., Simpson, Anita H., Hussain, Aamir M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/402,947
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 379/207.02, 379/229, 379/230, 379/142.05, 379/196
• US Class Current: 379/207.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2027 Live party detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/654 Pre, in or post-call message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• 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 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

An advanced intelligent network telephone system for terminating calls to subscribers to a privacy screening service, when the calling party has a private telephone number. Privacy screening services allow a subscriber to manage and monitor incoming telephone calls, such that unwanted calls are not terminated to the subscriber. When a calling party dials the telephone number of a subscriber to a privacy screening service, the system manages the call according to whether the calling party number is known and public, known and private, or unknown. If the calling party number is known and public, the call is routed to the subscriber. If the calling party is known and private, the call is routed to a service node, which plays an announcement to the calling party, asking the calling party for permission to override his or her privacy. If the calling party agrees, the service node dials a customized dialing plan (CDP) code that triggers an info analyzed query from the service node'"'"'s service switching point (SSP) to a service control point (SCP). If the calling party is unknown, the service node asks the calling party to record his or her name. If the calling party records his or her name, the service node dials a CDP code, that triggers an info analyzed query to the SCP.

Claims

1. A privacy management system that permits a subscriber to screen calls made to the subscriber, comprising:

a first service switching point connected to a subscriber telephone that receives a telephone call from a calling party, the telephone call intended for the subscriber, and in response to the telephone call initiates a query to determine whether the call is from a public telephone number, a private telephone number, or an unknown telephone number;

a second service switching point connected to a service node and the first service switching point;

a service control point in communication with the first and second service switching points that receives the query and responds to the query;

means for routing the telephone call to the service node with a telephone number associated with the subscriber in a re-directing party field;

means for placing a calling party number in a calling party field; and

means for redefining the calling party number as public,

wherein when the telephone call is from the public telephone number, the telephone call is forwarded directly to the subscriber, and optionally when the telephone call is from the private telephone number or the unknown telephone number the telephone call is directed to the service node through the second service switching point, wherein the service node requests from the calling party whether calling party information may be forwarded to the subscriber before forwarding the telephone call to the subscriber, and if authorized provides that calling party information from the service control point, wherein the system is configured for preserving and delivering the calling party number from a private calling party to the subscriber.

2. A privacy management system that permits a subscriber to screen calls made to the subscriber, comprising:

a first service switching point connected to a subscriber telephone that receives a telephone call from a calling party, the telephone call intended for the subscriber, and in response to the telephone call initiates a query to determine whether the call is from a public telephone number, a private telephone number, or an unknown telephone number;

a second service switching point connected to a service node and the first service switching point;

a service control point in communication with the first and second service switching points that receives the query and responds to the query;

means for routing the telephone call to the service node with a telephone number associated with the subscriber in a re-directing party field;

means for placing a calling party number in a calling party field;

means for redefining the calling party number as public; and

means for revising a calling party presentation indicator to redefine the calling party number as public,

wherein when the telephone call is from the public telephone number, the telephone call is forwarded directly to the subscriber, and optionally when the telephone call is from the private telephone number or the unknown telephone number the telephone call is directed to the service node through the second service switching point, wherein the service node requests from the calling party whether calling party information may be forwarded to the subscriber before forwarding the telephone call to the subscriber, and if authorized provides that calling party information from the service control point, wherein the system is configured for preserving and delivering the calling party number from a private calling party to the subscriber.

3. A privacy management system for controlling a telephone call from a calling party to a subscriber, the system comprising:

a first service switching point connected to a subscriber telephone;

a second service switching point connected to a service node and to the first service switching point;

means for determining whether the telephone call is from a public number, a private number, or an unknown number;

means for forwarding that telephone call directly to the subscriber when the telephone call is determined to be from the public number;

means for directing the telephone call to the service node through the second service switching point when the telephone call is determined to be from the private or the unknown telephone number;

means for requesting authorization from the calling party before forwarding the telephone call to the subscriber;

means for preserving a calling party number comprising;

means for routing the telephone call from a service control point to the service node with the number associated with the subscriber telephone in a redirecting party field,

means for placing a calling party number in a calling party field, and

means for re-writing a calling party presentation indicator to redefine the calling party number as public; and

means for providing the calling party number to the subscriber if authorized;

wherein when the telephone call is from the private number, the system is configured for preserving the calling party number and terminating the telephone call to the subscriber.

4. A method for managing privacy by controlling calls received by a subscriber, the method comprising:

receiving a call from a calling party number directed to the subscriber;

determining whether the call is from a public number, a private number, or an unknown number;

forwarding the call directly to the subscriber if the call is from the public number;

inquiring permission from the calling party to forward private number information to the subscriber if the call is from a private number, wherein, if the call is from the private number, the system preserves the calling party number for presentation to the subscriber;

or

requesting identification information from the calling party to forward to the subscriber if the call is from an unknown number,

wherein, if the call is from the private number, a service control point routes the call to a service node with the number associated with the subscriber telephone in a redirecting party field, the calling party number in a calling party field, and a calling party presentation indicator redefining the calling party number as public.