Database service for telemarketers to screen and block selected telecommunication messages
First Claim
1. A system for providing an updated database service to be available to third party subscribers, including maintaining a listing of undesirable destinations, said system comprising:
- a directory identifying the third party subscribers to the updated database service;
a database for listing the undesirable destinations, said database accessible to the third party subscribers; and
a switch device connected to said database to disable any particular telecommunication initiated by a communication sender on behalf of a third party subscriber that is directed to an undesirable destination listed in the database,wherein said switch device adds a code identifier to the telecommunication, said code identifier preventing completion of a telecommunication to an undesirable destination listed in the database.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for screening and blocking certain telecommunications sent via a communication network by telemarketers or other message senders is disclosed. This service is provided to subscribing parties that initiate the telecommunications. A periodically updated “do-not-contact” database is incorporated in cooperation with network nodes to block screened messages from being delivered to an intended destination that is listed in the database. Screening and blocking can be accomplished on the customer premises or at a network node shared with non-subscribing parties. The network node ignores messages sent from non-subscribing parties. Various marking or screening techniques can be used to identify those telecommunication messages sent from or on behalf of subscribing message senders. Blocking is accomplished by various techniques including audio disconnect instructions routed back to a human agent, or actuating coded signals to automatically cancel delivery in accordance with the updated database.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for providing an updated database service to be available to third party subscribers, including maintaining a listing of undesirable destinations, said system comprising:
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a directory identifying the third party subscribers to the updated database service; a database for listing the undesirable destinations, said database accessible to the third party subscribers; and a switch device connected to said database to disable any particular telecommunication initiated by a communication sender on behalf of a third party subscriber that is directed to an undesirable destination listed in the database, wherein said switch device adds a code identifier to the telecommunication, said code identifier preventing completion of a telecommunication to an undesirable destination listed in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system for providing an updated database service to be available to third party subscribers, including maintaining a listing of undesirable destinations, said system comprising:
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a directory identifying the third party subscribers to the updated database service; a database for listing the undesirable destinations, said database accessible to the third party subscribers; and a switch device connected to said database to disable any particular telecommunication initiated by a communication sender on behalf of a third party subscriber that is directed to an undesirable destination listed in the database, wherein said database comprises a do-not-contact list.
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9. A method of blocking certain telecommunications sent via a communication network by telemarketers that subscribe to a “
- do-not-contact”
database service, said method comprising;maintaining a directory of the subscribing telemarketers; identifying at a network node selected telecommunication messages transmitted from said subscribing telemarketers; screening all such selected telecommunication messages to compare an intended destination with a database of “
do-not-contact”
destinations; andblocking screened messages from being delivered to an intended destination that is listed on said database. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- do-not-contact”
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15. A method of preventing delivery of certain telecommunications in a communication network comprising:
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initiating a telecommunication message on behalf of a sender for transmission via the communication network to a proposed destination address; screening the telecommunication message at a network node to compare the proposed destination address with a periodically updated database of undesirable destination addresses; taking remedial action to prevent delivery of a selected telecommunication message having the proposed destination address listed on said periodically updated database; providing a directory listing of subscribing message senders; identifying particular telecommunication messages transmitted from said subscribing message senders; performing said screening and said remedial action only with respect to said particular telecommunication messages from said subscribing message senders; and maintaining a common periodically updated database of “
do-not-contact”
destination addresses, said common updated database accessible to said subscribing message senders. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for providing an updated “
- do-not-contact”
database service available to third party subscribers sending telecommunications via a communications network, comprising;a periodically updated database for listing the “
do-not-contact”
destinations;a node for receiving and forwarding selected telecommunications from a third party subscriber along the communications network to a proposed destination address, said node having access to said database for comparing the proposed destination address with the “
do-not-contact”
destinations in said database; andblocking means for preventing delivery of said selected telecommunications to any “
do-not-contact”
destinations in said database. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- do-not-contact”
Specification