System and method for restricting incoming calls

• US 7,139,382 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Benjamin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/237,486
• Time in Patent Office: 1,534 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.03, 379/142.06, 37922108-22111, 379/142.02, 379/210.02, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 379/210.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/62 based on trigger specification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• 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: H04Q 3/0029 Provisions for intelligent networking

Abstract

A method for restricting the completion of a call made to a subscriber is disclosed. The method includes activating a termination attempt trigger, requesting call-processing instructions in response to detection of the activated termination attempt trigger, receiving call-processing instructions, and redirecting the call responsive to the call-processing instructions.

Claims

1. A method for restricting the completion of a call made to a subscriber, the method comprising:

activating a termination attempt trigger;

requesting from a switch a call-processing instruction in response to detection of the activated termination attempt trigger by sending a first query and requesting from the switch a call completion by sending a second query once the call is returned to the switch after the first query;

determining at a controller receiving the requests a proper call-processing instruction by determining whether a call restriction is activated for the called number and determining whether the calling number is exempt and determining at the controller in response to the second query whether an override code is valid where the calling number is not exempt and override code is provided;

receiving the call-processing instructions;

in response to the calling number not being exempt, redirecting the call responsive to the call-processing instructions to an intelligent peripheral so that the redirected call may be queried for an override code and providing the call back to the switch upon receiving the valid override code;

in response to the controller determining that a predefined number of attempts to provide the valid override code have been unsuccessful, canceling the call; and

in response to the controller determining that the valid override code has been provided within the predetermined number of attempts, then completing the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the termination attempt trigger includes receiving the call at a service switching point associated with the subscriber.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the termination attempt trigger includes activating a termination attempt trigger provisioned to a local loop associated with the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein requesting call-processing instructions includes:

assembling an information-collected message; and

transmitting a query message.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the query message includes transmitting the information-collected message.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the query message includes transmitting the query message to a service control point.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein transmitting the query message includes transmitting the query message to a service control point via out-of-band signaling.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting the query message to the service control point via out-of-band signaling includes transmitting the query message to the service control point using the signaling system seven (SS7) signaling protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving call-processing instructions includes:

generating a response message; and

receiving the response message.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein generating the response message includes generating an analyze-route message at a service control point.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the response message includes receiving the response message at a service switching point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the response message at the service switching point includes receiving an analyze-route message transmitted from a service control point.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the response message at the service switching point includes receiving a call forward instruction transmitted from a service control point.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the response message at the service switching point includes receiving the response message from a service control point via out-of-band signaling.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein redirecting the call includes redirecting the call to an intelligent peripheral.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein redirecting the call to an intelligent peripheral includes redirecting the call to a compact service node.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a connection between the intelligent peripheral and a calling party; and

playing an announcement.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a response from the calling party;

determining whether the response indicates a request to be connected to a voice mailbox; and

redirecting the call to a voice mailbox.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving a response from the calling party;

determining whether the response represents a valid service override code; and

redirecting the call to the service switching point.

20. A system for restricting the completion of a call made to a subscriber, the system comprising:

means for detecting an activated termination attempt trigger;

means for requesting call-processing instructions in response to detection of the activated termination attempt trigger by sending a first query and for requesting call completion by sending a second query;

controller means for determining a proper call-processing instruction upon receiving the first query by determining whether that a call restriction is activated for the called number and determining whether the calling number is exempt,

for redirecting the call responsive to the call-processing instructions in response to the calling number not being exempt so that the redirected call may be queried for an override code, and for determining whether the override code is valid and for completing the call from the switch when the override code is upon receiving the second query;

intelligent peripheral means for prompting for entry of the override code, for returning the call to the means for requesting upon receiving the override code within a predefined number of attempts to provide a valid override code, and

for redirecting the call again to voicemail in response to the valid override code not being provided within the predetermined number of attempts.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a first query;

in response to the first query, determine whether a call restriction service is enabled;

in response to determining that the call restriction service is enabled, determine whether a telephone number associated with a calling party is an exempt telephone number;

in response to determining that the telephone number is not exempt, generate call-processing instructions that include directing the call to an intelligent peripheral so that the calling party is queried for an override code in response to the calling party not being an exempt telephone number;

in response to an override code being provided to the intelligent peripheral and the intelligent peripheral transferring the override code, determining whether the transferred override code is valid within a predefined number of attempts to provide the valid override code;

in response to determining that the valid override code has been provided within the predetermined number of attempts to provide the valid override code, then completing the call; and

terminating the call in response to the valid override call not being provided within the predetermined number of attempts.