System and method for privacy screening
First Claim
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1. A method of connecting a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
- receiving a call from a calling party;
determining that the calling party is calling from a private number, wherein a private number of a calling party is one where the private number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified;
determining that the called party has a privacy screening service engaged;
comparing one or more identifiers of the calling party with information in a database; and
connecting the call of the calling party if one of the identifier(s) corresponds to the information in the database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy screening service engaged. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party'"'"'s call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.
68 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method of connecting a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
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receiving a call from a calling party; determining that the calling party is calling from a private number, wherein a private number of a calling party is one where the private number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified; determining that the called party has a privacy screening service engaged; comparing one or more identifiers of the calling party with information in a database; and connecting the call of the calling party if one of the identifier(s) corresponds to the information in the database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method by which a communications network manages a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
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receiving information from the called party prior to receiving the call from the calling party; storing the information in a database; receiving the call from the calling party; receiving one or more identifiers of the calling party; determining that the calling party is calling from a private number, wherein a private number of a calling party is one where the private number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified; determining that the called party has a privacy screening service engaged; determining a disposition preference for the call by comparing one or more of the identifier(s) of the calling party with information in the database; and disposing of the call according to the disposition preference. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method by which a communications network manages a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
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receiving one or more phone numbers prior to receiving the call from the calling party; receiving the call from the calling party; determining that the calling party is calling from a private phone number, wherein a private telephone number of a calling party is one where the private telephone number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified; receiving the calling party private phone number; determining that the called party has a privacy screening service engaged; determining a disposition preference for the call by comparing the calling-party private phone number with the one or more phone numbers; and disposing of the call according to the disposition preference. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification