Method for restricting calls to a cell phone
First Claim
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1. A method for restricting calls between a first phone and a second phone, the second phone being a cell phone, comprising:
- receiving restriction information of the cell phone;
testing an incoming call to the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone;
if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call to the cell phone is restricted, routing the incoming call to a voicemail system, wherein routing is accomplished without disturbing a call recipient with the incoming call;
if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call to the cell phone is not restricted, connecting the incoming call;
testing an outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; and
preventing the outgoing call made from the cell phone from being connected when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone is restricted,wherein the restriction information is configurable by a subscriber to cell phone service for the cell phone for restricting incoming calls placed to the cell phone and for restricting outgoing calls placed from the cell phone.
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Abstract
The present invention is a method for restricting calls to a cell phone, including the steps of: receiving restriction information; testing an incoming call to the cell phone against the restriction information; and, if testing determines that the incoming call is restricted, routing the incoming call to a voice mail system, wherein routing is accomplished without disturbing a call recipient with the incoming call; or, if testing determines that the incoming call is not restricted, connecting the incoming call.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for restricting calls between a first phone and a second phone, the second phone being a cell phone, comprising:
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receiving restriction information of the cell phone; testing an incoming call to the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call to the cell phone is restricted, routing the incoming call to a voicemail system, wherein routing is accomplished without disturbing a call recipient with the incoming call; if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call to the cell phone is not restricted, connecting the incoming call; testing an outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; and preventing the outgoing call made from the cell phone from being connected when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone is restricted, wherein the restriction information is configurable by a subscriber to cell phone service for the cell phone for restricting incoming calls placed to the cell phone and for restricting outgoing calls placed from the cell phone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A program within a computer-readable medium for restricting calls between a first phone and a second phone, the second phone being a cell phone, comprising:
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instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to receive restriction information of the cell phone; instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to test an incoming call made to the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to prevent the incoming call made to the cell phone from being connected if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call is restricted; instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to connect the incoming call made to the cell phone if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the incoming call made to the cell phone is not restricted; instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to test an outgoing call made from the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; instructions within the computer-readable medium for causing the computer to prevent the outgoing call made from the cell phone from being connected if testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the outgoing call is restricted, wherein the restriction information is configurable by a subscriber to cell phone service for the cell phone for restricting incoming calls placed to the cell phone and for restricting outgoing calls placed from the cell phone. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing a service to restrict calls between a first phone and a second phone, the second phone being a cell phone, comprising:
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receiving restriction information of the cell phone; receiving an incoming telephone call placed to the cell phone; testing the incoming telephone call placed to the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone to determine if the incoming call placed to the cell phone was placed during a restricted period; connecting the incoming call when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone results in a determination that the incoming call placed to the cell phone was not placed during a restricted period; when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone results in a determination that the incoming telephone call placed to the cell phone was placed during a restricted period, further testing the incoming telephone call placed to the cell phone against the restriction information of the cell phone to determine if the incoming call placed to the cell phone originated from a non-restricted number; when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone results in a determination that the incoming telephone call placed to the cell phone originated from a non-restricted number, connecting the incoming call placed to the cell phone; when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone results in a determination the incoming call placed to the cell phone did not originate from a non-restricted number, routing the call as specified in the restriction information without disturbing a called party; testing an outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone against the restriction information of the cell phone; and preventing the outgoing call made from the cell phone from being connected when testing against the restriction information of the cell phone determines that the outgoing call made from the cell phone to the first phone is restricted, wherein the restriction information is configurable by a subscriber to cell phone service for the cell phone for restricting incoming calls placed to the cell phone and for restricting outgoing calls placed from the cell phone. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification