Systems and methods for implementing a parental control feature within a telecommunications network

• US 7,298,835 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Perry, Nathan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US09/891,638
• Time in Patent Office: 2,338 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210.02, 379/211.03, 379/221.02, 379/114.01, 379/188, 379/196, 379/372, 379/200, 379/88.19, 379/88, 379/201.01, 370/354, 370/352, 455/565, 704/231, 704/236
• US Class Current: 379/210.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2055 Line restrictions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber

Abstract

A “parental control” (“PC”) telephone subscriber feature on a telephone system is disclosed. An authorized subscriber, such as a parent, may enter a feature code which initiates the PC feature. To deactivate the feature, the subscriber enters the code and is prompted for an authorization code, such as a personal identification number (“PIN”). If the authorization code entered matches the authorization code on file for the subscriber, the PC feature is deactivated. If no match is found in the subscriber database for the PIN, the feature is not deactivated.

Claims

1. A method for blocking at least one outgoing communication:

from a calling party to a calling line selected by the calling party in connection with a parental control feature offered to subscribers as an outgoing call blocking service, said calling party having a calling line identification number, said method comprising;

enabling the subscriber to select special feature codes and request that outgoing communications that relate to the special feature codes, and that originate from the calling line identification number, be blocked, wherein special feature codes are received by an automated system that recognizes oral commands and alphanumeric input;

receiving an outgoing communication related to at least one of the special feature codes, said calling line associated with at least one subscriber to the outgoing call blocking service;

obtaining a calling line identification number for said received outgoing communication;

obtaining a called line identification number for said received outgoing communication;

activating the outgoing call blocking service at a first pre-set time;

de-activating the outgoing call blocking service at a second pre-set time;

looking for said calling line identification number associated with the received outgoing communication in a data store to determine data associated with said calling line identification number concerning calls from the calling line to a called line which are to be blocked;

terminating the received outgoing communication if the data indicates that the received outgoing communication is to be blocked; and

overriding the outgoing call blocking service for at least a second single outgoing communication from the calling line in response to receiving an override code.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the special feature code is a star-feature code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the special feature code relates to conference call capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises a list of area codes to which calls are to be blocked.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises a list of at least one of a plurality of called line identification numbers of calls which are to be blocked.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises all calls.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises all long distance calls.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises all calls except calls to one of a plurality of specified area codes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data concerning calls to be blocked comprises all calls except local calls.

10. A method of activating an outgoing call blocking service provided as a parental control feature, the method comprising:

receiving, from a calling line at a central office associated with the calling line, a predetermined access code to the outgoing call blocking service;

prompting a subscriber to the outgoing call blocking service to provide data concerning outgoing calls to be blocked, wherein the subscriber is prompted to use oral commands to provide data;

receiving the orally-provided data and converting the orally-provided data to alphanumeric data;

storing said alphanumeric data in a data store associated with the outgoing call blocking service;

activating the outgoing call blocking service at one of a pre-set time and a pre-set day;

enabling the subscriber to prohibit outgoing long-distance calls from being placed from the calling line;

enabling the subscriber to prohibit outgoing calls to at least one specified area code;

enabling the subscriber to prohibit outgoing calls to at least one specified telephone number;

enabling the subscriber to prohibit calls that relate to special feature codes from being placed from the calling line, wherein at least one of the special features is a star feature code that relates to conference calling capabilities;

enabling the subscriber to allow outgoing calls only to at least one specified local telephone number; and

enabling the subscriber to allow outgoing calls only to at least one specified telephone number.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting the caller for an authorization code; and

comparing the received authorization code with a stored authorization code for the calling line identification number.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising activating the service if the received authorization code corresponds to the stored authorization code for the calling line identification number.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising not activating the service if the received authorization code does not correspond to the stored authorization code for the calling line identification number.