Call screening for fax telephone numbers

• US 7,450,702 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• 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: Solin, Patricia R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quynh H
• Application Number:
  US10/351,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20040146153A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 379/100.01, 379/100.05, 379/100.06, 358/468, 358/440
• US Class Current: 379/100.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• 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: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/324 intermediate the transmitter and receiver terminals, e.g. at an exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32406 in connection with routing or relaying, e.g. using a fax-server or a store-and-forward facility stored and forward data switching systems H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0093 Facsimile machine H04N2201/0094 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for providing call processing services to one or more customers includes a network configured to receive, from a first client, a fax transmission attempt intended for a second client associated with a customer. A network call processor within the network is configured to screen a first fax telephone number corresponding to the first client and a second fax telephone number corresponding to the second client and determine whether to deliver a fax transmission to the second client.

Claims

1. A communications system for providing call processing services to one or more customers, the system comprising:

a network configured to receive, from a first client, a fax transmission attempt intended for a second client associated with a customer;

a network call processor within the network, the network processor configured to screen a first fax telephone number corresponding to the first client and a second fax telephone number corresponding to the second client and to determine whether to deliver a fax transmission to the second client based on a subscriber call management profile associated with the second client, wherein the subscriber call management profile comprises one or more fax telephone numbers that are specified by the subscriber to be blocked from transmitting to the subscriber; and

a peripheral device in communication with the network call processor for notifying the first client that a fax transmission has been blocked from transmitting based on the subscriber call management profile.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the network call processor comprises a service control point running one or more service program applications.

3. The communications system of claim 2, wherein the service program applications comprise a fax call screening service program application.

4. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the network call processor comprises a database identifying customers that have subscribed to a fax call screening service.

5. The communications system of claim 4, wherein the database is configured to retrieve the subscriber call management profile in response to the second fax telephone number.

6. The communications system of claim 5, wherein the subscriber call management profile comprises one or more fax telephone numbers specified by the customer.

7. The communications system of claim 6, wherein the fax telephone numbers specified by the customer identify parties from which fax transmissions may be received.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the network call processor receives a query from a signal switching point, the query including the first fax telephone number and the second fax telephone number.

9. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device for notifying the first client that a fax transmission has been blocked sends a rejection fax.

10. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device comprises at least one of an enhanced media resource server and a compact service node.

11. A communications method for providing call processing services to one or more customers, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first client, a fax transmission attempt intended for a second client associated with a customer;

screening a first fax telephone number corresponding to the first client and a second fax telephone number corresponding to the second client;

determining whether to block a fax transmission to the second client based on a subscriber call management profile associated with the second client, and

notifying the first client that a fax transmission has been blocked based upon the subscriber call management profile.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein notifying the first client that a fax transmission has been blocked includes sending a rejection fax.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving one or more fax telephone numbers from the customer.

14. A controller for providing call processing services to one or more customers, the controller comprising:

means for receiving, from a first client, a fax transmission attempt intended for a second client associated with a customer;

means for screening a first fax telephone number corresponding to the first client and a second fax telephone number corresponding to the second client;

means for determining whether to transmit a fax transmission to the second client based on a subscriber call management profile associated with the second client; and

means for notifying the first client that a fax transmission has been blocked based on the subscriber call management profile.

15. The controller of claim 14, further comprising means for sending a rejection fax.

16. The controller of claim 14, further comprising means for receiving one or more fax telephone numbers from the customer.

17. The controller of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a network device.

18. The controller of claim 14, wherein the controller comprises a computer program stored on a computer-readable medium.

19. The controller of claim 18, wherein the computer-readable medium comprises at least one of a disk, a client device, and a network device.