Systems and methods for call screening

• US 7,636,428 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CallWave Communications, LLC
• Original Assignee: FuzeBox, Inc.
• Inventors: Brahm, David, Smith, Robert, Trandal, David
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/374,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20060153354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,380 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/6, 379/142.04, 379/211.02, 379/88.23
• US Class Current: 379/88.23
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2011 Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4563 Voicemail monitoring during recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4281 when the called subscriber is connected to a data network using his telephone line, e.g. dial-up connection, Internet browsing
• 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: H04M 3/53308 Message originator indirectly connected to the message centre, e.g. after detection of busy or absent state of a called party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

The present invention provides flexible, user-definable call screening processes. The user can optionally define to which telecommunication terminals a screened call is to be broadcast to and under what conditions. An incoming call is forwarded to a call management system that asks the caller to leave a voice message. The call management system selectively couples the call to a POTS line or a VoIP-capable device so that the user can listen to the incoming message and thereby screen the incoming call. Based on the screening, the user can instruct the call management system to connect the caller to the user.

Claims

1. A method of providing a called party the ability to screen calls, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party, wherein the first call includes signaling information having a phone number of the caller;

opening a communication channel over the Internet with a networked computer associated with the called party;

transmitting, while the first call is in progress, a call alert message, including at least a portion of the signaling information, to a terminal associated with the called party;

recording speech from the caller and transmitting the speech to the terminal in substantially real time, wherein the speech is intended to be played to the called party via the terminal;

receiving a connection instruction via the terminal, and causing the caller to be connected to at least one of a plurality of potential destinations associated with the called party;

placing an outcall from the call processing system to at least one destination, wherein the at least one destination is a phone;

bridging the first call and the outcall; and

transmitting status information related to the bridged first call and outcall to the terminal.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the called party communicates with the caller using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

3. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the act of causing the caller to be connected to at least one of a plurality of potential destinations includes placing an outcall from the call processing system and bridging the first call and the outcall.

4. The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

placing an outcall from the call processing system to at least one destination;

bridging the first call and the outcall; and

automatically interrupting the bridged first call and outcall after a first time period.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein the terminal is a computer.

6. A method of providing call screening, the method comprising:

receiving at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party, wherein the first call includes signaling information having a phone number of the caller;

transmitting over the Internet to a networked computer associated with the called party in substantially real time at least a portion of the signaling information included in the first call for display to the called party;

placing a second call from the call processing system to a destination associated with the called party, the second call including signaling information having at least a selected portion of the phone number of the caller;

recording speech from the caller and transmitting the speech in substantially real time to the destination and/or over the Internet to the networked computer to be played by the networked computer to the called party; and

receiving an instruction from the called party via the networked computer or a destination phone associated with the called party, and at least partly in response to the received instruction, causing the first call to be connected to one of a plurality of potential terminal destinations;

wherein the act of causing the first call to be connected to one of a plurality of potential terminal destinations further comprises;

placing an outcall from the call processing system to at least one destination, wherein the at least one destination is a phone;

bridging the first call and the outcall; and

transmitting status information related to the bridged first call and outcall to the terminal.

7. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the called party communicates with the caller using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

8. The method as defined in claim 6, wherein the act of causing the first call to be connected to one of a plurality of potential terminal destinations includes placing an outcall from the call processing system and bridging the first call and the outcall.

9. The method as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

placing an outcall from the call processing system to at least one destination;

bridging the first call and the outcall; and

automatically interrupting the bridged first call and outcall after a first time period.

10. A method of processing calls, comprising:

receiving over a network at a first system a first call from a caller intended for a called party, wherein the first call includes signaling information having a phone number of the caller;

placing a second call from the first system over the network to a first terminal associated with the called party, the second call including signaling information having at least a selected portion of the phone number of the caller so that the called party can determine the identity of the caller of the first call and thereby screen the caller;

receiving an instruction from the called party to forward the caller to a second terminal; and

at least partly in response to the instruction, placing a third call from the first system over the switched network to the second terminal.

11. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising causing the first call and the third call to be bridged.

12. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the called party communicates with the caller using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

13. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the second terminal is a cellular phone.

14. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising transmitting status information regarding first call and outcall to the first terminal.

15. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first terminal is a computer.

17. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising causing the first call and the third call to be bridged.

18. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the called party communicates with the caller using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

19. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the second terminal is a cellular phone.

20. The method as defined in claim 10, further comprising transmitting status information regarding first call to the first terminal.

21. The method as defined in claim 10, wherein the first terminal is a computer.

16. A method of processing calls, comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party;

placing a second call from the call processing system over the network to a terminal associated with the called party, the second call including signaling information having at least a selected portion of the phone number of the caller so that the called party can determine the identity of the caller of the first call and thereby screen the caller;

receiving an instruction from the called party to forward the caller to a second terminal; and

placing a third call from the call processing system over the switched network to the second terminal.

22. A method of processing calls via a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party;

answering the first call from the caller at the call processing system;

playing a greeting message to the caller via the call processing system;

receiving a voice message from the caller at the call processing system;

placing an outcall from the call processing system to a wireless phone associated with the called party,

wherein the outcall is performed at least in part over a wireless communications network;

streaming the voice message to the wireless phone via the outcall in substantially real time;

the call processing system automatically muting a return talk path to the caller to prevent sound traveling from the called party wireless phone to the caller to thereby allow the called party to perform call screening via the wireless phone while the caller is unaware that their call is being screened;

receiving a call acceptance instruction; and

enabling the caller to hear the called party speak at least partly in response to receiving the call acceptance instruction, wherein the called party is speaking into the wireless phone.

23. The method as defined in claim 22, further comprising enabling the caller to converse with the called party in duplex mode at least partly in response to receiving the call acceptance instruction.

24. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the call acceptance instruction is from the wireless phone.

25. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the call acceptance instruction is from a personal computer associated with the called party.

26. The method as defined in claim 22, further comprising enabling the called party to provide a call transfer instruction via the wireless phone while performing call screening.

27. The method as defined in claim 22, further comprising enabling the called party to instruct the call processing system to play a call termination voice message to the caller and to terminate the first call.

28. The method as defined in claim 22, further comprising bridging the outcall and the caller call.

29. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the wireless phone is a cellular phone.

30. The method as defined in claim 22, wherein the call processing system is serviced by a different local exchange then the caller communication device and the wireless phone of the called party.

31. A method of processing calls via a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving over a network at a processing system a first call from a calling party intended for a called party;

providing a greeting to the calling party via the processing system;

receiving a voice communication from the calling party at the processing system;

streaming at least a first portion of the voice communication via the processing system to a wireless phone associated with the called party in substantially real time while automatically ensuring that sound does not travel back to the calling party from the wireless phone to thereby allow the called party to screen the call via the wireless phone while the calling party is unaware that their call is being screened;

providing a first control via the wireless phone that, when selected by the called party, causes duplex communication to be provided so that the called party can converse with the calling party; and

providing a second control via the wireless phone that, when selected by the called party, causes at least a second portion of the voice communication to be streamed to another communication device in substantially real time.

32. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising enabling the calling party to converse with the called party in duplex mode.

33. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the communication device is another wireless phone.

34. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the communication device is a home phone or a work phone.

35. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the communication device is a computer.

36. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising placing an outcall from the processing system to the wireless phone and bridging the first call with the outcall.

37. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising:

placing an outcall from the processing system to the wireless phone and bridging the first call with the outcall; and

based on a first call time limit, providing a voice notification to the called party that a call termination will be performed.

38. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called party selects the first control by selecting a wireless phone key.

39. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the called party selects the first control by a voice command.

40. The method as defined in claim 31, further comprising providing the called party with a third control, which when selected by the called party,

causes a call termination voice message to be played to the calling party, and

causes the first call to be terminated.

41. The method as defined in claim 31, wherein the wireless phone is a cellular phone.

42. A method of processing calls, comprising:

receiving over a communications network at a processing system a first call from a calling party intended for a called party;

providing a greeting to the calling party;

receiving a voice communication from the calling party;

transmitting in substantially real time from the processing system at least a first portion of the voice communication to a telephone associated with the called party to allow the called party to screen the call via the telephone while preventing the calling party from hearing sounds received via the called party telephone;

receiving via the telephone a first command to continue transmitting the voice communication to a second communication device; and

at least partly in response to the first command, transmitting in substantially real time at least a second portion of the voice communication from the calling party to the second communication device.

43. The method as defined in claim 42, further muting a communication path between the telephone and a calling party communication device.

44. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising enabling the calling party to converse with the called party in duplex mode.

45. The method as defined in claim 42, where the telephone is a cellular telephone.

46. The method as defined in claim 42, where the second communication device is a home telephone or a work telephone.

47. The method as defined in claim 42, where the second communication device is a computer.

48. The method as defined in claim 42, where the second communication device is a voice over Internet protocol terminal.

49. The method as defined in claim 42, where the second communication device hosts a communication application client.

50. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising, based at least in part on a first time limit, providing a voice notification to the called party that a call termination will be performed.

51. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the called party provides the first command by selecting a telephone key or by providing a voice command.

52. The method as defined in claim 42, further comprising providing the called party with a call termination user interface, which when activated by the called party,

causes a call termination voice message to be played to the calling party, and

causes the first call to be terminated.

53. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the communications network includes a switched circuit network.

54. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the communications network includes a packet switched network.

55. The method as defined in claim 42, wherein the first call is forwarded to the processing system.

56. A method of processing calls via a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party;

answering the first call from the caller at the call processing system;

playing a greeting message to the caller via the call processing system;

receiving a voice message from the caller at the call processing system;

streaming the voice message over the Internet to a terminal associated with the called party;

the call processing system automatically muting a return talk path to the caller to prevent sound traveling from the called party'"'"'s terminal to the caller to thereby allow the called party to perform call screening via the terminal while the caller is unaware that their call is being screened;

receiving a call acceptance instruction; and

enabling the caller to hear the called party speak at least partly in response to receiving the call acceptance instruction, wherein the called party is speaking into a microphone associated with the terminal.

57. The method as defined in claim 56, further comprising enabling the caller to converse with the called party in duplex mode at least partly in response to receiving the call acceptance instruction.

58. The method as defined in claim 56, wherein the call acceptance instruction is from the terminal.

59. The method as defined in claim 56, wherein the terminal is a personal computer associated with the called party.

60. The method as defined in claim 56, further comprising enabling the called party to provide a call transfer instruction while performing call screening.

61. The method as defined in claim 56, further comprising enabling the called party to instruct the call processing system to play a call termination voice message to the caller and to terminate the first call.

62. The method as defined in claim 56, further comprising bridging the outcall and the caller call.

63. A method of processing calls via a wireless phone, comprising:

receiving over a network at a call processing system a first call from a caller intended for a called party;

answering the first call from the caller at the call processing system;

playing a greeting message to the caller via the call processing system;

receiving a voice message from the caller at the call processing system;

placing an outcall from the call processing system to a wireless phone or networked computer associated with the called party,

wherein the outcall is performed at least in part over a wireless communications network or a data network;

streaming the voice message to the wireless phone or the networked computer via the outcall in substantially real time;

the call processing system automatically muting a return talk path to the caller to prevent sound traveling from the called party wireless phone or networked computer to the caller to thereby allow the called party to perform call screening while the caller is unaware that their call is being screened;

receiving a call acceptance instruction; and

enabling the caller to hear the called party speak at least partly in response to receiving the call acceptance instruction.

64. A method of processing calls, comprising:

receiving over a network at a first system a first call from a caller intended for a called party, wherein the first call includes signaling information having a phone number of the caller;

placing a second call from the first system over the network to a first terminal associated with the called party, the second call including signaling information having at least a selected portion of the phone number of the caller so that the called party can determine the identity of the caller of the first call and thereby screen the caller;

placing a third call from the first system over the network after the second call to a third terminal associated with the called party;

playing a greeting to the calling party; and

streaming at least a first portion of the voice communication via the processing system to a networked computer associated with the called party, the terminal associated with the second call, and/or the terminal associated with the third call to thereby allow the called party to screen the call while automatically ensuring that sound does not travel back to the calling party from the networked computer or the terminal at least until a first action by the called party.

65. The method as defined in claim 64, wherein the first action is the activation of a control on networked computer.

66. The method as defined in claim 64, wherein terminal associated with the second call is a wireless phone, and the first action is a key press of a wireless phone key.

67. The method as defined in claim 64, wherein terminal associated with the second call is a wireless phone, and the first action is a call acceptance instruction.

68. The method as defined in claim 64, further comprising enabling the called party to provide a call transfer instruction while performing call screening.

69. The method as defined in claim 64, further comprising bridging the first call and the second call.

70. The method as defined in claim 64, further comprising bridging the first call and the third call.

71. A method of processing calls, comprising:

receiving over a network at a first system a first call from a caller intended for a called party, wherein the first call includes signaling information having a phone number of the caller;

placing a second call from the first system over the network to a first terminal associated with the called party, the second call including signaling information having at least a selected portion of the phone number of the caller so that the called party can determine the identity of the caller of the first call and thereby screen the caller;

placing a third call from the first system over the network after the second call to a second terminal associated with the called party, the second call;

playing a greeting to the calling party;

streaming at least a first portion of the voice communication via the processing system to a networked computer associated with the called party, the terminal associated with the second call, and/or the terminal associated with the third call to thereby allow the called party to screen the call via the terminal or network computer while automatically ensuring that sound does not travel back to the calling party from the networked computer or the terminal; and

causing duplex communication to be provided so that the called party can converse with the calling party if the called party provides an instruction indicating that the called party wants to speak to the caller.

72. The method as defined in claim 71, wherein the instruction is provided via the networked computer.

73. The method as defined in claim 71, wherein the instruction is provided via a wireless phone.

74. The method as defined in claim 71, wherein the instruction is provide via the terminal associated with the third call.

75. The method as defined in claim 71, further comprising enabling the called party to provide a call transfer instruction while performing call screening.

76. The method as defined in claim 71, further comprising bridging the first call and the second call.

77. The method as defined in claim 71, further comprising bridging the first call and the third call.