System and method for control of communications connections and notifications

• US 8,005,200 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gryphon Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gryphon Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Fotta, Keith A., Boudrieau, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/021,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20050226221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,434 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/351, 370/352, 370/389, 370/400, 370/431, 379/188, 379196-200, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 37920201-20601
• US Class Current: 379/196
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0227 Filtering policies mail message filtering H04L51/212
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for selectively establishing a communications connection between an origin and destination in a communications network based on one or mediations rules and one or more lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers either in real-time using a control unit or with a pre-check using an analysis unit while also providing notification messages associated with the allowed or designated allowed communications connections.

Claims

1. A control system for selectively establishing a communications connection, the system comprising:

a control unit that orders a connection unit to establish the communications connection between an origin and a destination within a communications network based on one or more mediation rules and lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers;

at least one list of prohibited destination identifiers;

at least one list of exempted destination identifiers;

the communications connection being established by the connection unit bridging a first connection between the origin and the connection unit with a second connection between the destination and the connection unit; and

the control unit delivers one or more audio notification messages to any one or combination of the established connections.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein one or more audio notification messages are delivered to the origin from the connection unit using the first connection at any one or combination of the time before the communications are established with the destination, during established communications with the destination, and after communications have ended with the destination.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein one or more audio notification messages are delivered to the destination from the connection unit using the second connection at any one or combination of the time before the communications are established with the origin, during established communications with the origin, and after communications have ended with the origin.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one audio notification message indicates an exemption is being applied to allow establishment of the communications connection as determined by the mediation rules and at least one list of exempted destination identifiers.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one audio notification message requests information from any one or combination of the origin and destination.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one audio notification message includes information derived from any one of or combination of client-specific requirements, origin agent-specific requirements, and destination user-specific requirements.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio notification message is delivered in-band through the connection unit.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio notification message is delivered out-of-band.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the audio notification message includes information regarding at least one of a purchased item, location of purchase, and purchase date.

10. A method of selectively establishing a communications connection, the method comprising:

receiving or initiating a connection request for a communications connection between an origin and a destination within a communications network, the request including the destination identifier;

establishing the requested communications connection based on one or more mediation rules and lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers;

establishing the requested communications connection by bridging a first connection between the origin and a connection unit with a second connection between the destination and the connection unit;

the method further comprising delivering one or more audio notification messages to any one or combination of the established connections.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein one or more audio notification messages are delivered to the origin from the connection unit using the first connection at any one or combination of the time before the communications are established with the destination, during established communications with the destination, and after communications have ended with the destination.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein one or more audio notification messages are delivered to the destination from the connection unit using the second connection at any one or combination of the time before the communications are established with the origin, during established communications with the origin, and after communications have ended with the origin.

13. The method according to claim 10 wherein at least one audio notification message indicates an exemption is being applied to allow establishment of the communications connection as determined by the mediation rules and at least one list of exempted destination identifiers.

14. The method according to claim 10 wherein at least one audio notification message requests information from any one or combination of the origin and destination.

15. The method according to claim 10 wherein at least one audio notification message includes information derived from any one of or combination of client-specific requirements, origin agent-specific requirements, and destination user-specific requirements.

16. The method according to claim 10 wherein the audio notification message is delivered in-band through the connection unit.

17. The method according to claim 10 wherein the audio notification message is delivered out-of-band.

18. The method according to claim 10 wherein the audio notification message includes information regarding at least one of a purchased item, location of purchase, and purchase date.

19. A notification system for delivering messages to any one of or combination of established connections in a communications network, the system comprising:

a connection unit that establishes a first connection between the origin and the connection unit and a second connection between the destination and the connection unit, the connection unit bridging the first and second connections to establish a communications connection between the origin and destination; and

a notification unit that delivers at least one audio notification message to any one or combination of the established connections, wherein the audio notification message includes information regarding at least one of a purchased item, location of purchase, and purchase date.