E911 call blocking for non-initialized wireless telephones

• US 8,103,242 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Dickinson, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLLIDAY, JAIME MICHELE
• Application Number:
  US12/588,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Calls from a phone identified as being a source of harassing or other undesirable phone calls are blocked at a mobile positioning center (MPC). Upon request by the PSAP, a call record detail can be obtained from the MPC revealing a simulated “callback phone number” as well as a unique number identifier of the phone, such as an ESN or MEID. The MPC then intercepts all future incoming calls from phones with that unique identifier number and routes them to a recording that advises the harasser that the phone has been identified as a harasser and is now blocked. The recording can also advise the caller how to restore service. In a preferred embodiment, the MPC sets a timer to automatically restore service after a designated length of time.

Claims

1. A method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device, comprising:

associating a simulated callback phone number with said undesirable emergency voice call, said simulated callback phone number comprising “

911”

plus at least a portion of a device identification number;

querying a mobile positioning center (MPC) that is distinct and remote from a mobile switching center (MSC) for routing instructions for said undesirable emergency voice call;

comparing said simulated callback phone number with a known list of callback phone numbers to be blocked; and

if a match is made by said comparing, blocking at said mobile positioning center (MPC) routing of said undesirable emergency voice call to said intended phone device, by said MPC sending routing instructions including a routing number of a pre-recorded announcement element.

2. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

said device identification number is an electronic serial number (ESN).

3. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

said undesirable emergency voice call is a 911 call.

4. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

said designated recipient is a public safety answering point (PSAP).

5. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

said simulated callback phone number is a 10-digit number.

6. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

said simulated callback phone number comprises “

911”

plus 7 digits corresponding to an electronic serial number (ESN) of a phone sending said undesirable emergency voice call.

7. The method of blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 6, wherein:

said 7 digits are the last 7 digits of said ESN.

8. Apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone, comprising:

means for associating a simulated callback phone number with said undesirable emergency voice call, said simulated callback phone number comprising “

911”

plus at least a portion of a device identification number;

means for querying a mobile positioning center (MPC) that is distinct and remote from a mobile switching center (MSC) for routing instructions for said undesirable emergency voice call;

means for comparing said simulated callback phone number with a known list of callback phone numbers to be blocked; and

means for blocking at said mobile positioning center (MPC) routing of said undesirable emergency voice call to said intended phone device if a match is made by said comparing, by said MPC sending routing instructions including a routing number of a pre-recorded announcement element.

9. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 8, wherein:

said device identification number is an electronic serial number (ESN).

10. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 8, wherein:

said undesirable emergency voice call is a 911 call.

11. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 8, wherein:

said designated recipient is a public safety answering point (PSAP).

12. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 8, wherein:

said simulated callback phone number is a 10-digit number.

13. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 12, wherein:

said 10-digit simulated callback phone number comprises “

911”

plus 7 digits corresponding to the electronic serial number (ESN) of a phone sending said undesirable emergency voice call.

14. The apparatus for blocking an undesirable emergency voice call from being routed to an intended phone device according to claim 13, wherein:

said 7 digits are the last 7 digits of said ESN.