Method and system for providing call screening in a packet-switched network

• US 8,116,302 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Robbins, David C
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S
• Application Number:
  US11/534,230
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/356, 379/221.09, 379/229, 379 3201- 3204, 379/35, 379/201.01, 37921102-21105, 379/188, 379196-200
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1076 Screening of IP real time communications, e.g. spam over Internet telephony [SPIT]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• 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

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for determining whether a call in a packet-switched network to a first destination is to be forwarded, forwarding the call to a second destination based on a determination that the call is to be forwarded, notifying the first destination that the call has been forwarded, receiving a request from the first destination to screen the call, and enabling the first destination to screen the call.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining whether a call in a packet-switched network to a first destination is to be forwarded, based at least in part on an activated call forwarding service associated with the first destination;

forwarding the call to a second destination based on a determination that the call is to be forwarded;

notifying the first destination that the call has been forwarded;

receiving a request from the first destination to screen the call; and

enabling the first destination to screen the call, wherein the enabling comprises transmitting an invite request from the first destination, the invite request comprising an identification of a dialog between a caller of the call and a server in the packet-switched network.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the notifying comprises:

transmitting a notification message to the first destination, the notification message including at least one of an identification of a dialog between a caller of the call and a server in the packet-switched network associated with forwarding the call, an address of the second destination, and a constraint associated with screening the call.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the constraint associated with screening the call comprises a time limit for enabling the first destination to screen the call.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request from the first destination to screen the call comprises an invite request.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the request from the first destination to screen the call further comprises an identification of a dialog between a caller of the call and a server in the packet-switched network associated with forwarding the call.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the enabling comprises transmitting audio data to the first destination.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the invite request further comprises an indication that the first destination is to receive audio data.

8. The method according to claim 7, the enabling further comprising:

constructing a uniform resource identifier associated with the call; and

transmitting the uniform resource identifier associated with the call to the first destination.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first destination to transmit audio data to at least one of the second destination or a caller associated with the call.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the request to transmit audio data comprises an invite request, the invite request comprising an indication that the first destination is to transmit audio data to at least one of the second destination or a caller associated with the call.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to remove the second destination from the call.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the request to remove the second destination from the call comprises a refer request, the refer request comprising an address of the second destination and an indication to remove the second destination.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subscribe request from the first destination, the subscribe request being associated with receiving a notification that a call to the first destination has been forwarded.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activation of the call forwarding service associated with the first destination comprises transmitting a subscribe request based at least in part on pre-programmed instructions.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activation of the call forwarding service associated with the first destination comprises transmitting a subscribe request based at least in part on received configuration instructions.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first destination to transmit audio data to the second destination and to a caller associated with the call.

14. A system, comprising:

a packet-switched network;

a first destination accessible via the packet-switched network, wherein the first destination includes an activated call forwarding service;

a second destination accessible via the packet-switched network;

a server coupled to the packet-switched network and configured to notify the first destination over the packet-switched network that a call directed to the first destination over the packet-switched network has been forwarded to the second destination and enable the first destination to screen the call over the packet-switched network, wherein enable the first destination to screen the call comprises transmitting an invite request from the first destination, the invite request comprising an identification of a dialog between a caller of the call and a server in the packet-switched network.