Anonymous call blocking in wireless networks

• US 8,165,571 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Chin, Frances Mu-Fen, Mui, Paul C., Sharma, Alok
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/105,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20110212709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 455/415, 455/433, 455/414.1, 455/445, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/142.02, 379/201.11
• US Class Current: 455/415
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• 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

Wireless networks and methods are disclosed that provide for anonymous call blocking in wireless networks. A wireless network of the invention includes an MSC system and an HLR system. When a calling party initiates a call to a called party, the MSC system receives the call and generates a call setup message for the call. The call is anonymous, so the call setup message does not include caller ID information for the calling party. The MSC system receiving the call transmits the call setup message to the HLR system. The HLR system determines if the call setup message includes caller ID information, and determines if the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking. Responsive to determining that there is no caller ID information in the call setup message and that the called party subscribes to anonymous call blocking, the HLR system instructs the MSC system to block the call.

Claims

1. A system operable to provide anonymous call blocking, the system comprising:

a Home Location Register (HLR) system operable to receive a call setup message for a call placed from a calling party to a called party, to determine if the call setup message includes caller identification (ID) information for the calling party, and to block the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the HLR system is further operable to block the call from being terminated to a voice mail server for the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the HLR system is further operable to receive an indication that the called party activated an anonymous call blocking feature, and to block the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information and if the anonymous call blocking feature is activated for the called party.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the HLR system is further operable to block the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information and if the called party subscribes to an anonymous call blocking feature as indicated in a subscriber record.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the caller ID information includes a number of the calling party.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the calling party comprises a mobile calling party.

7. A method of providing anonymous call blocking, the method comprising:

receiving a call setup message in a Home Location Register (HLR) system for a call placed from a calling party to a called party;

determining, in the HLR system, if the call setup message includes caller identification (ID) information for the calling party; and

blocking the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

blocking the call from being terminated to a voice mail server for the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving, in the HLR system, an indication that the called party activated an anonymous call blocking feature;

wherein the step of blocking the call comprising blocking the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information and if the anonymous call blocking feature is activated for the called party.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein blocking the call comprises:

blocking the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information and if the called party subscribes to an anonymous call blocking feature as indicated in a subscriber record.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the caller ID information includes a number of the calling party.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the calling party comprises a mobile calling party.

13. A system operable to provide anonymous call blocking, the system comprising:

a Home Location Register (HLR) system operable to receive a call setup message for a call placed from a calling party to a called party, to determine if the call setup message includes caller identification (ID) information for the calling party, and to generate a call blocking message to block the call from being terminated to the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

a Mobile Switching System (MSC) system operable to receive the call blocking message from the HLR system, and to release the call before the call is terminated to the called party.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the MSC system is further operable to transmit an announcement to the calling party indicating that the call was blocked.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the MSC system is further operable to receive an instruction from the called party to activate an anonymous call blocking feature, and to transmit an indication to the HLR system that the called party activated the anonymous call blocking feature; and

the HLR system is further operable to store data in a subscriber record for the called party that the anonymous call blocking feature is activated.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein:

the instruction from the MSC system to the HLR system comprises a FeatureRequest invoke message.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the HLR system is further operable to generate the call blocking message to block the call from being terminated to a voice mail server for the called party if the call setup message does not include the caller ID information.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the caller ID information includes a number of the calling party.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the calling party comprises a mobile calling party.