Call screening method and apparatus

• US 8,243,898 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2009
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Laster, M. Scott, Holt, Scott C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEANE JR, WILLIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/639,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20100091972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 379/201.01, 379/88.19, 379 8821- 8826, 379/142.01, 455/415, 455/567
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4283 Call holding circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider (20) and a mobile station (30). The mobile station (30) answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station (30) connects to the service provider (20) and places the service provider (20) and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station (30) then signals the service provider (20) to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider (20) prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller'"'"'s identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station (30). Based on this information, the mobile station (30) can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.

Claims

1. A method for screening a call from a caller, comprising:

receiving a call from the caller at a station;

answering the call at the station;

putting the caller on hold;

connecting with a service provider;

putting the service provider on hold with the caller; and

signaling to the service provider to begin screening the call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input indicating a desire to accept the call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input indicating a desire to reject the call.

7. A system for screening a call from a caller, comprising:

a first receiving component configured to receive a call from the caller at a station and answer the call at the station;

a first holding component configured to put the caller on hold;

a connecting component configured to connect with a service provider;

a second holding component configured to put the service provider on hold with the caller; and

a signaling component configured to signal the service provider to begin screening the call.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second receiving component configured to receive identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a first electing component configured to receive a user input indicating a desire to accept the call.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second electing component configured to receive a user input indicating a desire to reject the call.

13. A computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to screen a call from a caller by:

receiving a call from the caller at a station;

answering the call at the station;

putting the caller on hold;

connecting with a service provider;

putting the service provider on hold with the caller; and

signaling to the service provider to begin screening the call.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for receiving identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for receiving a user input indicating a desire to accept the call.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions for receiving a user input indicating a desire to reject the call.