Method and apparatus for selective silencing of telephone ringing

• US 8,369,494 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steve Cha
• Original Assignee: Steve Cha
• Inventors: Cha, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US13/299,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20120093304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 379/142.01, 379/142.04, 379/142.09, 379/201.02, 379/210.02, 379/210.03, 379/211.01, 379/68, 379/88.12, 379/142.05
• US Class Current: 379/88.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/654 Telephone line monitoring circuits therefor, e.g. ring detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• 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

A system and method for a selective ring silencer that prevents people from having to listen to the telephone ring on and on with nuisance calls. The ringer silencer can be: (1) discretely constructed from a telephone, (2) part of a telecommunication device, or (3) part of a central telephone network construction. A receiver demodulates an incoming call. Control logic reads at least a portion of the called identification (CID) data and determines an action based on the reading. A switch in communication with the control logic is actuated to a first state that allows the communication data to be output from the ring silencer, and a second state that blocks the communication data from being output from the ring silencer to a user'"'"'s communication device. The control logic blocks toll-free area codes originated calls from ringing a user'"'"'s telephone, optionally forwarding the call to a voice mail module.

Claims

1. A terminal, comprising:

a receiver for receiving and demodulating an input communication signal and providing an output of data;

control logic means in communication with the receiver for reading at least a portion of the data output from the receiver and for determining an action based on the read portion of the output data; and

a switch in communication with the control logic means, said switch being actuated between a first state that allows the communication signal to be output from a ring silencer, and a second state that blocks the communication signal from being output from the ring silencer,

wherein the control logic means reads an identification regarding an incoming call from which the input communication signal originated and assigns priority based on a preprogrammed priority scheme, and wherein a higher priority call is forwarded to the terminal by the switch via the first state, and a remainder is forwarded to voice mail by the switch via the second state without having the terminal ring regardless of whether the terminal is roaming or not and regardless of whether a time of receipt of the incoming call and flashing a specific light or a message to indicate a reception of the voice mail from the remainder.

2. The terminal of claim 1, wherein, when the identification of the incoming call is one of a toll-free code, an out of area code, a private and a block, actuating the switch via the second state.

3. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the ring silencer is updated with additional area codes of toll-free area codes.

4. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal is wired or wireless phone.

5. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a mobile phone or a cell phone.

6. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the remainder forwarded to the voice mail without having the telephone ring is stored for future blocking.

7. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the control logic reads at least the area code of the incoming call and assigns the priority based on the preprogrammed priority scheme.

8. The terminal of claim 1, wherein the ring silencer is added with discrete telephone numbers corresponding to unwanted incoming numbers via a keypad or by flagging the unwanted incoming numbers for future blocking.