Call forwarding on screening

• US 8,761,745 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2002
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cai, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US10/101,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020137490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,481 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414.1, 455/415, 455/417, 455/411, 455/410, 455/461, 379/142.01, 379/142.05, 709/206
• US Class Current: 455/417
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1403 Architecture for metering, charging or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1446 inter-operator billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/19 at layers above the network layer network arrangements for networked applications for scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2408 for supporting different services, e.g. a differentiated services [DiffServ] type of service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2433 Allocation of priorities to traffic types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2441 relying on flow classification, e.g. using integrated services [IntServ]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4523 using lightweight directory access protocol [LDAP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4557 : Directories for hybrid networks, e.g. including telephone numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 : Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 : Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 : by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 : Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1458 : Denial of Service
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 : in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 : Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 : Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 : Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• 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 65/1101 : Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 : Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 : wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 : for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 : at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 : specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 : Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 : Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 : Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/563 : Data redirection of data network streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 : taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 : Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• 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 15/41 : Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 : Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 : Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/49 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/51 : for resellers, retailers or service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/52 : for operator independent billing system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/53 : using mediation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/55 : for hybrid networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 : for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 : based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 : Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/80 : Rating or billing plans; Tariff determination aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8207 : Time based data metric aspects, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8214 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 : Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/203 : composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 : Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 : Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0152 : General billing plans, rate plans, e.g. charge rates, numbering plans, rate centers, customer accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0164 : Billing record, e.g. Call Data Record [CDR], Toll Ticket[TT], Automatic Message Accounting [AMA], Call Line Identifier [CLI], details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0168 : On line or real-time flexible customization or negotiation according to wishes of subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0172 : Mediation, i.e. device or program to reformat CDRS from one or more switches in order to adapt to one or more billing programs formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0176 : Billing arrangements using internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2013 : Fixed data network, e.g. PDN, ATM, B-ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 : VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/2046 : Hybrid network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/22 : Bandwidth or usage-sensitve billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/44 : Charging/billing arrangements for connection made over different networks, e.g. wireless and PSTN, ISDN, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/46 : Connection to several service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/54 : Resellers-retail or service providers billing, e.g. agreements with telephone service operator, activation, charging/recharging of accounts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7813 : Time based data, e.g. VoIP or circuit switched packet data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/782 : Data or packet based
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 : Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 : Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 : Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/465 : Arrangements for simultaneously calling a number of substations until an answer is obtained
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0075 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0078 : Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 : where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0029 : Provisions for intelligent networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

An approach for providing telephony and other services over a data network is disclosed. A user profile information is maintained for a party to control the screening of inbound communications requests intended for the party. Means are disclosed for redirecting an inbound call to a designated alternative location if it is determined that the inbound call meets at least one screening criterion. The user profile information controls screening criteria and disposition of calls that are intercepted by the screening process.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more devices, a request from a device of an originating party to establish communications with a device of a destination party,

the request including information identifying a type of session and a quality level for the session;

determining, by the one or more devices, whether the request is permissible based on applying at least one criterion to at least one aspect associated with the request,

the determining whether the request is permissible including;

determining whether a type of an address, with which the device of the originating party or the device of the destination party is associated, corresponds to a telephone number or an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and

performing a screening process on the request,

the performing the screening process including;

 

performing a first screening process on the request using a first screening data structure that includes one or more telephone numbers when the type of the address corresponds to the telephone number, or

 

performing a second screening process on the request using a second screening data structure that includes one or more IP addresses when the type of the address corresponds to the IP address;

determining, by the one or more devices, that the request is not permissible based on performing the screening process on the request;

accessing, by the one or more devices and based on determining that the request is not permissible, a user profile, associated with the device of the destination party, to determine whether the device of the destination party is associated with a forwarding-on-screening feature;

determining, by the one or more devices, that the forwarding-on-screening feature is associated with the device of the destination party;

obtaining, by the one or more devices and from the user profile, forwarding contact information, associated with the device of the destination party, based on determining that the forwarding-on-screening feature is associated with the device of the destination party,

the forwarding contact information including a telephone number or an IP address; and

transmitting, by the one or more devices, a response to the request,

the response including the forwarding contact information, and

a plurality of addresses, associated with the destination party, being provided to the device of the origination party when the request is permissible.

2. The method of claim 1, where

the at least one aspect of the request relates to information identifying the device of the originating party, and

the screening process is performed based on the information identifying the device of the originating party.

3. The method of claim 1, where

the at least one aspect of the request relates to a location of the device of the originating party, and

the screening process is performed based on information identifying the location of the device of the originating party.

4. The method of claim 1, where

the at least one aspect of the request relates to a network device that forwarded the request, and

the screening process is performed based on information associated with the network device.

5. The method of claim 1, where

the at least one criterion is based on user profile information stored by the one or more devices, and

the screening process is performed based on the user profile information.

6. The method of claim 5, where the user profile information is included in the user profile of the device of the destination party.

7. The method of claim 5, where the user profile information is included in a user profile of the device of the originating party.

8. The method of claim 1, where

when determining that the forwarding-on-screening feature is associated with the device of the destination party, the method includes:

determining that the user profile information indicates that the forwarding-on-screening feature is enabled, and

the forwarding contact information is obtained based on determining that the user profile information indicates that the forwarding-on-screening feature is enabled.

9. The method of claim 1, where

at least one of:

the first screening data structure includes a first field configured to store a first value indicating whether the one or more telephone numbers are to be allowed or disallowed, or

the second screening data structure includes a second field to store a second value indicating whether the one or more IP addresses are to be allowed or disallowed, and

when performing the screening process, the method includes;

performing the screening process using the first screening data structure based on the first value in the first field or using the second screening data structure based on the second value in the second field.

10. The method of claim 1, where

the address, with which the device of the originating party or the device of the destination party is associated, includes an address associated with the device of the originating party and an address associated with the device of the destination party, and

when performing the screening process, the method includes:

performing the screening process on the request for the address associated with the device of the originating party using the first data structure, and

performing the screening process on the request for the address associated with the device of the destination party using the second data structure.

11. The method of claim 1, where

at least one of:

the one or more telephone numbers include a range of public telephone numbers or a range of private telephone numbers, or

the one or more IP addresses include a range of IP addresses, and

when performing the screening process, the method includes;

performing the screening process using the address and the range of public telephone numbers or the range of private telephone numbers or performing the screening process using the address and the range of IP addresses.

12. A server comprising:

one or more processors to;

receive a routing request relating to a request, from a device of an originating party, to establish communications with a device of a destination party,

the request including information identifying a type of session and a quality level for the session;

determine that the device of the originating party is not permitted to establish the communications with the device of the destination party,

the one or more processors, when determining that the device of the originating party is not permitted to establish the communications, being to;

determine whether a type of an address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, corresponds to a first telephone number or a first Internet Protocol (IP) address,

perform a screening process on the request using;

 

a first data structure that includes one or more telephone numbers when the type of the address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, corresponds to the first telephone number, or

 

a second data structure that includes one or more IP addresses when the type of the address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, corresponds to the first IP address,

determine whether a type of an address, with which the device of the destination party is associated, corresponds to a second telephone number or a second IP address, and

perform another screening process on the request using;

 

the first data structure when the type of the address, with the device of the destination party is associated, corresponds to the second telephone number, or

 

the second data structure when the type of the address, with which the device of the destination party is associated, corresponds to the second IP address;

determine that call-forwarding-on-screening is applicable to the device of the destination party;

obtain forwarding information based on determining that call-forwarding-on-screening is applicable to the device of the destination party,

the forwarding information including a telephone number associated with the device of the destination party or an IP address associated with the device of the destination party; and

send a response to the routing request,

the response comprising the forwarding information,

a plurality of addresses, associated with the destination party, being provided to the device of the origination party when the device of the originating party is permitted to establish the communications with the device of the destination party.

13. The server of claim 12, where, when determining that call-forwarding-on-screening is applicable to the device of the destination party, the one or more processors are to:

access a user profile associated with the device of the destination party; and

determine, based on information in the user profile, that call-forwarding-on-screening is applicable to the device of the destination party.

14. The server of claim 12, where

the one or more telephone numbers include a range of telephone numbers,

the one or more IP addresses include a range of IP addresses,

when performing the screening process, the one or more processors are to:

perform the screening process using the address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, and the range of telephone numbers, or

perform the screening process using the address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, and the range of IP addresses, and

when determining that the device of the originating party is not permitted to establish the communications, the one or more processors are to;

determine that the device of the originating party is not permitted to establish the communications when the address, with which the device of the originating party is associated, is not included in the range of telephone numbers or is not included in the range of IP addresses.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more devices, a call from a device of an originating party for a device of a destination party,

the call being based on a request including information identifying a type of session and a quality level for the session;

performing, by the one or more devices, a screening operation to determine whether to permit the call from the device of the originating party to the device of the destination party,

the performing the screening operation including;

determining whether a type of an address, with which the device of the originating party or the device of the destination party is associated, corresponds to a telephone number or an Internet Protocol (IP) address, and

performing the screening operation using;

a first data structure that includes one or more telephone numbers when the type of the address corresponds to the telephone number, or

a second data structure that includes one or more IP addresses when the type of the address corresponds to the IP address;

determining, by the one or more devices, to not permit the call from the device of the originating party to the device of the destination party based on performing the screening operation;

accessing, by the one or more devices and based on determining to not permit the call from the device of the originating party, a user profile, associated with the device of the destination party, to determine whether the call, from the device of the originating party, is to be forwarded to an alternative destination;

determining, by the one or more devices, that the call, from the device of the originating party, is to be forwarded to the alternative destination;

obtaining, by the one or more devices, information associated with the alternative destination from the user profile,

the information including a telephone number or an IP address; and

causing, by the one or more devices, the call, from the device of the originating party, to be forward to the alternative destination using the telephone number or the IP address included in the information,

a plurality of addresses, associated with the destination party, being provided to the device of the origination party when the call is permitted.

16. The method of claim 15, where the telephone number, included in the information, is associated with a device of an alternative party.

17. The method of claim 15, where

at least one of:

the first data structure includes a first field to store a first value indicating whether the one or more telephone numbers are to be allowed or disallowed, or

the second data structure includes a second field configured to store a second value indicating whether the one or more IP addresses are to be allowed or disallowed, and

when the performing the screening operation, the method includes;

performing the screening operation using the address and the first value in the first field or using the address and the second value in the second field.

18. The method of claim 15, where

the address, with which the device of the originating party or the device of the destination party is associated, includes an address associated with the device of the originating party and an address associated with the device of the destination party, and

when performing the screening operation, the method includes:

performing a first screening operation based on originating party information, the originating party information including the address associated with the device of the originating party, and

performing a second screening operation based on destination party information, the destination party information including the address associated with the device of the destination party.

19. The method of claim 15, where

at least one of:

the one or more telephone numbers include a range of public telephone numbers or a range of private telephone numbers, or

the one or more IP addresses includes a range of IP addresses, and

when performing the screening operation, the method includes;

performing the screening operation based on;

the address and the range of public telephone numbers or the range of private telephone numbers, or

the address and the range of IP addresses.

20. The method of claim 15, where, when determining to not permit the call from the device of the originating party to the device of the destination party based on performing the screening operation, the method includes:

accessing the user profile; and

determining, based on information in the user profile, that call-forwarding-on-screening is applicable to the device of the destination party.