Identifying and filtering incoming telephone calls to enhance privacy

• US 9,386,148 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ooma Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ooma Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrand, Toby, Snow, Kevin, Peng, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S
• Application Number:
  US14/034,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20150086001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/210.02, 379/210.03
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/18 Comparators
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42153 by subscriber
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4365 based on information specified by the calling party, e.g. priority or subject
• 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: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A method for filtering a telephone call is provided. The method may comprise receiving from a caller the telephone call directed to a communication device associated with an intended call recipient. The received telephone call may be scored based on predetermined scoring criteria to create a score indicative of a desirability of the telephone call. Furthermore, the method may comprise comparing the score to a predetermined threshold score. Based on the comparison, the method may further comprise selectively classifying the telephone call as an unwanted telephone call. Furthermore, the method may comprise selectively rejecting the unwanted telephone call.

Claims

1. A method for filtering a telephone call, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller, by a processor, the telephone call directed to a communication device associated with an intended call recipient, an Internet being disposed between the processor and the communication device;

scoring, by the processor, the telephone call based on predetermined scoring criteria to create a score indicative of a desirability of the telephone call, the predetermined scoring criteria being provided by the intended call recipient;

comparing, by the processor, the score to a predetermined threshold score;

based on the comparison, selectively classifying, by the processor, the telephone call as an unwanted telephone call; and

selectively rejecting, by the processor, the unwanted telephone call.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based on the score, putting the telephone call through to the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, based the score, adding the caller or a caller communication device to a whitelist or a blacklist.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing screening of the telephone call by the intended call recipient to allow the intended call recipient to manually reject or allow the telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the intended call recipient to grade the telephone call or effectiveness of a screening after the telephone call is completed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically requiring a call back number to complete the telephone call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a test to establish whether the caller is a human.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scoring is based on one or more of the following:

whether the caller or a caller communication device are associated with a whitelist, a blacklist, or a graylist;

a number of calls made to different phone numbers by the caller;

sequence of calls made by the caller; and

a call source type.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined scoring criteria include network statistics, machine detections, and customized challenge and response.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the intended call recipient manually adds the caller or caller communication device to a blacklist or a whitelist.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone call is automatically rejected if a caller Identification (ID) associated with the telephone call is blocked or anonymous.

12. A system for filtering a telephone call, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive from a caller the telephone call directed to a communication device associated with an intended call recipient, an Internet being disposed between the processor and the communication device;

score the telephone call based on predetermined scoring criteria to create a score indicative of a desirability of the telephone call, the predetermined scoring criteria being provided by the intended call recipient;

compare the score to a predetermined threshold score;

based on the comparison, selectively classify the telephone call as an unwanted telephone call; and

selectively reject the unwanted telephone call; and

a memory unit configured to store data associated with the predetermined scoring criteria, the predetermined threshold score, a whitelist, and a blacklist.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to, based on the score, put the telephone call through to the communication device.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to, based on the score, add the caller or a caller communication device to the whitelist or the blacklist.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to provide screening of the telephone call by the intended call recipient to allow the intended call recipient to manually reject or allow the telephone call.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to allow the intended call recipient to grade the telephone call or effectiveness of a screening after the telephone call is completed.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to automatically require a call back number to complete the telephone call.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to provide a test to establish whether the caller is a human.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor rejects the unwanted phone call in response to a caller Identification (ID) associated with the phone call being blocked or anonymous.