Telephone call screening and routing device and related method
First Claim
1. A method for screening and routing an incoming call from a caller, comprising:
- receiving an incoming telephone signal including caller identification information from a caller;
identifying an entry in a data set that matches the caller identification information;
extracting an identifier from the entry in the data set; and
based on the identifier, selecting one of a set including (1) sending a primary ring signal, (2) sending a secondary ring signal, (3) sending a voicemail signal, (4) sending a block call signal, and (5) sending a forward call signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for screening and routing incoming telephone calls includes extracting caller identification information from an incoming telephone call, providing a plurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ring table, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table, and determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the caller identification information. The method also includes allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the primary ring table includes the caller identification information, and allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondary ring table includes the caller identification information. The method further includes sending the incoming telephone call directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if the voicemail table includes the caller identification information, blocking the incoming telephone call if the block call table includes the caller identification information, and forwarding the incoming telephone call if the forward call table includes the caller identification information.
100 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for screening and routing an incoming call from a caller, comprising:
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receiving an incoming telephone signal including caller identification information from a caller;
identifying an entry in a data set that matches the caller identification information;
extracting an identifier from the entry in the data set; and
based on the identifier, selecting one of a set including (1) sending a primary ring signal, (2) sending a secondary ring signal, (3) sending a voicemail signal, (4) sending a block call signal, and (5) sending a forward call signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for screening and routing incoming telephone calls, comprising:
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extracting caller identification information from an incoming telephone call;
providing a plurality of tables including a primary ring table, a secondary ring table, a voicemail table, a block call table, and a forward call table;
determining which one of the plurality of tables includes the caller identification information;
allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the primary ring table includes the caller identification information;
allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the secondary ring table includes the caller identification information;
sending the incoming telephone call directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if the voicemail table includes the caller identification information;
blocking the incoming telephone call if the block call table includes the caller identification information; and
forwarding the incoming telephone call if the forward call table includes the caller identification information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A device for screening and routing incoming telephone calls, comprising:
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a transceiver for receiving an incoming telephone call including caller identification information;
a memory for storing a plurality of entries where each of the plurality of entries includes an identifier selected from one of a set including (1) a primary ring, (2) a secondary ring, (3) a voicemail, (4) a block call, and (5) a forward call; and
a processor for matching the caller identification information to one of the plurality of entries and for;
allowing the incoming telephone call to have a primary ring tone if the identifier of the matched entry is the primary ring;
allowing the incoming telephone call to have a secondary ring tone if the identifier of the matched entry is the secondary ring;
sending the incoming telephone call directly to voicemail without having a ring tone if the identifier of the matched entry is the voicemail;
blocking the incoming telephone call if the identifier of the matched entry is the block call; and
forwarding the incoming telephone call if the identifier of the matched entry is the forward call. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification