Network-Based Timed Ring Suppression

• US 20140003592A1
• Filed: 09/02/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Silver, Edward Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• 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 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/665 by checking the validity of a code
• 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 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q

Abstract

Alerts may be suppressed for communications. A timing parameter is retrieved describing an amount of time. An initial alert is processed to initially alert of an incoming communication. Subsequent alerts of the incoming communication are suppressed for the amount of time described by the timing parameter.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an incoming communication at a communications device;

querying memory of the communications device for a timing parameter describing an amount of time;

processing an initial alert by a processor to initially alert of the incoming communication; and

suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication for the amount of time described by the timing parameter.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving caller identification information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising retrieving the timing parameter associated with the caller identification information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a calling number associated with the incoming communication.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising retrieving the timing parameter associated with the calling number.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining calling number is blocked.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining calling number is unknown.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving manual activation of the subsequent alerts.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising suppressing a ringer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing a visual alert.

11. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving an incoming communication;

querying for a timing parameter describing an amount of time;

processing an initial alert to initially alert of the incoming communication; and

suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication for the amount of time described by the timing parameter.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving caller identification information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the timing parameter associated with the caller identification information.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a calling number associated with the incoming communication.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving the timing parameter associated with the calling number.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise determining calling number is blocked.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise determining calling number is unknown.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise receiving manual activation of the subsequent alerts.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise suppressing a ringer.

20. A computer readable memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

receiving an incoming communication;

querying for a timing parameter describing an amount of time;

processing an initial alert to initially alert of the incoming communication; and

suppressing subsequent alerts of the incoming communication for the amount of time described by the timing parameter.