Method and apparatus for selectively blocking incoming telephone calls
First Claim
1. In a communications system comprising local communication lines, an integrated services control point comprising a data base for storing call processing data, a service management system connected to said data base and a data and reporting system for performing processing on said data base, a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each connecting to a plurality of said local communication lines and responding to a service request on a connected local communication line to selectively provide a communication connection between a requesting line and another local communication line, and a signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the integrated services control point, a method of providing selective call blocking comprising the steps of:
- outputting a Transaction Capabilities Applications Protocol (TCAP) query message from one of said central office switching systems in response to a request for services from a subscriber via one of said communication lines and in accordance with a translation table stored in said one central office switching system corresponding to said subscriber;
supplying at least a first part of said call processing data corresponding to said subscriber from said integrated services control point to said one central office switching system in response to said TCAP query message;
initiating an interface session with said subscriber in accordance with said first part of said call processing data;
supplying for said data base a list of caller numbers authorized to have access to said subscriber, and dividing said list of caller numbers into a plurality of groups during said interface session, each group being on a different authorization tier wherein each authorization tier has different requirements for bypassing a call blocking feature set for incoming calls to said subscriber;
supplying for said data base, during said interface session, time period data for activating a selective call blocking service;
storing said list of caller numbers and said time period data obtained during said interface session in said data base as a second part of said call processing data for said corresponding subscriber;
activating the selective call blocking service in accordance with said time period data stored in said data base, said activating step comprising the steps of;
outputting an activation signal from said integrated services control point to said one central office switching system for said time period stored in said data base, andupdating said translation table corresponding to said subscriber stored in said one central office switching system in response to said activation signal; and
selectively enabling access to said subscriber to callers having caller numbers stored in said data base in accordance with said updated translation table and said list of caller numbers.
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Abstract
A system for allowing a telephone subscriber to selectively block incoming calls for selected time periods or during programmed time intervals. A subscriber may pre-program a time interval in minutes, or a time period (start time and end time) for which some or all incoming calls are to be blocked. The subscriber may assign caller numbers or personal identification numbers to one of a plurality of tiers of access. The subscriber may enable the call blocking system for selected access tiers. An emergency access tier may be provided to insure emergency calls are not blocked by the system.
601 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a communications system comprising local communication lines, an integrated services control point comprising a data base for storing call processing data, a service management system connected to said data base and a data and reporting system for performing processing on said data base, a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems each connecting to a plurality of said local communication lines and responding to a service request on a connected local communication line to selectively provide a communication connection between a requesting line and another local communication line, and a signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the integrated services control point, a method of providing selective call blocking comprising the steps of:
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outputting a Transaction Capabilities Applications Protocol (TCAP) query message from one of said central office switching systems in response to a request for services from a subscriber via one of said communication lines and in accordance with a translation table stored in said one central office switching system corresponding to said subscriber; supplying at least a first part of said call processing data corresponding to said subscriber from said integrated services control point to said one central office switching system in response to said TCAP query message; initiating an interface session with said subscriber in accordance with said first part of said call processing data; supplying for said data base a list of caller numbers authorized to have access to said subscriber, and dividing said list of caller numbers into a plurality of groups during said interface session, each group being on a different authorization tier wherein each authorization tier has different requirements for bypassing a call blocking feature set for incoming calls to said subscriber; supplying for said data base, during said interface session, time period data for activating a selective call blocking service; storing said list of caller numbers and said time period data obtained during said interface session in said data base as a second part of said call processing data for said corresponding subscriber; activating the selective call blocking service in accordance with said time period data stored in said data base, said activating step comprising the steps of; outputting an activation signal from said integrated services control point to said one central office switching system for said time period stored in said data base, and updating said translation table corresponding to said subscriber stored in said one central office switching system in response to said activation signal; and selectively enabling access to said subscriber to callers having caller numbers stored in said data base in accordance with said updated translation table and said list of caller numbers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for providing a call blocking feature in a telecommunications system, comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected central office switching systems, wherein each of said central office switching systems connects to a plurality of local communication lines, each responding to a service request on a connected local communication line to selectively provide a communication connection between a requesting line and another local communication line; an integrated services control point, separate from the central office switching systems, said integrated services control point comprising; (i) a database for storing call processing data associated with at least one of the local communication lines connected to each of at least two of the central office switching systems, said call processing data adapted to include a plurality of caller numbers corresponding to a subscriber of said call blocking feature, said plurality of caller numbers being divided into a plurality of groups, each group being allocated a different authorization tier wherein each authorization tier has different requirements for bypassing said call blocking feature; (ii) a service management system connected to said database, and (iii) a data and reporting system for performing processing on said database; a signalling communication system for two-way communications of data messages, said signalling communication system interconnecting the central office switching systems and connecting the central office switching systems to the integrated services control point; wherein; in response to a request for service from one of the local communication lines by said subscriber, the one central office switching system connected to that one line initiates access to the database in the integrated services control point to obtain call processing data associated with said subscriber; and in response to a password supplied by said subscriber and in accordance with said call processing data, the integrated services control point stores a plurality of caller numbers and corresponding authorization in response to inputs from said subscriber to enable said call blocking feature for said subscriber. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification