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Method and apparatus for selectively blocking incoming telephone calls

  • US 5,467,388 A
  • Filed: 02/06/1995
  • Issued: 11/14/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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