Time based regulation of access to callees

• US 7,200,215 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Winters, Scott Lee, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Weaver, James Mark, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/081,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.03, 379/201.01, 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/93.02, 379/142.05, 379/188, 379196-200, 379/201.02, 379/207.13, 379/210.01, 379/210.02
• US Class Current: 379/210.01
• 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 2203/2072 Schedules, e.g. personal calendars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• 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

Abstract

A method, system, and program for time based regulation of access to callees are provided. An authenticated identity of a caller placing a call is preferably detected. Then, a communication link from the caller to a callee is only attempted if the authenticated identity of the caller is allowed access to the callee according to a schedule associated with an identity of the callee.

Claims

1. A method for regulating access to a callee at a communication device accessible to said callee, comprising:

detecting, at a telephone service provider for a callee within a trusted telephone network, a call initiated by a caller and intended for said callee;

detecting, at said telephone service provider, an authenticated identity of said caller placing said call to said callee; and

only attempting, by said telephone service provider, a communication link between said caller and said callee if said authenticated identity of said caller is allowed access to said callee according to a schedule associated with an identity of said callee, wherein said schedule is accessible from at least one schedule storage service located within a packet-switching network outside said trusted telephone network and communicative with said telephone service provider via a secured gateway.

2. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, wherein said authenticated identity of said caller is authenticated by voice identification.

3. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing said schedule at a destination device available to said callee.

4. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, wherein attempting a communication link further comprises:

allowing said call to ring through to a destination device available to said callee.

5. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, further comprising:

regulating said call by blocking said caller from accessing a destination device available to said callee.

6. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, further comprising:

regulating said call by transferring said call to a voice mail service.

7. The method for regulating access according to claim 1, further comprising:

regulating said call by controlling output of a message to a caller indicating an available time for said caller to reach said callee, wherein said caller is prompted with a selectable option to request an appointment during said available time be added to said schedule for said callee; and

responsive to receiving input from said caller of said selectable option, adding said appointment during said available time to said schedule for said callee, wherein said appointment restricts said callee to only receive a call from said caller during said available time.

8. A system for regulating access to a callee comprising:

a communication system for enabling a caller to place a call intended for said callee, wherein said communication system comprises at least one telephone service provider within a trusted telephone network;

said communication system further comprising;

means for detecting an authenticated identity of said caller placing said call to said callee; and

means for only attempting a communication link via said communication system between said caller and said callee if said authenticated identity of said caller is allowed access to said callee according to a schedule associated with an identity of said callee, wherein said schedule is accessible from at least one schedule storage service located within a packet-switching network outside said trusted telephone network and communicative with said communication system via a secured gateway.

9. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, wherein said authenticated identity of said caller is authenticated by voice identification.

10. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for accessing said schedule at a destination device available to said callee.

11. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, wherein attempting a communication link further comprises:

means for allowing said call to ring through to a destination device available to said callee.

12. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for regulating said call by blocking said caller from accessing a destination device available to said callee.

13. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for regulating said call by transferring said call to a voice mail service.

14. The system for regulating access according to claim 8, further comprising:

means for regulating said call by controlling output of a message to a caller indicating an available time for said caller to reach said callee, wherein said caller is prompted with a selectable option to request an appointment during said available time be added to said schedule for said callee; and

means, responsive to receiving input from said caller of said selectable option, for adding said appointment during said available time to said schedule for said callee, wherein said appointment restricts said callee to only receive a call from said caller during said available time.

15. A program for regulating access to a callee comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting at at least one telephone service provider within a trusted telephone network, a call initiated by a caller and intended for said callee;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting an authenticated identity of said caller placing said call to said callee; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, for only attempting a communication link through said telephone service provider between said caller and said callee if said authenticated identity of said caller is allowed access to said callee according to a schedule associated with an identity of said callee, wherein said schedule is accessible from at least one schedule storage service located within a packet-switching network outside said trusted telephone network and communicative with said telephone service provider via a secured gateway.

16. The program for regulating access according to claim 15, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for accessing said schedule at a destination device available to said callee.

17. The program for regulating access according to claim 15, wherein attempting a communication link further comprises:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for allowing said call to ring through to a destination device available to said callee.

18. The program for regulating access according to claim 15, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for regulating said call by blocking said caller from accessing a destination device available to said callee.

19. The program for regulating access according to claim 15, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for regulating said call by transferring said call to a voice mail service.

20. The program for regulating access according to claim 15, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for regulating said call by controlling output of a message to a caller indicating an available time for said caller to reach said callee, wherein said caller is prompted with a selectable option to request an appointment during said available time be added to said schedule for said callee; and

means, recorded on said recording medium, responsive to receiving input from said caller of said selectable option, for adding said appointment during said available time to said schedule for said callee, wherein said appointment restricts said callee to only receive a call from said caller during said available time.

21. A method for regulating access to a destination device comprising:

detecting, at a telephone service provider within a trusted telephone network an authenticated identity of a caller placing a call to a destination device; and

only attempting, by said telephone service provider, a communication link between said caller and said destination device if said authenticated identity of said caller is allowed access to said destination device according to a schedule associated with said destination device, wherein said schedule is accessible from at least one schedule storage service located within a packet-switching network outside said trusted telephone network and communicative with said telephone service provider via a secured gateway.

22. A method for time based regulation comprising:

detecting a context for a call comprising an identity of a caller and an anticipated call time; and

only attempting a communication link between said caller and a destination device if a time scheduled for said destination device is sufficient for said anticipated call time and said caller is allowed access to an intended callee at said destination device during said time scheduled.

23. A method for time based regulation of a destination device, comprising:

detecting a context for a call comprising an identity of a caller and an anticipated call time;

filtering a schedule for a destination device according to said context for said call to determine a selection of relevant scheduled events;

prompting said caller with a next available time for access to said destination device according to said selection of relevant scheduled events.

24. The method for time based regulation according to claim 23, wherein said schedule comprises at least one from among an allowed caller event, a rated event, and a next available time event.

25. The method for time based regulation according to claim 23, further comprising:

scheduling said caller in said schedule for said next available time.

26. A system for time based regulation of a destination device, comprising:

means for detecting a context for a call comprising an identity of a caller and an anticipated call time;

means for filtering a schedule for a destination device according to said context for said call to determine a selection of relevant scheduled events;

means for prompting said caller with a next available time for access to said destination device according to said selection of relevant scheduled events.

27. The system for time based regulation according to claim 26, wherein said schedule comprises at least one from among an allowed caller event, a rated event, and a next available time event.

28. The system for time based regulation according to claim 26, further comprising:

means for scheduling said caller in said schedule for said next available time.

29. A computer program product for time based regulation of a destination device, comprising:

a recording medium;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a context for a call comprising an identity of a caller and an anticipated call time;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering a schedule for a destination device according to said context for said call to determine a selection of relevant scheduled events;

means, recorded on said recording medium, for prompting said caller with a next available time for access to said destination device according to said selection of relevant scheduled events.

30. The computer program product for time based regulation according to claim 29, further comprising:

means, recorded on said recording medium, for scheduling said caller in said schedule for said next available time.