U.S. patent application number 10/893850 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for call prevention device and method.
Invention is credited to Enzmann, Mark J., Moton, Robert T., Zellner, Samuel N..
Application Number | 20040264663 10/893850 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33538612 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040264663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Enzmann, Mark J. ; et
al. |
December 30, 2004 |
Call prevention device and method
Abstract
A call prevention device. The device includes a caller ID
detection unit for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a
telecommunication network before a connection is established when a
call is made by a calling party. The device also includes a
processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit
for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in
response to the caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile
with the caller ID data, the processing unit further for
incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the
caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for
generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user
defined value.
Inventors: |
Enzmann, Mark J.; (Roswell,
GA) ; Moton, Robert T.; (Alpharetta, GA) ;
Zellner, Samuel N.; (Dunwoody, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP
HENRY W. OLIVER BULDING
535 SMITHFIELD STREET
PITTSBURGH
PA
15222-2312
US
|
Family ID: |
33538612 |
Appl. No.: |
10/893850 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10893850 |
Jul 19, 2004 |
|
|
|
10044391 |
Jan 10, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/142.06 ;
379/142.01; 379/210.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/436 20130101;
H04M 1/57 20130101; H04M 1/663 20130101; H04M 1/64 20130101; H04M
15/06 20130101; H04M 3/42068 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/142.06 ;
379/142.01; 379/210.02 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/56; H04M
015/06; H04M 003/42 |
Claims
1. A call prevention device, comprising: a caller ID detection unit
for detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication
network before a connection is established when a call is made by a
calling party; and a processing unit in communication with the
caller ID detection unit for retrieving a caller profile from a
caller profile database in response to the caller ID data and for
comparing the caller profile with the caller ID data, the
processing unit further for incrementing a call total value when
the caller profile and the caller ID data match favorably, and the
processing unit further for generating a message when the call
total value exceeds a user defined value.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further
for allowing the call to proceed to a call connecting device when
the call total value does not exceed the user defined value.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the call connecting device
includes a telephone set.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein the call connecting device
includes a computer.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the caller ID data include at
least a caller name and a caller number.
6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an accepted caller
database for permitting a call from an accepted caller to bypass
routing of the processing unit so as to continue the call through a
connecting device.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further
for supplementing the caller profile with the caller ID data.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein the connecting device includes a
telephone set.
9. The device of claim 6, wherein the connecting device includes a
computer.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the message includes an audible
warning.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the audible warning includes at
least the caller ID data and the total call value.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the processing unit is further
for disconnecting the call after the audible warning is issued to
the calling party.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is further
for transferring the call to an answering device if a connection is
not established.
14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a messaging unit.
15. A call prevention device which is adapted to be in
communication with a telecommunication network, the call prevention
device comprising: a caller ID detection unit for detecting caller
ID data transmitted over the telecommunication network while a
connection is established with a first call on a first line when a
second call is made by a second caller on a second line; and a
processing unit in communication with the caller ID detection unit
for retrieving a caller profile from a caller profile database in
response to the caller ID data received and for comparing the
caller profile with the caller ID data, the processing unit further
for incrementing a call total value when the caller profile and the
caller ID data match favorably, and the processing unit further for
generating a message when the call total value exceeds a user
defined value.
16. A method of processing a call, comprising: detecting caller ID
data; comparing the caller ID data to a caller profile in a caller
profile database; routing the call in response to the comparison;
and responding with an audible message when an unfavorable
comparison of the caller ID data the caller profile happens.
17. The method of processing a call as described in claim 16,
further comprising creating a list of caller accepted profiles for
allowing an accepted caller to bypass the audible message.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to caller identification (ID)
technology and caller ID data as it is provided by telephone
companies through a telephone network that generally enables a user
to view the telephone number of the calling party and possibly
other information relating to the calling party.
[0003] 2. Description of the Invention Background
[0004] Telephone users generally desire an increasing number of
features and functions to assist them in handling and preventing
escalating numbers of unwanted incoming calls. One of the methods
currently used to assist in the prevention of calls is the
utilization of caller ID technology. Caller ID service capability
is typically provided through a telephone network by a
telecommunication service provider. A dedicated terminal or feature
in a device such as a telephone or answering machine that has
caller ID capability is specifically designed to read and display
the caller ID data relating to the calling party that are
transmitted over a telecommunications network to the called party.
The caller ID data, received from the telecommunication service
provider, are generally displayed on a display device to inform the
called party of the caller name and/or number. Once the caller ID
data are displayed, the called party may choose to either accept
the call or allow the call to continue until the call is either
answered by an answering device or the calling party terminates the
call.
[0005] Problems with conventional caller ID systems stem from the
limitations of such systems to dispose of calls efficiently without
the called party having to take any action. With a standard caller
ID system, the called party either has to actively read the caller
ID number or has to let the phone ring until some other device
disposes of the call or the calling party terminates the call.
Either scenario is unfavorable to a called party that receives a
large volume of undesirable calls. The constant ringing of the
phone, checking the caller ID data, or listening to countless
numbers of messages left by unsolicited parties can be annoying and
time-consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed to a call prevention
device. The device includes a caller ID detection unit for
detecting caller ID data transmitted over a telecommunication
network before a connection is established when a call is made by a
calling party. The device also includes a processing unit in
communication with the caller ID detection unit for retrieving a
caller profile from a caller profile database in response to the
caller ID data and for comparing the caller profile with the caller
ID data, the processing unit further for incrementing a call total
value when the caller profile and the caller ID data match
favorably, and the processing unit further for generating a message
when the call total value exceeds a user defined value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a call
prevention device;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a process
performed by the call prevention device of FIG. 1,
[0009] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a caller ID data
tally routine that is performed by the call prevention device of
FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a call
prevention device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Referring now to the drawings for the purpose of
illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the
same, the block diagram in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a call
prevention device 10. The call prevention device 10 generally
determines whether an originating call 30, coming through a
telecommunications network 32 such as, for example, the PSTN
(public-switched telephone network), is to be prevented. The call
prevention device 10 generally comprises a caller ID detection unit
34, a caller ID data processor 36, a caller profile database 38,
and a message device 40 according to one embodiment of the
invention. The call prevention device 10 is connected to a
telecommunications device, such as a telephone set 42 for routing
an acceptable originating call 30 to the telephone set 42.
[0012] In an embodiment of the caller ID data processor 36 of the
present invention, a caller ID processing program, described
hereinbelow in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3, is stored in a memory
device (not shown) of the call prevention device 10. The memory of
the call prevention device 10 is, for example, a RAM (random access
memory), a ROM (read-only memory), a PROM (programmable ROM), an
EPROM (erasable PROM), or an EEPROM (electronically erasable PROM).
The memory of the call prevention device 10, or other allocated
memory of the aforementioned types, is further capable of storing
incoming caller ID data (designated by "D"), caller profiles
(designated by "P") in a caller profile database 38, and entries of
accepted callers not to be prevented from connecting to the
telephone set 42.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the originating call 30 is initiated at
block 50 by a calling party through a telephone network 32 at block
52. The originating call 30 is detected at block 54 by the caller
ID detection unit 34, which monitors the phone line for caller ID
signals, stores the caller ID data D at block 56 and routes the
caller ID data D at block 58 to the caller ID data processor 36.
The incoming caller ID data D are separated into two categories,
the name of the caller (designated by "A") and the number of the
caller (designated by "B"), and then stored at block 56 by the
memory of the call prevention device 10. The caller ID data D,
comprised of A and B, is then routed at block 58 to the caller ID
data processor 36.
[0014] The program code instructions cause the caller ID data
processor 36 to compare the caller ID data D at block 60 which are
stored at block 56 in the memory of the call prevention device 10,
with the caller profile in the caller profile database 38. This
comparison at block 60 begins what will be understood as the caller
ID data D tally routine.
[0015] The caller profile P consists of a name of a previous caller
(designated by "N"), and a telephone number of a previous caller
(designated by "R"). If the caller profile P cannot be found, the
program code instructions cause the call prevention device 10-to
create a caller profile P at block 62 consisting of N and R. The
call prevention device 10 will then create a call total (designated
by "T") at block 64 to begin to tally each originating call 30 that
matches the caller profile P. Once the originating call 30 has a
caller profile P and a call total T, the originating call 30 is
continued at block 66 on the telephone set 42 before a subsequent
ring occurs after receiving the caller ID data D. If a match is
found, after A and B are compared at block 60 to N and R, then the
call total T is incremented at block 68. This is the end of the
caller ID data D tally routine.
[0016] In the event where a match is found and the call total T is
incremented at block 68, the call total T is evaluated at block 70
as to whether the call total T is greater than or equal to the
maximum allowed calls (designated by "Q"). The maximum allowed
calls Q is generally a value entered by the user of the call
prevention device 10. In the case where the call total T is not
equal to or greater than the maximum allowed calls Q, the
originating call 30 is continued at block 66 on the telephone set
42 before a subsequent ring occurs after receiving the caller ID
data D.
[0017] Where the call total T is equal to or greater than the
maximum allowed calls Q, the caller profile P of the originating
call 30 is routed to be checked at block 72 against an accepted
caller profile (designated by "X"). The accepted caller profile X
is entered by the user of the call prevention device 10, thus
permitting acceptable callers to bypass the exclusion of calls to
be prevented. If the caller profile P of the originating call 30
matches an accepted caller profile X, the originating call 30 is
continued at block 66 on the telephone set 42 before a subsequent
ring occurs after receiving the caller ID data D. If the caller
profile P of the originating call 30 does not match an accepted
caller profile X, the originating call 30 is determined to be of
the class of calls to be prevented and is given a message at block
74 before the call prevention device 10 terminates the originating
call 30 at block 76 prior to a subsequent ring after receiving the
caller ID data D.
[0018] The message given at block 74 to the caller of the
originating call 30 can include several different options. The
message at block 74 may include an audible response to the caller
that the originating call 30 is unsolicited and undesired. The
message at block 74 may also include an audible response stating
that the name of the caller N and the number of the caller R is
known and that the caller has called T times. Persons skilled in
the art will recognize that the message given at block 74 may be
substituted or replaced with other information or various
personalized messages. This would provide added versatility and
customization capabilities for the user of the call prevention
device.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 3, an embodiment of the caller ID D
tally routine of FIG. 2 is shown. The program code instructions
cause the caller ID data processor 36 to perform the caller ID data
D tally routine in the course of processing. The caller ID D tally
routine begins with caller ID data D (A, B) being read at block 80
from memory. The caller profile P (N,R) is then referenced at block
82 and first compared at block 84 to the caller ID data D (A,B). In
this first comparison at block 84, an exact match is being checked
for A with N, and B with R. If both A is equal to N and B is equal
to R, then the call total T for that caller profile P is
incremented at block 86.
[0020] The second comparison at block 88 occurs where A does not
equal N or B does not equal R, or where A does not equal N and B
does not equal R. The second comparison at block 88 is to determine
whether A is equal to N or B is equal to R Where neither of the
inquiries of the second comparison at block 88 is true, it is
decidedly understood that the originating call 30 must be a new
caller or otherwise a caller without a caller profile P. A caller
profile P is then created at block 90, storing the name N and the
number R of the originating call 30 in the caller profile database
38. A call total T is then created at block 92 to be incremented at
block 86 when the caller makes subsequent calls.
[0021] In the event that A is equal to N or B is equal to R in the
second comparison at block 88, the program code instructions cause
the call prevention device 10 to increment the call total T at
block 86 for the particular caller profile P that corresponds to
the matching value A or B. Where A is equal to N or B is equal to
R, a match is determined to have been made for purposes of
preventing unwanted calls. This will prevent a caller from changing
their caller ID data slightly to circumvent the call prevention
device 10. If either the name A or the number B of the originating
call 30 matches a value in the caller profile P, the call total T
will increment at block 86.
[0022] Caller profile P is understood to contain values N and R.
Where either A equals N or B equals R, but not both of these is
true, the call prevention device 10 determines which of the values
does not match at block 94. Caller profile P is then updated to
include the value that does not match the incoming caller ID data D
(A, B) at blocks 96 and 98. If A is not equal to N at block 94,
then A must be the value to be added to the array of N values at
block 96 and the call total T is incremented at block 86.
Otherwise, B must be the value to be added to the array of R values
at block 98 as block 88 determined that either A equals N or B
equals R, and block 94 determined that A did equal N. After B is
added to the array of R values at block 98, call total T is
incremented at block 86.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a call
prevention device 110 is shown. When a first originating call 130
has already established a connection, the call prevention device
110 generally determines whether a second originating call 132,
coming through a telephone network 134, is to be prevented. The
call prevention device 110 generally comprises a caller ID
detection unit 136, a caller ID data processor 138, a caller
profile database 140, and a message device 142 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The call prevention device 110 may be
connected to a telephone set 144 for routing an acceptable second
originating call 132 to the telephone set 144 for notifying the
called party that a call is waiting to be answered.
[0024] The call prevention device 110 operates similarly in the
prevention of calls to that of the call prevention device 10
described hereinbefore. In this embodiment, the call prevention
device 110 is provided with a second line in which to route the
second originating call 132. The second originating call 132 can be
determined as either an acceptable call, where it will subsequently
go to call waiting on the telephone set 144, or it will be
determined to be a call to be prevented and will be routed to the
message device 142.
[0025] Whereas particular embodiments of the invention have been
described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and
not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by
those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the
details, materials and arrangement of parts may be made within the
principle and scope of the invention without departing from the
invention as described in the appended claims.
* * * * *