Method and apparatus for handling incoming telephone calls

Claim 2

Apparatus for receiving a telephone call from a calling party apparatus, which telephone call is placed to a called party apparatus, the receiving apparatus, on the basis of predetermined selection criteria, for: (a) delivering predetermined messages to the calling party apparatus; (b) screening the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (c) re-routing the telephone call from the calling party apparatus, which receiving apparatus comprises: interaction means for receiving the telephone call, for obtaining identification information relating to the calling party apparatus, for transferring the identification information to a processor means, and for receiving time and date from a switching machine; the processor means, in response to the interaction means, for accessing a database means which has stored the predetermined selection criteria, predetermined messages, predetermined screening information, and predetermined re-routing information, the processor means using the identification information as a retrieval key for the predetermined selection criteria, and for using the predetermined selection criteria to determined whether to: (a) cause the interaction means to have the calling party apparatus connected with the called party apparatus; (b) provide predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) screen the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (d) re-route the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; the processor means further comprising means for accessing the database means to obtain predetermined: (a) message information; (b) screening information; or (c) re-routing information; and the processor means further comprising means for interacting with the interaction means for causing the interaction means to: (a) cause the calling party apparatus to be connected to the called party apparatus; (b) provide the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be screened; or (d) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be re-routed in accordance with the re-routing information.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined selection criteria comprise identification information, identification information with wildcards, time, data, or priority, or a combination of these factors.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the identification information comprises Automatic Number Identification, private tie line indemnification, trunk ID, Wide Area Telephone Service number, or extension number.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a voice message.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a text message to a calling party text display apparatus.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a facsimile message to a calling party facsimile receiving apparatus.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means blocks a telephone call from the calling party apparatus when none of the predetermined selection criteria are satisfied.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means re-routes the call by causing the call to be transferred to another called party apparatus in accordance with the predetermined rerouting information.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means comprises means for receiving the identification information from a telephone network.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interaction means comprises means for sending messages retrieved by the processor means to the calling party apparatus and for detecting calling party responses.

Claim 14

Apparatus for receiving a telephone call from a calling party apparatus, which telephone call is placed to a called party apparatus, the receiving apparatus, on the basis of predetermined selection criteria, for: (a) delivering predetermined messages to the calling party apparatus; (b) screening the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (c) re-routing the telephone call from the calling party apparatus, which receiving apparatus comprises: interaction means for receiving the telephone call, for obtaining identification information relating to the calling party apparatus, and for transferring the identification information to a processor means; the processor means, in response to the interaction means, for accessing a database means which has stored the predetermined selection criteria, predetermined messages, predetermined screening information, and predetermined re-routing information, the processor means fusing the identification information as a retrieval key for the predetermined selection criteria, and for using the predetermined selection criteria to determined whether to: (a) cause the interaction means to have the calling party apparatus connected with the called party apparatus; (b) provide predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) screen the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (d) re-route the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; the processor means futher comprises means for accessing the database means to obtain predetermined: (a) message information; (b) screening information; or (c) re-routing information; the processor means further comprising means for interacting with the interaction means for causing the interaction means to: (a) cause the calling party apparatus to be connected to the called party apparatus; (b) provide the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be screened; or (d) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be re-routed in accordance with the re-routing information; the processor means futher comprising means for storing a message as a representation of a voice message, as a representation of a text message, or as a representation of a facsimile message and the processor means still futher comprising means for: (a) converting a message stored as a representation of a voice message into a representation of a text message or a representation of a facsimile message; (b) converting a message stored as a representation of a text message into a representation of a voice message or a representation of a facsimile message; and (c) converting a message stored as a representation of a facsimile message into a representation of a text message or a representation of a voice message.

Claim 15

Apparatus for receiving a telephone call from a calling party apparatus, which telephone call is placed to a called party apparatus, the receiving apparatus, on the basis of predetermined selection criteria, for: (a) delivering predetermined messages to the calling party apparatus; (b) screening the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (c) re-routing the telephone call from the calling party apparatus, which receiving apparatus comprises: interaction means for receiving the telephone call, for obtaining identification information relating to the calling party apparatus, and for transferring the identification information to a processor means; the processor means, in response to the interaction means, for accessing a database means which has stored the predetermined selection criteria, predetermined messages, predetermined screening information, and predetermined re-routing information, the processor means fusing the identification information as a retrieval key for the predetermined selection criteria, and for using the predetermined selection criteria to determined whether to: (a) cause the interaction means to have the calling party apparatus connected with the called party apparatus; (b) provide predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) screen the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; or (d) re-route the telephone call from the calling party apparatus; the processor means futher comprises means for accessing the database means to obtain predetermined: (a) message information; (b) screening information; or (c) re-routing information; the processor means further comprising means for interacting with the interaction means for causing the interaction means to: (a) cause the calling party apparatus to be connected to the called party apparatus; (b) provide the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus; (c) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be screened; or (d) cause the telephone call from the calling party apparatus to be re-routed in accordance with the re-routing information; the processor means futher comprising means for storing a message as a representation of a voice message, as a representation of a text message, or as a representation of a facsimile message and the processor means still futher comprising means for: (a) converting a message stored as a representation of a voice message into a representation of a text message or a representation of a facsimile message; (b) converting a message stored as a representation of a text message into a representation of a voice message or a representation of a facsimile message; and (c) converting a message stored as a representation of a facsimile message into a representation of a text message or a representation of a voice message.

Claim 16

The apparatus to claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a voice message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a text message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a text message.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a voice message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a facsimile message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a facsimile message.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a text message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a voice message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a voice message.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a text message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a facsimile message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a facsimile message.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a facsimile message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a voice message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a voice message.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: (a) a predetermined message is stored as a representation of a facsimile message; (b) the processor means converts the message to a representation of a text message; and (c) the interaction means provides the predetermined message information to the calling party apparatus by transmission of a text message.