Patent US6031899A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6031899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-28
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Granted: 2000-02-29
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Expires: 2016-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A local switch includes circuitry for determining whether a called party is a subscriber of a call type delivery service when a call is being placed to the called party. The local switch also includes circuitry to generate a message to prompt the calling party to identify whether the call is urgent, normal, or telemarketing. If the calling party does not respond in a timely manner the local switch includes circuitry to analyze the response by the calling party and to generate corresponding signals to inform the called party of the unknown call type. More specifically, either a different ring pattern is generated or a specified symbol is displayed on a display or both to inform the called party of the call type. The present invention may be used in conjunction with modern communication networks such as intelligent networks and public land mobile networks.
Inventors
- 👤 Woody Wu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:56
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/0016; H04Q3/0029; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/436; H04M1/00; H04M1/57; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M2242/00; H04M2242/22; H04M3/02; H04M3/42025; H04M3/42034; H04M3/42042; H04M3/487; H04M7/00; H04Q2213/00; H04Q2213/13514; H04Q3/70; H04Q3/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A local switch for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said telecommunications system comprising: first message generator means for generating, upon receipt of a communication request from said calling party, a prompting message from said local switch to said calling party, said prompting message requesting a response from said calling party for the call type identification of said communication request from said calling party to said called party; message interpretation means for interpreting, upon receipt of said response, the call type identification entered by said calling party; second message generator means for generating, upon interpretation of said response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and blocking means, upon interpretation of said response, to selectively block said communication between said calling party and said called party.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A local switch for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said telecommunications system comprising: first message generator means for generating, upon receipt of a communication request from said calling party, a prompting message from said local switch to said calling party, said prompting message requesting a response from said calling party for the call type identification of said communication request from said calling party to said called party; message interpretation means for interpreting, upon receipt of said response, the call type identification entered by said calling party; second message generator means for generating, upon interpretation of said response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and blocking means, upon interpretation of said response, to selectively block said communication between said calling party and said called party.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the message interpretation means interprets voice responses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the message interpretation means analyzes dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones generated by the calling party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the second message generator means generates a specified symbol on a display to identify said call type identification being routed to the called party.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said communication is blocked when said call type identification is selected from the group consisting of normal, urgent, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said message generator means generates a calling party announcement at a calling party telephone, said announcement including a message that said communication is blocked.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a communication request from said calling party to said called party; prompting from said local switch said calling party for said call type identification of said communication; responding, by said calling party, the prompt for said call type identification; interpreting the call type identification response of said calling party; selectively generating, upon the interpretation of the call type identification response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and selectively blocking, upon the interpretation of the call type identification responses said calling party from communicating with said called party.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a communication request from said calling party to said called party; prompting from said local switch said calling party for said call type identification of said communication; responding, by said calling party, the prompt for said call type identification; interpreting the call type identification response of said calling party; selectively generating, upon the interpretation of the call type identification response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and selectively blocking, upon the interpretation of the call type identification responses said calling party from communicating with said called party.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said call type identification is selected from the group consisting of normal, urgent, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8, wherein said communication is blocked when said call type identification is selected from the group consisting of normal, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of generating includes the step of generating a calling party announcement at a calling party telephone, said announcement including a message that said communication is blocked.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the step of generating said selective distinctive ring pattern signal includes the step of generating a called party caller ID display signal to display a selective distinctive symbol thereon, said selective distinctive signal being one of a plurality of distinctive symbols and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, said call type identification being selected from the group consisting of normal, urgent, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said communication is blocked when said call type identification is selected from the group consisting of normal, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said step of generating includes the step of generating a calling party announcement at a calling party telephone, said announcement including a message that said communication is blocked.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7, wherein, when said call type identification is urgent and a do not disturb feature has been activated by said called party, said selective distinctive ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
184 words
A local switch for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said telecommunications system comprising: a first message generator for generating, upon receipt of a communication request from said calling party, a prompting message from said local switch to said calling party, said prompting message requesting a response from said calling party for the call type identification of said communication request from said calling party to said called party; a message interpreter for interpreting, upon receipt of said response, the call type identification entered by said calling party; a second message generator for selectively generating, upon interpretation of said response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and a blocking means for selectively blocking, upon interpretation of said response, said communication between said calling party and said called party.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
184 words
A local switch for call type identification of a calling party to a called party, prior to a communication therebetween, via a selective distinctive ring pattern signal, from a plurality of distinctive ring pattern signals and in one-to-one correspondence with said call type identification, to said called party, said telecommunications system comprising: a first message generator for generating, upon receipt of a communication request from said calling party, a prompting message from said local switch to said calling party, said prompting message requesting a response from said calling party for the call type identification of said communication request from said calling party to said called party; a message interpreter for interpreting, upon receipt of said response, the call type identification entered by said calling party; a second message generator for selectively generating, upon interpretation of said response, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal to said called party, said selective distinctive ring pattern signal being in one-to-one correspondence to said call type identification; and a blocking means for selectively blocking, upon interpretation of said response, said communication between said calling party and said called party.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the message interpreter interprets voice responses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the message interpreter analyzes dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones generated by the calling party.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the second message generator also generates a specified symbol on a display to identify said call type identification being routed to the called party.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said communication is blocked when said call type identification is selected from the group consisting of normal, urgent, telemarketing and unknown.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15, wherein said message generator means generates a calling party announcement at a calling party telephone, said announcement including a message that said communication is blocked.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-02-28 | 2003-08-30 | 2004-02-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-02-28 | 2007-08-30 | 2008-02-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-02-28 | 2011-08-30 | 2012-02-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |