US6353663B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for screening telephone calls
Assignee: RPX Corp
•
Filing: 1999-12-06
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Granted: 2002-03-05
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Expires: 2019-12-06
Abstract
Abstract Callers to a number subscribing to a screening application are prompted that a fee will be charged for the connection to be completed. The prompting can occur at the initiation of the call, prior to any connection to the called party, or after the called party has had a chance to screen the call. The calling party can choose whether to complete the connection or to terminate the call. If the connection is completed, the fee is charged; otherwise, the call is terminated. Accordingly, most unwanted calls are avoided and users are compensated for receiving unwanted calls that are completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilman R. Stevens
- 👤 Babu Mani
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/68; H04M2215/00; H04M2215/01; H04M2215/0196
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of screening calls, comprising the steps of: prompting a calling party that a fee will be charged for a connection to be established with a called party; terminating the call responsive to an action indicative of an rejection of the fee charge; charging a fee to the calling party and establishing a connection responsive to an action indicative of an acceptance of the fee charge; and paying at least a portion of said fee to the called party.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of screening calls, comprising the steps of: prompting a calling party that a fee will be charged for a connection to be established with a called party; terminating the call responsive to an action indicative of an rejection of the fee charge; charging a fee to the calling party and establishing a connection responsive to an action indicative of an acceptance of the fee charge; and paying at least a portion of said fee to the called party.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of determining whether a party is authorized and connecting the calling party to the called party if the calling party is an authorized caller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 and wherein said determining step comprises the step of searching a database of authorized callers associated with the called party.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 and further comprising the step of identifying a calling party using Caller ID, wherein said database is searched responsive to said identifying step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said determining step comprises the step of receiving a identification number from the calling party.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the step of allowing the called party to eliminate the fee after the connection is made.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of allowing the called party to eliminate the fee comprises the step of allowing the called party to enter a code using a telephone keypad to eliminate the fee after the connection is made.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting step is made in response to a predetermined signal by said called party after an initial connection is made between the called party and calling party.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said prompting step is made in response to a predetermined input on a telephone keypad by said called party.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said prompting step is made in response to a receiving a destination number by the calling party.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the prompting step occurs prior to a step of establishing a connection with the called party.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the user initiates said charging step after the identity of the caller is established.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the prompting step occurs subsequent to a step of establishing a connection with the called party.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of identifying the calling party as associated with one of a plurality of groups and wherein said fee is dependent upon said associated group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said fee is dependent upon said associated group and time-of-day criteria.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said one or more of said groups correspond to respective blocks of numbers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
Circuitry for screening calls, comprising: circuitry for prompting a calling party that a fee will be charged for a connection to be established with a called party; circuitry for terminating the call responsive to an action indicative of an rejection of the fee charge; circuitry for charging a fee to the calling party and establishing a connection responsive to an action indicative of an acceptance of the fee charge; and circuitry for paying at least a portion of said fee to the called party.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
84 words
Circuitry for screening calls, comprising: circuitry for prompting a calling party that a fee will be charged for a connection to be established with a called party; circuitry for terminating the call responsive to an action indicative of an rejection of the fee charge; circuitry for charging a fee to the calling party and establishing a connection responsive to an action indicative of an acceptance of the fee charge; and circuitry for paying at least a portion of said fee to the called party.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 and further comprising circuitry for identifying an authorized calling party.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 18 and wherein said identifying circuitry comprises circuitry for searching a database of authorized callers associated with the called party and connecting the calling party to the called party if the calling party is an authorized caller.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 19 wherein said identifying circuitry comprises circuitry for identifying a calling party using Caller ID, and searching said database responsive thereto.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 18 wherein said identifying circuitry comprises circuitry for receiving a personal identifier from the calling party.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 and further comprising circuitry for allowing the called party to eliminate the fee after the connection is made.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 21 wherein circuitry for allowing the called party to eliminate the fee comprises circuitry for allowing the called party to enter a code using a telephone keypad to eliminate the fee after the connection is made.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 wherein said prompting circuitry prompts the calling party in response to a predetermined signal by said called party after an initial connection is made between the called party and calling party.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 24 wherein said prompting circuitry prompts the calling party in response to a predetermined input on a telephone keypad by said called party.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 wherein said prompting circuitry prompts the calling party in response to a receiving a destination number by the calling party.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 wherein the prompting circuitry prompts the calling party prior to establishing a connection with the called party.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 27 wherein the charging circuitry allows the called party to initiate the fee charge after the identity of the caller is established.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The call screening circuitry of claim 17 wherein the prompting circuitry prompts the calling party subsequent to of establishing a connection with the called party.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 and further comprising the steps of identifying the calling party as associated with one of a plurality of groups and wherein said fee is dependent upon said associated group.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said fee is dependent upon said associated group and time-of-day criteria.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said one or more of said groups correspond to respective blocks of numbers.
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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) | 2005-03-04 | 2005-09-03 | 2006-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-04 | 2009-09-03 | 2010-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-04 | 2013-09-03 | 2014-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |