EP1258131A2 - Anrufüberprüfung welche vom anrufer einen zugangscode fordert - Google Patents
Anrufüberprüfung welche vom anrufer einen zugangscode fordertInfo
- Publication number
- EP1258131A2 EP1258131A2 EP01909236A EP01909236A EP1258131A2 EP 1258131 A2 EP1258131 A2 EP 1258131A2 EP 01909236 A EP01909236 A EP 01909236A EP 01909236 A EP01909236 A EP 01909236A EP 1258131 A2 EP1258131 A2 EP 1258131A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- access code
- subscriber
- caller
- call connection
- predetermined access
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/436—Arrangements for screening incoming calls, i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to a subscriber feature within a telecommunications network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a "do not disturb" subscriber feature to protect the privacy of a subscriber within such a network.
- nuisance calls In telecommunications systems, so-called nuisance calls continue to be a problem. These nuisance calls may originate, for example, from a telemarketer, an incorrectly dialed number, a threatening or harassing caller, or a caller who merely calls at an inconvenient time. With developments in telephones and telecommunications systems, many approaches have been employed to reduce or eliminate calls from unwanted callers and/or calls at particular times.
- the receiver may not be reconnected immediately after being placed on-hook, and thus the telephone is unavailable to the subscriber for a period of time after being placed on-hook. As a result, calls cannot be made during this time period, which is potentially disastrous in an emergency situation where the telephone is needed (e.g., police, fire, or medical emergency) .
- placing the receiver off-hook serves to shut off the telephone receiver, thereby blocking all incoming calls.
- some subscribers have resorted to commercially available telephone answering machines to provide call screening.
- An answering machine is generally provided with a speaker, allowing the subscriber to hear the voice of the caller. The subscriber can then selectively pick up the receiver and talk to the caller once the caller has been identified.
- This approach has several disadvantages. All calls including nuisance calls will ring the subscriber's phone, thereby interrupting the subscriber. Further, the subscriber must still go to the phone (or in this case, answering machine) and listen to the voice of the caller and determine whether to take the call, and thus manually screen the calls.
- Telephone companies have begun to offer a calling line ID service that allows a subscriber to see the number of the caller, and perhaps his name. If the subscriber wishes to take the call, he picks up the phone; otherwise, the call goes unanswered and may be transferred to a messaging system after a number of rings. Unfortunately, such a service does not prevent the telephone from ringing, thereby disturbing the subscriber with a potential nuisance call.
- call forwarding variable where all or selected incoming calls are directly forwarded to a predefined forward-to-number
- call forwarding busy where all or selected incoming calls toward a busy called party subscriber are forwarded to a predefined forward-to number
- anonymous call rejection where an incoming call connection to the subscriber is denied if the caller refuses to provide his calling line ID.
- a service called Privacy Manager is currently provided by Ameritech Corp., of Chicago, Illinois and / or its subsidiaries. This service determines if the caller has a missing or blocked calling line ID. If so, the caller is prompted to either unblock the calling line ID or record his name. If the caller refuses, the caller is not connected with the subscriber
- the present invention is directed to a "do not disturb" ("DND") telephone subscriber feature on a telephone system that prompts a caller for an access code, such as a personal identification number (“PIN”), and based on the caller's inputted response, determines whether to complete the call to a subscriber. If the caller enters a valid code, the call is placed to the subscriber's phone. Otherwise, the system hangs up, or alternately, sends the caller to a voice messaging system so that the caller can leave a voice message for the subscriber.
- DND "do not disturb"
- PIN personal identification number
- the subscriber can activate / deactivate the DND feature by dialing a code on his telephone, such as *99.
- the feature can be automatically activated / deactivated at pre-set times.
- each caller can have a unique access code, or some or all the callers can share an access code.
- FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic diagram of a telecommunications network including local telephone sets and their associated central offices, a service control point, a voice messaging system, and a service package application in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method of operation of the system of Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention.
- the term "subscriber” is used to mean a subscriber to a telephone service and generally refers to the party being called, and the term “caller” is used to designate a party calling the subscriber.
- the term "PIN” or "personal identification number” means a number which may be assigned to one or more callers. Thus, a PIN may or may not be personal .
- DND subscriber feature in accordance with the present invention can be implemented as one of these subscriber features. By activating the DND subscriber feature, the associated subscriber is able to block or deny incoming call connections unless the caller provides a valid access code or PIN.
- FIG. 1 illustrating an exemplary telecommunication network 10 that connects a call between a caller 20 and a subscriber 80 in accordance with the present invention.
- This exemplary environment is the public switched telecommunication network (PSTN) .
- PSTN public switched telecommunication network
- a portion of the PSTN is illustrated in Fig. 1 and generally described below.
- the detailed portion of the PSTN illustrates a part of the AIN of a typical local exchange carrier.
- the PSTN operates or is composed differently in an important aspect from that which would be understood by those skilled in the art, additional details are provided herein.
- the interested reader is referred to the patent to Weisser, U.S. Patent No. 5,430,719, which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the AIN includes a variety of interconnected network elements.
- a group of such network elements includes the plurality of central offices 30, 70 which are service switching points (SSPs) .
- SSPs service switching points
- a central office or SSP is a switch and the terms are used interchangeably herein.
- the SSPs 30, 70 have a plurality of subscriber lines 15 connected thereto.
- a subscriber line may also be referred to as a calling line.
- Each SSP serves a designated group of calling lines, and thus, the SSP or switch that serves a particular calling line may be referred to as its serving switch.
- Each calling line is connected typically to a piece of terminating equipment including a plurality of telephones designated, e.g., as 20, 80.
- telephones are illustrated as the pieces of terminating equipment in Fig. 1, those skilled in the art will understand that such pieces include other telecommunication devices such as facsimile machines, computers, modems, etc.
- each active calling line in an AIN is assigned a ten digit calling line number.
- calling line number is used in its generally understood meaning to be the number which is dialed or input by a caller or source to reach a piece of terminating equipment on a calling line associated with the dialed calling line number.
- a calling line number is commonly referred to as a telephone number or a directory number.
- SSPs are interconnected by a plurality of trunk circuits. These are the voice path trunks that interconnect the SSPs to connect communications.
- the term "communication” or "call” is used herein to include all messages that may be exchanged between caller and called party in the network illustrated in Fig.
- Each of the SSPs 30, 70 is connected to another type of AIN element referred to as a local signal transfer point (STP) 24 via respective data links 29.
- STP local signal transfer point
- SS7 Signaling System 7
- Much of the intelligence of the AIN resides in yet another type of AIN element referred to as a local service control point (SCP) 50 that is connected to STP 24 over an SS7 data link.
- SCP local service control point
- the functions performed by the SCP 50 is the maintenance of network databases and subscriber databases. These databases may be used in providing temporary telecommunication services to a customer.
- the SCP 50 is also the repository of service package applications (SPAs) 35 that are used in connection with or as part of the databases in the application of telecommunication services or enhanced features to calling lines .
- SPAs service package applications
- a trigger in the AIN is an event associated with a particular calling line that generates a packet to be sent to an SCP.
- the trigger causes the SCP to query its database for processing instructions with respect to the particular call.
- the results of the database inquiry are sent back to the SSP in a response from the SCP 50 through STP 24.
- the return packet includes instructions to the switch as to how to process the call.
- the instructions may be to take some special action as a result of a customized calling service or enhanced feature.
- the switch moves through its call states, collects the called digits, and generates further packets that are used to set up and route the calls.
- Similar devices for routing calls among various local exchange carriers are provided by regional STP and regional SCP.
- the AIN may also include a service circuit node 32 (SCN) , which may also be referred to herein as a service node.
- SCN service circuit node 32
- the SCN 32 includes voice and dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal recognition devices and voice synthesis devices.
- DTMF dual tone multi-frequency
- the SCN 32 may include a data assembly interface.
- the SCN 32 is connected to the local SCP 50 via data link using an X.25 protocol.
- the SCN 32 typically is connected to one or more (but usually only a few) SSPs via Integrated Service Digital Network (ISDN) links.
- ISDN Integrated Service Digital Network
- each telephone set (e.g., caller 20 and subscriber 80) is connected via a telephone line 15 (e.g., POTS, or similar) to a telephone system including central office switches 30, 70, at least one SCP 50, and an optional remote voice messaging system 90.
- the SCP 50 contains control logic and feature data, and is a centralized node in the system.
- a SPA 35 processes calls and is running on the SCP 50.
- Each central office switch 30, 70 may be connected to a plurality of subscriber sets. Additionally, the SCP 50 may provide routing instructions to a plurality of central offices. Connections 29 between the central offices 30, 70, the service control point 50, and the voice messaging system 90 are preferably TCP/IP high speed network connections (e.g., fiber optic, ethernet, etc.).
- the caller 20 dials a number that is transmitted to its associated central office (the originating central office 30) in a conventional manner.
- the central office 30 detects the caller's instructions and requests a call setup to the subscriber's central office (the terminating central office 70) via a service control point 50 in a conventional manner.
- the terminating central office 70 determines if the DND subscriber feature in accordance with the present invention is activated for the subscriber 80. If the DND feature is not activated, the call is connected in a conventional manner. If the DND feature is activated, the caller 20 is prompted to enter an access code or a PIN, typically via a keypad at the caller's telephone. More particularly, it is contemplated that an AIN trigger is placed on the subscriber's line. When any caller 20 dials that number, the call is sent to an AIN service control point 50.
- An application such as a service package application 35, that resides on the service control point 50 or separately, instructs the AIN end office (i.e., the originating central office 30) to prompt the caller with a message requesting the code (e.g., a prerecorded announcement or a synthesized voice, generated by a voice synthesizer, stating "The person you are calling is currently accepting only verified calls. Please enter the PIN code to continue.”).
- a message requesting the code e.g., a prerecorded announcement or a synthesized voice, generated by a voice synthesizer, stating "The person you are calling is currently accepting only verified calls. Please enter the PIN code to continue.”
- Conventional voice recognition techniques and apparatus may be used to accept and analyze an audible access code, such as a spoken access code, PIN, or password.
- the present invention checks the caller to determine if he has an authorizing code, such as PIN, to allow his call to go through.
- a list of authorized access codes or PINs is stored in a storage device, such as a memory, that can reside within the telecommunications network (e.g., at the service control point 50, in the receiving central office 70, or separately) .
- a predetermined PIN code for the subscriber e.g., four digits, is stored in an AIN database 40 in the service control point 50.
- the caller 20 If the caller 20 enters an access code or PIN that is on the list of authorized access codes or PINs residing in the database 40, then the call is established with the subscriber's phone 80. If the caller 20 does not enter an authorized code, then the system hangs up, or optionally, sends the caller 20 to the subscriber's voice mail box that can reside, for example, in a remote voice messaging system 90. The caller 20 can be prompted multiple times for a correct access code before the system hangs up or sends the call to an alternate destination, such as the voice messaging system 90. It should be noted that during the period when the DND subscriber feature is activated, outgoing calls will be unaffected.
- Fig. 2 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method of operation of the system of Fig. 1 in accordance with the present invention.
- the caller dials the telephone of the subscriber's telephone.
- an AIN (advanced intelligent network) trigger e.g., a Terminating Attempt Trigger ("TAT")
- TAT Terminating Attempt Trigger
- the SCP 50 accepts the query and sends control to an SPA 35 that processes the call as follows. If the DND feature is not activated, the call is placed in a conventional manner.
- the SPA 35 directs the originating central office 30 to play a prompt requesting the code from the caller 20; e.g., "Please enter the do not disturb override code for the subscriber you are attempting to call.”
- the SPA 35 directs the originating central office 30 to collect the digits of the access code or PIN (e.g., a predetermined number of dual tone multi-frequency ("DTMF”) signals, representing a predetermined number of depressed keys on a telephone keypad) from the caller 20.
- PIN e.g., a predetermined number of dual tone multi-frequency ("DTMF") signals, representing a predetermined number of depressed keys on a telephone keypad
- control is passed back to the SPA 35 along with any digits collected.
- the SPA 35 analyzes the collected digits and determines if the caller 20 entered the correct digits. More particularly, the SPA 35 compares the collected digits to the access code(s) stored in the database 40 that preferably resides within the SCP 50. If the incoming caller 20 entered authorized correct do not disturb override digits for the subscriber 80, then at step 150, the SPA 35 passes control of the call to the terminating central office 70, which rings the subscriber's telephone 80. If the entered digits are incorrect, or if none are entered after a predetermined time, then the call is terminated at step 160.
- the caller hears an announcement stating that the caller is not accepting calls (e.g., "I'm sorry, but this number has been marked as do not disturb” . ) .
- the caller is given another chance to enter the digits, or the caller is automatically transferred to an alternate destination, such as a voice messaging system 90.
- the caller 20 may be given the option of directing the call to the alternate destination or voice messaging system 90.
- the originating central office 30 and SPA 35 can use conventional voice recognition techniques and apparatus to accept and analyze an audible access code from the caller 20, such as a spoken access code, PIN, or password.
- the DND subscriber feature of the present invention can be activated / deactivated manually by the subscriber or automatically. For manual activation / deactivation, the subscriber can, for example, dial an access code (e.g., *99) on his home phone.
- an access code e.g., *99
- Deactivation is accomplished by dialing the access code again, similar to a toggle switch, or alternatively, by letting a predetermined amount of time elapse (e.g., deactivate after 5 hours) or at a predetermined time (e.g., deactivate at 9 a.m.) .
- the service can be activated and deactivated automatically, according to pre-set conditions, such as times on a time of day list (e.g., activate at 11 p.m., and deactivate at 9 a.m. to avoid getting wrong number calls or solicitors in the middle of the night) .
- the time of day list can include particular days (e.g., Mondays, weekdays, weekends, or the like) in addition to times of day that the DND subscriber feature is to be activated. These time periods can be stored in the database 40 or other storage locations. In this manner, the subscriber 80 does not have to manually turn on and off the DND feature at the times he would like the service to be activated / deactivated.
- the subscriber designates the authorized access code(s) and any activation / deactivation time periods and other commands through DTMF input using his telephone, using a menu driven DTMF response system.
- These time periods or range of times (start and end times) in which the DND subscriber feature will be in effect are selectable by the subscriber preferably when he dials the access code, or another system number, to activate or deactivate the feature.
- the same PIN can be used for each caller 20, each caller can have a different PIN, or different groups of callers can have associated PINs .
- a subscriber can have greater control over those who have access to an authorized PIN.
- the subscriber 80 can have one access code for his "permanent" access callers, and another access code for "temporary" access callers.
- the subscriber 80 wants to stop providing access to his temporary access callers, he can change or eliminate that particular code, while maintaining the code for the permanent access callers.
- Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a system and method that presents a caller 20 with an announcement that provides options as a prompt (e.g. , "Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Marketing” or "Press 1 for John, Press 2 for Sally") .
- a prompt e.g. , "Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Marketing” or "Press 1 for John, Press 2 for Sally”
- the call is passed to a "ringmaster" number that has been pre- provisioned to dial the subscriber's actual number.
- a subscriber can set up different codes that ring to different numbers responsive to the code entered by the caller.
- the different codes could ring the phone in a different manner for each code. For example, if the caller entered "1" as the code, the phone would ring conventionally
- the phone would give two short rings instead. In this manner, the subscriber would be able to determine who the call is for responsive to the type of ring.
- the invention may be embodied in the form of appropriate computer software, or in the form of appropriate hardware or a combination of appropriate hardware and software without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further details regarding such hardware and/or software should be apparent to the relevant general public. Accordingly, further descriptions of such hardware and/or software herein are not believed to be necessary.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
- Sub-Exchange Stations And Push- Button Telephones (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US50609300A | 2000-02-17 | 2000-02-17 | |
US506093 | 2000-02-17 | ||
PCT/US2001/004775 WO2001061978A2 (en) | 2000-02-17 | 2001-02-15 | Call screening that prompts caller for an access code |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1258131A2 true EP1258131A2 (de) | 2002-11-20 |
Family
ID=24013147
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP01909236A Withdrawn EP1258131A2 (de) | 2000-02-17 | 2001-02-15 | Anrufüberprüfung welche vom anrufer einen zugangscode fordert |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1258131A2 (de) |
AU (1) | AU2001237013A1 (de) |
CA (1) | CA2400385A1 (de) |
WO (1) | WO2001061978A2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7065197B1 (en) | 2002-10-23 | 2006-06-20 | Cisco Technology, Inc. | Status messaging using associated phone tags |
US7856213B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2010-12-21 | Research In Motion Limited | Method, system, and device for specifying selective override of do-not-disturb functionality |
ATE387070T1 (de) * | 2004-02-27 | 2008-03-15 | Research In Motion Ltd | Verfahren, system und vorrichtung zur bestimmung der selektiven nichtberücksichtigung der do-not- disturb-funktion |
CN1859501A (zh) | 2005-04-30 | 2006-11-08 | 华为技术有限公司 | 电话呼叫方法 |
CN103283266A (zh) * | 2011-03-30 | 2013-09-04 | 惠普发展公司,有限责任合伙企业 | 用于生成呼入呼叫的缩短通知的系统和方法 |
FR3027759A1 (fr) | 2014-10-23 | 2016-04-29 | Orange | Methode de filtrage de messages pour fournir une fonction de type " ne pas deranger " |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5825867A (en) * | 1984-09-14 | 1998-10-20 | Aspect Telecommunications Corporation | Enhanced call waiting |
US5375161A (en) * | 1984-09-14 | 1994-12-20 | Accessline Technologies, Inc. | Telephone control system with branch routing |
-
2001
- 2001-02-15 AU AU2001237013A patent/AU2001237013A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-02-15 CA CA002400385A patent/CA2400385A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-02-15 WO PCT/US2001/004775 patent/WO2001061978A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-02-15 EP EP01909236A patent/EP1258131A2/de not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO0161978A3 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2400385A1 (en) | 2001-08-23 |
WO2001061978A3 (en) | 2002-08-29 |
AU2001237013A1 (en) | 2001-08-27 |
WO2001061978A2 (en) | 2001-08-23 |
WO2001061978A9 (en) | 2002-10-24 |
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