GB2240693A - Telephone call intercept system - Google Patents

Telephone call intercept system Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2240693A
GB2240693A GB9101950A GB9101950A GB2240693A GB 2240693 A GB2240693 A GB 2240693A GB 9101950 A GB9101950 A GB 9101950A GB 9101950 A GB9101950 A GB 9101950A GB 2240693 A GB2240693 A GB 2240693A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
subscriber
call
telephone
password
party
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Withdrawn
Application number
GB9101950A
Other versions
GB9101950D0 (en
Inventor
Robert Alan Lyttleton Foster
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
British Telecommunications PLC
Original Assignee
British Telecommunications PLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British Telecommunications PLC filed Critical British Telecommunications PLC
Publication of GB9101950D0 publication Critical patent/GB9101950D0/en
Publication of GB2240693A publication Critical patent/GB2240693A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/66—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling
    • H04M1/663—Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
    • H04M1/665—Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set by checking the validity of a code
    • 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
    • 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
    • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/527—Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2203/00—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M2203/20—Aspects of automatic or semi-automatic exchanges related to features of supplementary services
    • H04M2203/2011—Service processing based on information specified by a party before or during a call, e.g. information, tone or routing selection
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2242/00—Special services or facilities
    • H04M2242/22—Automatic class or number identification arrangements
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/20—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
    • H04M3/22—Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
    • H04M3/2281—Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
    • 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
    • H04M3/42025—Calling or Called party identification service
    • H04M3/42034—Calling party identification service
    • H04M3/42042—Notifying the called party of information on the calling party
    • 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
    • H04M3/48—Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
    • 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
    • H04M3/50—Centralised arrangements for answering calls; Centralised arrangements for recording messages for absent or busy subscribers ; Centralised arrangements for recording messages
    • H04M3/53—Centralised arrangements for recording incoming messages, i.e. mailbox systems
    • H04M3/533—Voice mail systems
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/58—Arrangements providing connection between main exchange and sub-exchange or satellite
    • H04Q3/62—Arrangements providing connection between main exchange and sub-exchange or satellite for connecting to private branch exchanges
    • H04Q3/625—Arrangements in the private branch exchange
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04Q—SELECTING
    • H04Q3/00—Selecting arrangements
    • H04Q3/72—Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

Abstract

An automatic call interception apparatus (1) provides a barrier between the subscriber and the caller. The apparatus can ask the callers identity, without the subscriber having to speak to the caller personally. The reply is recorded and then played back to the subscriber who can then decide whether or not to accept the call. The call need be intercepted only if the subscriber answers thus minimising inconvenience to the caller. <IMAGE>

Description

TELEPHONE CALL INTERCEPT SYSTEM This invention relates to an automatic telephone call interception facility to allow screening of incoming calls. The invention has a particular use as a deterrent to malicious callers.
Subscribers are often bothered with unwelcome calls which may be malicious or just time consuming, eg from salespeople.
A call intercept facility is available to subscribers troubled by malicious callers. However, this facility has several disadvantages.
This facility involves all the subscriber' s calls being diverted to an operator. The operator then asks: 1. the identity of the calling party, 2. the telephone number to which the calling party wishes to be connected, 3. the telephone number of the calling party, 4. who the calling party wishes to speak to.
Once the operator has asked the questions, the caller is then connected to the subscriber's line. There is no guarantee that the subscriber will answer. The operator does not check to see if the subscriber's phone will be answered before asking the questions or attempting to connect the call.
This is a very labour intensive and expensive service to provide. The calling party can get irritated at being asked a lot of seemingly pointless questions each time the subscriber is called. The operator is not able to give the subscriber the option of refusing the call. The service is uneconomical to use simply to screen out unwanted calls.
The object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive and easily implemented system of intercepting and screening incoming calls.
According to the invention there is provided a telephone call interception apparatus comprising first connection means for connecting the apparatus to a party calling a subscriber' s telephone associated with the apparatus, interrogation means for interrogating the calling party, recording means for recording the responses given by the calling party to the interrogation, transfer means for transferring the recorded answers to the subscriber's telephone and second connection means for connecting the calling party to the subscriber' s telephone, means for accepting signals from the called party to instruct the apparatus to connect the call and means for accepting a password from the operator allowing the apparatus to be bypassed in cases of emergency.
The apparatus preferably incorporates a speech synthesizer in the interrogation means.
The apparatus preferably also includes means for recording the responses given by the calling party to the interrogation. The recording means is preferably through a digital recording means. In a preferred embodiment the invention is a network system based at the local exchange capable of intercepting calls on a plurality of subscriber lines. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is a small portable unit based on the subscriber' 5 premises.
Alternatively the apparatus uses pulse coded modulation (PCM) or linear predictive coding (LPC-) to record the responses to the interrogation.
Conveniently the apparatus has means for disconnecting the calling party if the subscriber does not wish to accept the call.
Preferably the apparatus is such that the call is intercepted only if the called party answers.
Conveniently the apparatus incorporates a means for logging intercepted calls.
Advantageously the apparatus incorporates means such that the subscriber can switch the call intercept on or off from the telephone to be protected, or from any telephone using an identifying password or code.
The subscriber based apparatus may incorporate a plug means for plugging into a socket on the subscriber' 8 premises.
The apparatus conveniently also incorporates an alarm means to allow the subscriber to alert the telephone company to the fact that assistance is required.
The apparatus may further comprise means to allow the subscriber to trigger a malicious call alarm.
Preferably the apparatus includes means for accepting a password to allow the apparatus to be overridden. This allows household members to get straight through and also allows an operator to bypass the system in case of emergency.
The apparatus conveniently incorporates a telephone answering apparatus obviating the need for two pieces of equipment attached to the same telephone.
The intercept system could either be at the local exchange connected to a main distribution frame (MDF) where the individual line pairs enter the local exchange, and be a chargeable service or it could take the form of a separate portable unit. The subscriber could buy or rent the unit and it could be plugged into the existing telephone socket.
The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure la) is a block diagram of an exchange based system; Figure lb) is a block diagram of a subscriber based system.
Figure 2 is a block diagram of a network based system constructed in accordance with the invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram of a subscriber's premises based system constructed in accordance with the invention.
Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the manner of operation of a system constructed in accordance with the invention.
Referring to the drawings, Figure la shows an intercept apparatus 1 connected to the main distribution frame 2 (MDF) at a local exchange 3. The intercept apparatus 1 is capable of intercepting calls on a plurality of lines (typically 100 or more lines per unit).
On compatible exchanges which allow customer controlled call diversion the subscriber would be able to switch the intercept apparatus on or off as required.
Once activated all calls would be intercepted before the called party had answered.
Referring now to Figure lb, the intercept apparatus 1 is connected to the local exchange 3 via the subscriber's telephone socket 4, the intercept apparatus being positioned between the socket and the subscriber' s telephone 5.
Figure 2, shows in more detail the telephone intercept apparatus 1 situated at the local exchange 3.
It has a controller 30 which controls the activities of the other parts of the apparatus. When a caller rings a subscriber and the subscriber picks up the receiver to answer the call the call is then intercepted. The controller 30 causes a speech unit 31 to tell both the caller and the subscriber that the call has been intercepted, and asks the caller to give a name. The speech unit may be a speech synthesizer, or alternatively pre-recorded messages on magnetic tape or other media could be used.
Responses from the caller to questions asked by the speech unit 31, are stored in a storage unit 32, constituted by a digital storage unit eg a RAM.
Alternatively, the storage unit 32 could be a simple magnetic storage means.
The controller 30 causes the responses to be transferred to the subscriber at the relevant times in the manner described below with reference to the flow chart of Figure 4.
After information has been transferred to the subscriber the controller 30 alerts an instructions receiving unit 33, to be on standby to receive instructions from the subscriber. The instruction receiving unit 33 could be a speech recognition system with a limited vocabulary or take the form of an MF tone decoder for people with speech or language difficulties.
When the subscriber indicates that the call is accepted the controller 30 signals a call connect unit 34 to connect the call if appropriate.
Where the subscriber does not wish to accept the call, the caller is referred back to the operator at the local exchange or played a suitable message.
The controller 30 and also has means (speech recogniser or an MF tone decoder) for recognising a password or other signal sent from the exchange so that the exchange operator can, upon giving the correct password or other code, override the interception mechanism and be routed directly to the subscribers telephone 5 via the call connect unit 34. Members of the subscriber's household could also have a second password allowing the system to be bypassed. The speech recognition system could be speaker dependent for added security.
The apparatus could incorporate means to allow the subscriber to instruct the apparatus not to connect any further calls from a caller. The apparatus could use a speaker dependent recognition system to recognise unwanted repeat callers.
Where the subscriber does not wish to accept the call and the caller does not hang up, thereby blocking the subscriber's line the apparatus is able to disconnect the call.
An alternative embodiment of the invention is the subscriber based unit shown in Figure 3. This is very similar to the MDF network based system, but as the subscriber based unit only intercepts calls on the subscriber line it is connected to it may be consequently much smaller and less expensive. The controller 30 controls the operation of the unit. The other parts of the unit are the same, a speech unit 31, a storage unit 32, an instruction receiving unit 33 and a call connect unit 34. In the subscriber based unit the call connect unit 34 is not able to disconnect the call if not accepted and the caller does not hang up because calls can only be disconnected by the caller or the local exchange.
Both the network based service and the subscriber' s premises based service operate in substantially the same manner, which will now be described with reference to Figure 4.
The subscriber's telephone rings (at 10), and when the subscriber answers (at 11), the call is intercepted (at 12). At this point the subscriber is put on hold (at 13) and informed that the call has been intercepted (at 14). The caller is informed, either by a light on the subscriber based apparatus or a message that the call is being intercepted and logged and asked to give a name (at 15). When the caller gives a name (at 16) this is stored (at 17) and then transferred to the subscriber (at 18).
The subscriber is then given the option of accepting the call or not (at 19). If the subscriber chooses to accept the call, this is indicated to the unit by pressing a dedicated button or by MF signalling, then the call is connected (at 20). Some lower cost models might not have call logging facilities but the caller will not be able to tell whether the apparatus in question can log calls or not.
If the subscriber chooses not accept the call, the apparatus offers the subscriber the possibility of returning a call (at 21). Again the subscriber' 8 intentions can be indicated by dedicated "yes" or "no" buttons or by MF signalling. If the subscriber does not wish to return the call then the caller is informed that the call has not been accepted (at 22) and is referred to the operator in case of emergency (at 23).
If the subscriber does choose to ring the caller back, the operator asks the caller to provide a contact telephone number (at 24). The caller can then give the number (at 25) which is stored (at 26) for transmission to the subscriber (at 27) and the caller is informed that the subscriber will ring back (at 28).
Dedicated buttons with labels and lights would overcome problems experienced by people with speech or language difficulties.
The subscriber based system could intercept internal calls on PABX exchanges which do not go via the local exchange, and so could not be intercepted by the operator or an MDF based system.
The apparatus could incorporate means for allowing subscriber's to hear the information provided by the caller eg name and telephone number, replayed via a loudspeaker instead of through the earpiece from the handset.

Claims (19)

1. Telephone call interception apparatus comprising first connection means for connecting the apparatus to a party calling a subscriber's telephone associated with the apparatus, interrogation means for interrogating the calling party, recording means for recording the responses given by the calling party to the interrogation, transfer means for transferring the recorded answers to the subscriber's telephone and second connection means for connecting the calling party to the subscriber' s telephone, means for accepting signals from the called party to instruct the apparatus to connect the call and means for recognising a password from the exchange operator and means responsive to said password causing the apparatus to be by-passed in cases of emergency. A
2.An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the password recognising means is able to recognise a second password and whereby a caller having a password can cause the apparatus to be by-passed.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, comprising a multitone frequency decoder system to accept instructions from the called party.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a speech recognition system to accept instructions from the called party.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a digital recording means constitutes the recording means for recording the responses given by the calling party to the interrogation.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, where the password accepting means constitutes an MF tone decoder.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the password accepting means constitutes a speech recognition system.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the password accepting means constitutes a speaker dependent speech recognition system.
9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interrogation means incorporates a speech synthesizer.
10. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus only intercepts the call if the called party answers.
11. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means for connecting the apparatus to a distribution frame at a local exchange, the apparatus being capable of intercepting calls on a plurality of subscriber lines.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising means for disconnecting the calling party if the subscriber does not wish to accept the call.
13. An apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus can be switched on or off from any telephone by the subscriber.
14. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising programmable call rejection means to always reject calls from a certain party.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the programmable call rejection means further comprises a speaker recognition system.
16. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a plug means for plugging the apparatus into a telephone socket on the subscriber's premises.
17. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an alarm means to allow the subscriber to alert the telephone company to the fact that assistance is required.
18. An apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising means to allow the subscriber to trigger a malicious call alarm.
19. A telephone call interception apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
GB9101950A 1990-01-30 1991-01-30 Telephone call intercept system Withdrawn GB2240693A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909002069A GB9002069D0 (en) 1990-01-30 1990-01-30 Telephone call interception system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9101950D0 GB9101950D0 (en) 1991-03-13
GB2240693A true GB2240693A (en) 1991-08-07

Family

ID=10670125

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909002069A Pending GB9002069D0 (en) 1990-01-30 1990-01-30 Telephone call interception system
GB9101950A Withdrawn GB2240693A (en) 1990-01-30 1991-01-30 Telephone call intercept system

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB909002069A Pending GB9002069D0 (en) 1990-01-30 1990-01-30 Telephone call interception system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9002069D0 (en)

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2679402A1 (en) * 1991-07-19 1993-01-22 Alcatel Business Systems Telephony terminal with the capability of filtering communications
EP0622934A1 (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-02 Assmann Informatik 2000 GmbH A device for the acoustic identification of a caller in telephone sets
WO1994026054A1 (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-10 Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, Inc. Apparatus and method for transparent telephony
WO1994029992A1 (en) * 1993-06-11 1994-12-22 Northern Telecom Limited Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services
EP0691061A1 (en) * 1993-03-22 1996-01-10 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Method and system for managing telecommunications such as telephone calls
GB2290920A (en) * 1994-06-14 1996-01-10 Plessey Telecomm A voice messaging system
EP0727122A1 (en) * 1993-11-01 1996-08-21 Engineering And Business Systems, Inc. A caller name and identification communication system with caller screening option
EP0760571A2 (en) * 1995-08-29 1997-03-05 AT&T Corp. Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls
EP0788704A2 (en) * 1994-09-30 1997-08-13 WILDFIRE Communications, Inc. A network based knowledgeable assistant
WO1998019433A2 (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-05-07 Ericsson Inc. Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
WO1998053591A1 (en) * 1997-05-23 1998-11-26 Mci Communications Corporation Method and apparatus for enhanced call waiting in a telecommunications network
WO1999026394A1 (en) * 1997-11-13 1999-05-27 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for self-announcing a caller of an incoming telephone call
EP1041843A1 (en) * 1999-03-29 2000-10-04 Phone.Com Inc. Method and system facilitating automatic address book entries with caller specific voice identifiers and call notification
WO2000060840A2 (en) * 1999-04-01 2000-10-12 Callwave, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
US6173041B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2001-01-09 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone
US6178230B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2001-01-23 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for identifying a callee of an incoming telephone call
US6263366B1 (en) 1996-12-31 2001-07-17 Mci Communications Corporation System and method therefor of translating a message having a given format for usage in an operations system
EP1185062A2 (en) * 2000-09-05 2002-03-06 Netcall Plc Setting up a telephone connection between a customers and an advertiser
US6373925B1 (en) 1996-06-28 2002-04-16 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Telephone calling party announcement system and method
US6385303B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2002-05-07 Legerity, Inc. System and method for identifying and announcing a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call
US6804332B1 (en) 1994-09-30 2004-10-12 Wildfire Communications, Inc. Network based knowledgeable assistant
WO2010048806A1 (en) * 2008-10-27 2010-05-06 成都市华为赛门铁克科技有限公司 A method, an apparatus, a proxy server and a terminal for filtering the spam call
US7881941B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2011-02-01 Parus Holdings, Inc. Robust voice browser system and voice activated device controller
US8325901B1 (en) 1999-04-01 2012-12-04 Callwave Communications, Llc Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
US8838074B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2014-09-16 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US9377992B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2016-06-28 Parus Holdings, Inc. Personal voice-based information retrieval system

Cited By (59)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2679402A1 (en) * 1991-07-19 1993-01-22 Alcatel Business Systems Telephony terminal with the capability of filtering communications
EP0691061A1 (en) * 1993-03-22 1996-01-10 Bell Communications Research, Inc. Method and system for managing telecommunications such as telephone calls
EP0691061A4 (en) * 1993-03-22 1999-11-03 Bell Communications Res Method and system for managing telecommunications such as telephone calls
US5594784A (en) * 1993-04-27 1997-01-14 Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, Inc. Apparatus and method for transparent telephony utilizing speech-based signaling for initiating and handling calls
EP0622934A1 (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-02 Assmann Informatik 2000 GmbH A device for the acoustic identification of a caller in telephone sets
WO1994026054A1 (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-10 Southwestern Bell Technology Resources, Inc. Apparatus and method for transparent telephony
WO1994026053A1 (en) * 1993-04-27 1994-11-10 Assmann Informatik 2000 Gmbh Acoustic caller identification device for telephone sets
US5668862A (en) * 1993-06-11 1997-09-16 Northern Telecom Limited Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services
US5548636A (en) * 1993-06-11 1996-08-20 Northern Telecom Limited Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services
WO1994029992A1 (en) * 1993-06-11 1994-12-22 Northern Telecom Limited Method and apparatus for providing user controlled call management services
EP0727122A1 (en) * 1993-11-01 1996-08-21 Engineering And Business Systems, Inc. A caller name and identification communication system with caller screening option
EP0727122A4 (en) * 1993-11-01 2000-01-05 Adc Newnet Inc A caller name and identification communication system with caller screening option
GB2290920A (en) * 1994-06-14 1996-01-10 Plessey Telecomm A voice messaging system
GB2290920B (en) * 1994-06-14 1999-01-20 Plessey Telecomm A voice messaging system
EP0688126A3 (en) * 1994-06-14 1999-03-03 Gpt Limited A voice messaging system
EP0788704A2 (en) * 1994-09-30 1997-08-13 WILDFIRE Communications, Inc. A network based knowledgeable assistant
US6047053A (en) * 1994-09-30 2000-04-04 Wildfire Communications, Inc. Network based knowledgeable assistant
US6804332B1 (en) 1994-09-30 2004-10-12 Wildfire Communications, Inc. Network based knowledgeable assistant
EP0788704A4 (en) * 1994-09-30 1998-05-13 Wildfire Communications Inc A network based knowledgeable assistant
EP0760571A2 (en) * 1995-08-29 1997-03-05 AT&T Corp. Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls
EP0760571A3 (en) * 1995-08-29 2000-01-05 AT&T Corp. Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls
US6373925B1 (en) 1996-06-28 2002-04-16 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Telephone calling party announcement system and method
GB2333663A (en) * 1996-10-28 1999-07-28 Ericsson Ge Mobile Inc Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
GB2333663B (en) * 1996-10-28 2001-04-18 Ericsson Inc Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
US6031899A (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-02-29 Ericsson Inc Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
WO1998019433A2 (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-05-07 Ericsson Inc. Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
AU721106B2 (en) * 1996-10-28 2000-06-22 Ericsson Inc. Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
WO1998019433A3 (en) * 1996-10-28 1998-07-16 Ericsson Inc Method and apparatus for identifying type of call
US6263366B1 (en) 1996-12-31 2001-07-17 Mci Communications Corporation System and method therefor of translating a message having a given format for usage in an operations system
US8843141B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2014-09-23 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US9912628B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2018-03-06 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US8843120B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2014-09-23 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US8838074B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2014-09-16 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US10038663B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2018-07-31 Parus Holdings, Inc. Computer, internet and telecommunications based network
US9571445B2 (en) 1997-03-03 2017-02-14 Parus Holdings, Inc. Unified messaging system and method with integrated communication applications and interactive voice recognition
WO1998053591A1 (en) * 1997-05-23 1998-11-26 Mci Communications Corporation Method and apparatus for enhanced call waiting in a telecommunications network
US6122347A (en) * 1997-11-13 2000-09-19 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for self-announcing a caller of an incoming telephone call
US6385303B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2002-05-07 Legerity, Inc. System and method for identifying and announcing a caller and a callee of an incoming telephone call
US6178230B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2001-01-23 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for identifying a callee of an incoming telephone call
US6704395B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2004-03-09 Legerity, Inc. System and method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone
US6711239B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2004-03-23 Legerity, Inc. System and method for identifying a callee of an incoming telephone call
WO1999026394A1 (en) * 1997-11-13 1999-05-27 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for self-announcing a caller of an incoming telephone call
US6173041B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2001-01-09 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. System and method for reducing call interruptions on a telephone
EP1041843A1 (en) * 1999-03-29 2000-10-04 Phone.Com Inc. Method and system facilitating automatic address book entries with caller specific voice identifiers and call notification
US6553222B1 (en) 1999-03-29 2003-04-22 Openwave Systems Inc. Method and system facilitating automatic address book entries with caller specific voice identifiers and call notification
WO2000060840A2 (en) * 1999-04-01 2000-10-12 Callwave, Inc. Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
US8325901B1 (en) 1999-04-01 2012-12-04 Callwave Communications, Llc Methods and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
WO2000060840A3 (en) * 1999-04-01 2001-01-04 Callwave Inc Method and apparatus for providing expanded telecommunications service
US9769314B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2017-09-19 Parus Holdings, Inc. Personal voice-based information retrieval system
US9377992B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2016-06-28 Parus Holdings, Inc. Personal voice-based information retrieval system
US9451084B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2016-09-20 Parus Holdings, Inc. Robust voice browser system and voice activated device controller
US7881941B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2011-02-01 Parus Holdings, Inc. Robust voice browser system and voice activated device controller
US8185402B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2012-05-22 Parus Holdings, Inc. Robust voice browser system and voice activated device controller
US10096320B1 (en) 2000-02-04 2018-10-09 Parus Holdings, Inc. Acquiring information from sources responsive to naturally-spoken-speech commands provided by a voice-enabled device
US10320981B2 (en) 2000-02-04 2019-06-11 Parus Holdings, Inc. Personal voice-based information retrieval system
US10629206B1 (en) 2000-02-04 2020-04-21 Parus Holdings, Inc. Robust voice browser system and voice activated device controller
EP1185062A3 (en) * 2000-09-05 2005-05-18 Netcall Plc Setting up a telephone connection between a customers and an advertiser
EP1185062A2 (en) * 2000-09-05 2002-03-06 Netcall Plc Setting up a telephone connection between a customers and an advertiser
WO2010048806A1 (en) * 2008-10-27 2010-05-06 成都市华为赛门铁克科技有限公司 A method, an apparatus, a proxy server and a terminal for filtering the spam call

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9101950D0 (en) 1991-03-13
GB9002069D0 (en) 1990-03-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB2240693A (en) Telephone call intercept system
USRE42997E1 (en) Triggered playback of recorded messages to incoming telephone calls to a cellular phone
US3925622A (en) Telephone apparatus
US5796806A (en) Apparatus and method for spoken caller identification using signals of the advanced intelligent network
US5502761A (en) Apparatus and method for relaying calling information to a pager or alternate telephone
US5850435A (en) Method for audible caller name announcement with call list feature
US5422936A (en) Enhanced message service indication
CA2141480C (en) Selective screening of incoming calls for cellular telephone systems
US5680447A (en) Circuit and method for responding to third party calls in a telephone system having call waiting
US8102971B2 (en) Monitoring a call forwarded to a network-based voice mail system
US5933488A (en) Automated method and arrangement for integrating a telephone system with an announcement system
US5450488A (en) Multiple service voice messaging system
US5828742A (en) Caller discrimination within a telephone system
US20020009184A1 (en) Call classification indication using sonic means
US5898770A (en) Subscriber controlled call list deregistration
US20010033643A1 (en) Telephone privacy protection system
CA2175495A1 (en) A Caller Name and Identification Communication System with Caller Screening Option
EP0688126A2 (en) A voice messaging system
NL8520301A (en) CALL FORWARD FUNCTION IN AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM.
KR200289094Y1 (en) Auto attendant apparatus
GB2203614A (en) Control of access to a telephone
GB2352359A (en) Telephone Recording Systems
AU746517B2 (en) Telecommunications networks
JPH0563823A (en) Reply selection service system
KR200199110Y1 (en) Auto attendant system

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)