RU2345499C2 - Phone subscriber call limitation mode (versions) - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics, communication.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to communication engineering. Offered method allows phone subscriber to setup special mode which if activated enables call with password only thus providing range of entry calls to desired appropriate quantity within "Home" Network Communication Operator.

EFFECT: phone subscriber is capable to limit entry calls within Home network Operator (i.e. until the moment of connection setup attempt from Home network Operator with Destination Subscriber).

4 cl

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for allowing a telephone subscriber (mobile and landline) to restrict incoming calls to his telephone at the level of a Home Network Operator (that is, until a connection is attempted by the Home Network Operator with the Called Subscriber).

Currently, telephone communications are widespread, and almost every person or organization has a personal or work telephone. With all the advantages of this, the following problem arises - over time, a person becomes a hostage to his telephone. This is especially noticeable in a situation where a person uses the phone for personal and work purposes or his number is known to a large number of people. At the same time, it becomes impossible to filter calls in time or situational boundaries (frames).

The proposed method allows the communication subscriber to establish a special mode during which a call to him is possible only with a password, which limits the range of incoming calls to the required number at the level of the Home Network Communication Operator.

In the context of this invention, the term “Home Network Communications Operator” (hereinafter “OSDS”) is understood to mean the operator for which the called subscriber was initially registered (registered).

Also, the method described in the invention, allows you to correctly limit the number of incoming calls to a mobile phone when roaming.

State of the art

Currently, several methods for restricting incoming calls are widely known, for example:

1) complete unconditional barring of incoming calls or conditional barring (for example, when the called subscriber is in roaming), set at the OSDS level;

2) the hardware restriction set in the telephone (cellular) device, when in the notebook of the telephone set the numbers of subscribers are divided into groups, each group is assigned a certain type of call (signal), silent calls can be set to silent mode;

3) also according to the copyright certificate SU 1589422, a device is known for restricting incoming calls, which allows to enter the called subscriber by entering a certain code or to receive a busy signal if the code does not match. The disadvantage of this device is that an incoming call arrives at the subscriber’s telephone and is simply reset by the device or received by the subscriber when the code is entered correctly.

These methods of dividing calls into “desirable” and “unwanted” and further limiting “unwanted” connections have several disadvantages:

with the first method - the inability to receive important, "desirable" calls,

in the second method - the inability to always correctly determine the number and identity of the caller (lack of Caller ID device, incorrect identification of the number (especially when roaming), ignorance of the caller’s number), the possibility of accidental connection with an “unwanted” call (via a parallel telephone or with a “silent” call ), additional costs for an “unwanted” connection due to its establishment.

In the third method, a preliminary connection with the specified device, which also entails additional financial costs for an “unwanted” connection.

The proposed method differs from the above analogues in that the code is entered for an outgoing call at the OSDS level of the called subscriber, and if the access code is incorrectly set, the call is transferred either to the Voicemail of the called subscriber; or to the auto-informer of the Home Network Operator, who will report the impossibility of a call and drop the call; or to a telephone number specified by the called party, etc. (it should be noted that the method of response may be different for this invention). In this case, the called subscriber can be informed of the attempt to call by sending him an SMS message, electronic message, etc. (which is not a fundamental factor in the description of the present invention and there may be several variants thereof).

Thus, unwanted calls will remain (cut off) within the framework of OSDS; and subscribers who will know the access code, after entering it, the Home Network Operator will be allowed to establish a connection with the called subscriber. Erroneous random calls are also cut off, it is possible to limit unwanted contacts by changing the password, and not the number of the called party.

The technical result for this invention is the greatest degree of individual freedom of choice and restriction of incoming calls by setting an access password at the OSDS level of the called subscriber.

Description of the invention

The proposed method is designed to increase the degree of freedom of use by subscribers of the services of telecom operators.

In order to be able to implement the proposed OSDS method, the called party must support this function.

A network subscriber (mobile or stationary device) activates the incoming call restriction mode by sending a certain signal to the VTS operator (the mode activation method is not a fundamental factor in the description of this invention and there may be several options, such as sending a code to a network operator, tone dialing, sending voice message, dialing a specific number, entering a specific code when communicating with an operator, etc.). It should be noted that the activation method for this invention can be different, it can be activated at any time, can be part of the standard services of the Home Network Operator and be active at all times when the subscriber uses a phone number, etc.

Upon activation (or in advance), the network subscriber sets a specific access code. When an incoming call arrives at the OSDS (in which the called subscriber is registered), the calling subscriber is asked to enter a certain access code (password), (which is not a fundamental factor in the description of this invention and there may be many of its options, such as: a combination of numbers is entered in tone or pulsed mode from the Caller’s communication device; a specific keyword - by voice; music code, etc. ...).

After entering the correct access code (password), the OSDS attempts to connect to the called party.

After entering the wrong access code (or after a set waiting time), the call is transferred (forwarded) or to the called party's voice mailbox; or to the OSDS autoinformer, which will inform you of the impossibility of a call, and the connection will be disconnected; or to a telephone number indicated in advance by the called subscriber. In this case, the called subscriber can be informed about the attempt to call by sending him an SMS message, electronic message, etc. (which is not a fundamental factor in the description of the present invention and there may be several variants thereof).

For example, a VTS operator receives a certain number of calls with an incorrect password. After the password is entered incorrectly, calls are transferred to the voice mailbox. The caller leaves voice information, and it remains with OSDS. The called subscriber can access the stored information at the OSDS using his telephone device, activate the function of receiving forwarded calls and accept them at one time or set a specific time interval for receiving (the time interval can also be set by the telephone network operator). Thus, the mechanism for receiving information about forwarded calls is activated manually. Automatic receipt can be used when roaming, for example, when a subscriber arrives from abroad and is registered in the Home Network, he automatically receives information on his mobile phone about incoming calls with incorrectly entered or not entered access passwords. It should be noted that the activation of this method from the Home Network Operator and the receipt of information about redirected calls can be activated or received (viewed) by the subscriber using the Internet or a landline telephone, as well as another mobile device.

Claims (4)

1. The way to limit the call of the called subscriber of the telephone network, which consists in the fact that:
send from the called subscriber to the home network operator (OSDS) with which the subscriber is registered, a predetermined signal to activate the restriction mode of incoming calls to this subscriber;
upon receipt by the VTS operator of this predetermined signal, a predetermined access code for calls to said called subscriber is set;
when a signal with a predetermined access code from the calling subscriber is received by the VDS operator, an attempt is made to connect to the called subscriber. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which when the call signal is received by the VDS operator, the signal is sent to the called subscriber in response to this call to the calling subscriber with a request to enter the access code. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which upon receipt of a signal by the VDS operator with a code different from the aforementioned predetermined access code, or after a predetermined waiting time, the incoming call is transferred to an address that is selected from the group consisting of:
the voice mailbox of the called party;
the phone number specified by the called party in advance;
VDS operator autoinformer for reporting call impossibility and for disconnecting communications. 4. The method according to claim 3, in which the called subscriber is notified of the call and its transfer to the appropriate address.