Telephone Call Screening System and Method and Caller Registration System and Method For Use Therewith

Abstract

A telephone call screening system screens telephone calls placed to a subscriber based upon a preferred caller database established by the subscriber from a networked caller registry database. A caller registration system allows callers to select a private identifier unique to the caller and registers the callers in a caller registry database. The subscriber establishes the preferred caller database by connecting to the caller registration system and selecting the preferred callers. The private identifiers associated with the selected preferred callers are then stored in the preferred caller database. When a caller calls the subscriber, the caller is asked to enter the caller's private identifier. A caller disposition process is initiated based on whether the private identifier is in the preferred caller database.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 073,605 filed Feb. 11, 2002, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] The present invention relates to telephony systems and more particularly, relates to a telephone call screening system and method and a caller registration system and method for use therewith. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0003] Telemarketers and other entities placing unsolicited telephone calls have created an increasing volume of nuisance telephone calls both to homes and to businesses. Various systems and methods have been used in an attempt to screen telephone calls such that these nuisance calls can be rejected and calls from preferred callers can be accepted. According to one technique used at home, a called party can listen to a message being left by the caller on an answering machine and determine whether or not to pick up the telephone and answer the call. This ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This technique, however, does not entirely eliminate the nuisance of unwanted telephone calls because the called party must still listen to the message being left on the answering machine.

This technique also has some limitations in that a preferred caller may be unintentionally screened out when the preferred caller is placing a telephone call from a different telephone having a telephone number that is not associated with the preferred caller.

This technique also presents a problem in that the callers are required to remember the code or PIN number selected by and unique to the called party, and most likely must remember multiple codes from multiple called parties using the system.

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