Telephone system, apparatus, and method for providing enhanced privacy features

Abstract

A telephone system for enhanced privacy management includes a telephone switch, a rejected call handler, a user preference database, and an internet app privacy manager, whereby an incoming call can be assigned to a calling class, and routed according to a calling rule associated with the calling class. Using an interactive voice response menu or an application portal, the user can assign callers to calling classes and specify call handling rules and schedules. A rejected call handler includes a voice interface, a switch control, a voicemail, interactive voice response, call progress simulator, in-message options, in-call options, post-call options, and other components. Further disclosed is a method for determining a calling rule, including determining the caller id status, querying a calling rules table, and determining a calling rule.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications and more specifically to privacy management for telephone calls.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Unsolicited phone calls are an increasing problem for consumers. The National Do Not Call Registry was established with an intention of giving U.S. consumers an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls they receive, but has in general not proven effective in limiting the number of unwanted phone calls received by consumers.[0004]Currently, some telephone service providers offer very limited call blocking features that allow for blocking selected callers based on Caller ID. Lately, telemarketing callers are circumventing these filters using techniques such as Caller-ID spoofing and number rotation. Caller-ID spoofing is used for scamming purposes, for example to take advantage of elderly victims, or to have victims believe t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In an aspect, the telephone system for providing enhanced privacy features consists of a set of computer-implemented features, placed into the call routing system of any voice or video calling system. The calling party is identified by a name or number issued by the caller's connection service, and provided to the called party, the user, whereby calls can be routed or handled based on the user's privacy desires. These features can be implemented independently or in any combination desired by the user, or the user's service provider, and can allows for granular end-user customized handling of incoming calls based on caller ID.

[0008]In a related aspect, the user can have complete control of how incoming call are handled, by allowing the user to define particular call handling rules, for different classes of callers.

Problems solved by technology

Unsolicited phone calls are an increasing problem for consumers.

The National Do Not Call Registry was established with an intention of giving U.S. consumers an opportunity to limit the telemarketing calls they receive, but has in general not proven effective in limiting the number of unwanted phone calls received by consumers.

Currently, some telephone service providers offer very limited call blocking features that allow for blocking selected callers based on Caller ID.

Additionally, the traditional “blacklist” can anger callers with malicious intent, placing stalked victims in greater danger.

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