Patent ID: 6442249
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A call screening unit for screening incoming telephone calls directed to a specific telephone number; the call screening unit preventing a user's telephone from ringing unless the incoming call has a valid caller ID signal comprising numeric information or the caller making the incoming call enters a valid override code; the call screening unit including;a memory device for storing override codes; a discriminator which if the incoming call has a valid caller ID signal, the discriminator passing any call through to ring the user's telephone without further action by a caller if it is determined that the call has a valid caller ID signal; an answering device for playing a pre-recorded message which prompts the caller to enter an override code or leave a message if and only if the discriminator determines that the call does not have a valid caller ID signal; and a comparator which compares a caller entered override code with the override codes stored in the memory device.