Patent ID: 7616748
Filing Date: 2009-11-10
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A central call screening system in use in conjunction with a public switched telephone network, which network provides call data signals including call data character signals generated by a call source apparatus including a facsimile capability and indicative of call character, the central call screening system for selectively blocking placed calls to specific telephone lines on the basis of detecting the call data character signals received, comprising: a monitoring unit for detecting calls placed to a specific telephone line and receiving call data signals relating to a placed call including call data character signals generated by the facsimile capability of the call source apparatus designating the character of a call; signal recognition structure for directly recognizing certain facsimile call data character signals provided from the call source apparatus and received by the monitoring unit to identify unwanted calls placed to the specific telephone line from the call source apparatus; and a call blocking unit controlled by the signal recognition structure to block unwanted facsimile calls for users of telephones placed by the facsimile capability of the call source apparatus to the specific telephone line.