Patent ID: 8630393
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method, performed by a computing system having a processor and a memory, of adding an originator of a telephone call to a blacklist usable to block telephone calls to a set of multiple assigned telephone numbers, the method comprising: receiving a telephone call to a first telephone number; identifying an originator making the telephone call; determining that the first telephone number is, at the time of the telephone call, a member of a set of multiple unassigned telephone numbers, wherein each of the multiple unassigned telephone numbers is not assigned to an active call recipient; determining, by the computing system, that the originator previously made a telephone call to a second telephone number that, at the time of the previous telephone call, was a member of the set of multiple unassigned telephone numbers, wherein the second telephone number is different from the first telephone number; adding the originator to the blacklist for a first predetermined period of time; receiving one or more subsequent telephone calls made by the originator to additional telephone numbers that are each a member of the set of multiple unassigned telephone numbers; and for each of the received subsequent telephone calls, adding the originator to the blacklist for an additional period of time, wherein the additional period of time is capped so that an aggregate penalty period to does not exceed a maximum penalty period.