Patent ID: 8325898
Filing Date: 2012-12-04
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for screening telephone calls, comprising: receiving, by a system having a processor, a set of telephone numbers to be used in screening the telephone calls; entering, by the system, a do-not-disturb mode for a first communication device of a user in response to the system receiving an identifier from the user; in response to entering the do-not-disturb mode, requesting and receiving a first authorization code from the user; receiving a call to the first communication device from a second communication device of a caller; in response to a determination that a telephone number associated with the second communication device is in the set of telephone numbers, prompting the caller to input a second authorization code; in response to a determination that the telephone number associated with the second communication device is not in the set of telephone numbers, routing the call to a voicemail system; generating, using the processor, a notification in response to a determination that the first authorization code and the second authorization code are the same and then placing the caller on hold; otherwise, in response to a determination that the first authorization code and the second authorization code are not the same, forwarding the call to the voicemail system; in response to the notification, determining whether a user-entered code is received within a predetermined time period, in response to a determination that the user-entered code is received within the predetermined time period, connecting the call to the first communication device; and in response to a determination that the user-entered code is not received within the predetermined time period, forwarding the call to the voicemail system.