Patent ID: 7298835
Filing Date: 2007-11-20
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method for blocking at least one outgoing communication: from a calling party to a calling line selected by the calling party in connection with a parental control feature offered to subscribers as an outgoing call blocking service, said calling party having a calling line identification number, said method comprising: enabling the subscriber to select special feature codes and request that outgoing communications that relate to the special feature codes, and that originate from the calling line identification number, be blocked, wherein special feature codes are received by an automated system that recognizes oral commands and alphanumeric input; receiving an outgoing communication related to at least one of the special feature codes, said calling line associated with at least one subscriber to the outgoing call blocking service; obtaining a calling line identification number for said received outgoing communication; obtaining a called line identification number for said received outgoing communication; activating the outgoing call blocking service at a first pre-set time; de-activating the outgoing call blocking service at a second pre-set time; looking for said calling line identification number associated with the received outgoing communication in a data store to determine data associated with said calling line identification number concerning calls from the calling line to a called line which are to be blocked; terminating the received outgoing communication if the data indicates that the received outgoing communication is to be blocked; and overriding the outgoing call blocking service for at least a second single outgoing communication from the calling line in response to receiving an override code.