Patent ID: 7840211
Filing Date: 2010-11-23
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of processing communications in a voice telephony network having a plurality of subscriber devices and a server; said method comprising the steps of: maintaining, at said server, a central common communication policy comprising at least one identifier representing whether reception of a first voice call having said at least one identifier is permissible at said subscriber devices in said network; maintaining, at each said subscriber device, a local common communication policy; said local common communication policy corresponding to said central common communication policy; maintaining, at each said subscriber device, a local override policy for determining whether to permit said first voice call regardless of contents of said local common communication policy; receiving a second voice call at one of said subscriber devices; said second voice call having an originator identifier; receiving a user-input at said one of said subscriber devices representing a marker of said originator identifier; accessing said local common communication policy at said one of said subscriber devices; updating said local common communication policy with said originator identifier associated with said marker, such that reception of a third voice call having said originator identifier is impermissible at said one of said subscriber devices; and sending a request for an update to said server whereby to update said central common communication policy with said originator identifier associated with said marker, and sending updates to said plurality of subscriber devices such that reception of a fourth voice call having said originator identifier is impermissible at said plurality of said subscriber devices, unless said local override policy in said at least another one of said subscriber devices indicates that reception of said fourth voice call having said originator identifier is permissible regardless of said central common communication policy.