Abstract:
A telephone with a call screening device is able to screen automated calls by transmitting a message containing an instruction upon detecting an incoming call. The instruction from the call screening device requests that the calling party respond to the message correctly and in time before the call screening device allows the telephone to ring and the call answered. The instruction contains, inter alia, a string of randomly generated numbers that the calling party is asked to dial as part of his/her response. In the event that the response is not received in time or the response is incorrect, the call screening device terminates the call without the phone ever ringing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to the field of telecommunications. In particular, the present invention relates to a device and method for screening certain telephone calls in a manner that does not disturb the called party. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Numerous governmental rules and regulations have been created to protect consumers from receiving random calls from telemarketers, debt collecting companies or creditors. For example, debt collectors are typically limited to calling during a certain time period of a consumer&#39;s business day (e.g., business hours—9:00 am to 5 pm). Also, consumers are able to register and list their phone numbers on a “Do Not Call” list, which supposedly alerts telemarketers of the telephone numbers that they are not allowed to call. Despite the many rules and mechanisms that have been established to protect consumers from the onslaught of telephone calls daily, many consumers are still being annoyed by these calls. 
         [0003]    A common technique used by consumers and many others who receive many annoying phone calls throughout each day is to screen the calls with answering machines. A consumer does not answer a phone call, but intentionally allows a connected answering machine to answer the call. After a few rings, the answering machine will answer the call with a brief message asking the calling party to leave a message. The person being called can then hear the message and, in many cases, is able to determine the identity of the caller. The consumer can then decide to answer the call or not. While this approach may be effective, it does not resolve annoyance and interruption of the consumer throughout the day. Even though the consumer is able to effectively screen out and not answer unwanted calls, he/she does so at the expense of being disturbed throughout the day by these types of phone calls 
         [0004]    Many of these calls are automatically performed by a computer that dials phone numbers automatically and upon getting a response from a called party, start to broadcast a previously recorded message to advertise a product, a service or to leave a message regarding some type of loan or payment on which the called party has defaulted. Creditors, and telemarketers are able to make much more of these types of phone calls using this method and thus many consumers are being bombarded with such calls. In many cases a consumer&#39;s answering machine can become full relatively quickly on any given day; this is a problem as the consumer may be unable to receive important messages. 
         [0005]    Moreover, a consumer has no recourse to complain or register his/her displeasure at the time of the call; this is because the calling party is actually a machine and not a human to whom one can convey his/her objections at the time of the call. These automated calls are most problematic because it is hard to trace them and identify the entity responsible for such calls. Often the parties on whose behalf the calls are made rely on third or even fourth parties to make these calls. A consumer who reports these calls to the authorities soon realizes that it is quite easy for the calling party to change their phone numbers and continue to make such calls, which can at best be characterized as annoying and at worst as harassing. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a device and method for screening calls and terminating such calls when they are deemed to be automated calls. The communication device may be installed in a telephone (i.e., POTS, PSTN or IP telephone); that is, it can be part of a communication switch or equipment to which telephones are coupled or it can be a separate device in communication with a communication switch. The device, referred herein as a call screening device, comprises a random number generator, and a microprocessor in communication with the random number generator where the microprocessor causes a message to be transmitted in response to a received ring signal of an incoming call to the communication equipment. The message comprises at least an N-digit string of numbers generated by the random number generator where N is an integer equal to 2 or greater. When a response to the message is received, the microprocessor does not allow the ring signal to be received by the communication equipment and terminates the call if such response either does not contain at least signals representing the random numbers having been dialed or the response was not received within a defined period of time. 
         [0007]    The method of the present invention provides the steps of detecting an incoming call including the ring signal associated with the incoming call. If the detected incoming call is from a known or acceptable calling party, the ring signal is allowed to be received by the communication equipment and the call is processed as per the protocol being followed by the communication equipment. If, however, the calling party is not recognized, then the ring signal is intercepted and an N-digit string of numbers is randomly generated where N is equal to 2 or greater. Further, a message is generated and transmitted to the calling party instructing the calling party to perform a certain task at least involving dialing the randomly generated numbers within a defined period of time. If the response to the transmitted message is in compliance with the instructions in the transmitted message and is received in a timely manner, the incoming ring signal is allowed to be received by the communication equipment, and the call is allowed to be processed by the communication equipment in accordance with the one or more protocols being followed. If, however, the response does not comply with the instructions in the transmitted message and/or the response is not timely, the ring signal is not allowed to be received by the communication equipment and the call is terminated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a communication system with the device of the present invention integrated in communication equipment of the communication system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is the block diagram of  FIG. 1  where the device of the present invention is in communication with the communication equipment. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is shows the device of the present invention integrated into a telephone. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the device of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present invention provides a device and method for screening calls and terminating such calls when they are deemed to be automated calls. The communication device may be installed in a telephone (i.e., POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or IP (Internet Protocol) telephone); that is, it can be part of a communication switch or equipment to which telephones are coupled or it can be a separate device in communication with a communication switch. The device—referred herein as a call screening device—comprises a random number generator; and a microprocessor in communication with the random number generator where the microprocessor causes a message to be transmitted in response to a received ring signal of a call to the communication equipment. The message comprises at least an N-digit string of numbers randomly generated by the random number generator, where N is an integer equal to 2 or greater. When a response to the message is received, the microprocessor does not allow the ring signal to be received by the communication equipment and terminates the call if such response either does not contain at least signals representing the random numbers having been dialed or the response was not received within a defined time period. 
         [0015]    The method of the present invention provides the steps of detecting an incoming call including the ring signal associated with the incoming call. If the detected incoming call is from a known or acceptable calling party, the ring signal is allowed to be received by the communication equipment and the call is processed as per the protocol being followed by the communication equipment. If, however, the calling party is not recognized, then the ring signal is intercepted and an N-digit string of numbers is randomly generated where N is an integer equal to 2 or greater. Further, a message is generated and transmitted to the calling party instructing the calling party to perform a certain task at least involving dialing the randomly generated numbers within a defined period of time. If the response to the transmitted message is in compliance with the instructions of the transmitted message and is received in a timely manner, the incoming ring signal is allowed to be received by the communication equipment, and the call is allowed to be processed by the communication equipment in accordance with the one or more protocols being followed. If, however, the response does not comply with the instructions in the transmitted message and/or the response is not timely, the ring signal is not allowed to be received by the communication equipment and the call is terminated. In sum, if the call is not from a human, the ring signal does not get processed and thus the called party&#39;s telephone does not ring avoiding that party from being disturbed by an automated call. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a block diagram of a communication system that is part of a communication network  100 . The communication system comprises communication equipment  102 , which may be a communication switch, for example, and embedded therein (or integrated with) a Call Screening Device (CSD)  104  of the device of the present invention. The communication system is shown having the communication switch (including the CSD  104 ) coupled to a calling party telephone  110  via communication link  106  and coupled to the called party telephone  112  via communication link  108 . The communication links  106  and  108  may be implemented as one or more communication paths and equipment connected to each other to form a virtual and/or a physical communication channel allowing information to be exchanged between communication equipment  102  and telephones  110  and  112  respectively. The term “couple” or “couple(d) to” as used herein refers to a path or a series of connected paths (permanent or temporary) that allows information (in one or more formats) or signals to flow from one point or equipment in a communication network to another point within the same equipment or another equipment in the same or different communication network in accordance with the protocol(s) of the communication network(s). 
         [0017]    It will be noted that communication switch  102  may represent various types of communication equipment coupled to each other to perform various processing functions that support and help effectuate the processing, transmission and reception of signals between the two telephones  110  and  112 . It will also be noted that the communication system shown in  FIG. 1 , may comprise more than two telephones coupled to communication equipment  102 ;  FIG. 1  is limited to telephones  110  and  112  for ease of discussion and explanation. It will be understood, however, that the communication system of  FIG. 1  may have communication equipment  102  that services more than two telephones at any particular time. For ease of explanation the operation of CSD  104  will be discussed in the context of telephone  110  calling telephone  112  both of which are part of communication network  100  or are coupled to communication network  100 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a system where CSD  104  is in communication with communication equipment  102  (e.g., a communication switch). CSD  104  in  FIG. 2  operates in much the same manner as in  FIG. 1 . It will be understood, however, that CSD  104  of  FIG. 2  may not be necessarily co-located with communication equipment  102 . Communication link  112 , which may be a relatively wide bandwidth communication link, couples CSD  104  to communication equipment  102 ; that is, CSD  104  may not be proximate to communication equipment  102  and may, in fact, be located miles away from communication equipment  102 . Information can then be exchanged between CSD  104  and communication switch  102  to allow CSD  104  to operate as per the device of the present invention and in accordance with the method of the present invention. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown CSD  104  integrated within a telephone that can be used in a POTS, PSTN communication system. An incoming ring signal of an incoming call is intercepted by CSD  104  which processes such signal and also processes caller id information to determine whether to transfer the ring signal to ring circuit  216  and allow hook switch  220  to close to have the called properly handled in accordance with a protocol being followed. Unlike in  FIG. 2 , CSD  104  is not connected to a communication switch via communication link  112 ; the port  112 A to which communication link  112  would be connected or the port  112 A that is dedicated to communication link  112  is not connected to any equipment or device. The port of CSD  104  usually connected to communication link  112  is depicted as not being connected to any equipment because this link is designed for connection to communication equipment such as a communication switch ( 102 ; see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). When CSD  104  is integrated within a standard analog telephone, communication link  112  is not used. However, CSD  104  will operate in virtually the same manner as described with respect to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0020]    The telephone of  FIG. 3  is a device that would be typically used in POTS or PSTN systems. Continuing with the telephone of  FIG. 3 , the telephone uses a two-wire system commonly known as tip/ring wires (color coded where the tip wire is green and the ring wire is red). The ring wire has a negative DC (Direct Current) voltage and the tip wire has a voltage set at earth ground (i.e. zero volt). At the input to the telephone, the CSD  104  is connected across the tip wire  208  and ring wire  206  (shown as a dashed line). A hook switch  220  is connected in series with the tip and ring wires ( 208 ,  206 ) respectively as shown. The ring circuit  216  is connected to CSD  104  via connective path (or connection)  104 E, all of which are connected to the input side of the hook switch  220 . On the other side of the hook switch  220  a dialer  214  is connected across the tip ring wires as shown followed by coil  222  that performs two functions. 
         [0021]    First, the coil  222  makes two wire operation possible in that both voice signals originating from the microphone  204  and voice signals being received by speaker  202  use the same wires. Coil  222  and associated components (not shown) are able to route microphone voice signals through the hook switch  220  (assuming it is in the closed position) and onto the POTS network (or PSTN) while routing incoming voice signals to the speaker  202 . Second, coil  222  serves to significantly attenuate voice signals from microphone  204  before they reach speaker  202  while allowing such voice signals to pass onto the network (e.g., POTS or PSTN). The conductors  206  and  218  representing the ring wire are shown in dashed lines for ease of reference. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram of CSD  104  is shown. In the embodiment shown, CSD  104  comprises differential DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) receiver  104 C (also used as a regular receiver to receive voice signals and other signals in addition to dual tone signals), microprocessor  104 B, random number generator (RNG)  104 A, and differential transmitter  104 D. Although not shown, microprocessor  104 B also contains a digital transmitter and digital receiver. Microprocessor  104 B has an input/output port  112 A to which communication link  112  can be connected (see  FIG. 2 ). Communication link  112  is not connected to CSD  104  in  FIG. 4 , but is shown in dashed lines signifying that it would be connected to port  112 A (see  FIG. 2 ) when CSD  104  is interfaced to communication switch  102  of  FIG. 2  or other similar communication equipment. Microprocessor  104  has emanating therefrom control line  104 F and control line  104 E used respectively to control hook switch  220  and Ring circuit  216  (see  FIG. 3 ). Signals carried by Tip/Ring conducting paths  104 J and  104 K are applied to the input of DTMF receiver  104 C and microprocessor  104 B (via an interface circuit including an Analog to Digital circuit—not shown). 
         [0023]    Microprocessor  104 B may generate messages in analog and/or digital form (e.g., synthesized voice, text, or other types of signals) and transmit such messages via the port  112 A for connection to communication link  112  or via path  104 M through transmitter  104 D, through closed switches  104 G and  104 H and onto paths  104 J and  104 K. Note that switches  104 G and  104 H are controlled by microprocessor  104 B via the control lines shown as dashed lines. Microprocessor  104 B can retrieve dialed number information from DTMF receiver  104 C and can also control the overall operation of DTMF receiver  104 C including deactivating DTMF receiver  104 C. DTMF receiver  104 C is used to receive and detect numbers (transmitted as dual tone signals) dialed by a calling party to determine if the randomly generated string of numbers in the transmitted message are part of the response from the calling party. Microprocessor  104 B exchanges information with DTMF receiver  104 C and controls the overall operation of DTMF receiver  104 C via path  104 L. DTMF receiver  104 C may have additional receivers for receiving other types of analog signals (e.g., voice signals). It will be understood therefore that, based on the above description of CSD  104  of  FIG. 4 , such a device is applicable to digital and/or analog networks and can be used in connection with or engage standard analog telephones, digital telephones, and telephones with text capabilities; thus CSD  104  can be used with IP telephones (telephones operated as per the Internet Protocol) and other digital telephones. Also, CSD  104  can be used in POTS and PSTN and other analog networks. Further, CSD  104  can be used in digital networks such as the Internet. 
         [0024]    Further, when CSD  104  is used in connection with the Internet, a digital transmitter (within microprocessor  104 B; not shown) is used to transmit data and a digital receiver (within microprocessor  104 B; not shown) is used to receive data. Microprocessor  104 B controls random number generator  104 A via path  104 M to (i) command RNG  104 A to generate an N-digit string of numbers and (ii) obtain said N-number string of numbers from RNG  104 A and confirm that the previously generated N-digit string has not been replicated. RNG  104 A may also contain circuitry that prevent it from generating consecutive duplicate N-digit strings. Microprocessor  104 B also uses path  104 M to obtain from RNG  104 A the generated N-digit string of numbers; N is an integer equal to 2 or greater. 
         [0025]    The CSD  104  of the present invention has been described above in the context of (i) being part of a communication equipment (see  FIG. 1 ); (ii) being in communication with a communication equipment (see  FIG. 2 ) and (iii) being part of a telephone (see  FIG. 3 ). An embodiment of CSD  104  is depicted in  FIG. 4  and such an embodiment is described as having the capability of operating within a digital network (e.g., Internet) or analog networks (e.g., POTS and PSTN). That is, CSD  104  can be used with standard telephones or IP phones. The operation of CSD  104  in accordance with the method of the present invention as depicted in  FIG. 5  will now be discussed. 
         [0026]    In step  410 , an incoming call has been initiated and a ring signal is detected. In addition to the ring signal, caller id information (i.e., telephone number of the calling party) is also typically available. The ring signal is intercepted and an assessment of the caller id information is performed by CSD  104  to determine if the call is to be allowed or if the call should be terminated. The caller id information provides, inter alia, the telephone number of the calling party. CSD  104  may then confirm whether the telephone number of the calling party matches a number from a list of numbers (and corresponding names) associated with the called telephone and deemed acceptable numbers. If the calling party&#39;s telephone number is deemed an acceptable telephone number, then the ring signal is allowed to pass through and the telephone call is processed as per the protocol(s) being followed by the communication equipment and/or the called telephone. An acceptable telephone number is a telephone number of a person known by the owner/operator of the called telephone and is on the list accessible to microprocessor  104 B of CSD  104 . Also, CSD  104 , may be programmed not to monitor calls during certain hours of a weekday. Say, for example, during business hours (9:00 am to 5 pm), CSD  104  may be deactivated and thus all calls will be processed by the communication equipment  102  and/or by the called telephone as per the protocol being followed by the communication system within which the telephone resides. 
         [0027]    Therefore, in step  412 , if the call is from an acceptable party (i.e., a party whose number appears on the list of acceptable calling parties), the method of the present invention moves to step  426  and processes the call as per the protocol being followed. For the systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the CSD  104  allows communication equipment  102  to process the telephone as per the protocol(s) being followed by communication network  100 . 
         [0028]    For  FIGS. 1 and 2  communication network  100  and the communication equipment coupled thereto (e.g., communication equipment  102 , telephones  110  and  112 , and communication links  106  and  112 ) may be constructed and operated in accordance with a communication standard having various communication protocols that are followed in order to properly operate the equipment that form part of communication network  100 . A communication standard comprises a set of rules and regulations established by technology based organizations, governmental bodies, or a consortium of business organizations that dictate the operation of devices and systems within a communication network. The rules and regulations also control the constitution and characteristics of signals used for communication between two or more distinct communication equipment. Generally, a protocol is an established procedure or a set of well-established procedures that is part of a communication standard. A communication protocol, for example, may dictate how two or more communication equipment initiate communication with each other within a communication network or system and maintain communication in a manner that complies with a communication standard. 
         [0029]    Continuing with the method of the present invention, if the call is not from an acceptable party or the call is originated during off business hours, then the method of the present invention moves to step  414 . 
         [0030]    In step  414  microprocessor  104 B instructs random number generator  104 A, via path  104 M, to randomly generate a N-digit string of numbers where N is an integer equal to  2  or greater. Microprocessor  104 B then obtains (via path  104 M) the generated N-digit string and the method of the present moves to step  416 . RNG  104 A has circuitry that is designed to avoid the generation of consecutive duplicate strings of numbers and to confirm that the N-digit string of numbers is not the same as the previous N-digit string of numbers. 
         [0031]    In step  416 , microprocessor generates a message or obtains a pre-formed message at least part of which contains the N-digit string of numbers randomly generated by random number generator  104 A. The message may contain an instruction at least involving dialing the N-digit string of numbers. For example, the message may be the following: “Hello, you have reached the number [ . . . (INSERT) . . . ], please state your name clearly and dial the following numbers . . . [ . . . (INSERT) . . . ] followed by the [ . . . (INSERT) . . . ] sign.” The first insert would include the telephone number; the second insert would include the actual string of numbers obtained from the random number generator and the third insert would include a symbol such as the pound sign (#). The transmitted message may be synthesized through the use of speech synthesis or speech synthesizer software/hardware or it may be a pre-recorded message with the N-digit string of numbers injected into each new message. The transmitted message may also be a text message. For an IP phone, the message is transmitted from port  112 A over communication link  112 . For an analog phone such as the one depicted in  FIG. 3 , the message is generated by microprocessor  104 B. The microprocessor then closes switches  104 G and  104 H and applies the message to the input of differential transmitter  104 D which transmits the message over paths  104 J and  104 K to the calling party. It will be readily obvious that variations of the message can be used to instruct the calling party as to how to respond. The purpose of the message is to eliminate the automated calls. The machines or computer with which such calls are made would be unable to follow the instructions of the messages generated by microprocessor  104 B. Various methods can be used to generate the message. However such a message is preferably generated in the form of one or more instructions that are transmitted to the calling party. 
         [0032]    In step  418 , microprocessor  104 B of CSD  104  waits for a response to the instructions included in the transmitted message. If the response is not received within a defined period of time preset by microprocessor  104 B, then the call is terminated. It should be noted that an operator or user of a telephone having the CSD of the present invention installed therein, may also be able to preset the defined period of time through operation or activation of a component of the telephone that interfaces with the microprocessor  104 B of the CSD. For example, the dial pad  214  of  FIG. 3  (e.g., dial pad is able to communicate with microprocessor  104 B of CSC  104 ) can be used in conjunction with a procedure established by the manufacturer of the telephone to set the defined period of time. Further, a user of the systems of  FIGS. 1 and 2  may set the defined period of time by contacting the service provider of those systems. A proper response, for the above described transmitted message, would at least include the dialing of the N-digit string of randomly generated numbers that were part of the transmitted message; presumably an operator of the called telephone would have performed the dialing task. If the response to the message is timely, but not correct, the call is also terminated. An incorrect response, may for example, be where the dialed numbers do not match the numbers of the N-digit string of numbers contained in the transmitted message. Upon transmission of the message, if a response is not received within the defined period of time or if the response is not correct, then the method of the present invention moves to step  424 . 
         [0033]    In step  424 , the response (if any) has been deemed or determined to be incorrect or untimely or both. The ring signal is not allowed to be received by the called telephone, and the call is terminated by CSD  104 . Termination of the call may be achieved by not answering the call; that is, the hook switch  220  of  FIG. 3 , for example, is never closed. Alternatively, the hook switch  220  may be temporarily closed and then opened which has the effect of “hanging up” on the caller. The transmitted message contains instructions to the calling party on how to respond to the message; the response at least involves the dialing of the randomly generated numbers. For example, suppose telephone  110  (of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is calling telephone  112 . Suppose further, that telephone  112  is constituted as shown in  FIG. 3 . Upon detecting the incoming call and the ring signal, CSD  104  intercepts the ring signals and does not allow it to be received by ring circuit  216 ; that is, the telephone does not ring. After transmitting the message described in step  416  above and after having received a response prior to the expiration of the defined time period, the CSD  104  receives and processes receives the response. If the response, including the dialed digits, is determined by microprocessor  104 B to be correct, then the method of the present invention moves to step  422 . 
         [0034]    In step  422 , the ring signal is allowed to be processed; that is, it is allowed to pass through to ring circuit  216  causing the telephone to ring. An operator of the telephone may answer the telephone causing hook switch  220  to close and thus the call is allowed to be completed. 
         [0035]    While various aspects of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
         [0036]    In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present invention, are presented for example purposes only. The present invention is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.