Abstract:
A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a call blocking service to which a user subscribes. The preferred call blocking service Includes maintaining an updateable list of calling parties that the user wishes to block from being able is complete telephone calls to the user, maintaining a buffer for storing information associated with the moat recent calling party placing a telephone nail to the user, and recognizing a signal that the user activates to automatically add the most resent calling party to the list of calling parties blocked torn being able to complete telephone calls to the user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/189,287 filed Aug. 11, 2008, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/159,542, filed May 31, 2002, which issued Aug. 12, 2008 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,412,049. The entireties of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention generally relates to telecommunications, and more specifically, to unsolicited telephone calls. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A variety of additional services are available to a user in connection with telephone service, including, for example, call waiting, call forwarding, caller 10, etc. These additional services are designed to enhance the user&#39;s telephone service, and to allow the user control over certain aspects of the telephone service. 
         [0004]    Frequently, individuals with telephone service receive annoying or nuisance unsolicited calls, including from telemarketing businesses. Some features exist that permit users to subscribe through their telephone service provider and obtain information about the party placing an incoming call to the user. However, these services will not show caller identification data if the calling party has listed its number as private. Additionally, depending on the user&#39;s telephone service, calls placed from outside the user&#39;s local area will also frequently not display information regarding the calling party. 
         [0005]    Additionally, features exist that permit users to specify that they want a telephone network to automatically block incoming calls from private numbers or from specific calling party numbers. However, these services either automatically block all private numbers (or numbers from out of area), or block no numbers. Additionally, services allowing the user to specify individual calling party numbers to be blocked require a user to call the telephone service provider, speak to a customer representative, and identify the number to be blocked. If the user does not have access to the number of the calling party that the user wishes to block, for example, if the calling party has a number listed as private, the user may not be able to identify to the telephone service the number to block. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for a system and method that addresses these and other problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for enabling a user to select, in real-time, calling parties to be blocked from placing telephone calls to the user. 
         [0008]    One preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a call blocking service to which a user subscribes. The preferred call blocking service includes maintaining an updateable list of calling parties that the user wishes to block from being able to complete telephone calls to (i.e. ring) the user, maintaining a buffer for storing information associated with the most recent calling party placing a telephone call to the user, and recognizing a signal that the user activates to automatically add the most recent calling party to the list of calling parties blocked from placing telephone calls to the user. 
         [0009]    In accordance with another feature of one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the calling block service may include a call blocking application server that the user may contact via a computer or other web appliance, either through the internet or another connection, in order to view and/or edit the list of calling parties that the user wishes to block from being able to complete telephone calls to the user. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon examination of the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such features and advantages be included herein within the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary telephone system that may be used with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart of selected steps of an embodiment of the present invention when a call is placed on the exemplary system illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of selected steps of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , when the user adds the calling party to the call block list during the telephone call. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of selected steps of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , when the user desires to add the calling party to the call block list after the telephone call is completed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an additional feature of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Generally stated, one preferred embodiment of the present invention allows a user to selectively block telephone calls from calling parties in real-time, regardless of whether the calling party is calling from out of area, or has a private number, and without the need to contact customer representatives at a telephone service provider. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary system implementing one embodiment, among others of the present invention in a telephone call from a calling party  12  to a called party  14 . In various embodiments, the calling party  12  may be placing a call from a standard Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”) telephone  16  or a cellular telephone  18 , or other types of telephones. In the case of a PSTN telephone  16 , depending on the location of the PSTN telephone  16 , the calling party  12  may be routed through the PSTN system  20  to a switch  22  of the called party  14  at the called party&#39;s local telephone service provider. In other embodiments, if the calling party  12  shares a local telephone service provider with the called party  14 , the telephone call would be routed directly from the PSTN telephone  16  to the switch  22 . 
         [0019]    Similarly, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the calling party  12  may be using for example, a cellular telephone  18  to call the called party  14 . In this case, depending on the location of the cellular telephone  18 , the calling party  12 , may be routed to a Mobile Switching Center  24  servicing the area where the calling party  12  is placing the telephone call on the cellular telephone  18 . From the Mobile Switching Center, the calling party  12  would be routed through the PSTN system  20  to the switch  22  for the called party  14 . Alternatively, the calling party  12 , if located within the coverage area of the local telephone service provider for the called party  14 , may be routed directly from the cellular telephone  18  to the switch  22 . 
         [0020]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the called party  14  may be using a variety of telephones, including, among others, a PSTN telephone  26 , an IP hard telephone  28 , or an IP soft telephone  30  for example as would be understood by those skilled in the art. Additionally, the local telephone service provider may provide service to the called party  14  via different switches  22 , including a standard switched Central Office, or through a digital softswitch implementation, among others. 
         [0021]    The system  10  of the present invention may be implemented through a variety of hardware, firmware, and/or software. In one implementation, the system  10  of the present invention may be implemented within a switch  22 . In one embodiment, the switch  22  is a digital softswitch with all the below-described functions performed by the softswitch. In yet another implementation of the system  10  of the present invention, the switch  22  may be a Central Office switch with all of the below-described functions performed by the Central Office switch. In yet other embodiments, the system  10  may include a softswitch or Central Office switch in communication with additional separate elements. 
         [0022]    In the shown preferred embodiment, among others the called party  14  subscribes to the calling blocking service or system  10 . A trigger  32  is placed on the telephone number of the subscribing called party  14 . In the preferred embodiment the local telephone service provider provides service through a standard switched Central Office, comprised of switches  22  complying with the Advanced Intelligence Network (AIN). For additional details on the AIN, the reader is referred to the commonly assigned patent to Weisser, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,719, which is incorporated herein by reference. In the shown preferred embodiment, the trigger  32  may be a Terminating Attempt Trigger operating under the protocols of the AIN. Additionally, in this preferred embodiment, the system  10  further includes a Service Control Point (“SCP”)  34 . In some embodiments, the SCP  34  will not operate under the protocols of the AIN, however, in the preferred embodiment, the SCP  34  is an AIN SCP  34 . 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, when any incoming call for the called party  14  is received at the switch  22 , the trigger  32  activates and the switch  22  holds the incoming call. The switch  22  also sends a query  36  to the SCP  34 . In the preferred embodiment the query operates under the protocols of the AIN. In other embodiments, the query may be any of a variety of communications between the switch  22  and the SCP  34 , as would be known to one skilled in the art. Once the trigger  32  activates, the call is held until the query  36  is resolved. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the switch  22 , generates the query  36 . 
         [0024]    The system  10  further includes in the preferred embodiment, call blocking logic  38 . In some embodiments, the call blocking logic  38  will be contained within the switch  22 . In some implementations the call blocking logic  38  will be contained within the SCP  34 . In other embodiments, the call blocking logic  38  may be contained on a separate server in communication with the SCP  34  and/or switch  22 . In implementations where the call blocking logic  38  is on a separate server, the switch  22  may be configured to send a message  44  directly to the call blocking logic  38  server, rather than a query  36  to the SCP  34 . In various embodiments, the message  44  may be any of a variety of communications between the switch  22  and the server. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, the system  10  also includes a buffer  40 . The buffer  40  stores information concerning a calling party  12  placing a call to the called party  14 , including at least a telephone number associated with the calling party  12  and the name of the calling party  12 . Note that even if the calling party  12  has a private telephone number, the telephone number of the calling party  12  is known to the local telephone service provider. Accordingly, a private telephone number and name will be stored in the buffer  40 , even though the telephone number of the calling party  12  may not be displayed to the called party  14 . The telephone number of the calling party  12  is entered or written into the buffer  40  as the “last call from” entry for the called party  14 . 
         [0026]    Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, there will be a buffer  40  associated with the called party  14  as part of the called party&#39;s  14  subscription to the calling blocking system  10 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the buffer  40  for each called party  14  subscribing to the system  10  will be contained in the call blocking logic  38 . In other embodiments, the buffer  40  may be contained within the switch  22 . In yet other embodiments, the buffer  40  may be contained in the SCP  34 , on a server collocated with the call blocking logic  38 , or on a different server from the call blocking logic  38 . 
         [0027]    Further, the call blocking logic  38  compares the telephone number associated with the calling party  12  stored in the buffer  40 , with a call block list  42 . The call block list  42  contains the information associated with calling parties that the called party  14  wishes to block from being able to complete a telephone call to (i.e. ring) the called party  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the call block list  42  includes a database. The preferred call block list  42  preferably includes at least a name and a telephone number associated with each calling party  12  on the list of calling parties blocked from being able to ring the called party  14 . 
         [0028]    The call blocking logic  38  compares the information for the calling party  12  attempting to place a call to the called party  14  to the information contained in the call block list  42  associated with the called party  14  in order to determine whether or not the calling party  12  will be allowed to continue placing the telephone call to the called party  14 . 
         [0029]    After making the comparison, the call blocking logic  38  replies to the query from the switch  22 , either through the SCP  34 , or in other embodiments directly to the switch  22  via message  44 . If the calling party  12  is not on the call block list  42  as one of the calling parties that the called party  14  wishes to block, the switch  22 , upon receiving a response from the call blocking logic  38 , will complete the call to the called party  14 . 
         [0030]    In some implementations, the trigger  32 , call blocking logic  38 , buffer  40 , and call block list  42  are all contained within a switch  22  within a local telephone service provider. In other implementations, the call blocking logic  38 , buffer  40 , call block list  42  are contained on an SCP  34  communicating with a PSTN Central Office switch  22 . In yet other implementations, the call blocking logic  38 , buffer  40 , and call block list  42  may be contained within a separate server communicating with the switch  22  either directly via a message  44  or through an SCP  34 . 
       Operation 
       [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing selected steps  50  of the operation of the system  10  when a calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) attempts to place a telephone call to a called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ). In this implementation, a calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) initiates a call (step  52 ). The call is received at the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  54 ). When the call is received at the switch  22  (step  54 ), determination is made whether the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) subscribes to the calling blocking system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  56 ). This determination may be made by a trigger  32  ( FIG. 1 ) placed on the telephone number of the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ), or by other methods that would be known to one skilled in the art. 
         [0032]    If the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) does not subscribe to the system  10  ( FIG. 1 ), the telephone call is forwarded to the called party  141  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  58 ). If the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) does subscribe to the calling blocking system  10  ( FIG. 1 ), the call is halted and a query  36  ( FIG. 1 ) sent to the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  60 ). The calling party&#39;s number is entered into a buffer  40  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  62 ). 
         [0033]    The call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) then determines whether or not the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) appears on the called party&#39;s call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  64 ). If the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is not on the called party&#39;s call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ), the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) responds to the query  36  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  66 ). At that time the telephone call is routed to the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  58 ). 
         [0034]    If the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) appears on the called party&#39;s call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  64 ), the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) provides that response to the query  36  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  68 ). At that point, the telephone call from the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is blocked (step  70 ), ending the telephone call (step  72 ). Optionally, among others, a terminating announcement or continued ringing tone may be played to the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0035]    In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, during the telephone call, should the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) desire to place the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) on the call block list  42 , ( FIG. 1 ), the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may update the call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) during the telephone call according to the selected steps  80  depicted in  FIG. 3 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , during the telephone call, the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) monitors the telephone call for a mid-call signal from the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  82 ). If during the telephone call, the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) does not wish to block the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  84 ), the telephone call continues (step  86 ) until completion (step  88 ) as depicted in  FIG. 3 . If the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) does wish to block the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) during the call (step  84 ), the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) activates the mid-call signal to the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  90 ). 
         [0036]    There are various signals that could be used by the system  10  ( FIG. 1 ) to implement a mid-call signal according to step  90 , as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, and not as a limitation on the present invention, in the event that the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) is using a PSTN telephone  26  ( FIG. 1 ), the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may activate a DTMF tone or a switch-hooked flash, signaling to the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with step  90 . In other embodiments, various signals could be implemented by the system  10  in order to provide a mid-call signal to the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ). Including by way of example, a generic sequence of numbers for anyone subscribing to the call blocking service, or a unique PIN-type number for each individual called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) subscribing to the call blocking service of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Upon receiving the mid-call signal from the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  90 ), a message is sent to the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  92 ). In response to the message (step  92 ), the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) reads the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) telephone number from the buffer  40  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  94 ). The calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) number stored in the buffer  40  ( FIG. 1 ) is then added to the call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) for the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  96 ). 
         [0038]    The call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) then responds to the switch  22 ( FIG. 1 ) (step  98 ), and the telephone call is blocked, terminating the telephone call (step  100 ). The calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is also prevented from completing any further telephone calls to the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ), in accordance with the steps  50  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0039]    In the alternative, as depicted in  FIG. 4 , should the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ), desire to place the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ), on the call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) after the conclusion of the telephone call (step  88 ), the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may accomplish this in accordance with the selected steps  110  of  FIG. 4 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , once the telephone call is completed and the connection is terminated (step  112 ) a called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) may wish to block the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) from further calls (step  114 ). Should the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) not wish to block the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) after the completion of the telephone call, no further action is needed (step  116 ). 
         [0040]    However, should the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) wish to block the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) from placing future telephone calls to the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) after the completion of the telephone call, the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) activates the after-call signal to the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  118 ). In the preferred embodiment, this after-call signal may be a triggering event such as a Star Feature Code, as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In other implementations, other after-call signals may be used in accordance with the present invention, including various signals by a PSTN telephone  26  ( FIG. 1 ), an IP hard telephone  2 , ( FIG. 1 ), and/or IP soft telephone  30  ( FIG. 1 ) to signal the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ), as would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0041]    Upon receiving the after-call signal (step  118 ), the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) sends a message to the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  120 ). In some embodiments, the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) communicates directly with the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, the switch  22  ( FIG. 1 ) will communicate with the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) though the SCP  34  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0042]    In response to the message (step  120 ), the call blocking logic  38  ( FIG. 1 ) reads the telephone number for the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) from the buffer  40  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  122 ). The telephone number of the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) is then added to the called party&#39;s call block list  42  ( FIG. 1 ) (step  124 ), thereby insuring that the calling party  12  ( FIG. 1 ) may no longer place telephones to the called party  14  ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with the selected steps  50  of  FIG. 2 . 
       Review of the Blocked Calling Parties 
       [0043]    In addition, in accordance with another feature of the present system  10 , in some implementations, the called party  14  subscribing to the system  10  will be able to view and/or edit the call block list  42  via a computer or other networked data appliance  130 .  FIG. 5  depicts a preferred embodiment where the call block list  42  is accessible by a web server  138 . In some embodiments the web server  138  will be the same server on which the call blocking application  38  and call block list  42  reside. In other embodiments, the call blocking application  38  and call block list  42  will reside on a separate server from the web server  138 , both servers co-located. In yet other embodiments, the web server  138  will be completely remote from the call blocking application  38  server. 
         [0044]    As depicted in  FIG. 5 , there are various alternative ways the called party  14  may communicate with the server containing the call block list  42 . In some embodiments, the called party  14  will use a computer  130  to communicate with the web server  138  through the called party&#39;s Internet Service Provider (“ISP”)  132  connected to a data network, such as the Internet  134 . In this implementation, the web server  138  is in communication with the data network, for instance the Internet  134 . 
         [0045]    In various embodiments, the called party  14  may communicate directly to the Internet  134  rather than through an ISP  132 , or the called party may communicate directly with the web server  138  through the firewall  136 . In yet other embodiments, the local telephone service provider  22  may also act as the ISP  132  for the called party  14 . In the preferred embodiment, the web server  138  will be protected by a firewall  136  to ensure security. 
         [0046]    In yet other embodiments, the called party  14  may access the web server  138  directly through the local telephone service provider, without the need to access an ISP  132  or the Internet  134 . In such embodiments, the web server  138  may be located within the local telephone service provider, or may be a remote server in communication with the local telephone service provider, and the called party  14  establishes a connection with the local telephone service provider. In this embodiment, the local telephone service provider does not act as an ISP  132  for the called party  14 , but provides the called party  14  a connection to the server containing the call block list  42 . 
         [0047]    In the preferred embodiment, the called party  14  will only be able to view and/or edit the call block list  42  for that called party  14 , and will not be able to view or edit the call block list  42  for other subscribers to the system  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the called party  14  will be able to view the information stored on the call block list  42  for each calling party  12  on the list of calling parties to be blocked. This information may include the name and telephone number of the calling parties on the list, as well as other information. The called party  14  can communicate with the server containing the call block list  42  in a variety of manners, including through the use of selectable menus, a graphical user interface, or other methods, including those disclosed in the commonly assigned patent to Koch, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/012,746, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0048]    In the preferred embodiment, the call block list  42  will be presented to the called party  14  as a numbered list, in reverse chronological order by date that each calling party to be blocked was added to the call block list  42 . In other embodiments, the information may be ordered in alternative ways including alphabetically by calling party name, numerically by calling party telephone number, etc. Additionally, the information may appear in database, spreadsheet, or other format. In yet other embodiments, the called party  14  will be able to select the format for the call block list  42 , including the ordering of the information within the desired format. 
         [0049]    Note that calling parties with private numbers will appear on the call block list  42 , however, the identifying information for these calling parties will be masked. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the web server  138  will display only the word “private” for the name and the word “private” for the telephone number of calling parties with telephone numbers designated private. However, other information, such as the date that a calling party  12  with a private number was added to the call block list  42  may be displayed to the called party  14  through the web server  138 . In other embodiments, other terms may be used to mask the information for calling parties with telephone numbers marked private. 
         [0050]    In addition to viewing the call block list  42 , the called party  14  will be able to edit the list, including deleting calling parties from the call block list  42 . If the called party  14  deletes a calling party  12  from the call block list  42 , that calling party  12  will once again be able to place telephone calls to the called party in accordance with the steps  50  of  FIG. 2 . The deletion of calling parties from the call block list  42  may be accomplished in a variety of methods, including selectable menus, a graphical user interface, or other methods, including those disclosed in the commonly assigned patent to Koch, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/012,746, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, when accessing the call block list  42  via the called party&#39;s computer or web appliance  130 , the called party  14 , may add the last calling party  12  to place a telephone call to the called party  14  to the call block list  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the buffer  40  stores information until a new telephone call is placed, or attempted to be placed, in accordance with the steps  50  of  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, at any time after a calling party  12  places a telephone call to the called party  14 , up until the next telephone call for the called party  14 , the buffer  40  will contain the information relating to the last calling party  12 . The information contained in the buffer  40  is not overwritten until a new telephone call to the called party  14  is attempted. 
         [0052]    Accordingly, if after a telephone call, the called party  14  desires to review the call block list  42 , the called party  14  may communicate with the web server  138  via the called party&#39;s computer or web appliance  130  as discussed above. When communicating with the web server  138 , the called party  14  may desire to add the most recent calling party  12  to the call block list  42 . In the preferred embodiment, the web server  138  will allow the called party  14  to add the most recent calling party  12  stored in the buffer  40  to the call block list  42  via the called party&#39;s computer or web appliance  130 . The addition of calling parties to the call block list  42  may be accomplished in a variety of methods, including selectable menus, a graphical user interface, or other methods, including those disclosed in the commonly assigned patent to Koch, et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/012,746, incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0053]    In addition, in the preferred embodiment, prior to deciding whether to add the last calling party  12  in the buffer  40  to the call block list  42 , the called party  14  will be able to view the information contained in the buffer  40  for the last calling party  12 . When directed by the called party  14 , and the web server  138  will access the buffer  40 , and display the information contained in the buffer  40  to the called party  14 . After reviewing the information, the called party  14  will be able to select the calling party  12  stored in the buffer  40  for addition to the call block list  42 . In this manner the called party  14  will be able to review the last calling party  12  before deciding whether to add this calling party  12  to the call block list  42 . 
         [0054]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present invention and protected by the claims.