Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7162019?dq=6,275,983
Timestamp: 2014-09-19 09:50:08
Document Index: 112111845

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Patent US7162019 - System and method for privacy screening - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy...http://www.google.com/patents/US7162019?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7162019 - System and method for privacy screeningAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7162019 B1Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/183,850Publication dateJan 9, 2007Filing dateJun 28, 2002Priority dateMar 29, 2002Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS8090088, US20070121871Publication number10183850, 183850, US 7162019 B1, US 7162019B1, US-B1-7162019, US7162019 B1, US7162019B1InventorsKaren Mullis, Anita Hogans SimpsonOriginal AssigneeBellsouth Intellectual Property Corp.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (40), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (6), Classifications (20), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystem and method for privacy screeningUS 7162019 B1Abstract A communications network-based system and service is disclosed. The service permits subscribers to control and manage incoming telephone calls. Subscribers can establish preferences for how calls will be handled by a communications network if the calls are received while the subscriber has a privacy screening service engaged. The service also notifies a subscriber of a calling party's call based on whether preselected or predesignated preferences of the called party correspond to identifier(s) of the calling party.
1. A method of connecting a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
determining that the calling party is calling from a private number, wherein a private number of a calling party is one where the private number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified;
determining that the called party has a privacy screening service engaged;
comparing one or more identifiers of the calling party with information in a database; and
connecting the call of the calling party if one of the identifier(s) corresponds to the information in the database.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the called party is permitted to change the information in the database by calling a number and communicating with the communications network by communicating with an interactive voice response system to modify the information in the database.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the called party is permitted to change information in the database by communicating with the communications network by communicating with an interface system to modify the information in the database.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the database includes one or more telephone numbers.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the identifier(s) of the calling party matches one of the telephone number(s) included in the information in the database.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the information in the database includes a privacy screening service bypass list.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the privacy screening service bypass list includes one or more telephone numbers and time periods.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the identifier(s) of the calling party includes a telephone number and a time in which the calling party called corresponding to information included in the privacy screening service bypass list.
receiving one of the identifier(s) of the calling party as part of the transmission of the calling party's call.
12. A method by which a communications network manages a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
receiving one or more identifiers of the calling party;
determining a disposition preference for the call by comparing one or more of the identifier(s) of the calling party with information in the database; and
disposing of the call according to the disposition preference.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the disposition preference includes transferring the call from the calling party to a transfer number.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transfer number is a voice mail number.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the transfer number is a cell phone number.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the disposition preference includes transferring the call from the calling party to an intelligent peripheral.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of: playing an announcement to the calling party.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of disconnecting the calling party from a communication network.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the disposition preference is dependent on the time that a communications network received the call from the calling party.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the information in the database includes one or more telephone numbers.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein one of the identifier(s) of the calling party matches one of the telephone number(s) included in the information in the database.
22. The method of claim 12, wherein the called party is permitted to change the information in the database by calling a number and communicating with a communications network using an interactive voice response system to modify the information in the database.
23. The method of claim 12, wherein the called party is permitted to change the information in the database by communicating with a communications network using an interface system to modify the information in the database.
24. The method of claim 12, wherein the information in the database includes a privacy screening service bypass list and one of the identifier(s) includes a telephone number from which the calling party is calling.
25. The method of claim 12, wherein the identifier(s) of the calling party are received as part of the transmission of the calling party's call.
26. The method of claim 12, wherein the information in the database includes one or more time periods associated with the calling party.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein one of the identifier(s) of the calling party corresponds to one of the time period(s) included in the information in the database.
28. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of notifying the called party of the calling party's call.
29. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of notifying the called party of the calling party's telephone number or identifying information.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of notifying the called party is performed through a text-based display.
31. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of notifying the called party that the calling party's identifier(s) correspond to information in the database through a non-calling-party-identifying message.
32. A method by which a communications network manages a call from a calling party calling from a private number to a called party having a privacy screening service comprising the steps of:
receiving one or more phone numbers prior to receiving the call from the calling party;
determining that the calling party is calling from a private phone number, wherein a private telephone number of a calling party is one where the private telephone number is not transferred to the called party such that the calling party is not identified;
receiving the calling party private phone number;
determining a disposition preference for the call by comparing the calling-party private phone number with the one or more phone numbers; and
33. The method of claim 32, further comprising the step of: storing the one or more phone numbers.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the calling-party private phone number is received as part of the transmission of the calling party's call.
35. The method of claim 32, wherein the disposition preference includes transferring the call to a transfer number.
RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/108,706, filed Mar. 29, 2002, now abandoned, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/108,347, filed Mar. 29, 2002, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Many telephone customers do not wish to be disturbed by unwanted telephone calls. Most customers especially dislike being disturbed at certain times of the day, such as dinner time or after midnight. In an effort to prevent disturbing telephone calls, many customers turn their home telephone off�some by unplugging it, some by turning it off, and some by turning its ringer off. Others forward their calls to voicemail. In some cases, customers use CLASS Call Forwarding Variable Service.
Further, even without subscribing to such a service, many telephone customers miss important calls and are not connected to calling parties that they wish to be connected to for various reasons. One such example is when the customer is already on the line. Typically in such a case, the feature the service provider provides is to play a busy signal to the calling party and to not connect the calling party. Another typical feature, sometimes called �call waiting,� informs the customer that he or she has received another call. One problem with this feature, however, is that the customer first has to talk with the calling party without knowing whether or not the customer wishes to take the call.
A privacy screening service is a service that allows a subscriber to the privacy screening service to screen incoming calls. The privacy screening service provides information to the called party (in this case, the subscriber to the privacy screening service) that allows the subscriber to make an informed decision as to whether or not to answer the call. For example, a subscriber may use the privacy screening service to block all private calls from going through. Private telephone numbers include telephone numbers that block services such as �calling party ID� that would otherwise identify the calling party to the called party. In telephone systems that offer private numbers and a privacy screening service to its customers, calls from a private number to a subscriber with the privacy screening service cannot be completed, unless the calling party authorizes the system to override the privacy of his number.
If the number of the calling party is private, however, the prior art system asks the calling party to record his or her name before routing the call to the subscriber�a time consuming process. Routing the call to the subscriber generally requires a complex sequence of calls, queries and responses, thus burdening the network with additional traffic. Calling parties that call frequently, such as the subscriber's close friends or family members (or the subscriber himself or herself, calling home), who call from private numbers, would be unnecessarily screened each time they made calls to the subscriber. Such calling parties may find the unnecessary delays of having to listen to and respond to the privacy screening announcements very inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a communications-network-based call reception limiter that prevents calls from ringing to a telephone. The network does so by directing calls made from a calling party to a third party, rather than directing the call to the party to which the calling party intended to be connected (the called party).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For clarity and to facilitate an understanding of the preferred methods shown in connection with FIG. 5, this description includes an overview of a preferred embodiment of a method as set forth in FIG. 1.
In another embodiment, communications network 450 plays a message to calling party 442, step 314, after, instead of, or as part of playing the announcement according to step 312. This message may inform calling party 442 that called party 448 is not available, called party 448 is busy, called party 448 has his or her preferences set to �restricted call reception status,� or otherwise. Preferably the message announces that calling party 442 is not available after a certain number of rings but does not indicate that called party 448 is not accepting calls. Preferably communications network 450 plays messages through the service node.
In this embodiment, interface system 602 sends information to called party 606. Communication device 613 displays, through screen 614, called party 606's times of the day that called party 606's line is set to a restricted status or is otherwise encumbered. Screen 614 shows an exemplary embodiment, showing called party 606 a graph 624 of the hours in a day, including those where called party 606's line is encumbered and unencumbered. Screen 614 also shows an �on setting� and an �off setting,� either of which may be used to override the restricted and non-restricted statuses shown in graph 624. Preferably interface system 602 sends information such that communication device 613 displays this graph in varying colors, such that called party 606 may easily discern which times of the day called party 606's line is encumbered.
As shown in FIG. 9, called party 606 has established certain preferences for his or her encumbered-line bypass list. Specifically, calls from telephone numbers 404-555-1111 and 404-555-3333 have been selected as telephone numbers to bypass encumbrances on called party 606's line during certain times of the day or week, shown under �Bypass Times�.
As another example, if either the first calling party 620 or the second calling party 622 calls called party 606 at 3 a.m., second calling party 622 will not be connected to called party 606 because called party 606 has selected his or her line to be encumbered at 3 a.m., as shown in graph 624, and because second calling party 622's telephone number is not on called party 606's encumbered-line bypass list 626. First calling party 620, however, may be connected because calling party 620's telephone number is on encumbered-line bypass list 626, and called party 606 has designated first calling party 620 as a party that should be connected despite encumbrances. Another caller calling from 404-555-3333, shown in list 626, may not be connected by virtue of the telephone number from which she called if she calls at 3 a.m., because her bypass times only allow bypass of an encumbrance from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Each of these preferences, whether they be set to times of a restricted call reception status (an example of an encumbrance) and a non-restricted call reception status, an on setting or off setting, telephone numbers and pass-codes for an encumbered-line bypass list, names and/or details associated with the telephone numbers and pass-codes, and the bypass times for each telephone number and pass-code, may be modified by the subscriber as set forth in FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. This method includes preferred steps of an interface system 602 (see FIG. 9). This method of using an interface system 602 allows a communications network to receive information from a subscriber of restricted status service and encumbered-line bypass feature and/or other services. This communications network may be the communications network discussed above and shown in part in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, or 9, or another type of communications network or system. The interface system may be the interface system discussed above and shown in part in FIG. 8, or may be another type of interface system facilitating communication between a communications network and a subscriber.
In an exemplary embodiment, the interface system sends one or more call markers relating to one or more telephone calls made from or received by the subscriber to the subscriber through the interface system. Preferably, the call markers include the telephone number of one or more parties that called or were called by the subscriber. Also preferably, the call markers include a caller identification of a party that called or was called by the subscriber. The caller identification may include the calling party's name, location from which the calling party called, a timestamp of the time a party called or was called by the subscriber, or otherwise.
FIGS. 13�16 are flow diagrams showing examples of preferred embodiments of a method in accordance with the present invention. These figures and the description set forth below describe a method whereby an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system interacts with a subscriber.
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram, portions of which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 sets forth a calling party 1702, a database 1704, a communications network 1706, an information network 1708, and a called party 1710. Communications network 1706 is configured to communicate with calling party 1702, database 1704, information network 1708, and called party 1710. Database 1704 is shown �inside� communications network 1706, but may, in some embodiments, be �outside� of communications network 1706. If �inside� communications network 1706, database 1704 may form a portion of communications network 1706. If �outside� communications network 1706, database 1704 may be another component in communication with communications network 1706. FIG. 17 sets forth these elements as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and also as an aid to explain the functions of communications network 1706.
FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. This preferred embodiment sets forth, in part, a method showing how a communications network may selectively notify and/or connect a calling party to a called party that is connected to an information network, based upon the called party's preferences. For clarity, the below description of the preferred embodiment refers to elements set forth in FIGS. 17 and 21�23, keeping in mind that many other different types and/or forms of elements can also be used to practice the disclosed methods.
In step 1812, communications network 1706 notifies called party 1710. Preferably, communications network 1706 notifies called party 1710 that calling party 1702 has called called party 1710.
FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of three preferred embodiments of a method in accordance with the present invention. These preferred embodiments set forth, in part, methods showing how the communications network may selectively connect a calling party to a third party or a called party that is connected to an information network or disconnect the call of the calling party, each based upon the called party's preferences. For clarity, the description below of the preferred embodiments refer to elements set forth in FIGS. 17 and 21�23.
In an exemplary embodiment of step 1910, a communications network 2106 (set forth in FIG. 21) disconnects a called party 2110 (which is on a called party's computer 2110) from an information network 2108 if certain identifier(s) of first calling party 2102 correspond to certain information in a database 2104. In this exemplary embodiment, communications network 2106 receives two identifiers as part of the transmission of first calling party 2102's call. The first identifier of calling party 2102 is calling party 2102's telephone number, 404-555-4444. The second identifier of calling party 2102 is the time that communications network 2106 received calling party 2102's call, in this example 8:13 p.m.
The following exemplary embodiment shows how communications network 1706 can notify called party 1710, as part of step 1812 or step 1910, that communications network 1706 will disconnect called party 1710 from information network 1708. In this exemplary embodiment, communications network 1706 notifies called party 1710 through a pop-up screen 2208 (set forth in FIG. 22). As set forth in FIG. 22, pop-up screen 2208 pops up from screen 2202 of called party's computer 2210. In the example shown in pop-up screen 2208, which is intended to be purely exemplary of the invention, pop-up screen 2208 notifies called party 1710 of the name of calling party 1702 (�Mom's cell phone�), that calling party 1702 will be connected to called party 1710's telephone (�Mom's cell phone will be connected�), and how long before the call will be connected (�in 15 seconds�).
In the embodiment shown in pop-up screen 2204, which is intended to be purely exemplary of the invention, pop-up screen 2204 notifies called party 1710 of the name of calling party 1702 (�Dad at office�), that calling party 1702 will be connected to called party 1710's telephone (�will connect�), and how long before the call will be connected (�in 30 seconds�) if called party 1710 does not enter the command to not connect (by clicking on the �Don't Connect� button).
In the embodiment shown in pop-up screen 2206, which is intended to be purely exemplary of the invention, pop-up screen 2206 notifies called party 1710 of the name of calling party 1702 (�Mom's cell phone�), asks for a command to connect calling party 1702 (�Do you want to connect?�) through two buttons (�Yes� and �No�).
In step 1912, if communications network 1706 receives a command of �No,� communications network 1706 proceeds to step 1914. In step 1914, communications network 1706 asks for another command from called party 1710 for a particular disposition for the call. In an exemplary embodiment, communications network 1706 may ask called party 1710 to enter a disposition for the call in conjunction with step 1902 or 1812.
In the example shown in pop-up screen 2206 (an example of step 1904 or step 1812), which is intended to be purely exemplary of the invention, pop-up screen 2206 notifies called party 1710 of the name of calling party 1702 (�Mom's cell phone�), that calling party 1702 will be connected or not connected to called party 1710's telephone (�do you want to connect�), if called party 1710 enters the command to connect or not connect (by clicking on the �Yes� or �No� button). If called party 1710 does not enter a command within a certain period of time, �Mom's cell phone� will be dealt with by communications network 1706 based upon called party 1710's preferences given to communications network 1706 prior to receiving the call. Preferably these preferences are information stored in database 1704. In an exemplary embodiment, these preferences are Bypass List 2122 or information network bypass list 2302 (Bypass List 2302).
FIG. 20 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. This preferred embodiment sets forth, in part, a method showing how the communications network may selectively notify of and/or dispose of a calling party's call to a called party that is connected to an information network, based upon the called party's preferences. For clarity, the below description of the preferred embodiment refers to elements set forth in FIGS. 17 and 21�23.
Preferably, communications network 1706 accesses from database 1704 detailed preferences of called party 1710, such as set forth in Bypass List 2122. In an exemplary embodiment, communications network 1706 accesses from database 1704 information on called party 1710's preferences for a particular calling party as set forth for that particular calling party (�Mom's cell phone�) in Bypass List 2302.
In an exemplary embodiment of step 2014, �Grandma� calls. As her telephone number (a second calling party 2112, telephone number �404-555-6666�) is not in the information in database 1704, as set forth in Bypass List 2122, communications network 1706 will not notify called party 1710 or connect �Grandma� to called party 1710. If, however, �Grandma� enters her pass-code (�77777�) after calling, communications network 1706 will, according to called party 1710's preferences shown in Bypass List 2122, notify called party 1710 regardless of when �Grandma� called. If �Grandma� enters her pass-code and is calling between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., communications network 1706 will disconnect called party 1710 from information network 1708 (if necessary) and connect �Grandma� to called party 1710.
In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 23, called party 1710 may set his or her preference so that a particular caller (�Mom's cell phone� in Bypass List 2302) will connect to a line other than the line on which called party 1710 is currently connected to information network 1708. For instance, communications network 1706 may allow called party 1710 to set his or her preferences such that if �Mom's cell phone� calls at 6:04 a.m. (again for Bypass List 2302) on a particular day (�Weekday,� �Weekend,� or �Special�) the call connects to a transfer number, such as a cell phone 2116, a second line 2114, an office number, a voicemail number, or certain custom numbers. Communications network 1706 may also allow called party 1710 to set his or her preferences so that �Mom's cell phone� is transferred to an intelligent peripheral, which can then terminate the call, preferably after an announcement message is played to �Mom's cell phone.�
FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram, portions of which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 describes an example of one way the present invention allows a called party to select his or her disposition preference for a particular calling party. In this example, Bypass List 2302 sets forth a particular calling party, �Mom's cell phone�; when a communications network will notify the called party that the calling party is calling, �ALL�; the telephone number associated with the calling party, �505-555-7777�; and various days, �Weekdays,� �Weekends,� and �Special� that the time period (in this case, hourly) preferences for the calling party refer. Also, Bypass List 2302 sets forth an exemplary embodiment showing hourly preferences that determine how the communications network handles a call from the calling party based upon the time of day that the communications network receives the call.
In this exemplary embodiment, if the called party had clicked the box marked �Weekend,� and the box marked �Cell,� corresponding to a time period of 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., the communications network would, on Saturday or Sunday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., connect �Mom's cell phone� to a telephone number set by the called party corresponding to �Cell.� Thus, once these preferences were set, a call from �Mom's cell phone� during these days and time period would be connected by the communications network to the called party's cell phone.
Also in this exemplary embodiment, if the called party clicked the box marked �Special,� and the box marked �Custom Message #1,� corresponding to a time period of 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., the communications network would, on days set by the called party (not shown), from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., terminate �Mom's cell phone� after playing a custom message chosen by the called party (not shown).
Communications network 2406 is configured to communicate with called party 2410, database 2408, listed calling party 2402, unlisted calling party 2404, and calling party 2414. Preferably communications network 2406 is an intelligent network. In an exemplary embodiment, communications network 2406 is an AIN network. Communications network 2406 may be any other type of network capable of performing the methods set forth in FIGS. 25 and 26. Database 2408 is shown �inside� communications network 2406, but may, in some embodiments, be �outside� of communications network 2406. If �inside� communications network 2406, database 2408 may form a portion of communications network 2406. If �outside� communications network 2406, database 2408 may be another component in communication with communications network 2406. FIG. 24 sets forth these elements as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and also as an aid to explain the functions of communications network 2406.
FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of a method in accordance with the present invention. This preferred embodiment sets forth, in part, a method showing how a communications network may selectively, based upon a called party's preferences, manage a call from a calling party calling from a private telephone number to the called party having a privacy screening service engaged. For clarity, the below description of the preferred embodiment refers to elements set forth in FIG. 24, keeping in mind that many other or different types and/or forms of elements can also be used to practice the disclosed methods. Examples of other types and/or forms of elements include the embodiments described above and those set forth in �Privacy Screening Service With a Bypass Code,� U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,106, filed Dec. 8, 1999, �System and Method for Completing Private or Unknown Calls Made to Subscribers To a Privacy Screening Service,� U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,109, filed Aug. 10, 1999, and �System and Method for Privacy Management,� U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,596 filed Aug. 12, 1999, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
In step 2508, communications network 2406 determines whether calling party 2414 is calling from a private number. Private (telephone) numbers include those that in any fashion block services such as �caller id,� that do not allow services or features to identify a calling party that otherwise would, and/or that do not allow a privacy screening service to identify the phone number and/or the personal identity of the calling party. In an exemplary embodiment, a private number is one in which communications network 2406 can access the phone number from which calling party 2414 called but that communications network 2406, whether by law, preference of calling party 2414 or otherwise, does not normally inform called party 2410 of the phone number and/or identity of calling party 2414.
In step 2520, communications network 2406 proceeds to follow procedures for privacy screening set forth for phone numbers that are not private. In an exemplary embodiment, communications network 2406 proceeds to follow privacy screening procedures for phone numbers that are not private as set forth above, such as in �Privacy Screening Service With a Bypass Code,� U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,106, filed Dec. 8, 1999.
In step 2522, communications network 2406 proceeds to follow procedures for other method(s) of privacy screening for private number calls. In an exemplary embodiment, communications network 2406 proceeds to follow privacy screening procedures for private number calls as set forth above, such as in �System and Method for Completing Private or Unknown Calls Made to Subscribers To a Privacy Screening Service�, U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,109, filed Aug. 10, 1999.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, after step 2514 is completed with �Yes,� communications network 2406 notifies called party 2410 of the name/details listed in privacy screening service bypass list 2412 (if allowed by law). In another exemplary embodiment, communications network 2406 notifies called party 2410 that listed calling party 2402 is calling by displaying �Suzie Derkins,� preferably through an LCD display.
In another exemplary embodiment, after step 2514 is completed with �Yes,� communications network 2406 notifies called party 2410 that a calling party whose telephone number identifier corresponds to a telephone number in privacy screening service bypass list 2412 is calling by displaying �RingThruList,� preferably through an LCD display.
If, for example, calling party 2414 was calling from a private number of 404-555-1234, communications network 2406 would dispose of calling party 2414's call by following called party 2410's preference. In this case, called party 2410's preference is for a calling party to be connected to called party 2410 if the calling party is calling from a private number of 404-555-1234 regardless of during what time period the call is received (by virtue of the time period �ALL� in privacy screening service bypass list 2412).
Also by way of example, if calling party 2414 was calling from a private number of 404-555-9999 at 1 a.m., communications network 2406 would dispose of calling party 2414's call by following called party 2410's preference. In this case, called party 2410's preference is for a calling party to not be connected to called party 2410 if the calling party is calling from a private number of 404-555-9999 because the call was received at a time that does not correspond to the time period set forth in called party 2410's preferences by virtue of the time period �6 a.m. to 11 p.m.� in privacy screening service bypass list 2412.
In another exemplary embodiment, after, before, or concurrent with communications network 2406 connecting calling party 2414's call to called party 2410, communications network 2406 can notify called party 2410 that a calling party whose telephone number identifier corresponds to a telephone number in privacy screening service bypass list 2412 is calling by displaying �RingThruList,� preferably through an LCD display.
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