Patent ID: 7974400

Claim:
A method for blocking outgoing communications comprising: enabling a subscriber to an outgoing call blocking service to select a special feature code and request that outgoing communications that relate to the special feature code and that originate from a calling line identification number be blocked, wherein the special feature code is received by an automated system that recognizes oral commands and alphanumeric input; receiving an outgoing communication related to the special feature code on a calling line, the calling line associated with the subscriber to the outgoing call blocking service; obtaining the calling line identification number for the outgoing communication; obtaining a called line identification number for the outgoing communication; activating the outgoing call blocking service at a first pre-set time; de-activating the outgoing call blocking service at a second pre-set time; searching for the calling line identification number associated with the outgoing communication in a data store to determine data associated with the calling line identification number concerning calls from the calling line to a called line which are to be blocked; terminating the outgoing communication if the data indicates that the outgoing communication is to be blocked; and overriding the outgoing call blocking service for a second outgoing communication from the calling line in response to receiving an override code.