Ronald C Mcclain

US Patent:

20030072426, Apr 17, 2003

Filed:

Sep 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/964147

Inventors:

Richard Davidson - Casselberry FL, US
Ronald McClain - Lake Mary FL, US

International Classification:

H04M001/56
H04M015/06
H04M003/42

US Classification:

379/142010, 379/142060, 379/211010

Abstract:

A method is provided for screening telemarketing, or other potentially unwanted, calls to jurisdictions where such calls may be made from only public telephone numbers. If such call is from a private telephone number and if the called party subscribes to and has activated a telemarketing-do-not-disturb feature, an announcement is issued to the calling party stating that if the call is a not a telemarketing call, the calling party must enter a designated override digit in order to complete the call. If such override digit is dialed, the call is completed whereas if any other digit, ringing of the called party's telephone is prevented. If, on the other hand, such call is from a public number, a determination is made as to whether the called party has a caller ID feature, and if not, the announcement is issued to the calling party. If the override digit is dialed, the call is completed whereas if any other digit is dialed, ringing of the called party's telephone is prevented. If, on the other hand, the call is determined to be from a public number, and if such called party has a caller ID feature; the called party's telephone is rung and the calling party's public telephone number ID is delivered to the called party.