US6567671B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless communication device with call screening
Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
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Filing: 1997-08-11
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Granted: 2003-05-20
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Expires: 2017-08-11
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone maintains a screening list of calling party numbers, and specifies call handling therefor. A mobile switching center is responsive to selected types of the specified call handling. The call handling can depend on whether the call is local or non-local, which is affected by the location of the cellular telephone. The call handling can also depend on the time at which the call is made. A subscriber updates his or her screening list via personal computer, and transmits via a communication network the updated screening list to a message center which sends the updated screening list to the cellular telephone via wireless communication. A calling party number can be specified as a wildcard.
Inventors
- 👤 Umesh J. Amin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/663; H04M1/72; H04M1/724; H04M1/72448; H04M1/72457; H04M1/57; H04M1/72451; H04W; H04W4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing a screening list for a cellular communication device specifying calling party numbers and associated call handling, comprising: receiving the screening list via a wireline communication channel from a personal computer at a subscriber's premises, wherein said screening list is configured or updated from said personal computer; if the cellular communication device is active and registered with a telecommunications network, delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device via a wireless communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device automatically responds to incoming calls in accordance with the screening list; and otherwise, storing the screening list in a database of the telecommunications network until the cellular communication device is active and registered with the telecommunications network.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for providing a screening list for a cellular communication device specifying calling party numbers and associated call handling, comprising: receiving the screening list via a wireline communication channel from a personal computer at a subscriber's premises, wherein said screening list is configured or updated from said personal computer; if the cellular communication device is active and registered with a telecommunications network, delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device via a wireless communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, wherein the cellular communication device automatically responds to incoming calls in accordance with the screening list; and otherwise, storing the screening list in a database of the telecommunications network until the cellular communication device is active and registered with the telecommunications network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cellular communication device that uses a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the cellular communication device including: a processor for: (a) when the cellular communication device is active and registered, coordinating reception of the screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device, and (b) coordinating call handling for an incoming call in accordance with the screening list; and a memory for storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies the call handling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cellular communication device that uses a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the cellular communication device including: a processor for: (a) when the cellular communication device is active and registered, coordinating reception of the screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device, and (b) coordinating call handling for an incoming call in accordance with the screening list; and a memory for storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies the call handling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling depends at least in part on location of the cellular communication device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling depends at least in part on calling party name.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling depends at least in part on calling party telephone number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling depends at least in part on time of day at which the incoming call is received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling depends at least in part on day at which the incoming call is received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling is specified to be on a call-by-call basis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling includes instructing a mobile switching center to play a charge acceptance announcement to a calling party.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling includes instructing a mobile switching center to bill a calling party for the incoming call.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the call handling includes instructing a mobile switching center to forward the incoming call to a designated number.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein a portion of one or more of calling party numbers is specified in the screening list as a wildcard.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the computing device is a personal computer, and wherein the screening list is generated by a subscriber using the personal computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the cellular communication device is a cellular telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cellular communication device of claim 2 wherein the network element comprises a message center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a cellular communication device, a method of using a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the method comprising: when the cellular communication device is active and registered, receiving a screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device; storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies call handling; receiving incoming call information relating to an incoming call; comparing the incoming call information with the screening list; and responding to the incoming call in accordance with the screening list.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
111 words
In a cellular communication device, a method of using a screening list configured at a computing device apart from the cellular communication device, the method comprising: when the cellular communication device is active and registered, receiving a screening list from a network element that stores the screening list after transmission of the screening list from the computing device and before transmission of the screening list to the cellular communication device; storing the screening list, wherein the screening list specifies call handling; receiving incoming call information relating to an incoming call; comparing the incoming call information with the screening list; and responding to the incoming call in accordance with the screening list.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the responding includes instructing a mobile switching center to refuse the incoming call.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the responding includes instructing a mobile switching center to establish a call path for the incoming call.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the responding includes instructing a mobile switching center to forward the incoming call to a designated number.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the responding includes instructing a mobile switching center to play a charge acceptance announcement to a calling party.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the responding includes instructing a mobile switching center to bill a calling party for the incoming call.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the cellular communication device is a cellular telephone, and wherein the computing device is a personal computer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the network element comprises a message center.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
107 words
A telecommunications network comprising: a first network element for receiving and storing a screening list for a subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling for the subscriber, wherein the first network element receives the screening list over a first communication channel from a computing device of the subscriber, and wherein the first network element stores the screening list for delivery to a cellular communication device of the subscriber when the cellular communication device is active and registered; and a second network element for delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
107 words
A telecommunications network comprising: a first network element for receiving and storing a screening list for a subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling for the subscriber, wherein the first network element receives the screening list over a first communication channel from a computing device of the subscriber, and wherein the first network element stores the screening list for delivery to a cellular communication device of the subscriber when the cellular communication device is active and registered; and a second network element for delivering the screening list to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications network of claim 24 wherein the first network element is an adjunct processor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications network of claim 24 wherein the first network element is an intelligent peripheral.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications network of claim 24 wherein the second network element comprises mobile switching center.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The telecommunications network of claim 24 wherein preparing the screening list comprises formatting the screening list for transmission over the first communication channel.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The telecommunications network of claim 28 wherein the formatting the screening list comprises parsing the screening list into plural message segments.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications network of claim 24 wherein the first network element comprises a message center.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of providing a screening list to a cellular communication device of a subscriber, the method comprising: receiving a screening list for a subscriber from a computing device of the subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling; and if the cellular communication device is active and registered, transmitting the screening list to the cellular communication device over a communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, thereby enabling the cellular communication device to direct handling of incoming calls in accordance with the screening list stored in the cellular communication device, otherwise, storing the screening list in a network element for delivery of the screening list to the cellular communication device over the communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of providing a screening list to a cellular communication device of a subscriber, the method comprising: receiving a screening list for a subscriber from a computing device of the subscriber, wherein the screening list specifies call handling; and if the cellular communication device is active and registered, transmitting the screening list to the cellular communication device over a communication channel for storage of the screening list in the cellular communication device, thereby enabling the cellular communication device to direct handling of incoming calls in accordance with the screening list stored in the cellular communication device, otherwise, storing the screening list in a network element for delivery of the screening list to the cellular communication device over the communication channel when the cellular communication device is active and registered.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the cellular communication device is a cellular telephone.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the network element comprises a message center.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel through a mobile switching center.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 wherein preparing the screening list comprises formatting the screening list for transmission.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the formatting the screening list comprises parsing the screening list into plural message segments.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device programmed thereby to perform a method of providing a screening list, the method comprising: receiving input indicating call handling for a screening list for a cellular communication device of a subscriber; formatting the screening list for transmission over a first communication channel; and transmitting the screening list over the first communication channel, wherein a network element stores the screening list if necessary until the cellular communication device is active and registered, whereupon the screening list is delivered to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device programmed thereby to perform a method of providing a screening list, the method comprising: receiving input indicating call handling for a screening list for a cellular communication device of a subscriber; formatting the screening list for transmission over a first communication channel; and transmitting the screening list over the first communication channel, wherein a network element stores the screening list if necessary until the cellular communication device is active and registered, whereupon the screening list is delivered to the cellular communication device over a second communication channel.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the cellular communication device is a cellular telephone, and wherein the computing device is a personal computer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the network element comprises a message center.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the second communication channel comprises a wireless communication channel through a mobile switching center.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the formatting the screening list comprises parsing the screening list into plural message segments.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-05-19 | 2006-11-18 | 2007-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-05-19 | 2010-11-18 | 2011-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-05-19 | 2014-11-18 | 2015-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |