Wireless communication device with call screening
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.
1 .- 29 . (canceled)
30 . A computer-implemented method of call handling, the method comprising:
receiving a call from a calling party having a calling party number, wherein a screening list includes a record with call handling associated with the calling party number;
determining if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by a called party, and, if so:
displaying one or more call handling options to the called party on a cellular communication device when the call is received; and
receiving call handling instructions from the called party, wherein the call handling instructions for the call are selected by the called party from among the one or more call handling options displayed to the called party on the cellular communication device when the call is received;
if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on an automatic basis without intervention by the called party, retrieving pre-determined call handling instructions; and
directing handling of the call.
31 . The method of claim 30 wherein the one or more displayed call handling options include accept the call and reject the call.
32 . The method of claim 30 further comprising, when the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by the called party, displaying information about the calling party to the called party.
33 . The method of claim 32 wherein the displayed information includes the calling party number.
34 . The method of claim 30 wherein the one or more displayed call handling options include forward the call.
35 . The method of claim 30 further comprising:
displaying a message prompting the called party for call forwarding instructions; and
receiving the call forwarding instructions from the called party in reaction.
36 . The method of claim 35 wherein the call forwarding instructions are to forward the call to voice mail.
37 . The method of claim 35 wherein the call forwarding instructions are to forward the call to a default number.
38 . The method of claim 35 wherein the call forwarding instructions are to forward the call to a number entered by the called party.
39 . The method of claim 35 further comprising, when the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by the called party, playing a speech announcement to the called party.
40 . One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions for performing a method of call handling, the method comprising:
receiving a call from a calling party having a calling party number, wherein a screening list includes a record with call handling associated with the calling party number;
if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by a called party,
causing display of one or more call handling options to the called party on a cellular communication device when the call is received; and
receiving call handling instructions from the called party, wherein the call handling instructions for the call are selected by the called party in reaction to the one or more call handling options displayed to the called party on the cellular communication device when the call is received;
if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on an automatic basis without intervention by the called party, retrieving pre-determined call handling instructions; and
directing handling of the call.
41 . The computer-readable media of claim 40 wherein the call handling options include accept the call, reject the call, and forward the call.
42 . The computer-readable media of claim 40 wherein the method further comprises, when the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by the called party, causing display of information about the calling party to the called party on the cellular communication device.
43 . The computer-readable media of claim 42 wherein the displayed information includes the calling party number.
44 . The computer-readable media of claim 40 wherein the method further comprises, when the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by the called party, causing playing of a speech announcement to the called party with the cellular communication device.
45 . The computer-readable media of claim 40 wherein the method further comprises causing display of a message to the called party on the cellular communication device to prompt the called party for call forwarding instructions.
46 . The computer-readable media of claim 45 wherein the method further comprises receiving call forwarding instructions from the called party in reaction to the message, wherein the additional call handling instructions are to forward the call to voice mail, forward the call to a default number, or forward the call to a number entered by the called party.
47 . A system adapted to perform a computer-executable method of call handling, the method comprising:
receiving a call from a calling party having a calling party number, wherein a screening list includes a record with call handling associated with the calling party number;
if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on a call-by-call basis by a called party,
causing display of information about the calling party to the called party on a cellular communication device when the call is received;
causing display of one or more call handling options to the called party on the cellular communication device when the call is received; and
receiving call handling instructions from the called party, wherein the call handling instructions for the call are selected by the called party in reaction to the one or more call handling options displayed to the called party on the cellular communication device when the call is received;
if the call handling associated with the calling party number indicates handling of the call on an automatic basis without intervention by the called party, retrieving pre-determined call handling instructions; and
directing handling of the call.
48 . The system of claim 47 wherein the call handling options include accept the call, reject the call, and forward the call.
49 . The system of claim 47 wherein the displayed information includes the calling party number.