System and method for controlled call handling
A telephone call management system is provided including a local system and a central site server using improved blocked or restricted call means including network traffic management. Decisions to allow or block a call to called parties are accomplished by using flagged indicators associated with certain called telephone numbers, with subsequent verification of a central database. The system includes management software capable of implementing widespread or local changes to the system and is further capable of modifying or setting any number of user account parameters.
1. A computer implemented method of managing restricted calls placed by a user of a phone system serving a secure premises, comprising:
verifying an identity of the user of the phone system serving the secure premises based on a unique access identifier provided by the user;
comparing a phone number associated with a phone call requested to be placed by the user to a called phone number list, wherein each phone number included in the called phone number list that is flagged is marked as potentially having restrictions placed on the user;
connecting the phone call when the phone number is not flagged as potentially having restrictions placed on the user in the called phone number list;
querying a restricted phone number list for the user when the phone number is flagged as potentially having restrictions placed on the user in the called phone number list; and
determining whether the phone call is to be allowed or restricted based on instructions included in the restricted phone number list for each phone number that is flagged.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein instructions to restrict the phone call provided by the restricted phone number list are based on a request of a called party at a receiving end of the phone call.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the called phone number list is stored locally to the phone system in an internal database.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the restricted phone number list is stored external to the phone system in an external database stored in an external server.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the connecting further comprises:
minimizing network traffic on the phone system by refraining from querying the restricted phone number list stored external to the phone system in the external server when the phone number is not flagged in the called phone number list.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
blocking the phone call from being connected when the instructions included in the restricted phone number list for the flagged phone number associated with the phone call require that the phone call be blocked.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 , further comprising:
notifying the user when the phone call is blocked.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
connecting the phone call when the instructions included in the restricted phone number list for the flagged phone number associated with the phone call require that the phone call be connected to the called party for the user.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
recording the phone call when the phone call is connected to the called party.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying the called phone number list in a local user profile, wherein each phone number included in the called phone number list is displayed with a flag or without a flag.
11. An electronic switchboard device, comprising:
a local database configured to store a called phone number list for a user of a phone system serving a secure premises, wherein the called phone number list includes a plurality of called phone numbers with each phone number that is flagged is marked as potentially having restrictions placed on the user attempting to connect a phone call associated with each flagged phone number
a call processing system configured to:
verify an identity of a user of a phone system serving the secure premises based on a unique access identifier provided by the user,
compare a phone number associated with a phone call requested to be placed by the user to the called phone number list for the user,
query a restricted phone number list for the user when the phone number is flagged as potentially having restrictions placed on the user in the called phone number list, and
determine whether the phone call is allowed or restricted based on instructions included in the restricted phone number list for each phone number that is flagged; and
a call processor card configured to connect the phone call when the phone number is not flagged as potentially having restrictions placed on the user in the called phone number list.
12. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , wherein the call processing system is further configured to restrict the phone call provided by the restricted phone number list are based on a request of a called party at a receiving end of the phone call.
13. The electronic switchboard device of claim 12 , wherein the call processing system provides voice prompts to the user and the called party.
14. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , wherein the restricted phone number list is stored external to the phone system in an external database stored in an external server.
15. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , wherein the call processing system is further configured to minimize network traffic on the phone system by refraining from querying the restricted phone number list stored external to the phone system in the external server when the phone number is not flagged in the phone number list.
16. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , wherein the call processing system is further configured to block the phone call from being connected when the instructions included in the restricted phone number list for the flagged phone number associated with the phone call require that the phone call be blocked.
17. The electronic switchboard device of claim 16 , wherein the call processing system is further configured to notify the user when the phone call is blocked.
18. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , wherein the call processor card is further configured to connect the phone call to the called party when the instructions included in the restricted phone number list for the flagged phone number associated with the phone call require that the phone call be connected to the called party for the user.
19. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a spybox configured to monitor the phone call placed by the user that is connected to the called party.
20. The electronic switchboard device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a call processor card configured to detect a hook-flash event that is indicative of a third party being connected to the phone call placed by the user.