Method and apparatus for defeating computer-generated, telemarketing, and robo-calls to phones

A method for defeating computer-generated telemarketing and Robo calls, without the use of call lists, to phones of subscribers to the method, employing an originating switch receiving calls from calling parties and directing the calls to a carrier network or Internet, a destination switch receiving the calls from calling parties through the carrier network or Internet for transmission to phones of called parties, and means associated with the phones of subscribers to the system for instructing the calling party, the method comprising the steps of:

• a calling party places a call to a called party;
• a determination is made whether said called party is a subscriber to the method and, when it is determined said called party is not a subscriber to the method, said call from said calling party to said called party is completed;
• when it is determined said called party is a subscriber to the method, the calling party is instructed to enter a signal and, if such signal is entered, the phone of the called party is caused to “ring” and, when the called party answers, the called and calling parties are connected and the call is completed, and if it is not entered, the call is terminated;
• and
• if the call is an analog Robo call, the call is terminated by playing a ringback tone to the calling party indicating the called party's telephone number is not a working number.