Blocking spam messages
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsYigang Cai, Shichang Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for blocking unwanted and unsolicited messages (spam) in telecommunications networks. A terminating terminal is assigned a security code. In order to access the terminating terminal, the caller must supply this security code as well as the identification of the called terminal. If the correct security code has not been supplied with the call, the call is blocked. Advantageously, a called party can block all calls or messages except those originating from users who have been supplied with this security code.
Claims20
A method of completing a telecommunications call comprising the steps of:
- assigning to a telecommunications terminal a security code;
- requesting a connection from a calling telecommunications terminal to a called telecommunications terminal having said security code by supplying the identity of said called communications terminal and a security code;
- checking whether the supplied security code matches the security code assigned to said called telecommunications terminal;
- and
- completing said call to said called telecommunications terminal only if the supplied security code matches the assigned security code.
Apparatus for completing a telecommunications call comprising the steps of:
- means for assigning to a telecommunications terminal a security code;
- means for accepting a connection request from a calling telecommunications terminal to a called telecommunications terminal having said security code, said request comprising the identity of said called communications terminal and a supplied security code;
- means for checking whether the supplied security code matches the security code assigned to said called telecommunications terminal;
- and
- means for completing said call to said called telecommunications terminal only if the supplied security code matches the assigned security code.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.