Call interceptor
OwnerKenneth Mcfeetersinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for selectively allowing calls to a device, such as a fax machine, that may receive calls on a signal line. The apparatus is arranged to, upon detecting an incoming call, initiate a blocking period during which the incoming call is prevented from reaching the device, and to terminate the blocking period when a predetermined threshold, for example a number of rings or period of time, has elapsed, and upon termination of the blocking period to initiate said enabled time period. Hence, incoming calls are not prevented from reaching the device if their duration exceeds the predetermined threshold. The apparatus helps to reduce the number of unwanted calls being received since spam calls commonly emanate from automated sending devices with a ring duration that is typically less than that of legitimate callers.
Claims18
An apparatus for selectively allowing calls to a device that may receive calls on a signal line, the apparatus including means for detecting incoming calls on the signal line;
- and means for allowing incoming calls to reach the device if received during an enabled period and preventing incoming calls from reaching the device if received outside the enabled period, wherein in at least one mode of operation, the apparatus is arranged to, upon detecting an incoming call, initiate a blocking period during which the incoming call is prevented from reaching the device, and to terminate said blocking period when a predetermined threshold has elapsed, and upon termination of said blocking period to initiate said enabled period such that said incoming call may be received by said device.
A method of selectively allowing calls to a device that may receive calls on a signal line, the method including detecting incoming calls on the signal line;
- allowing incoming calls to reach the device if received during an enabled time period;
- preventing incoming calls from reaching the device if received outside the enabled time period;
- initiating, upon detecting an incoming call, a blocking period during which the incoming call is prevented from reaching the device;
- terminating said blocking period when a predetermined threshold has elapsed;
- and initiating, upon termination of said blocking period, said enabled time period such that said incoming call may be received by said device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.