Call screening method and apparatus for use in completing telephone calls

A method for use in completing an originating telephone call originated by a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting said originating telephone call to an intermediate destination during a first time period in which said caller is waiting to be connected to said called party;
• receiving a return telephone call from said called party while said caller is connected to said intermediate destination;
• in response to said return telephone call, connecting said return telephone call to said originating telephone call and said intermediate destination such that sound originating from said called party is not transmitted to said caller, and
• in response to a determination that a second time period has expired, further connecting said originating telephone call and said return telephone call to an alternate destination such that sound originating from said called party is not transmitted to said caller or said alternate destination.

A method for use in completing a first telephone call originated by a caller placed to the telephone number of a called party, the method comprising the steps of:

• connecting said first telephone call to an intermediate destination during the time period in which said caller is waiting to be connected to said called party;
• initiating an alert to said called party;
• while said caller is connected to said intermediate destination, receiving a second telephone call from the called party;
• in response to receiving said second telephone call:
• disconnecting said first telephone call and said intermediate destination;
• and
• connecting said first telephone call, said second telephone call, and an alternate destination such that said second telephone call is in mute mode.

An apparatus for completing a telephone call originating at a caller and placed to the telephone number of a called individual, the apparatus comprising:

• a first interface for receiving a first telephone call originated by said caller,
• a second interface for receiving a second telephone call originated by said called individual;
• a third interface for initiating a third telephone call to an alternate destination;
• a switch for establishing a connection between said first telephone call, said second telephone call, and said third telephone call in response to a determination that a time period has expired;
• and
• a muting circuit connected to said second interface which, when activated, prohibits sound originating from said called individual from being transmitted to said caller and said alternate destination.

A system for completing a telephone call from a caller to a called party, the system comprising:

• means for receiving a first telephone call from said caller to said called party;
• means for initiating an alert to said called party of said first telephone call;
• means for connecting said first telephone call to an alternate destination;
• means for receiving a second telephone call from said called party;
• and
• means for connecting said second telephone call to said first telephone call and to said alternate destination in response to a determination that a time period has expired such that sound is not transmitted from said second telephone call to said first telephone call and said alternate destination.