Method and apparatus for protecting call privacy

A method for protecting the privacy of voice data comprising:

• providing a telecommunications system which is configured to enforce privacy options that are selected on a call-by-call basis in which said selections for successive calls are indicated after each said call is initiated and before call connectivity is established for said each call, said selecting and enforcing being on said call-by-call basis and including for each said call the steps of:
• (1) selecting said privacy options from among a plurality of said privacy options that can be assigned to voice data transferred over a network, said selecting being executed by a person from whom said voice data is to originate and occurring prior to establishing said call connectivity of said call to which said selected privacy options are to be applied;
• (2) providing connectivity of said call to which said selected privacy options are to be applied;
• (3) assigning said selected privacy options to said voice data that is transferred over said network;
• and
• (4) preventing said voice data from being manipulated by a called party after receiving said call if manipulations would be in conflict with said selected privacy options as a response to said step of selecting said privacy options by said person from whom said voice data is to originate.

A method for protecting call privacy comprising the steps of:

• initiating a process for establishing a call between a calling device and a called device;
• selecting a specific privacy option from among a plurality of privacy options that are to be assigned to said call between said calling device and said called device, wherein said specific privacy option prevents said call between said calling device and called device from being directed through a hands-free speakerphone that is related to said called device, including using said calling device by a calling party to identify said specific privacy option prior to establishing said call, each of said privacy options being associated with a limitation on call compatibility at said called device;
• following said selecting, establishing call connectivity between said calling and called devices, including assigning said specific privacy option to said call between said calling device and said called device;
• and
• enforcing each said specific privacy option during said call between said calling device and said called device, said enforcing being responsive to said step of selecting from among said privacy options by said calling party;
• wherein said step of enforcing includes disabling call control capability of said called device based on said selected specific privacy option, said disabling being implemented via operation of a telephony server.

A method for protecting call prvacy comprising the steps of:

• initiating a process for establishing a call between a calling device and a called device;
• selecting any combination of a plurality of privacy options that are to be assigned to said call between said calling device and said called device, including using said calling device by a calling party to identify selected privacy options prior to establishing said call, each of said privacy options being associated with a limitation on call compatibility at said called device, said privacy options including preventing call forwarding, preventing call transferring, preventing call conferencing, and preventing speakerphone use at said called device;
• following said selecting, establishing call connectivity between said calling and called devices, including assigning each said selected privacy option to said call between said calling device and said called device;
• and
• enforcing each said selected privacy option during said call between said calling device and said called device, said enforcing being responsive to said step of selecting from among said privacy options by said calling party.