Method and apparatus for eliminating unwanted telephone calls

A system for eliminating an unwanted connection to a destination associated with a node in a network, comprising:

• means for receiving, at the node, a signal requesting a connection to the destination;
• means for determining a source of the signal;
• means for determining, at the node, preference information reflecting a desire on behalf of the destination to accept a connection from the source;
• means for requesting the connection between the source and the destination based on the determination of the preference information;
• and
• means for updating the preference information based on whether the connection is accepted in response to the connection request.

A computer-readable medium capable of configuring a computer to perform a method of eliminating an unwanted connection to a destination associated with a node in a network, comprising:

• program code for receiving, at the node, a signal requesting a connection to the destination;
• program code for determining a source of the signal;
• program code for determining, at the node, preference information reflecting a desire on behalf of the destination to accept a connection from the source;
• program code for requesting the connection between the source and the destination based on the determination of the preference information;
• and
• updating the preference information based on whether the connection is accepted in response to the connection request.

A node within a network for eliminating unwanted calls, comprising:

• an input for receiving a signal, from a source, requesting a connection to a destination;
• a processor for determining a source of the signal;
• a registry for storing information reflecting a desire on behalf of the destination to accept a connection from the source;
• and
• a signaling module for providing the information to the destination and requesting the connection between the source and the destination,
• wherein the processor and signaling module update the information in the registry based on whether the connection is accepted.

A computer-readable medium referenced by a node within a network for eliminating unwanted phone calls comprising:

• information identifying at least one destination;
• information identifying at least one source;
• and
• information reflecting a desire on behalf of the at least one destination to accept a connection from the at least one source wherein the information reflecting a desire on behalf of the at least one destination is updated based on behavior of the destination.

A processor within a network for eliminating unwanted calls, comprising:

• input means for receiving a signal requesting a connection to destination;
• a module for determining a source of the signal;
• a module for determining information reflecting a desire on behalf of the destination to accept a connection from the source;
• and
• output means for requesting a connection between the source and the destination based on the determinations;
• and
• means for updating the information reflecting a desire on behalf of the destination to accent a connection from the source based on behavior of the destination.

A node for receiving a connection across a network, comprising:

• an input means for receiving a signal requesting a connection from a source;
• means for identifying information reflecting a desire on behalf of the node to accept the connection from the source;
• and
• means for establishing the connection between the node and the source based on the information;
• and
• means for updating the information reflecting a desire on behalf of the node to accept a connection from the source based on behavior of the node.

A method of eliminating an unwanted connection to a destination associated with a node in a network, comprising the steps of:

• receiving, at the node, a signal requesting a connection to the destination;
• determining a source of the signal;
• determining, at the node, whether or not the source is an approved source based on approval information, wherein the approval information is based in part on behavior of the destination;
• requesting the connection between the source and the destination when the source is an approved source;
• and
• determining whether the source accepts a charge associated with the connection when the source is not an approved source and, if the unapproved source accepts the charge, requesting the connection between the unapproved source and the destination, including noticing the destination that the source is not an approved source.