Method and system for identifying telemarketer communications

Abstract

A method and system for identifying telemarketer communications directed to a subscriber of a call screening service is provided. A link monitoring system monitors all inbound and outbound calls of a carrier network collecting data such as calling and called telephone directory numbers, and a termination status for at least each inbound call to a calling number. The data is analyzed at a telemarketer detection module to determine calling patterns of calling numbers. If a calling pattern of a calling telephone number matches a profile of telemarketer communications, the calling number is stored in a database of telephone directory numbers associated with telemarketer communications. A call is received from a calling party directed to a subscriber of the call screening service. Then a determination is made as to whether a telephone directory number of the calling party is known. If the telephone number of the calling party is known, a determination is made as to whether the telephone number of the calling party matches a telephone number stored in the database of telephone numbers associated with telemarketer communications. If a match exists, the call is intercepted from reaching the subscriber of the call screening service.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.