Call Screening Method And Apparatus

Abstract

A cellular telephone system is provided with a process and apparatus for screening an incoming call. The process is carried out by, and the apparatus comprises, a service provider and a mobile station. The mobile station answers the incoming call and places the call on hold. The mobile station connects to the service provider and places the service provider and the incoming caller on multi-party hold. The mobile station then signals the service provider to begin screening the call. In response, the service provider prompts the incoming caller for the incoming caller's identification and then communicates this information to the mobile station. Based on this information, the mobile station can elect to accept or reject the incoming call.

1 . A method for screening a call from a caller, comprising:
 receiving a call from the caller at a station;   answering the call at the station;   putting the caller on hold;   connecting with a service provider, wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification;   putting the service provider on hold with the caller;   signaling to the service provider to begin screening the call; and   receiving identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving user input indicating a desire to accept the call. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving user input indicating a desire to reject the call. 
     
     
         5 . A system for screening a call from a caller, comprising:
 a first receiving component configured to receive a call from the caller at a station and answer the call at the station;   a first holding component configured to put the caller on hold;   a connecting component configured to connect with a service provider, wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification;   a second holding component configured to put the service provider on hold with the caller;   a signaling component configured to signal the service provider to begin screening the call; and   a second receiving component configured to receive identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a first electing component configured to receive a user input indicating a desire to accept the call. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a second electing component configured to receive a user input indicating a desire to reject the call. 
     
     
         9 . A computer readable medium containing instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to screen a call from a caller by:
 receiving a call from the caller at a station;   answering the call at the station;   putting the caller on hold;   connecting with a service provider wherein the service provider is configured to prompt the caller for identification;   putting the service provider on hold with the caller;   signaling to the service provider to begin screening the call; and   receiving identification information associated with the caller from the service provider.   
     
     
         10 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the service provider is configured to send a user prompt to the station for determining whether to accept the call. 
     
     
         11 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for receiving a user input indicating a desire to accept the call. 
     
     
         12 . The computer readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for receiving a user input indicating a desire to reject the call.