Apparatus for blocking unwanted telephone calls and faxes

Abstract

An apparatus for blocking unwanted calls is disclosed. The apparatus incorporates a whitelist which the user can program so that known friendly callers are not interrupted by the apparatus. The apparatus also incorporates a blacklist which automatically rejects known unwanted callers so that the user is not interrupted by these calls. Additionally, the apparatus allows the user to easily add new numbers to either the blacklist or white list and also to delete numbers from the white list, blacklist or master list of caller IDs. For new numbers, callers are presented with a simple but yet effective message that states that the caller should hang up if the caller is a solicitor or telemarketer, or otherwise press zero so that the apparatus can allow the call to go through to the telephone.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A method of operating an apparatus for blocking unwanted telephone calls, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a telephone signal in a telephone jack of the apparatus;   comparing a caller ID embedded in the telephone signal to a whitelist;   ringing a receiving telephone if the caller ID is matched to a telephone number on the whitelist;   presenting a first message to a caller to press a key on a keypad of a calling phone if the caller ID is not matched to a telephone number on either of a blacklist or the whitelist; and   ringing the receiving telephone immediately when the key on the keypad is pressed.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the steps of:
 blocking the telephone signal from the receiving telephone if the caller ID is matched to a telephone number on the blacklist; 
 presenting a second message to the caller if the caller ID is not matched to a telephone number on either of the blacklist or the whitelist. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of:
 presenting one caller ID to the user from a list of new caller IDs; 
 adding the one caller ID to the whitelist if the user depresses an accept button; 
 adding the one caller ID to the blacklist if the user depresses a reject button. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of blocking the telephone signal from the receiving telephone if the telephone signal does not include the caller ID. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the second message indicates that the caller should hang up if the caller is a telemarketer, or press a number on a keypad of the calling telephone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the step of deleting one telephone number from a master list of caller IDS, blacklist or whitelist by depressing a delete button.