Importance

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Abstract

A sonic method of classifying and screening incoming telephone, and other types of calls is disclosed. Based on information from the network provider, such as a caller ID message from a telephone company, distinctive sounds which are easy to mentally associate with specific callers or categories of callers are generated in place of, or in addition to, other call alerting methods, such as the standard ringing of telephones--so there is no need to go to, view, or to be able to read, the caller ID information on a visual display. The invention can be configured to not generate a distinctive sound for certain callers or categories of callers, so calls from certain callers or categories of callers will not disturb the called party. The invention can be connected to any telephone receptacle as a standard telephone or answering machine would be, so no special wiring or installation is required. An important feature is the handling of calls where the caller ID message contains an unrecognized directory number, or no directory number, and the detection of calls from such repeat callers when they call back within a specific timing window. A distinctive sound can be assigned to such repeat callers. Therefore, categories of calls that do not cause the invention to generate a distinctive sound on the first call attempt, will generate a distinctive sound for repeat call attempts. This allows certain callers to 'break through' this call screening. Also, the invention can copy its programming to other units, so a plurality of identically programmed units can be distributed throughout a household, to facilitate hearing them at any location.

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First Claim