Importance

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Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating and updating an authorization list associated with a subscriber which may be used to determine whether a party initiating a telephone call is on a list of parties authorized by the subscriber. If the calling party is not on the list of authorized parties, a fee may be charged to the calling party in return for being connected to the subscriber. Preferably, the present invention is implemented at the subscriber's central office, i.e., at the central office which services the subscriber. In accordance with common-channel signaling, commonly referred to as signaling system 7 (SS7), the calling party's telephone number and identity are received in the call signaling data transmitted to the central office which services the subscriber. Processing equipment located at the subscriber's central office is programmed to compare the calling party's identity and/or telephone number with a list of authorized identities and/or telephone numbers associated with the subscriber to determine whether the calling party is an authorized party. The present invention provides a method and apparatus which enables the subscriber to easily generate and/or update the subscriber's authorization list. The present invention also enables the subscriber to cause a fee that was previously charged to a calling party who called the subscriber and who was not listed on the subscriber's authorization list to be deleted.

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First Claim