Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A method of selective telephone caller identification includes the steps of providing a list of telephone numbers of second parties to which a first party is willing to release identification information regarding the first party (101). This list is supplied to, and stored in a database of, a telephone company by the request of the first party if the first party subscribes to a call blocking service with the telephone company (102). When the first party dials a telephone number (104), the telephone company determines whether the first party subscribes to the call blocking service (105). If yes, the telephone company searches the list in the database to determine if the dialed telephone number is on the list (106). When it is determined that the first party subscribes to the call blocking service and the dialed telephone number is not on the list, the telephone ID information is blocked by the telephone company (111). When it is determined that the first party subscribes to the call blocking service and that the dialed telephone number is on the list, the ID information is encrypted, a header is added (107), and a connection is provided between the first party and the second party by the telephone company (108). At such time, the identification information regarding the first party is encrypted and sent to the second party (109).

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim