Apparatus and method in intelligent type for filtering a disturbance of incoming phone call

ABSTRACT

An apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call includes a phone call data bank, a user's interface device, a register module, and a filtering module of incoming phone call. The phone call data bank stores at least one phone call data, and the phone call data includes an identification type. The user interface device receives a filtering flag set by the user to the phone call data, having the similar identification type. The register module stores a phone number of the incoming phone call when a request for signal connection is received. The filtering module of incoming phone call compares the phone number of the incoming phone call with the filtering flag of the phone call data bank, so as to judge whether or not the phone number of the incoming call needs to be screened. The present invention also provides a method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, the apparatus and the method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call according to the embodiments of the present invention with the accompanied drawings are provided, in which the same elements are indicated with the same reference number.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to a phone receiving device . The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call includes a user's interface device , a phone call data bank , a register module , and a filtering module for an incoming phone call . The user's interface device allows a user to perform a setup with respect to the phone call data. The phone call data bank stores at least one phone call data. The register module is used to temporarily store a phone number of the incoming phone call when a request for signal connection is received. The filtering module for the incoming phone call is used to compare the phone number of the incoming call with the phone call data of the phone call data bank , so as to judge whether or not the phone number of the incoming call needs to be screened. The phone receiving device further includes an input device and an output device .

Referring to FIG. 2, the phone call data bank is first set up by the user , in which each of the stored phone call data includes an index code , a name , a phone number , an identification type , a filtering flag , a screening time period , and a voice mailbox . Each index code for each of the phone call data is different. In addition to the name , it can provide for the user to promptly search for the specific phone name . The identification type records the type belonging to the person with respect to the phone number , such as the family, the friend, or the client, and so on, so as to set up and manage them in a grouping manner. The filtering flag and the screening time period are set with respect to the group that is formed according to each of the identification types , wherein the screening time period at the same time includes a screening starting time and a screening ending time . When the filtering flag of the identification type is at the activated status, and the time of the incoming phone call is within the screening time period, all of the incoming phone calls belonging to the set identification type are screened. At the same time, a line busy signal is issued or the corresponding voice mailbox is outputted, according to the option set by the user .

In the embodiment, the phone receiving device can be a wireless type portable telephone having a microprocessor and a storage unit, wherein the memory unit can include a random access memory (RAM) or a flash memory. The storage unit can also be a read only memory or a flash memory, and the phone call data bank and the register module are a part of the storage unit. The filtering module for an incoming phone call is a software module stored in the storage unit. The microprocessor is used to execute the function of the filtering module for an incoming phone call , so as to obtain the phone number from the register module and to store it in the storage unit. Then, the phone call data of the phone call data bank is compared one by one, so as to obtain the identification type belonging to the phone number of incoming phone call, and further automatically process the incoming phone call according to the screening conditions set by the user .

It should be noted that in the actual operation, the foregoing phone call data bank and the register module can also use an additional hardware module for use as storage. Likewise, the filtering module for an incoming phone call can also be separated from the storage unit, or can be independently formed as a hardware module such as the chipset with the specific function.

In addition, in the embodiment, the input device can include a standard keyboard of a consultative committee for international telephone and telegraph (CCITT) and at least one auxiliary input key. In this manner, the user can directly use the CCITT standard keyboard to input the phone call information character by character or use the auxiliary input key to search over the phone call data. After the setup or a confirmation for the phone call data as desired, the corresponding data with respect to each of the phone call data is further set up, such as the identification type , or the filtering flag , the screening time period , the voice mailbox , and so on set for the group that is formed with respect to the identification type .

In order to make the content of the present invention to be better understood, an embodiment is provided in the following as described by the process flow diagram for the method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call.

Referring to FIG. 3, the method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call, according to the embodiment of the present invention, includes the steps of forming a phone call data bank in the step S; allowing the user to set the filtering flag and the related data with respect to the phone call data in the step S; and judging whether or not the phone number of the incoming phone call needs to be screened in the step S when a request of signal connection is received.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the step (S), the user's interface device provide for the user to perform a filtering setup for the incoming phone call with respect to the phone call data, which have the same identification type . At first, the user's interface device receives the desired identification type that is selected by the user , in the step S. Then, an option is selected for setting up the filtering flag or removing the filtering flag that has been set, in the step S. According to the option selected by the user , the action to remove the filtering flag is executed, in the step S, or the action to set up the filtering flag is executed, in the step S. If the user chooses the action to set up the filtering flag , then after the filtering flag is set, it is further provided for the user to set up the screen time period in the step S. Also, the voice mailbox is set up, according to the actual need, in the step S.

Referring to FIG. 4, the user's interface device at the same time also provides for the user to perform a set up for filtering the incoming phone call with respect to the phone call data having the same identification type after a routine is completely set. First, the user sets a routine in the step S. Then, the user decides whether or not a filtering for the incoming phone call is set for this routine, in the step S. If the user chooses that the filtering for the incoming phone call is to be set, then the user is requested to choose the identification type to be set, in the step S. Next, the filtering flag is set in the step S. Also, according to the actual need, a voice mailbox is set in the step S. The screening starting time and the screening ending time of the screening time period are with respect to the routine starting time and the routine ending time.

In the step (S), when the request for signal connection is received, it is judged whether or not the phone number of the incoming phone call needs to be screened, as shown in FIG. . When a phone transmitting device calls a phone receiving device to have a request for signal connection, at first, the phone receiving device obtains a phone number of the incoming phone call transmitted from the phone transmitting device to the phone receiving device , and the phone number of the incoming phone call is stored in a register module , in the step S. Then, the filtering module for an incoming phone call compares the phone call data in the phone call data bank , so as to obtain the identification type belonging to the phone number of the incoming phone call, in the step S. Next, it is judged whether or not the identification type has the filtering flag in the step S. If the identification type does not have the filtering flag , then the output device issues a receiving signal, in the step S, so as to inform the user to receive the phone call. If the identification type has the filtering flag , then it is further enquired whether or not the current time is located within the screening time period in the step S. If it is not located within the screening time period , then likewise a receiving signal is issued, in the step S, so as to inform the user to receive the phone call. If the contrary, then it is belonging to the phone call with the identification type that needs to be screened. Again, it is further judged whether or not a voice mailbox is set in the step S. The output device then accordingly issues a line busy signal in the step S or the voice mailbox is outputted, in the step S. Likewise, the setup of filtering the incoming phone call after the routine is set in the step S is also performed like the steps of S-S.

In addition, the phone numbers, which are not set in the phone call data bank , can be treated as an unknown identification type and can be processed according to the manner preset by the user (whether or not the filtering flag is set).

In summary of the foregoing descriptions, the apparatus and the method in intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for the incoming phone call, according to the present invention is based on the actual need of the user, so as to set the same filtering flag and the same screening time period with respect to the incoming phone calls with the identification type that is intended to be screened. As a result, the phone call data of the phone call data bank are managed and filtered by the concept of grouping manner, and therefore, the apparatus and the method in intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for the incoming phone call of the present invention can avoid the redundant setting in the tedious procedure. It can reduce the amount of time required of user for setting and changing the screening conditions. It allows the user to have better efficiency in managing the incoming phone calls.

The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a block diagram, schematically illustrating an architecture of the apparatus in intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for the incoming phone call, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a block diagram, schematically illustrating the data structure of the phone call data bank, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a process flow diagram, schematically illustrating a method of the apparatus in intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for the incoming phone call, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4is a process flow diagram, schematically illustrating a procedure for the user to use the user's interface device for setting the filtering of the incoming phone call, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4is a process flow diagram, schematically illustrating a procedure for the user to use the user's interface device for setting the filtering of the incoming phone call after a routine is set, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram, schematically illustrating the procedure about whether or not the phone number of the incoming phone call needs to be filtered, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

CLAIMS

1. An apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call, implemented in a phone receiving device including a storage unit and a control panel, the apparatus comprising a phone call data bank, disposed in the storage unit, including at least one phone call data with an identification type; a register module, disposed in the storage unit, for temporarily storing a phone number of the incoming phone call when a request for signal connection is received; and a filtering module of incoming phone, for obtaining the phone number of the incoming phone call from the register module and comparing the phone number of the incoming phone call with a filtering flag of the phone call data bank, so as to judge whether or not the phone number of the incoming call needs to be screened; and a user's interface device, disposed on the control panel, for receiving the filtering flag set by a user with respect to the phone call data having the similar identification type.

2. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 1, wherein the phone call data bank further stores a screening time period with respect to the filtering flag.

3. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 2, wherein the user's interface device further allows the user to set the screening time period with respect to the phone call data with the same identification type.

4. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 2, wherein the screening time period comprises a screening starting time and a screening ending time.

5. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 1, wherein the filtering module of incoming phone further applies an action of rejecting a signal connection to the phone number of the incoming phone call, which needs to be screened.

6. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 5, wherein the action of rejecting the signal connection comprises issuing a line busy signal.

7. The apparatus in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 5, wherein the action of rejecting the signal connection comprises transferring to a voice mailbox.

8. A method in an intelligent type for filter a disturbance for an incoming phone call, implemented in a phone receiving device including a storage unit and a control panel, the method comprising the steps of: storing at least one phone call data in a phone call data bank disposed in the storage unit, the phone call data including an identification type; allowing a user to set a filtering flag with respect to the phone call data with the same identification type; temporarily storing a phone number of the incoming phone call into a register module disposed in the storage unit when a request for signal connection is received; obtaining the phone number of incoming phone call from the register module and comparing the number of the incoming phone call with the filtering flag of the phone call data bank to judge whether or not the phone number of incoming phone call needs to be screened; and receiving the filter flag which is set by a user on a user's interface device disposed on the control panel.

9. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 8, further comprising storing a screening time period with respect to the filtering flag into the phone call data bank.

10. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 9, further comprising allowing the user to set the screening time period with respect to the phone call data having the same identification type.

11. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 9, wherein the screening time period comprises a screening starting time and a screening ending time.

12. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 8, further according to a comparing result, applying an action of rejecting a signal connection for the phone number of the incoming phone call, which needs to be screened.

13. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 12, wherein the action of rejecting the signal connection comprises issuing a line busy signal.

14. The method in an intelligent type for filtering a disturbance for an incoming phone call as recited in claim 12, wherein the action of rejecting the signal connection comprises transferring to a voice mailbox.

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