Qwest Communications International Inc.

Qwest Communications Int'l., Inc.

Brent V Bell

Martin R Marks

Peggy S Schwend

Gloria E Davy

Ferial Parsa

John T Peketz

Douglas F Reynolds

L Anne Mardick

A subscriber's line is associated with a prepaid long distance account. When the subscriber attempts a long distance call, it is determined from the dialed digits whether the attempted call is a long distance call. If a long distance call is attempted, the subscriber's prepaid account is checked to determine whether it has any remaining credits. If no credits are remaining, the subscriber is so informed, and the call is disconnected. If the subscriber has credits remaining, the call is connected as long as credits are remaining in the prepaid account.

Prepaid long distance call system and method

Disclosed is a caller identification system that provides unblocking or audible identification on telephone calls from calling parties having blocked or unknown numbers. Calling parties from blocked numbers are given the option of unblocking their name and telephone number for the current call, or to record their name for delivery to the caller ID subscriber. Calling parties from unknown numbers are given the option of recording their name for audible identification. The system provides an audibly distinct ring on a caller ID subscriber's telephone and visually displays a special message on a caller ID subscriber's visual display unit to alert the subscriber that the incoming telephone call will be audibly announced, since the telephone number and possibly the name of the calling party are not available to the caller identification system.

Caller identification system with announcement capability

Methods for automatically administrating incoming and outgoing call services include, for example, a method for screening calls from a caller to a subscriber intercepts a call and sends the call directly to the subscriber when the caller is on an established privileged caller list. The exemplary method includes establishing the privileged caller list, and holding a call for further processing if the caller is not on the privileged caller list.

Method for screening calls

Growing community of inventors

Tempe, AZ, United States of America

Brent V Bell