WO2001095602A1

WO2001095602A1 - System and method for providing time-of-day controllable anonymous call blocking

Info

Publication number: WO2001095602A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/017005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mary F. Taylor
Original assignee: Mci Worldcom, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-06-05
Filing date: 2001-05-24
Publication date: 2001-12-13
Also published as: AU2001264973A1

Abstract

A system for blocking anonymous calls in a communications network (200) wherein blocking service subscriber (208A, 208B) may elect to activate his service options by selecting customized parametric conditions during which they do not wish to receive anonymous or private calls, in addition to the option of blocking such calls at all times. When a service activation code is entered, a menu session is provided to the subscriber (208A, 208B) to enter customized time-related parameters. A subscriber service feature profile is maintained in a database (212) associated with the serving end office switch (204A, 204B). When an incoming anonymous call is received at the switch (204A, 204B), a determination is made by the switch (204A, 204B) whether the callee is a valid subscriber with active call blocking options and, if so, whether the incoming anonymous call satisfies one or more of the time-related conditions selected by the subscriber (208A, 208B). If it does, the anonymous call is subsequently terminated.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TIME-OF-DAY CONTROLLABLE ANONYMOUS CALL BLOCKING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to telephone services, and more particularly, lo a system and method for providing a controllable anonymous call blocking service for subscribers.

Description of Related Art

Service differentiation is often the only main competitive advantage a telephone company has in today's highly deregulated telecommunications market. Accordingly, providing cost-effective, user- friendly services that are customizable is seen as a critical factor for a telephone company's success.

Many services have been created in recent years due to ever- increasing demand from telephone customers. Call forwarding, call blocking, Caller ID, et cetera, are well known examples of services that customers have come to use ubiquitously because of telephone companies' market-driven need to innovate constantly. Services such as these afford convenience, increased productivity, freedom, et cetera, for the subscribers.

Anonymous calls arc a nuisance because they continually ring a subscriber's telephone at inconvenient times of the day. Typically, call blocking is used by subscribers to filter anonymous or private calls without having to take the phone off hook. However, existing call blocking solutions for blocking anonymous calls are beset with several shortcomings in this regard. For example, current implementations of call blocking completely block all telephone numbers that are listed as "private" or "anonymous" from calling the subscriber for an indefinite period of time until the subscriber turns off the call blocking service. While this capability may be of some benefit, it should be recognized that for some subscribers who wish to block anonymous calls selectively based on the time-of-day or other- time-related conditions, such a service does not provide the most optimal solution.

In addition, subscribers may also want to periodically change their call block options, i.e., reconfigure them, depending on their need, convenience, et cetera. Current call blocking solutions do not provide for such capability. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a user- controllable call blocking scheme for blocking anonymous calls in a communications network. Upon subscribing for the call blocking service of the present invention, telephone company customers activate their service options by selecting customized temporal conditions e.g., time- of-day, day-of-week, etc. conditions, during which they do not wish to receive anonymous/private calls. When a service subscription/activation code is entered by the subscriber after receiving a dial tone, a menu- driven session is established between the subscriber's telephone station and tin. ^• nd office switch serving that station. The subscriber enters customized time-related parameters in response to queries in the menu. A subscriber service feature profile is maintained as a database that is associated with the serving end office. When an incoming anonymous call is received in the end office switch, a determination is made by the switch whether the callee is a valid subscriber with active call blocking options and, if so, whether the incoming anonymous call satisfies one or more of the time-related conditions selected by the subscriber. Responsive to the determination, the anonymous call is prevented by the serving switch from being terminated to the subscriber's station and a message is returned to the call originating switch. In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a call blocking method for use in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) which commences upon receiving a call in an end office switch disposed in a local exchange carrier network serving a subscriber. Thereafter, the end office switch determines if the incoming call is an anonymous call initiated by an originating party that is served by an originating switch. If so, a further determination is made in the end office switch as to whether the subscriber has a subscription for blocking anonymous calls based on a user-configurable parametric condition such as time, day, date, week, etc. parameters. Thereafter, the end office switch determines if the incoming anonymous call satisfies at least one of the user-configurable parametric conditions which are maintained in a database associated with the end office switch. Responsive to the determination that the anonymous call satisfies at least one of the user- configurable parametric conditions, the anonymous call is prevented from being terminated to the subscriber's telephone station.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary communications network wherein the teachings of the present invention may be advantageously practiced;

FIG. 2 depicts a local exchange carrier (LEC) network in additional detail which forms a portion of the communications network shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary service feature database used by a LEC network for service provisioning;

FIG.4 is a flow chart depicting the steps involved in an exemplary methodology for activating or subscribing for a controllable call blocking service provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the steps involved in updating the service options available in the present invention's controllable call blocking service; FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a presently preferred exemplary embo.diment of the controllable call blocking service provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 depicts a computer system upon which an embodiment according to the present invention may be implemented. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views, and the various elements depicted are not necessarily drawn to scale. Referring now to FIG. 1, depicted therein is an exemplary embodiment of a communications network 100, e.g., a network organized such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wherein the teachings of the present invention may be advantageously practiced. A plurality of telephone stations, e.g., stations 102A through 102E, are provided in the network 100 for the use of telephone subscribers for making and receiving calls. A plurality of local exchange carrier (LEC) networks, e.g., LEC 104 A through 104E, are provided in the communications network 100 whereby each telephone station is coupled to a LEC via at least one appropriate local loop. Some of the subscribers may subscribe to more than one local telephone carrier for especially reliable telephone service, and accordingly their stations may be coupled to more than one LEC network. For instance, in the exemplary embodiment of the communications network 100 shown in FIG. 1, station I02A is coupled via local loops 120A-1 and 102A-2 to LEC networks 104A and 104B, respectively. Station 102B is coupled via a single local loop 120B to its local telephone carrier 104B. A plurality of interexchange carrier (IXC) networks, e.g., IXC 106 A through 106C, are disposed between the LEC networks for providing one or more long-haul voice trunks therebetween. Each LEC network and IXC network is provided with one or more telephone switching equipment, a billing recording system, and an appropriate subscriber database. For instance, LEC network 104A is exemplified with a switch 108, a local universal database (LUDB) 1 12, and a billing recording system 1 10. In similar fashion, IXC network 106A is exemplified with a switch 1 14, a national universal database (NUDB) 118, and a billing recording system 116. those skilled in the art should readily recognize that although the databases in the communications network 100 are exemplified to be co- iocated with the switching equipment within their respective networks, such databases may be provided externally at remote locations (as a service node) , and furthermore, an external database may be shared by multiple carrier networks (such as, e.g., an Intelligent Network's Service Control Point).

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the local databases, e.g., LUDB 1 12, preferably contain data with respect to the subscribers served by the local exchange (e.g., LEC 104A). Such data includes, for instance, subscriber identification, services for which the subscribers have a valid subscription, and service options/features, if any (collectively, subscriber service profiles). As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow, the controllable call blocking service of the present invention is preferably provisioned as a terminating service feature as part of a user-configurable subscriber service profile in a database associated with the local carrier. Referring now to FIG. 2, a network portion 200 comprising a LEC network 202 in greater detail is depicted therein. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the network portion 200 forms a suitable sub-portion of the communications network 100 depicted in FIG. 1. Two end offices (EOs) 204A and 204B comprise the switching equipment of LEC network 202, wherein each end office operates to serve a portion of the subscribers collectively served by the LEC. For instance, telephone station 208A is served by EO switch 204A, whereas telephone station 208B is served by EO switch 204B. A subscriber service profile database 212 is illustrated as an external database in this exemplary embodiment. Further, an access tandem 206 is exemplified in the network portion 200 for accessing an IXC 210 coupled to a long-haul trunk network 214 and for interconnecting the end offices to the database 212. Although not shown in this FIG., an interconnecting path may also be available between the access tandem 206 and a suitable NUDB.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary subscriber service profile database 300 used by a LEC network for service provisioning. A user/subscriber identification list 302 (i.e., identifier list) is associated with a corresponding directory number list 304 and a service feature profile 306 which specifies active services (e.g., service 308-1 through service 308- N) and service options for each subscriber therein. As those skilled in the art should readily recognize, the service feature profile 306 may be differentiated into an originating service profile portion, a terminating service profile portion, et cetera. The controllable call blocking service is preferably provided as a terminating service in such a service feature profile, which may be activated or subscribed for as is immediately set forth below.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting the steps involved in an exemplary methodology for activating or subscribing for the controllable call blocking service provided in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. As explained in the Background section of the present invention, a universal call blocking service is currently available for subscribers, and accordingly, the present invention may be provided as an advantageous service enhancement within the existing call blocking solutions.

In the exemplary embodiment, when a user/subscriber picks up the telephone's handset from its cradle, an "off hook" condition is detected by the subscriber's EO switch (step 402). Responsive to the detected off hook condition, a dial tone is conventionally provided by the switch to the telephone station (step 404). Thereafter, the user enters a predetermined code (e.g., a "* 77" code) for activating and subscribing for a call blocking service (step 406). Upon receiving the service code, the EO switch analyzes the digits and provides a service activation/subscription menu to the user for setting various sen/ice options that the user wishes to select. Depending upon the service provider, a host of temporal parametric conditions may be provided as user-configurable service options. For example, the time-of-day, day-of- week, or month-of-year conditions, et cetera, or any other variations thereof may be selected by the user for blocking all anonymous calls attempting to reach the user that satisfy one or more user-specified time- related parametric conditions. In the context of the present invention, anonymous calls may comprise calls originated locally or across an IXC, and include a call whose originating number has been anonymized by the originating party for some reason, or a call originated by a party with a private number (i.e., number not listed in a telephone directory), etc. Accordingly, the term "anonymous call" is used herein to comprehend all these variations for the purposes of the present invention.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, in order to set the various time- related conditions (i.e., time and/or date parameters when the user does not want to receive anonymous calls) as part of its service profile, the user is queried by the end office switch to input appropriate responses (e.g., keypad inputs such as Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) codes and the like) in a menu-driven service subscription/activation session. These actions are collectively referenced in the flow chart as a combination action block 408. After the user selects suitable temporal conditions for blocking anonymous calls, the user may exit from the service subscription/activation menu in a conventional manner (step 410).

FIG. 5 depicts a related flow chart comprising the steps involved in updating call blocking service options (such as the temporal conditions described above) in accordance with the teachings of the ρres ; .t invention. Again, upon detecting the off hook condition (step 502), the end office switch disposed in the LEC network provides the dial tone to the subscriber's telephone station (step 504). The service updating procedure may be provided as a separate option within the subscription/activation menu or as an independent service portion requiring another code to activate. Or, in some other exemplary embodiments, the same . code used for invoking the subscription/activation menu may also be employed for the updating procedure. Accordingly, the user enters an appropriate code for service option updating and may be provided with an updating menu in response

(step 506). Thereafter, the user is queried by the serving switch for entries that the user wishes to change with respect to the time/date/day parameters for blocking anonymous calls (i.e., the anonymous calls that satisfy the conditions are not terminated to the user's telephone station) (step 508). The service feature profile database is accordingly updated and, upon completion of the updating procedure, the user exits from the system (step 510).

Referring now to FIG. 6, depicted therein is a flow chart of a presently preferred exemplary embodiment of the controllable call blocking service of the present invention. When a call is received in an end office switch disposed in the LEC network that serves the subscriber (step 602), a determination is made in the switch whether the terminating number (i.e., callee's telephone number) is a valid directory number and if the incoming call is an anonymous or private call (decision block 604). If the incoming call is not an anonymous call, it is terminated in a conventional manner to the callee's telephone station identified by its directory number (step 614).

. If the incoming call is determined by the end office switch to be an anonymous call, a further determination is made whether the callee is a subscriber of the call blocking service with temporal controllability (decision block 606). If so, a verification is made by the end office switch by querying the service feature profile for the subscriber to determine if the incoming anonymous call satisfies at least one of the temporal conditions currently active for the subscriber (decision block 608). If the callee is not a valid subscriber of the call blocking service or if the incoming call does not satisfy at least one of the subscriber time/day options, the call may be conventionally treated as set forth in step 614. Upon determining that the incoming anonymous call satisfies at least one of the valid temporal conditions designated by the subscriber, the end office switch blocks the termination of the incoming call to the subscriber's station (step 610). Thereafter, the serving end office switch may inform the switch originating the anonymous call of call blocking by the callee (step 612). Subsequently, the originating switch may return an error code to the calling party (i.e., caller) in addition to the message that the callee has blocked anonymous calls (step 616). The call is then terminated by the switch (step 618).

Referring now to FIG. 7, illustrated therein is a computer system 702 upon which an embodiment according to the present invention may be implemented. Preferably, computer system 702 forms at least a portion of an end office such as, e.g., EO 204A and EO 205B exemplified hereinabove with respect to FIG. 2. Computer system 702 includes a bus 704 or other communication mechanism for communicating information, and a processor 712 coupled with bus 704 for processing the information. Computer system 702 also includes a main memory 706, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to bus 704 for storing information and instructions to be executed by processor 712. In addition, main memory 706 may be used for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor 712. Computer system 702 further includes a read only memory (ROM)

708 or other static storage device coupled to bus 704 for storing static information and instructions for processor 712. A storage device 710, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus 704 for storing information and instructions. Computer system 702 may be coupled via bus 704 to a display

716, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT), for displaying information to a computer user. An input device 718, including alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to bus 704 for communicating information and command selections to processor 712. Another type of user input device is cursor control 720, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys for communicating direction information and command selections to processor 712 and for controlling cursor movement on display 716. Those skilled in the art should readily recognize that in a presently preferred exemplary embodiment, a telephone terminal (not shown in this FIG.) forms a suitable input interface with the subscriber for service activation, re-configuration, etc. upon entering appropriate service codes. Embodiments are related to the use of computer system 702 to implement the anonymous call blocking scheme of the present invention. According to one embodiment, the call blocking scheme is preferably provided as a stored program control with respect to a serving EO switch wherein processor 712 executes one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in main memory 706 (i.e., stored program) as per interactions with the subscriber. Such instructions may be read into main memory 706 from another computer-readable medium, such as storage device 710. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 706 causes processor 712 to perform the process steps described herein Further, additional service logic is provided as part of the stored program control wherein the EO switch determines if a call received therein is an anonymous/private call, and if so, whether such call satisfies a predefined, user-selected temporal condition for blocking. As alluded to hereinabove, such service logic and related database/s may be also be provided as a service node disposed external to the EO switch.

One or more processors in a multi-processing arrangement may also be employed to execute the sequences of instructions contained in main memory 706. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination with software instructions. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software. Accordingly, the user-configurable anonymous call blocking scheme may reside on a computer-readable/accessible medium. The term "computer-readable/accessible medium" as used herein refers to any medium that participates in providing instructions to processor 712 for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media includes, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 710. Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 706. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise bus 704.

Transmission media can also take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.

Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable (or accessible) media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to processor 712 for execution. For example, the instructions may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions relating to computation of a public key into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 702 can receive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitter to convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector coupled to bus 704 can receive the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on bus 704. Bus 704 carries the data to main memory 706, from which processor 12 retrieves and executes the instructions. The instructions received by main memory 706. may optionally be stored on storage device 710 either before or after execution by processor 712.

Computer system 702 also includes a communication interface 714 coupled to bus 704. Communication interface 714 provides a two-way data communication coupling to a network link 730 that is connected to a local network 728. For example, communication interface 714 may be a network interface card to attach to any packet-switched local area network (LAN). As another example, communication interface 714 may be an asymmetrical digital subscriber line (ADSL) card, an integrated services digital network (ISDN)' card or a modem to provide a data communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. Wireless links may also be implemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 714 sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 730 typically provides data communication through one or more networks to other data devices. For example, network link

730 may provide a connection through local network 728 to a host computer 732 or to data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 726. ISP 726 in turn provides data communication services through the Intemet 724. Local network 728 and Internet 724 both use electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. The signals through the various networks and the signals on network link 730 and through communication interface 714, which carry the digital data to and from computer system 702, are exemplary forms of carrier waves transporting the information. Computer system 702 can send encrypted messages and receive data, including program code, through the network(s), network link 730 and communication interface 714. In the Intemet example, a server 722 might transmit a requested code for an application program through Internet 724, ISP 726, local network 728 and communication interface 714. The received code may e executed by processor 712 as it is received, and/or stored in storage device 710, or other non-volatile storage for later execution. In this manner, computer system 702 may obtain application code in the form of a carrier wave.

Based on the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention advantageously provides an enhanced call blocking service that is user-configurable for selecting different call blocking criteria based on subscribers' needs. The subscribers can not only select customized criteria relating to time-of-day, day-of-week, any particular day/date (e.g., a holiday, birthday, and the like), et cetera, for selective blocking, but can still opt to block anonymous/private calls at all times as currently available. Accordingly, those skilled in the art should readih recognize that the present invention's controllable anonymous caJI blocking scheme may be augmented seamlessly with existing services and products supplied by the telephone companies (Telcos), and therefore the service may be rolled out easily with little disruption. Further, it is envisaged that the enhanced call blocking service will find ready acceptance in the marketplace because of the growing need to customize services and the present invention's user-friendliness in addressing that need.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the present invention will be apparent from¹ the foregoing Detailed Description.

While the method and system shown and described have been characterized as being preferred, it should be readily understood that various changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

I . A call blocking method for use in a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), comprising the steps of: receiving a call in an end office switch disposed in a local exchange carrier network serving a subscriber; determining in said end office switch if said call is an anonymous call initiated by an originating party mat is served by an originating switch; responsive to said determination that said call is an anonymous call, determining in said end office switch whether said subscriber has a subscription for blocking anonymous calls based on a user-configurable parametric condition; if so, determining by said end office switch whether said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition; and responsive to said determination that said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition, preventing said anonymous call from being terminated to said subscriber's station.

2. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a time-of-day parameter.

3. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set foπh in claim 1 , wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a day-of-week parameter.

4. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a select date of a month.

5. The call blocking method for use iri a PSTN as set forth in claim 1, wherein said originating switch is disposed in said local exchange carrier network.

6. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set forth in claim 5, wherein said originating switch and said end office switch are the same.

7. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said originating switch is coupled to said local exchange carrier network through an interexchange carrier network.

8. The call blocking method for use in a PSTN as set forth in claim 1 , further including the steps of: returning a message by said end office switch to said originating switch, said message including an indication that said anonymous call is blocked by said subscriber; instructing said originating party by said originating switch that ά anonymous call is blocked by said subscriber; and terminating said anonymous call by said end office switch.

9. A user-controllable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network, comprising: an end office switch disposed in a local exchange carrier network for serving a subscriber having a call blocking service subscription; means in said end office switch to determine if an incoming call is an anonymous call initiated by an originating party that is served by an originating switch; and means in said end office switch to prevent terminating said anonymous call to said subscriber provided said anonymous call satisfies a temporal condition configured by said subscriber.

10. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: means for returning a message by said end office switch to said priginating switch, said message including an indication that said anonymous call is blocked by said subscriber; means in said originating switch for instructing said originating party that said anonymous call is blocked by said subscriber; and means in said end office switch for terminating said anonymous call.

1 1. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said temporal condition comprises a select time of day during which said user chooses to block said anonymous call.

12. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said temporal condition comprises a select date of a month during which said user chooses to block said anonymous call.

13. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said temporal condition comprises a select day- of-the-week condition during which said user chooses to block said anonymous call.

14. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a subscriber service database which includes configurable service conditions relating to call blocking.

15. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said subscriber service database is co-located with said end office switch.

16. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 14, wherein said subscriber service database is located at a remote service node disposed in said communications network.

1 7. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said originating switch is located within said local exchange carrier network.

18. The user-controllable anonymous call blocking system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said originating switch is coupled to said local exchange carrier network via an interexchange carrier.

19. A method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user, comprising the steps of: detecting, in a local exchange, an off-hook condition at a telephone station operated by said user; providing a dial tone to said user based on said detecting step; entering by said user a predetermined code associated with said call blocking scheme; receiving said predetermined code in said local exchange; responsive to said predetermined code, providing a plurality αf se.l" sta le criteria to said user by means of at least one menu option; and responsive to said at least one menu option, entering a response by said user to indicate a particular selection with respect to a temporal condition, wherein when an anonymous call received for said user in said local exchange satisfies said temporal condition, said anonymous call is blocked from being terminated to said user's telephone station.

20. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said temporal condition comprises a time-of-day parameter.

21. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said temporal condition comprises a day-of-week parameter.

22. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said temporal condition comprises a select date of a month.

23. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said temporal condition comprises a select day of a year.

24. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said step of entering a predetermined code is effectuated by means of keypad inputting of touch tone alphanumeric data.

25. The method of configuring a call blocking scheme for a user as set forth in claim 19, wherein said predetermined code associated with said call blocking scheme comprises a re-configuration code.

26. A computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions provided for executing service logic which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: determining if an incoming call received at a local exchange serving a subscriber is an anonymous call; responsive to said determination that said call is an anonymous call, determining whether said subscriber has a subscription for blocking anonymous calls based on a user-configurable parametric condition; if so, determining whether said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition; and responsive to said determination that said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition, preventing said anonymous call from being terminated to said subscriber's station.

27. The computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions as set forth in claim 26, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a time-of-day parameter.

28. The computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions as set forth in claim 26, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a day-of-week parameter.

29. The computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions as set forth in claim 26, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a select date ,of a month.

30. The computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions as set forth in claim 26, wherein said user-configurable para-metric condition comprises a select day of a year.

31. A memory for storing service profile data with respect to a subscriber, comprising a data structure including: an identifier for said subscriber, said identifier being coupled to a telephone directory number associated with said subscriber; a service feature array comprising a plurality of services for which said subscriber has a subscription, wherein said plurality of services includes a configurable anonymous call blocking service; and a profile structure containing a plurality of options activated for said subscriber with respect to said configurable anonymous call blocking service.

32. The memory for storing service profile data with respect to a subscriber as set forth in claim 31, wherein said plurality of options includes a call blocking option based on a time-of-day parameter.

33. The memory for storing service profile data with respect to a subscriber as set forth in claim 31, wherein said plurality of options includes a call blocking option based on a day-of-week parameter.

34. The memory for storing service profile data with respect to a subscriber as set forth in claim 31, wherein said plurality of options incluc ;s a call blocking option based on a select date of a month.

35. The memory for storing service profile data with respect to a subscriber as set forth in claim 31, wherein said plurality of options includes a call blocking option based on a select day of a year.

36. A user-configurable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network, comprising: an end office switch disposed in a local exchange carrier network for serving a subscriber having a call blocking service subscription; a memory for storing service profile data with respect to said subscriber, said memory comprising a data structure which includes at least a user-configurable parametric condition as part of a profile structure containing a plurality of options activated for said subscriber with respect to said call blocking service subscription; and a computer-readable medium carrying a sequence of instructions provided for executing service logic which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to perform the steps of: determining if an incoming call received at said end office switch serving said subscriber is an anonymous call; responsive to said determination that said call is an anonymous call, determining whether said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition; and responsive to said determination that said anonymous call satisfies said user-configurable parametric condition, preventing said anonymous call from being terminated to said subscriber's station.

37. The user-configurable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network as set forth in claim 36, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a time-of-day parameter.

38. The user-configurable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network as set forth in claim 36, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a day-of-week parameter.

39. The user-configurable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network as set forth in claim 36, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a select date of a month.

40. The user-configurable anonymous call blocking system for use in a communications network as set forth in claim 36, wherein said user-configurable parametric condition comprises a select day of a year.