The invention may verify calls to a telephone device by activating call forwarding to redirect calls for the telephone device to a prescribed destination; receiving a message from a server verifying the call; deactivating call forwarding to receive the call; and reactivating call forwarding when the call is concluded. In another embodiment, the invention may, in response to a telephone device initiating a call to a second telephone device installed with a particular application or software, transmit a message to a server causing it to instruct the second telephone device to deactivate call forwarding. In yet another embodiment, the invention may cause a server to receive a message from a prescribed location indicating that a call was received via call forwarding, and in response to the message, transmit an instruction to the intended recipient to deactivate the call forwarding if the call is verified as legitimate.

According to various embodiments, declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number on a mobile device can be handled differently than declined calls to the device's native phone number. For example, such declined (or unanswered) calls to an alternate number can be sent to a different voicemail system than the primary voicemail system associated with the device's native voice call functionality. The techniques described herein can be applied to any situation in which a call is declined or otherwise disposed of, including, for example: the recipient failing to answer the call; the device being in airplane mode; a do not disturb setting preventing acceptance of the call; or the like.

The disclosure provides a communication method. The method includes: receiving a call request forwarded by an operator server, the call request being sent by a calling terminal to the operator server; generating a transferring instruction in response to the call request being a crank call; and sending the transferring instruction to the operator server, such that the operator server establishes a call connection between the calling terminal and a smart device based on the transferring instruction.

Methods are provided for routing communications between different recipients at an entity having access to a shared communication log and using presence information. The methods include receiving a communication from a user to an entity by a primary recipient at a call center for the entity, obtaining identifying information for the user, storing a communication log regarding the communication of the user, identifying a current presence of a secondary recipient for the entity, transferring the communication from the primary recipient to the secondary recipient in response to the presence identification of the secondary recipient indicating the secondary recipient is accessible, updating the communication log with information regarding the transfer from the primary recipient to the secondary recipient, and providing the communication log to the secondary recipient during the communication between the first user and the primary recipient or secondary recipient.

A connection manager manages connections for associated user devices by determining whether an incoming connection has been answered at a user device, and if so then generating and transmitting silencing commands to associated user devices using first and second wireless communication modes, with one mode being faster. Connections can comprise phone calls, and modes can comprise push and Bluetooth messaging. The connection manager can instruct device outputs to provide connection alerts, limited to visual alerts when an associated user device is active, listen for associated user device communications, and instruct device outputs to stop providing alerts when a silencing command is received. Further, a connection manager can receive a signal regarding a headset status, route an outside connection from a phone to the headset when the headset is active or to another device when the headset is not active, detect a change in headset status, and reroute the connection accordingly.

A fraud detection system receives incoming calls and determines a fraud score indicating the likelihood that the incoming call is from a fraudulent or malicious caller. The system is able to learn patterns of fraudulent activity from historical call records and feedback provided by a subscriber.

A connection manager manages connections for associated user devices by determining whether an incoming connection has been answered at a user device, and if so then generating and transmitting silencing commands to associated user devices using first and second wireless communication modes, with one mode being faster. Connections can comprise phone calls, and modes can comprise push and Bluetooth messaging. The connection manager can instruct device outputs to provide connection alerts, limited to visual alerts when an associated user device is active, listen for associated user device communications, and instruct device outputs to stop providing alerts when a silencing command is received. Further, a connection manager can receive a signal regarding a headset status, route an outside connection from a phone to the headset when the headset is active or to another device when the headset is not active, detect a change in headset status, and reroute the connection accordingly.

Techniques to use an embedded passcode within an audio ringtone to establish a secure connection for arbitrary phone relay are described. The use of an embedded passcode enables encrypted ad-hoc connections for the relay of audio of an incoming telephone call to a secondary device, such as a virtual assistant enabled smart speaker device.

A system and method of providing caller identification (ID) over a public switched telephone network (PSTN). For outbound calls, the system and method enable a caller to provide a caller ID that differs from the native caller ID of their mobile phone. The system and method enable multiple phones tied to a single account to display the same caller ID for outbound calls. For forwarded inbound calls, such as calls being forwarded from an office, the system and method inform the recipient of the identification of the call as well as that the call is being forwarded. The system and method enable the recipient to have calls forwarded from more than one number and identify the identity of the caller as well as the specific number the call is being forwarded from.

According to one embodiment, a system includes a base station wirelessly connected to a first handset and a second handset, the base station including a first communication port configured to create a wireless connection to a first mobile telephone and a second mobile telephone via Bluetooth, where the first mobile telephone uses a first mobile telephone network and the second mobile telephone uses a second mobile telephone network.