Selective call routing and blocking

摘要

Managing an outgoing telephone call includes receiving a request for a telephone call to a first call participant from a second call participant. A list that is specified by the second call participant is accessed. The list specifies users of an electronic communications system for which contact information is maintained. Whether the first call participant is included in the list of users is determined. A group of one or more of the users included in the list of users with which the first call participant is associated is identified when the first call participant is included in the list of users. A rule associated with the identified group that indicates a manner in which electronic communications of the first or second call participants should be handled is accessed, and a manner in which the call should be handled that is in accordance with the accessed rule is identified.

主权项

1. A method for managing an outgoing telephone call, the method comprising the following operations performed with at least one processor:
receiving a request for a telephone call to a first call participant from a second call participant; accessing, from a database, a plurality of groups that are specified by the second call participant, each group including one or more users of an electronic communications system for which contact information is maintained; determining whether the first call participant is identified in at least one of the groups of users; accessing, for the identified group, a rule specified by the second call participant that indicates a manner in which electronic communications of the first or second call participants should be handled; and providing instructions to handle the call in accordance with a manner identified in the accessed rule.