Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!wuarchive!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: levitt@zorro9.fidonet.org (Ken Levitt)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Caller ID
Message-ID: <2229@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 16 Dec 89 16:18:55 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Organization: TELECOM Digest
Lines: 61
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 9, Issue 579, message 5 of 8


The solution to the Caller-ID controversy seems obvious to me.  So
here is the Ken Levitt plan for ANI.

1.  Every line should have a parameter set at the CO to indicate the default
    selection for that line.  By default the ID will either be sent or
    not sent depending on this setting.  There would be no charge to
    establish your default the first time when you install a new line.
    There would be a small charge to change your default setting.

2.  There would be two special codes that could be entered prior to each
    call to force ANI on or off for that one call.

3.  Calls that have ANI turned off at the source should be identified on
    the receiving end with some code different than the code used to
    indicate that ANI information is not available.

4.  Subscribers should be able to request an alias ANI for each line.
    The alias would be a unique number with a special area code to indicate
    that it is not a real number.  All calls from that line would transmit
    the alias number unless ANI is suppressed for that call.  The alias system
    could also be used to transmit the main number for a location that has
    several lines.

If such a system existed, I would want the following system installed at
my home:

1.  A programmable computer would check ANI on all incoming calls.

2.  Based in the ANI information and the time of day, the call would be
    routed to one of the following:

    a.  A real phone
    b.  An answering machine
    c.  A modem
    d.  A FAX machine.

3.  I would be able to reprogram the computer at any time to meet my needs
    at that point in time.  I would also want the system to send all calls
    destined to the real phone to my answering machine after some specified
    number of rings.  It would also be very nice to be able to pick up any
    extension in the house and enter a code to tell the computer to switch
    to some special program like "Do not disturb" which would force all
    calls to the answering machine.

Some people say that calls from the police or a hospital should not be
ignored because I have not listed them as calls that I want to take.
This is the ultimate in "Big Brother Syndrome".  It is my business and
no one else's as to which calls I choose to take.  There is no law on
the books that requires me to talk to the police or a hospital if I
have decided not to take calls at that time.  I do not wish to be a
slave to my telephone.

I would be interested in knowing if anyone can find a flaw in my plan.
Unless you believe that I should be forced to answer some calls, I
don't think that anyone should have an objection to such a system.


Ken Levitt - via FidoNet node 1:16/390
UUCP: zorro9!levitt
INTERNET: levitt%zorro9.uucp@talcott.harvard.edu