초록

A consumer audio device decodes auxiliary control data that is hidden in audio information. The auxiliary control information can be used to trigger some response in the device, such as enabling or disabling certain operations.

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A consumer audio device decodes auxiliary control data that is hidden in audio information. The auxiliary control information can be used to trigger some response in the device, such as enabling or disabling certain operations. a list call to a selected terminal within the plurality of terminals in

A consumer audio device decodes auxiliary control data that is hidden in audio information. The auxiliary control information can be used to trigger some response in the device, such as enabling or disabling certain operations. a list call to a selected terminal within the plurality of terminals in response to receiving an activation signal from a device associated with the selected terminal, compares the first directory number to a second directory number in a request from a second terminal within the plurality of terminals to the selected terminal, and blocks completion of the call to the selected terminal in response to a match between the first directory number and the second directory number, wherein the activation signal is automatically transmitted from the device associated with the terminal in response to a determination that the last call originated from an automated electronic device. 21. The communication system of claim 20, wherein the automated electronic device is a facsimile machine. 22. A communications system for processing a call, the communications system comprising: receiving means for receiving an activation signal from a device associated with a terminal; identifying means, responsive to receiving the activation signal, for identifying a directory number for a last call to the terminal; and blocking means, responsive to a subsequent call to the terminal, using the directory number to selectively block calls to the terminal from said directory number, wherein the activation signal is automatically transmitted from the device associated with the terminal in response to a determination that the last call originated front an automated electronic device. 23. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the activation signal is a selected dual tone multifrequency signal generated by the terminal. 24. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the activation signal is a feature activation code. 25. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the terminal is a telephone. 26. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the terminal is a computer. 27. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the terminal is a facsimile machine. 28. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the communications system is a public switched telephone network. 29. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the receiving means, identifying means, and using means are performed by a switch. 30. The communications system of claim 22, wherein the receiving means, identifying means, and using means are performed by a messaging system. 31. A communications system for processing a call, the communications system comprising: receiving means for receiving an activation signal from a terminal; identifying means for identifying an identifier for a list originator for a last call to the terminal in response to receiving the activation signal from the terminal, wherein the identifier is identified as a blocking identifier for a temporary period of time; comparing means, responsive to a subsequent call from an originator to the terminal and the blocking identifier being present in a list of blocking identifiers associated with the terminal, for comparing the directory number of the originator to the blocking identifier; and blocking means for blocking the subsequent call in response to a match between the directory number of the originator to the identified directory number, wherein the list of blocking identifiers includes one or more entries having a blocking identifier and an associated time period for which calls matching the blocking identifier are to be blocked, and wherein the activation signal is automatically sent from the terminal in response to a determination that the last originator is an automatic electronic device. 32. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the activation signal is a selected dual tone multifrequency signal generated by the terminal. 33. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the activation signal is a feature activation code. 34. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the terminal is a telephone. 35. The communications system of claim 31, wherein the terminal is a computer. 3