Automatic call blocking and routing system and method
First Claim
1. An automatic call blocking and routing system comprising:
- an input port;
a telephone line interface (Subscriber Line Interface Card/SLIC) in communication with the input port;
an off-hook circuit including an overvoltage protection trisil connected across the input port and a series-connected fast-recovery diode, capacitor, and Zener diode in overvoltage-protecting communication with the input port;
an output port;
a switch in communication with the input port and the output port;
a memory;
a user-operable control; and
a microprocessor responsive to the user-operable control to store in the memory data indicative of blocked callers;
the microprocessor responsive to an incoming call received from the input port through the telephone line interface to compare the stored data with caller ID data in the incoming call andif the caller ID data matches a blocked caller, to block the incoming call by causing the off-hook circuit to send an off-hook signal to the input port, waiting a predefined interval of time, and then causing the off-hook circuit to send an on-hook signal to the input port, andif the caller ID data does not match a blocked caller, to cause the switch to connect the input port to the output port,wherein the off-hook circuit comprises a Darlington photo-isolator having a photosensor and a transistor in a Darlington connection in which a collector of the photosensor and a collector of the transistor are connected together and an emitter of the photosensor is connected to a base of the transistor, the transistor in communication with the input port through the fast-recovery diode, the Darlington photoisolator having an input connected to receive off-hook and on-hook signals from the microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic call blocking and routing system. The system includes input and output ports, a telephone line interface and an off-hook circuit in communication with the input port, an output port, a switch in communication with the input and output ports, memory, a user-operable control, and a microprocessor responsive to the user-operable control to store in the memory data indicative of blocked callers. The microprocessor is responsive to an incoming call to compare the stored data with caller ID data in the incoming call. If the caller ID data matches a blocked caller, the microprocessor blocks the call by causing the off-hook circuit to send an off-hook signal to the input port, waiting a predefined interval of time, and then causing the off-hook circuit to send an on-hook signal to the input port.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An automatic call blocking and routing system comprising:
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an input port; a telephone line interface (Subscriber Line Interface Card/SLIC) in communication with the input port; an off-hook circuit including an overvoltage protection trisil connected across the input port and a series-connected fast-recovery diode, capacitor, and Zener diode in overvoltage-protecting communication with the input port; an output port; a switch in communication with the input port and the output port; a memory; a user-operable control; and a microprocessor responsive to the user-operable control to store in the memory data indicative of blocked callers; the microprocessor responsive to an incoming call received from the input port through the telephone line interface to compare the stored data with caller ID data in the incoming call and if the caller ID data matches a blocked caller, to block the incoming call by causing the off-hook circuit to send an off-hook signal to the input port, waiting a predefined interval of time, and then causing the off-hook circuit to send an on-hook signal to the input port, and if the caller ID data does not match a blocked caller, to cause the switch to connect the input port to the output port, wherein the off-hook circuit comprises a Darlington photo-isolator having a photosensor and a transistor in a Darlington connection in which a collector of the photosensor and a collector of the transistor are connected together and an emitter of the photosensor is connected to a base of the transistor, the transistor in communication with the input port through the fast-recovery diode, the Darlington photoisolator having an input connected to receive off-hook and on-hook signals from the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automatic call blocking and routing system comprising:
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an input port; a telephone line interface (Subscriber Line Interface Card/SLIC) in communication with the input port; an off-hook circuit including an overvoltage protection trisil connected across the input port and a series-connected fast-recovery diode, capacitor, and Zener diode in overvoltage-protecting communication with the input port; an output port; a switch in communication with the input port and the output port;
a memory;a user-operable control; and a microprocessor responsive to the user-operable control to store in the memory data indicative of blocked callers, VIP callers, after-hours callers, and predefined business hours; the microprocessor responsive to an incoming call received from the input port through the telephone line interface to compare the stored data with caller ID data in the incoming call; and if the caller ID data matches a blocked caller, to block the incoming call by causing the off-hook circuit to send an off-hook signal to the input port, waiting a predefined interval of time, and causing the off-hook circuit to send an on-hook signal to the input port; if the caller ID data matches a VIP caller, to cause the switch to connect the input port to the output port; if the incoming call occurs during the predefined business hours, to cause the switch to connect the input port to the output port; and if the incoming call occurs outside the predefined business hours, to play a prerecorded outgoing message (OGM) to the input port, wherein the off-hook circuit comprises a Darlington photo-isolator having a photosensor and a transistor in a Darlington connection in which a collector of the photosensor and a collector of the transistor are connected together and an emitter of the photosensor is connected to a base of the transistor, the transistor in communication with the input port through the fast-recovery diode, the Darlington photo-isolator having an input connected to receive off-hook and on-hook signals from the microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification