COMPUTER-BASED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING, MONITORING, RECORDING AND REPORTING TELEPHONE ACCESS
First Claim
1. A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient;
(2) blocking said first communication connection, while sensing tones present along said first communication connection;
(3) comparing said tones with a set of predetermined tones to determining whether to connect said institutional caller and said outside recipient;
wherein said comparing is to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing institutional telephone activity utilizes a computer control unit to control a trunk management unit, which connects institutional telephones to outside telephone lines. The computer control unit contains a database for storing the calling privileges and restrictions of institutional users and for recording calling transactions made by the users. The computer control unit implements a prospective call screening feature whereby outside recipients of undesired calls from the institution may enter a code that directs the computer control unit to prohibit similar calls in the future.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient;
(2) blocking said first communication connection, while sensing tones present along said first communication connection;
(3) comparing said tones with a set of predetermined tones to determining whether to connect said institutional caller and said outside recipient;
wherein said comparing is to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for managing telephone activity in an institution, said apparatus comprising:
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(1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party;
(2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of a pre-defined set of tones, and wherein said set of tones corresponds to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and
(3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification