System and method for controlling outgoing telephone calls

• US 20020126820A1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mind Fusion, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gad Barak, Sarah Barak, Zvi Barak
• Inventors: Barak, Zvi, Barak, Sarah, Barak, Gad
• Granted Patent: US 6,788,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/88 Provision for limiting connection, or expenditure
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/885 limit per application
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/886 limit per terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/887 limit per user or user related number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/888 severing connection after predetermined time or data
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0116 Provision for limiting expenditure, e.g. limit on call expenses or account
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0132 Limit per application
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0136 Limit per terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/014 Limit per user or user related number
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

A telephone call control system includes a database containing user identifiers and call control limitations assigned to the user identifiers. Call control limitations may include budgetary, time, geographic (e.g., area code or city and/or country codes), and other limitations to a call. A telephone line is subscribed to the system, and users of the line are provided user identifiers which may have one or more of the call control limitations. When making an outgoing call, the telephone network queries the database and determine whether the telephone line is subscribed. If the telephone is subscribed, the telephone network communicates with a server which requests the user to enter the user'"'"'s identifier, e.g., a dialing code or voice print. It is then determined which, if any, call control limitations, are placed upon the user and whether and for how long the call can be connected.

Claims

12-1. A system according to claim 1, further comprising;

a computer in communication with said server over the Internet, wherein from said computer said call control limitations assigned to said at least one of said user identifiers can be modified.

13. A method of controlling outgoing telephone calls, comprising:

a) restricting destination telephone numbers dialed from a telephone on a telephone line;

b) providing a user identifier to the telephone line, the user identifier having at least one call control limitation associated therewith;

c) dialing a restricted destination telephone number from the telephone;

d) entering the user identifier;

e) determining whether the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection between the telephone line and the restricted destination telephone number; and

f) if the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection, completing the telephone call.

21. A method of controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone network, comprising:

a) subscribing a telephone line to a system which restricts calls to a set of one or more restricted destination telephone numbers from a telephone on a telephone line, the subscribing including providing a user identifier to the telephone line, the user identifier having at least one call control limitation associated therewith;

b) dialing one of the restricted destination telephone numbers from a telephone on the telephone line;

c) entering the user identifier at the telephone;

d) determining whether the at least one call control limitation associated with the user identifier permits connection between the telephone line and the dialed restricted destination telephone number; and

e) if the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection, completing the telephone call.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

the at least one call control limitation includes a budgetary limitation.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein;

said budgetary limitation is at least one of a monetary and a time limitation.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

the budgetary limitation is for a billing period for the telephone line.

25. A method according to claim 21, wherein;

said budgetary limitation is determined from an account balance which is updated during the telephone call.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said budgetary limitation is determined from an updatable account balance which is provided to a user making the telephone call at least one of before and after completion of the telephone call.

27. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

f) after entering the user identifier, verifying the validity of the user identifier.

28. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said completing the telephone call includes the system instructing the telephone network to connect the subscribed telephone line to the dialed destination telephone number.

29. A method according to claim 21, wherein;

the telephone numbers of the subscribed telephone lines, the set of restricted destination telephone numbers, the user identifier and the at least one call control limitation associated therewith are all maintained in a database.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein;

said database is located on a server in communication with the telephone network.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein:

the telephone network is the PSTN.

32. A method according to claim 21, wherein:

said user identifier includes at least one of a numeric code, a voice print, and a code word.

33. A method for controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone line by users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, comprising:

a) providing a system including a server coupled to a database which stores subscribed telephone lines, user identifiers for users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, and at least one call control limitation associated with at least one of the user identifiers;

b) subscribing the telephone line to said system;

c) designating a user identifier for each user of the telephone on the telephone line;

d) using a computer in communication with the server of the system to log into the server; and

e) assigning at least one call control limitation to at least one of the user identifiers from the computer.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

said designating is performed with the computer in communication with the server of the system.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

each user identifier is one of a numeric code, a voice print, and a code word.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

said call control limitations assigned include at least one of (i) budgetary restrictions, (ii) length of call restrictions, (iii) time and/or day restrictions, (iv) telephone system restrictions, (v) geographic restrictions, and (vi) particular telephone number exclusions.

37. A method according to claim 33, further comprising:

f) using a computer in communication with the server of the system to log into the server; and

g) modifying call control limitations to at least one of the user identifiers from the computer.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

said computer is in communication with said server over the Internet.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

said computer resides in a same building as the telephone.

40. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

said assigning is performed by a primary of the telephone line.

41. A method for budgeting telephone calls by a user over a telephone line, comprising.

a) providing a plurality of templates, each having a plurality of calling rates:

b) providing a user with an account balance;

c) using one of the templates to determine a calling rate for a particular telephone call;

d) monitoring a length of the particular telephone call;

e) determining an effective cost for the particular telephone call based upon the calling rate and the length of the particular telephone call; and

f) deducting the effective cost from the account balance to provide an updated account balance.

42. A method according to claim 41, wherein:

one of said plurality of templates is at least one of user-created and user-modified.

43. A method according to claim 41, wherein:

said calling rates do not all exactly correspond to the actual rates for all of the telephone calls.

44. A method according to claim 41, wherein:

said calling rates for selected destination telephone numbers are above actual rates.

45. A method according to claim 41, wherein:

different calling rates are provided for local destination telephone numbers, long distance destination telephone numbers, and mobile telephone numbers.

48. A method according to claim 47, further comprising:

d) modifying the account balance by the authorized individual.

46. A method for controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone line by users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, comprising:

a) providing a system including a server coupled to a database which stores subscribed telephone lines;

b) subscribing the telephone line to said system;

c) identifying to the system telephone numbers which are restricted by the subscribing line; and

d) terminating an attempted call to a restricted telephone number from the telephone coupled to the subscribed line.

47. A method for controlling telephone calls by a user over a telephone line, comprising:

a) having an authorized individual assign a budgetary allocation to a user for outgoing telephone calls on the telephone line;

b) providing the user with an Internet-accessible location at which an account balance reflecting the remaining balance of the budgetary allocation can be viewed the user; and

c) updating the account balance after each outgoing telephone call over the telephone line by the user.