Telephone control system including stored blocked and allowed telephone numbers

• US 4,993,062 A
• Filed: 02/10/1989
• Issued: 02/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Communications Equipment and Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Communications Equipment and Engineering Company
• Inventors: Hughes, Lawrence R., Dula, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US07/309,340
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 379/198, 379/196, 379/191, 379/190, 379/188, 379/8, 379/29, 379/1, 379/67, 379/200, 379/88, 379/98
• US Class Current: 379/88.27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64

Abstract

A telephone control system is provided for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station. The telephone control system includes monitoring circuitry for monitoring the telephone line pair to identify predetermined signals. Control circuitry is responsive to the monitoring circuitry for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call. Circuitry is provided for generating voice messages for transmission on the telephone line, such as to advise the user of time remaining for an established telephone call. Circuitry is provided for storing call information including a user identification number. Control circuitry is provided for detecting a first predetermined event, such as a predetermined time of day, and disconnecting the telephone line pair from the central office telephone equipment responsive to the detected first predetermined event. Control circuitry also detects a second predetermined event, such as a predetermined second time of day, and connects the telephone line pair to the central office telephone equipment responsive to the detected second predetermined event.

Claims

1. A telephone control system for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station comprising:

monitoring means coupled to said telephone line pair for monitoring said telephone line pair to identify predetermined signals, said monitoring means including means for detecting loop current and means for detecting dialed signals;

means for storing a plurality of both blocked and allowed telephone numbers;

comparator means coupled to said means for detecting dialed signals and said means for storing and responsive to said means for detecting dialed signals for comparing detected signals with both blocked and allowed numbers stored by said means for storing;

means coupled to said comparator means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said comparator means for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call;

first event detecting means for detecting a first predetermined event;

means coupled to said first event detecting means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said first event detecting means for disconnecting said telephone line pair from the central office telephone equipment;

second event detecting means for detecting a second predetermined event;

means coupled to said second event detecting means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said second event detecting means for connecting said telephone line pair to the central office telephone equipment;

voice generating means for generating a plurality of predetermined voice messages and line control means associated with said telephone line pair and coupled to said voice generating means for selecting one of the predetermined voice messages for generation and for transmitting said selected voice message on said associated telephone line pair.

2. A telephone control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising call duration value storage means for storing a predetermined call duration value;

timing means responsive to an enabled telephone call for identifying a call duration value;

call duration value comparator means for comparing said predetermined call duration value stored by said call duration value storage means and an identified call duration value identified by said timing means; and

means coupled to said call duration value comparator means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said call duration value comparator means for disconnecting a telephone call.

3. A telephone control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first event detecting means for detecting a first predetermined event includes first time value storage means for storing a first predetermined time value and means for identifying a time of day corresponding to said first predetermined time value stored by said first time value storage means.

4. A telephone control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first event detecting means for detecting a first predetermined event includes switch means for manual operation between a first and second position and means coupled to said switch means for identifying an operation of said switch means to said first position.

5. A telephone control system as recited in claim 3 wherein said second event detecting means for detecting a second predetermined event includes second time value storage means for storing a second predetermined time value and means for identifying a predetermined time of day corresponding to said second predetermine time value stored by said second time value storage means.

6. A telephone control system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second event detecting means for detecting a second predetermined event includes switch means for manual operation between a first and second position means coupled to said switch means for identifying an operation of said switch means to said second position.

7. A telephone control system as recited in claim 1 further comprising program control means for receiving user input selections and means coupled to said program control means for updating stored system control parameter data responsive to said program control means.

8. A telephone control system for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station comprising:

first control means for generating a plurality of predetermined voice messages, said first control means including means for generating a plurality of predetermined commands;

second control means coupled to said first control means, said second control means operatively associated with said telephone line pair;

monitoring means coupled between said second control means and said associated line pair for identifying predetermined line signals, said monitoring means including means for detecting loop current and means for detecting dialed signals;

means for storing a plurality of both blocked and allowed telephone numbers;

comparator means coupled to said means for detecting dialed signals and said means for storing and responsive to said means for detecting dialed signals for comparing detected signals with both blocked and allowed numbers stored by said means for storing; and

means coupled to said comparator means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said comparator means for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call;

said second control means being responsive to a predefined first command received from said first control means for disconnecting said associated line pair from the central office telephone equipment and being responsive to a predefined second command from said first control means for connecting said associated line pair with the central office telephone equipment.

9. A telephone control system as recited in claim 8 wherein said second control means further comprises means for storing a predetermined call duration value;

timing means responsive to an enabled telephone call for identifying a call time duration value;

comparator means for comparing said predetermined call duration value stored by said means for storing and an identified call duration value identified by said timing means; and

means coupled to said comparator means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said comparator means for disconnecting a telephone call.

10. A telephone control system as recited in claim 8 wherein said first control means includes first detecting means for detecting a first predetermined event;

and wherein said means for generating a plurality of predetermined commands is responsive to said first detecting means for generating and sending said predefined first command to said second control means.

11. A telephone control system as recited in claim 10 wherein said first control means includes second detecting means for detecting a second predetermined event;

and wherein said commands generating means is responsive to said second detecting means for generating and sending said predefined second command to said second control means.

12. A telephone control system for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station comprising:

a host computer including means for receiving and storing user selected control parameter data;

first control means coupled to said host computer for generating a plurality of predetermined voice messages, said first control means including means for generating a plurality of predetermined commands;

second control means coupled to said host computer and said first control means, said second control means operatively associated with said telephone line pair;

monitoring means coupled between each of said second control means and said associated line pair for identifying predetermined line signals, said monitoring means including means for detecting loop current and means for detecting dialed signals;

means for storing a plurality of both blocked and allowed telephone numbers;

comparator means coupled to said means for detecting dialed signals and said means for storing and responsive to said means for detecting dialed signals for comparing detected signals with both blocked and allowed numbers stored by said means for storing; and

means coupled to said comparator means and said telephone line pair and responsive to said comparator means for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call;

said second control means being responsive to a predefined first command received from said first control means for disconnecting said associated line pair from the central office telephone equipment and being responsive to a predefined second command from said first control means for connecting said associated line pair with the central office telephone equipment.