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Telephone dialing system for specialized services

  • US 5,054,059 A
  • Filed: 10/24/1989
  • Issued: 10/01/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of providing local control of access to a telephone line using an interactive, specialized dialing system having a memory, a microprocessor for directing requests for program instructions from the memory and for responding to instructions stored in the memory for generating command signals, a device for interfacing with a standard telephone line, a decoder for receiving signals from the line and for supplying decoded signals to the microprocessor, and an encoder responsive to the microprocessor providing encoded signals to the interface, the method comprising the steps of:

  • detecting an incoming dial tone indicating pick-up of a telephone for readying the system for use;

    checking the signal of the first digit dialed to determine if it is an inter-LATA call;

    disconnecting the telephone from the line if the signal from the first digit indicates it is an inter-LATA call;

    comparing, if it is not an inter-LATA call, the signals from the initial digits dialed with stored information representing an exception list of toll calls and a list of local non-toll inter-LATA prohibited prefixes;

    if the dialed area code is on the exception list, sending the dialed number over the telephone line using DTMF signals;

    if the dialed area code is not on the exception list and is not prohibited, sending a DTMF signal to the dialer to indicate that a password is necessary;

    comparing signals representing a dialed password with a predetermined, stored password pattern;

    if there is no match between the dialed password signals and the stored password pattern, forwarding the call by sending DTMF signals representing a stored number to a preselected operator service;

    if there is a match between the passwords, transmitting the dialed number using DTMF signals over the telephone line; and

    transmitting, upon request, an account code in DTMF signals corresponding to the dialer'"'"'s line.

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