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

• Current Assignee: Stern Telecommunications Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stern Telecommunications Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Joseph L., Cerequas, Fred R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dwyer, James L.
• Application Number:
  US07/426,744
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/199, 379/200, 379/201, 379/133, 379/134, 379/136, 379/140, 379/210, 379/211, 379/212, 379/93
• US Class Current: 379/200
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/903 Password

Abstract

An interactive, specialized dialing system for local control of access to a telephone line and for providing encoded information relative to an account of a user. The system includes a memory for storing program instructions, a microprocessor for directing requests for program instructions from the memory means and for responding to instructions stored in the memory for generating command signals, an interface device for interfacing with a standard telephone line, a transceiver for receiving encoded signals in standard form from the line and for decoding the signals and supplying the decoded signals to the microprocessor and also responsive to command signals from the microprocessor, for providing encoded signals in standard form to the interface device for transmission on the telephone line. The system is adapted to be interrogated by a user employing a handset coupled to the telephone line.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1 also including the steps of predetermining and storing the password pattern prior to using the system.

3. A method for automated ordering of products and services over telephone lines 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 the decoded signals to the microprocessor, and an encoder responsive to the microprocessor for providing encoded signals to the interface, the method comprising the steps of:

providing and storing information representing the telephone number of an order processing center and a unique identification code;

upon an order being placed by a subscriber by dialing a first non-numbered key followed by a number corresponding to the service, requesting a password to be dialed by the subscriber by transmitting a DTMF signal to the telephone;

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

if there is no match between the signals representing a dialed password and the stored password pattern or if the dialed password is not entered within a specific time, signaling the latch to reconnect the line resulting in a dial tone to the caller to indicate that the transaction has not been completed;

if there is a match between the dialed password signals and the stored password pattern, transmitting a further DTMF signal indicating that the code number of the item desired should be entered followed by pressing a second and different non-numbered key;

upon entry by subscriber of the code number and second non-numbered key, storing said number and key information;

transmitting the number of said ordering service center in DTMF signals over the phone line; and

upon receipt of an acceptance DTMF signal from the transmitting the identification code of said system and the code for the item ordered by sequential DTMF signals over the phone line.

4. The method of claim 3 also including the step of predetermining and storing the password pattern prior to using the system.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said first non-numerical key is a "#" (pound) key and the second non-numerical key is an "*" (asterisk) key.

6. The method of claim 3 also including the step of requesting confirmation of the order by the subscriber by voice request.