Passive telephone line monitoring system

• US 5,146,490 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Primo Microphones Incorporated (Primo Japan, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Primo Microphones Incorporated (Primo Japan, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beckman, Alfred J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHREYER, STAFFORD
• Application Number:
  US07/708,310
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 379/135, 379/112, 379/113, 379/133, 379/140, 379/139
• US Class Current: 379/112.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/56 Arrangements for indicating or recording the called number at the calling subscriber's set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/04 Recording calls , or communications in printed, perforated or other permanent form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/08 with current supply sources at the substations generating ringing current H04M19/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks

Abstract

A passive telephone line monitor is provided for keeping a log of telephone line activity, both incoming and outgoing, with a microcomputer (MCU) controlled by an onboard program read only memory (ROM) working with 64K bytes of random access memory (RAM) divided into 32 byte caches allowing for up to 2,000 phone call registers depending upon utilization of available space. One hundred Alpha Directory numbers can be stored from its keyboard for personalized caller identification. Upon power application, memory, input devices and registers are initialized, and time and date are entered from the monitor keypad. The microcomputer, an interrupt controlled device, detects monitor keyboard interrupt and displays the data on a liquid crystal display, and upon completion of date and time entry, the MCU clears all interrupt flags and displays current date and clock.

Claims

1. A telephone line activity, both incoming and outgoing calls, passive monitoring system comprising:

microcomputer means;

read only memory (ROM) means mounted with said microcomputer means circuit connected for control by an on-board program contained in said ROM;

random access memory (RAM) means in said system;

circuit means interconnecting said RAM means and said microcomputer means;

said on-board program carrying ROM having the capacity to work with at least 16K bytes of said random access memory (RAM) divided into at least 16 byte caches allowing for up to at least 500 phone call registers depending upon utilization of available space;

phone line to microcomputer signal input means;

display means;

clock means;

keyboard entry means; and

said clock means including a clock source feeding said display means;

wherein said phone line to microcomputer signal input means includes, on/off hook detecting means;

ring detect means, and answer detect means; and

circuit means interconnecting said on/off hook detecting means, said ring detect means, and answer detect means and said microcomputer means;

said phone line to microcomputer signal input means also includes, a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) circuit that decodes dual tones from said phone line to generate binary equivalent numbers as data to said microcomputer and that is an interrupting signal source to said microcomputer circuit means;

said circuit means includes an address/data buss system, and a read/write interrupt drive interconnect line, both connected to said on/off hook detecting means, said ring detect means, said answer detect means, and said DTMF circuit;

said phone line to microcomputer signal input means also includes, a call number decoder (CND) call ID circuit; and

connection of said CND call ID circuit to said address/data buss system, and to said read/write interrupt drive interconnect line.

2. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display (LCD);

and circuit means interconnecting said LCD and said microcomputer means.

3. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 1, wherein a first line buffer amplifier interconnects said phone line and said on/off hook circuit, said ring detect circuit, and said answer detect circuit;

a second line buffer amplifier interconnects said phone line and said CND decoder circuit; and

a third line buffer amplifier interconnects said phone line and said DTMF converter circuit.

4. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 3, wherein said phone line to microcomputer signal input means also includes, a pulse shaper circuit for shaping pules emanating from a dial telephone when such a telephone connected to said phone line is used;

and said address/data buss system, and said read/write interrupt drive interconnect line are also connected to said pulse shaper circuit; and

also a connection of said pulse shape to first line buffer amplifier.

5. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 1, wherein RS232 port means is provided connected to said address/data buss system, and to said read/write interrupt drive interconnect line;

and enable signal line means extends from said microcomputer to said RS232 port means; and

a personal computer (PC) is connected to said RS232 port.

6. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 5, wherein a printer is also connected to said RS232 port.

7. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 1, wherein a signal generating device is line means connected to said microcomputer means for generating an indicating signal when a call in process is identified with a name stored in the directory memory, and also if there is no caller ID (CND).

8. A telephone line activity, both incoming and outgoing calls, passive monitoring system comprising:

microcomputer means;

read only memory (ROM) means mounted with said microcomputer means circuit connected for control by an on-board program contained in said ROM;

random access memory (RAM) means in said system;

circuit means interconnecting said RAM means and said microcomputer means;

said on-board program carrying ROM having the capacity to work with at least 16K bytes of said random access memory (RAM) divided into at least 16 byte caches allowing for up to at least 500 phone call registers depending upon utilization of available space;

phone line to microcomputer signal input means;

display means;

clock means;

keyboard entry means; and

said clock means including a clock source feeding said display means;

wherein said phone line to microcomputer signal input means includes, on/off hook detecting means;

ring detect means, and answer detect means; and

circuit means interconnecting said on/off hook detecting means, said ring detect means, and answer detect means and said microcomputer means; and

said phone line to microcomputer signal input means also includes a call number decoder (CND) call ID circuit.

9. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said circuit means includes an address/data buss system;

and a read/write interrupt drive interconnect line.

10. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 9, wherein said phone line to microcomputer signal input means also includes, a pulse shaper circuit for shaping pulses emanating from a dial telephone when such a telephone connected to said phone line is used;

and said address/data buss system, and said read/write interrupt drive interconnect line are also connected to said pulse shaper circuit.

11. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 10, also including a signal pulse stream line connection from said pulse shaper circuit to said microcomputer.

12. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said display means is a liquid crystal display (LCD);

and circuit means interconnecting said LCD and said microcomputer means.

13. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 12, and including an address/data buss, and a read/write signal line interconnecting said microcomputer with ROM and said LCD display.

14. THe telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 13, wherein said microcomputer is an interrupt signal control means.

15. The telephone line call activity passive monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said microcomputer is an interrupt signal control means.