Universal outgoing call restriction circuit
First Claim
1. An apparatus for restricting selected, pre-determined outgoing communications of voice or data over a communication line comprising:
- means for monitoring outgoing dialing signals representing one or more sequences of one or more code characters;
means for sequentially decoding the dialing signals into the sequences of code characters;
means for comparing any part of each entire sequence of code characters of the decoded dialing signals with a predetermined list of at least one pre-determined sequence of code characters; and
means for determining if outgoing communication over the communications line will be allowed depending on if the means for comparing matches any part of a decoded sequence of code characters with any pre-determined sequence of code characters on the pre-determined list.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit which prevents a telephone or a plurality of telephones from making unauthorized or restricted calls to specific numbers or unspecific groups of numbers. The restricted call numbers may be local or toll call. The circuit is disabled either on a call by call basis, or indefinitely by entering a user defined pass code. The circuit is programmable from any commercially available touch-tone phone. When in the call restriction mode, the circuit detects outgoing calls by detecting and decoding standard `DTMF` burst. Upon detecting the first valid tone, the circuit isolates the user from the central office equipment. The circuit then parses the first and all following DTMF bursts and compares them against preprogrammed internal lists of fixed or relative restricted numbers. If a fixed number or a relative group of numbers is validly compared to the internal lists, the circuit continues to lock out the user until the central office will no longer accept a number, at which time, the circuit releases the line and restores the user to central office access. If no valid comparison is made to the internal lists, the circuit dials the remaining numbers in a burst mode, and restores user access to the central office as the call is completed. Use of the `*` key and `#` keys allow special programming options, and user disabling via special pass codes. The system may optionally be used with rotary dial phones and can be used with non-telephone voice and/or data communication systems.
149 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An apparatus for restricting selected, pre-determined outgoing communications of voice or data over a communication line comprising:
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means for monitoring outgoing dialing signals representing one or more sequences of one or more code characters; means for sequentially decoding the dialing signals into the sequences of code characters; means for comparing any part of each entire sequence of code characters of the decoded dialing signals with a predetermined list of at least one pre-determined sequence of code characters; and means for determining if outgoing communication over the communications line will be allowed depending on if the means for comparing matches any part of a decoded sequence of code characters with any pre-determined sequence of code characters on the pre-determined list. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 12. The apparatus of claim wherein the means for monitoring includes connection means for connection of the means in series between the subscriber side and line side of a telephone line.
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21. A method of restricting selected pre-determined outgoing communications including voice and data communications, to any receiving means comprising:
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creating a list of at least one pre-determined sequence of one or more code characters; monitoring and decoding outgoing telephone dialing signals comprising sequences of code characters; comparing any part of the sequences of the signals with the list of pre-determined sequences; and controlling transmission of dialing signals to a receiving means depending upon confirmation of whether or not a match between a sequence and any part of the sequence of code characters of the dialing signals has been made. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of automatically restricting any telephone number or combination of digits of a telephone umber, comprising:
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storing a list of restricted numbers or partial numbers, the restricted numbers or partial numbers being taken from the set comprising; sequences of entire telephone numbers, sequence of partial telephone numbers, and combined sequences of one or more partial telephone numbers and one or more variables; detecting dialing of a sequence of numbers; parsing the sequence of numbers and comparing each sequence to the list of restricted numbers and partial numbers; preventing output of the dialed number to the line side of a telephone line if any part of the sequence of numbers is identical to a restricted number of partial number. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. Circuit mans for restricting selected, pre-determined outgoing telephone calls comprising:
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connection means for connecting the circuit between the subscriber side and line side of the telephone line; decoder means for decoding any outgoing telephone dialing signals comprising a sequence of one or more telephone dialing signals; control means for storing any decoded dialing signals and comparing those signals to a list or lists of restricted telephone characters, the restricted telephone characters each comprising one or more symbols corresponding to telephone dialing keys; regenerator means for regenerating stored dialing signals in the control means; power means for providing electrical power to the circuit; transformer means for regulating voltage to the circuit; switching means operating in response to the control means for disabling transmission of dialing signals in the telephone line upon match of a restricted telephone character with a decoded dialing signal; bridge means for controlling current in the circuit; reset means for enabling the telephone line after disablement; and disabling means controlled by the control means for operating the switch means. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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Specification