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Method and apparatus for performing an automated collect call

  • US 5,319,701 A
  • Filed: 03/04/1993
  • Issued: 06/07/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1989
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A pay telephone station operable to be used by a patron placing a collect telephone call through a telecommunications network, the pay telephone station comprising:

  • keypad circuitry operable to receive a sequence of digits input by the patron, the sequence of numbers comprising an initial access format, an area code and a destination telephone number, the initial access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call to be billed to an account not associated with the pay telephone station;

    call conversion circuitry operable to change the initial access format to an altered access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call to be billed to an account associated with the pay telephone station;

    circuitry for prompting the patron to state the patron'"'"'s name when signalled;

    circuitry for recording the patron'"'"'s spoken name;

    call completion circuitry for placing the call through the telecommunications network using said altered access format, said area code and said destination telephone number;

    circuitry for detecting answer of the call by the called party;

    circuitry for playing back the patron'"'"'s recorded spoken name for the called party and for inquiring of the called party whether the called party will accept charges for the call from the patron;

    circuitry for prompting the called party as to how to affirmatively and negatively respond to said inquiry;

    circuitry for detecting the called party'"'"'s response;

    circuitry for detecting the termination of the telephone call;

    circuitry for determining the duration of the telephone call;

    circuitry for storing the duration of the telephone call;

    circuitry for storing the area code and destination telephone number associated with the telephone call;

    circuitry for receiving a request for data stored in the pay telephone station through the telecommunications network;

    circuitry for uploading a billing record associated with the telephone call upon receipt of a request for said billing record received through the telecommunications network, said billing record comprising the area code and destination number of the call, the duration of the call, and information indicating when the call occurred; and

    each of said circuitries resident within a single payphone housing enclosing the pay telephone station.

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