Method and apparatus for performing an automated collect call

• US 5,483,581 A
• Filed: 06/06/1994
• Issued: 01/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Netix, Inc. (Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Intellicall, Inc.
• Inventors: Rice, Michael R., Hird, John A., Owen, Lindsey D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOOMIS, PAUL A
• Application Number:
  US08/254,919
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 379/91, 379/93, 379/97, 379/112, 379/132, 379/143, 379/144, 379/145, 379/155, 379/121
• US Class Current: 379/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/08 Metering calls to called party , i.e. B-party charged for the communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/02 Coin-freed or check-freed systems , e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/527 Centralised call answering arrangements not requiring operator intervention
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/00 Selecting arrangements H04Q5/00 - H04Q11/00 take precedence

Abstract

A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.

Claims

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 digits comprising an initial access format, an area code, and a destination phone number, the initial access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call is to be billed to an account not associated with the pay telephone station;

a memory operable to store configuration data for the pay telephone station;

call conversion circuitry operable to change the initial access format to an altered access format responsive to the configuration data stored in the memory, the altered access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call to be billed to an account associated with the pay telephone station;

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 modifying the memory with data received through the telecommunications network from a remote site; and

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

2. The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the memory is operable to store rate information for billing the telephone call.

3. The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the initial access format is a 0 plus number and the altered access format is a 1 plus number.

4. The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the memory is operable to store programmable telephone numbers.