Controller for a telephone system with code screening of incoming calls
First Claim
1. A remotely accessible telephone control system comprising:
- a detector for detecting signals received via a communication port;
memory; and
a processing unit programmed for monitoring signals detected by said detector and for accessing said memory, said processing unit also;
(a) sensing signals provided by said detector indicating the presence of an incoming call to said system from a calling party,(b) causing signals to be generated which to the calling party indicate normal call processing operation but to a knowledgeable caller indicate that the knowledgeable caller can transmit a confidential access code to gain access to a called party,(c) sensing for signals provided by said detector corresponding to the transmission of the confidential access code, and if signals corresponding to the confidential access code are sensed, then issuing instructions connecting the incoming call to said called party.
20 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remotely accessible telephone control system for connection to a telephone network and method of handling telephonic communications. The system includes a detector for detecting signals on received via the network. A signal generator is responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply the signals to the network. A memory is provided for storing data and a central processing unit is programmed for monitoring signals detected by the detector, accessing the memory and producing and applying predetermined control signals to the signal generator. The central processing unit also answers an incoming call to the system and transmits a prompt to the caller, and also senses for transmission of an access code. If the access code is sensed, the incoming call is transferred to the subscriber by transmitting appropriate instructions to the network instructing the network to transfer the incoming call independently of the system to a transfer telephone number associated with the subscriber and stored in the memory, and if the access code is not sensed, then the incoming call is disposed of.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A remotely accessible telephone control system comprising:
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a detector for detecting signals received via a communication port; memory; and a processing unit programmed for monitoring signals detected by said detector and for accessing said memory, said processing unit also; (a) sensing signals provided by said detector indicating the presence of an incoming call to said system from a calling party, (b) causing signals to be generated which to the calling party indicate normal call processing operation but to a knowledgeable caller indicate that the knowledgeable caller can transmit a confidential access code to gain access to a called party, (c) sensing for signals provided by said detector corresponding to the transmission of the confidential access code, and if signals corresponding to the confidential access code are sensed, then issuing instructions connecting the incoming call to said called party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A remotely accessible telephone control system comprising:
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a detector for detecting signals received via a communications port; a signal generator responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply said signals to said communications port; memory; and a central processing unit (CPU) programmed for monitoring signals detected by said detector, accessing said memory and producing and applying predetermined control signals to said signal generator, said central processing unit also; (a) sensing signals provided by said detector indicating the presence of an incoming call to said system from a caller, (b) controlling a prompting device to transmit a prompt to the caller, (c) sensing signals provided by said detector corresponding to the transmission of an access code, and if signals corresponding to the transmission of the access code are sensed, then transferring the incoming call to said subscriber by transmitting appropriate instructions to a switch instructing said switch to connect said incoming call independently of said system to a transfer telephone number associated with the subscriber and stored in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of handling communications from a calling party, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying an incoming call from a calling party, (b) storing a plurality of access codes and associated network addresses in a memory, one of said access codes, when supplied by the calling party, allowing the calling party to gain access to a party at an associated network address, said calling party receiving said one of said access codes independently of said incoming call; (c) comparing data supplied by said calling party with the plurality of access codes stored in said memory for the occurrence of a match with one of the access codes, (d) if a match with one of the access codes is found, then generating instructions for directing the incoming call to the network address associated with said one of said access codes, said instructions being communicated to a communications switch of the type which can handle calls for a plurality of users and the telephone switch responding thereto by directing the incoming call to the network address associated with said one of said access codes, and (e) if a match with one of the access codes is not found, then disposing of the incoming call. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of handling communications from a calling party directed to another party, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing a plurality of confidential access codes and associated telephone transfer numbers in a memory, a one of said codes, when input by the calling party, allowing the calling party to gain access to said another party, (b) answering an incoming call from a caller, (c) transmitting a prompt to the caller, (d) sensing for transmission of one of said plurality of access codes, (e) if said one of said plurality of access codes is sensed, then transferring the incoming call by transmitting appropriate instructions to a remotely connected switch instructing said incoming call to be transferred to a transfer telephone number associated with the another party and stored in said memory, and (f) if said one of said plurality of access codes is not sensed, then processing the incoming call in another manner. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of handling telecommunications from a calling party directed to a subscriber, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying an incoming call from a calling party; (b) storing a plurality of confidential access codes and associated telephone transfer numbers in a memory; (c) comparing a access code received in association with said incoming call with the plurality of confidential access codes stored in said memory for the occurrence of a match with one of the confidential access codes; (d) if a match with one of the confidential access codes is found, then generating switch transfer instructions for transferring the incoming call to the telephone transfer number associated with said one of said confidential access codes, said switch transfer instructions being communicated to a telephone switch of the type which can handle calls for a plurality of subscribers and the telephone switch responding thereto by transferring the incoming call; and (e) if a match with one of the confidential access codes is not found, then processing the incoming call in another manner.
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22. A remotely accessible telephone control system connected to a communications network of the type that can connect a plurality of communications simultaneously, said system comprising:
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a detector for detecting signals received via a communication port coupled to said communications network; and a processing unit programmed to (a) monitor signals detected by said detector; (b) sense for signals provided by said detector indicating the presence of an incoming call to said system from a calling party, and (c) sense for additional signals provided in connection with said incoming call, which additional signals correspond to a confidential access code, and if additional signals corresponding to the confidential access code are sensed, then issue instructions to said communications network connecting the incoming call to a predetermined network address. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A method of handling communications from a calling party via a communications network of the type that can connect a plurality of communications concurrently, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) identifying an incoming communication from a calling party, (b) storing a plurality of access codes and associated network addresses in a memory, one of said access codes, when supplied by the calling party, allowing the calling party to gain access to a party at an associated network address, (c) comparing data supplied by said calling party with the plurality of access codes stored in said memory for the occurrence of a match with one of the access codes, and (d) if a match with one of the access codes is found, then generating instructions to said communications network to cause said communications network to connect the incoming communiation to the network address associated with said one of said access codes within said communications network. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of screening incoming telephone calls, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing, in a database, for each of a plurality of telephone stations, a caller access code and an associated telephone network address for routing calls thereto; (b) answering a incoming telephone call; (c) sensing information transmitted by a caller after the incoming call is answered; (d) comparing the transmitted information with at least one of said caller access codes; (e) if the transmitted information matches with said at least one of said caller access codes, connecting the incoming call to a telephone station associated with said at least one of said access codes; (f) while the incoming call is connected with the telephone station associated with said at least one of said access codes;
repeating steps (b)-(e) for a second incoming telephone call. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for screening incoming telephone calls, the apparatus comprising:
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memory for storing, for each of a plurality of telephone stations in a database, a caller access code and an associated telephone network address for routing calls thereto; a central processing unit; a telephone circuit interface coupled to a communications network for answering a first incoming telephone call placed by a caller and received via said network, for sensing information transmitted by the caller after the first incoming call is answered and for supplying the sensed information to said central processing unit; and wherein the central processing unit is programmed to compare the sensed information with at least one of said caller access codes stored in said memory, and if the transmitted information matches with said at least one of said caller access codes, to generate communication network commands to connect the first incoming call to a telephone station associated with said at least one of said access codes, said central processing unit being further programmed to compare sensed information transmitted by a caller during a second incoming telephone call with at least another one of said caller access codes stored in said memory while the first incoming call is connected with the telephone station associated with said at least one of said access codes, and if the transmitted information sensed during the second incoming telephone call matches with said at least another one of said caller access codes, generating communication network commands to connect the second incoming call to a telephone station associated with said at least another one of said access codes. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of screening incoming calls for at least one telephone station, said at least one telephone station being shielded from an incoming call when a screening mode is enabled unless the originator of said incoming call inputs a screening code allowing the incoming call to be connected to said at least one telephone station, said incoming call being handled by a telephone exchange to which said at least one telephone station is coupled, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing in a database a screening code and an associated telephone network address for routing calls to said at least one telephone station and storing a subscriber access code; (b) answering an incoming telephone call placed by a caller via said exchange; (c) sensing information transmitted by the caller via said exchange after the first incoming call is answered; (d) comparing the transmitted information with said screening code and said subscriber access code; and (e) if the transmitted information matches said screening code, routing the incoming call to said at least one telephone station at the telephone network address associated with said screening code and if the transmitted information matches the subscriber access code, then entering a command mode wherein the caller may enter commands. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for screening incoming telephone calls for at least one telephone station, said at least one telephone station being shielded from an incoming call when a screening mode is enabled unless the originator of said incoming call inputs a screening code allowing the incoming call to be connected to said at least one telephone station, said incoming call being handled by a telephone exchange to which said at least one telephone station is coupled, the apparatus comprising:
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memory for storing at least one screening code and an associated telephone network address for said at least one telephone station in a database and for storing a subscriber access code; a central processing unit; and a telephone circuit interface coupled to a communications network for answering an incoming telephone call placed by a caller via said exchange, for sensing information transmitted by the caller via said exchange after the incoming call is answered and for supplying the sensed information to said central processing unit; and wherein the central processing unit is programmed to compare the sensed information with at least one of said screening codes stored in said memory and said subscriber access code, and if the transmitted information matches said at least one of said screening codes, to generate communication network commands to connect the incoming call to said at least one telephone station at a telephone network address associated with said at least one of said screening codes and if the transmitted information matches said subscriber access code, to enter a command mode wherein the caller may change data stored in said memory remotely via said exchange. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification