Multi-user telephone line
First Claim
1. In an intelligent switched telephone network, having selected telephone lines connected to a plurality of particular locations, a method of restricting use of a telephone service from at least one of said selected telephone lines at a particular location, comprising the steps of:
- activating a telephone line for a first level of service of a plurality of levels of service and associating said telephone line with a particular user for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location when a valid code at said particular location has been entered, said valid code comprising a first logon code followed by a first valid access code; and
deactivating said telephone line from said telephone service at said particular location when a second logon code at said particular location has been entered.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for a method of restricting access to authorized users of telephone service from a telephone at a particular location which telephone is accessible by more than one individual. The present invention provides for a method of activating a telephone line by entering a valid access code and deactivating the telephone line by entering a second valid code. Calls may not generally be placed from the telephone when the telephone line deactivated. Calls made from the telephone line after the telephone line has been activated by a valid access code will be attributed to the user associated with the access code. The present invention also provides for a method of routing calls which have been designated as escape codes or priority numbers although the telephone line is in a deactivated state. The present invention also provides a method for activating the telephone line by first entering a logon code followed by an access code which is associated with a user. The access codes may be further used to identify users for which toll calls are not permitted. If an authorized user'"'"'s access code contains a toll restriction indicator, toll calls attempted by the authorized user when logged in under the user'"'"'s access code will not be routed.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In an intelligent switched telephone network, having selected telephone lines connected to a plurality of particular locations, a method of restricting use of a telephone service from at least one of said selected telephone lines at a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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activating a telephone line for a first level of service of a plurality of levels of service and associating said telephone line with a particular user for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location when a valid code at said particular location has been entered, said valid code comprising a first logon code followed by a first valid access code; and deactivating said telephone line from said telephone service at said particular location when a second logon code at said particular location has been entered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In an intelligent switched telephone network, having selected telephone lines connected to a plurality of particular locations, a method of restricting use of a telephone service from at least one of said selected telephone lines at a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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activating a telephone line for a plurality of levels of service and associating said telephone line with a particular user for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location when a valid code at said particular location has been entered, said valid code comprising a first logon code followed by a first valid access code; and deactivating said telephone line from said telephone service at said particular location when a second logon code at said particular location has been entered. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In an intelligent switched telephone network, having selected telephone lines connected to a plurality of particular locations, a method of restricting use of a telephone service from a telephone line at a particular location, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first valid logon code from a user from one of said particular locations; activating said telephone line associated with said telephone service for said user for subsequent calls at one of said particular locations in response to said step of receiving said first valid logon code; and deactivating said telephone line in response to receiving a second valid logon code said second valid logon code, representing a telephone line activation code of another user, receipt of said second valid logon code causing deactivation of association of said telephone line with said telephone service for said user and said telephone line being activated and associated with said telephone service for said another user. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of restricting the use of telephone service, with exception of provision of said telephone service in response to entry of an escape code, at a particular location to one of a plurality of subscribers, comprising the steps of:
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dedicating said use of said telephone service, with said exception of provision of said telephone service in response to entry of said escape code, to said plurality of subscribers, each of said plurality of subscribers having obtained an advanced subscription so as to receive said telephone service at said particular location in response to input of a valid logon code on a telephone line associated with said particular location; receiving a code; checking whether said code corresponds to said valid logon code of one of said plurality of subscribers; if said valid logon code is received, then activating said telephone line for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location; and deactivating said telephone line for said telephone service at said particular location in response to receiving a second logon code. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of restricting use of a telephone service from a telephone line at a particular location to sequential use of said telephone service by a first subscriber and then a second subscriber, comprising the steps of:
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checking whether a first code entered at said particular location corresponds to a first valid code of said first subscriber; if said first code corresponds to said first valid code, then activating and associating said telephone line with said first subscriber for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location; checking whether a second code entered at said particular location corresponds to a second valid code of said second subscriber; and if said second code corresponds to said second valid code, then disassociating said telephone line from said first subscriber and associating said telephone line with said second subscriber for further subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of preventing the use of telephone service, with exception of provision of said telephone service in response to entry of an escape code, at a particular location unless a valid logon code of one of a plurality of subscribers is received, comprising the steps of:
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providing an association between said telephone service at said particular location and said plurality of subscribers; receiving a logon code; checking whether said logon code corresponds to a valid logon code of one of said plurality of subscribers; if said valid logon code is received, then activating a telephone line for subsequent calls associated with said telephone service at said particular location; and deactivating said telephone line for said telephone service at said particular location in response to receiving a second logon code.
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Specification