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System and method for controlling telephone use

  • US 5,864,613 A
  • Filed: 09/16/1996
  • Issued: 01/26/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling access between a telephone and a telephone network based on user-supplied access criteria, comprising:

  • a database for storing the access criteria;

    means for modifying the access criteria stored in said database in response to commands received from the telephone;

    a switch, electrically coupled between the telephone and the telephone network, for selectively coupling the telephone and the telephone network based on the access criteria stored in said database;

    means for rejecting calls to the telephone from at least one telephone number when the access criteria stored in said database indicates that calls from said telephone number are blocked;

    means for rejecting calls from the telephone to at least one further telephone number when the access criteria stored in said database indicates that calls to said further telephone number are blocked;

    means for allowing calls between the telephone and a blocked telephone number during a validity period when the access criteria stored in said database includes said validity period for said blocked telephone number; and

    means for allowing calls between the telephone and said blocked telephone number for a duration during said validity period when the access criteria stored in said database includes said duration for said blocked telephone number wherein said duration is a sum of lengths of time for multiple calls between the telephone and said blocked telephone number.

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