Method and system to meter and control usage of telephone systems

• US 6,246,756 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsemi Semiconductor (U.S.) Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Hartmann, Al, Borland, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIEU, BINH KIEN
• Application Number:
  US09/270,707
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 379/111, 379/112, 379/114, 379/130, 379/140, 379/142, 379/131, 379/132, 379/143, 379/144, 379/145, 379/153, 379/155, 379/168, 379/177, 379/182, 379/183, 379/184, 379/187, 379/189, 379/194, 379/195, 379/199, 379/188, 379/196, 379/200, 379/350, 379/352
• US Class Current: 379/142.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards

Abstract

A method and a system to meter and control the usage of a telephone. The metering and control functions are applicable for specific outgoing or incoming destination, the specific user of the telephone, the time of the day when an outgoing call is made or an incoming call is received, and the calling time allowed either collectively or per the specific outgoing or incoming destination. At least one list of a plurality of lists is stored. Each of the stored lists includes at least one entry, and each entry includes at least one of a plurality of fields. The fields within an entry contain information that is used by the metering circuitry to execute the control functions. The outgoing or incoming phone number is received and encoded using a codec unit and compared with all the entries stored within the lists. The result of the comparison is used to determine if a match exists between the encoded phone number and one of the entries stored within the lists. A request for a user identification code is made if a match is obtained. Subsequently, the information contained in the entry'"'"'s fields is used to control the user access to use the telephone and to meter the user access when the latter is granted. If no match between the encoded phone number and one of the entries is found, or the identified user has access availability, the encoded phone number is decoded and the call is permitted.

Claims

1. A method for managing a user'"'"'s usage of a telephone system, wherein the telephone system includes a dialer to dial telephone numbers and a transmitter to transmit an outgoing call upon a telephone line, wherein the outgoing call is initiated by the user, the method comprising:

storing a list of one or more registered users;

storing telephone usage information for each of the one or more registered users, wherein the telephone usage information is indicative of permissible telephone usage by that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information is associated with an identification of that registered user, wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of a permissible telephone usage time constraint;

receiving a first series of dialing signals entered by the user;

wherein the first series of dialing signals includes call information which includes an identification of the user and an outgoing number;

comparing the call information to the telephone usage information; and

denying use of the telephone system to the user if the comparing is indicative of a denial of usage condition, wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the user'"'"'s usage of the telephone system violates the permissible telephone usage time constraint.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the indentification of the user matches the idenification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint comprises a permissible telephone usage time interval, wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval comprises a starting time and an ending time;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call initiated by the user is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call initiated by the user is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of an outgoing call destination;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval is further associated with the outgoing call destination;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call initiated by the user is to the outgoing call destination and is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call initiated by the user is to the outgoing call destination and is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information indicative of an outgoing call destination comprises a plurality of digits that represent at least a portion of the outgoing telephone number, wherein the plurality of digits comprises one of 1) a seven-digit telephone number that does not include digits representing an area code of the outgoing call, 2) a ten-digit telephone number that includes digits representing the area code of the outgoing call, or 3) a specified number of digits that is indicative of a class of the telephone number of the outgoing call, and wherein the class includes a number of digits of the telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the identification of the user does not match the identification of one of the one or more registered users.

6. The method of claim 2,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of an outgoing call destination;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone in connection to the outgoing call destination; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination exceeds the maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination.

7. The method of claim 6,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination comprises a maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination for the particular time period.

8. The method of claim 1,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user exceeds the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user.

9. The method of claim 8,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user for the particular time period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the registered user comprises a user identification code, wherein the user identification code is unique to the registered user, and wherein the user identification code is assigned to the registered user by an owner of the telephone system.

11. A method for managing a user'"'"'s usage of a telephone system, wherein the telephone system includes a dialer to dial telephone numbers and an incoming call identifier, the method comprising:

storing a list of one or more registered users;

storing telephone usage information for each of the one or more registered users, wherein the telephone usage information is indicative of permissible telephone usage by that registered user, wherein the telephone usage information is associated with an identification of that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of a permissible telephone usage time constraint;

receiving an incoming call, wherein a telephone number of the incoming call is stored by the incoming call identifier of the telephone system;

receiving a first series of dialing signals entered by the user wherein the first series of dialing signals includes call information that includes an identification of the user;

comparing the call information to the telephone usage information; and

denying use of the telephone system to the user if the comparing is indicative of a denial of usage condition;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the user'"'"'s usage of the telephone system violates the permissible telephone usage time constraint.

12. The method of claim 11,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint comprises a permissible telephone usage time interval, wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval comprises a starting time and an ending time;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of an incoming call source;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval is further associated with the incoming call source;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is from the incoming call source and is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is from the incoming call source and is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information indicative of an incoming call source comprises a plurality of digits that represent at least a portion of the outgoing telephone number, wherein the plurality of digits comprises one of 1) a seven-digit telephone number that does not include digits representing an area code of the incoming call, 2) a ten-digit telephone number that includes digits representing the area code of the incoming call, or 3) a specified number of digits that is indicative of a class of the telephone number of the incoming call, and wherein the class includes a number of digits of the telephone number.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the identification of the user does not match the identification of one of the one or more registered users.

16. The method of claim 11,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of an incoming call source;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicating a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to incoming call source;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone in connection to the incoming call source; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source exceeds the maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source for the particular time period.

18. The method of claim 11,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user exceeds the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user for the particular time period.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the identification of the registered user comprises a user identification code, wherein the user identification code is unique to the registered user, and wherein the user identification code is assigned to the registered user by an owner of the telephone system.

21. A telephone system for managing usage by a user, the system comprising:

an entry device configured to dial a telephone number for an outgoing call;

a transmitter configured to transmit the outgoing call; and

a metering unit coupled to the entry device and the transmitter, wherein the metering unit is configured to;

store a list of one or more registered users;

store telephone usage information for each of the one or more registered users, wherein the telephone usage information is indicative of permissible telephone usage by that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information is associated with an identification of that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of a permissible telephone usage time constraint;

receive a first series of dialing signals entered by the user;

wherein the first series of dialing signals includes call information, which includes an identification of the user and an outgoing number;

compare the call information to the telephone usage information; and

deny use of the telephone system to the user if the comparing is indicative of a denial of usage condition;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the user'"'"'s usage of the telephone system violates the permissible telephone usage time constraint.

22. The telephone system of claim 21,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint comprises a permissible telephone usage time interval, wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval comprises a starting time and an ending time;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

23. The telephone system of claim 22,

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of an outgoing call destination;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval is further associated with the outgoing call destination;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call is to the outgoing call destination and is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the outgoing call is to the outgoing call destination and is not completed during the permissible telephone usage time interval.

24. The telephone system of claim 23, wherein the information indicative of an outgoing call destination comprises a plurality of digits that represent at least a portion of the outgoing telephone number, wherein the plurality of digits comprises one of 1) a seven-digit telephone number that does not include digits representing an area code of the outgoing call, 2) a ten-digit telephone number that includes digits representing the area code of the outgoing call, or 3) a specified number of digits that is indicative of a class of the telephone number of the outgoing call, and wherein the class includes a number of digits of the telephone number.

25. The telephone system of claim 21, wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the identification of the user does not match the identification of one of the one or more registered users.

26. The telephone system of claim 21,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of an outgoing call destination;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicating a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination;

wherein the permissible telephone usage information includes a maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone in connection to the outgoing call destination; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination exceeds the maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination.

27. The telephone system of claim 26,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the outgoing call destination for the particular time period.

28. The telephone system of claim 21,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user exceeds the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user.

29. The telephone system of claim 28,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user for the particular time period.

30. The telephone system of claim 21, wherein the identification of the registered user comprises a user identification code, wherein the user identification code is unique to the registered user, and wherein the user identification code is assigned to the registered user by an owner of the telephone system.

31. The telephone system of claim 21, further comprising:

an access control unit configured to enable storing telephone usage information using an access code that is known by an owner of the telephone system, and wherein the access code includes a series of digits;

an announcement generator configured to broadcast at least one of a plurality of announcements, wherein one or more of the plurality of announcements are adapted to provide instructions for entering, deleting, and updating the entries through the access control unit, to provide status information when access to the access control unit is denied, and to provide requests generated by the metering unit to the user; and

a display unit that is configured to display the instructions, the status information, and data related to outgoing telephone calls and incoming telephone calls.

32. A telephone system for managing usage by user, the system comprising:

an entry device configured to dial a number;

a receiver configured to receive an incoming call;

an incoming call identifier; and

a metering unit coupled to the entry device, the receiver, and the incoming call identifier, wherein the metering unit is configured to;

store a list of one or more registered users;

store telephone usage information for each of the one or more registered users, wherein the telephone usage information is indicative of permissible telephone usage by that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information is associated with an identification of that registered user, and wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of a permissible telephone usage time constraint;

store a telephone number of the incoming call which is identified by the incoming call identifier of the telephone system;

receive a first series of dialing signals entered by the user wherein the first series of dialing signals includes call information that includes an identification of the user;

compare the call information to the telephone usage information; and

deny use of the telephone system to the user if the comparing is indicative of a denial of usage condition;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the user'"'"'s usage of the telephone system violates the permissible telephone usage time constraint.

33. The telephone system of claim 32,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint comprises a permissible telephone usage time interval, wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval comprises a starting time and an ending time;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

34. The telephone system of claim 33,

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of an incoming call source;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time interval is further associated with the incoming call source;

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is from the incoming call source and is not initiated during the permissible telephone usage time interval; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the incoming call is from the incoming call source and is not completed during the permissible telephone usage interval.

35. The telephone system of claim 34, wherein the information indicative of an incoming call source comprises a plurality of digits that represent at least a portion of the incoming telephone number, wherein the plurality of digits comprises one of 1) a seven-digit telephone number that does not include digits representing an area code of the incoming call, 2) a ten-digit telephone number that includes digits representing the area code of the incoming call, or 3) a specified number of digits that is indicative of a class of the telephone number of the incoming call, and wherein the class includes a number of digits of the telephone number.

36. The telephone system of claim 32, wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the identification of the user does not match the identification of one of the one or more registered users.

37. The telephone system of claim 32,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information includes information indicative of an incoming call source;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicating a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint comprises a maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone in connection to the incoming call source; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source exceeds the maximum cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source.

38. The telephone system of claim 37,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user in connection to the incoming call source for the particular time period.

39. The telephone system of claim 32,

wherein the identification of the user matches the identification of one of the one or more registered users;

wherein the telephone usage information further includes information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the permissible telephone usage time constraint includes a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user;

wherein the information indicative of a cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is updated each time the registered user uses the telephone; and

wherein the denial of usage condition is indicated if the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user exceeds the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user.

40. The telephone system of claim 39,

wherein the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user is reset to zero periodically, thereby providing the cumulative time of telephone use by the registered user for a particular time period;

and

wherein the maximum time of telephone use by the registered user comprises a maximum time of telephone use by the registered user for the particular time period.

41. The telephone system of claim 32, wherein the identification of the registered user comprises a user identification code, wherein the user identification code is unique to the registered user, and wherein the user identification code is assigned to the registered user by an owner of the telephone system.

42. The telephone system of claim 41, further including a card reader that is configured to read a card that is assigned to the user, wherein the card reader is adapted to enter the user identification code of the user, and wherein an output of the card reader is received by the metering unit upon a request for the user identification code by the metering unit.

43. The telephone system of claim 32, further comprising:

an access control unit configured to enable storing of entries in the list using an access code that is known by an owner of the telephone system, and wherein the access code includes a series of digits,

an announcement generator configured to broadcast at least one of a plurality of announcement, wherein one or more of the plurality of announcements are adapted to provide instructions for entering, deleting, and updating the entries through the access control unit and status information when the access is denied, and to provide requests generated by the metering unit to the user;

a display unit that is configured to display the instruction, the status information, and data related to outgoing telephone calls, and incoming telephone calls; and

a selector unit that is configured to capture the telephone number of the incoming call that is received by the telephone system.