Telecommunication call management and monitoring system

• US 7,333,798 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global Tel-Link Corporation
• Original Assignee: Value-Added Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Hodge, Stephen Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): GELIN, JEAN ALLAND
• Application Number:
  US10/215,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,021 Days
• Field of Search: 455/410, 455/411, 455/563, 455/405, 455/406, 455/555, 455/560, 455/414.1, 455/445, 455/55, 379/88.19, 379/88.02, 379/114.03, 379/265.01, 379/142.1, 379/142.2, 379/142.05, 379/142.06, 379/93.02, 726/5, 713/169, 713/202, 380/247, 235/379
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/435 having six-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/44 Non condensed pyridines; Hydrogenated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/505 Pyrimidines; Hydrogenated pyrimidines, e.g. trimethoprim
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5854 using shape and object relationship
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/587 using geographical or spatial information, e.g. location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/683 using metadata automatically derived from the content
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07762 the adhering arrangement making the record carrier wearable, e.g. having the form of a ring, watch, glove or bracelet record carriers for insertion in the human body for medical purposes A61B90/00; record carriers adapted for attachment to animals A01K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/10 at least one kind of marking being used for authentication, e.g. of credit or identity cards verification of coded identity or credit cards in mechanisms actuated by them G07F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10396 the interrogation device being wearable, e.g. as a glove, bracelet, or ring wearable aerials in general H01Q1/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition speaker recognition per se G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 : Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/305 : Recording playback features, e.g. increased speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/558 : Databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 : Biometric subscriber identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 : with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2218 : Call detail recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 : Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• 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 3/382 : using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 : using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42025 : Calling or Called party identification service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 : Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 : Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A secure telephone call management system is provided for authenticating users of a telephone system in an institutional facility. Authentication of the users of the telephone call management system is accomplished by using a personal identification number, biometric means, and/or radio frequency means. The secure telephone call management system includes accounting software capable of limiting access to the system based on funds in a user'"'"'s account or other related limitations. The system includes management software capable of implementing widespread or local changes to the system and is further capable of modifying or setting any number of user account parameters.

Claims

1. A method for restricting access to a public telephone network using a telephone call management system, said method comprising the steps of:

assigning a first identification number to each of a plurality of potential callers;

scanning a first fingerprint of at least one of said potential callers;

storing said first fingerprint and said first identification number in a database;

during each access attempt to said public telephone network by said potential caller;

prompting said caller to input a second identification number;

scanning a second fingerprint of at least one of said potential callers;

matching said first and second identification numbers; and

comparing said second fingerprint with said fingerprint associated with said first identification number; and

granting said caller access to said public telephone network to attempt to place a telephone call if said second fingerprint matches said first fingerprint.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said identification number is a Personal Identification Number (PIN).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said user provides said PIN using a dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) keypad.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

verifying whether a telephone number dialed by said caller is on an allowed call list for said caller; and

allowing said telephone call if said dialed number is on said allowed call list.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

preventing said telephone call if said dialed number is not on said allowed call list.