US3872260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toll call prohibitor
Assignee: Telephonic Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1972-08-10
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1992-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A toll call prohibitor for use with a telephone system wherein directly dialed toll calls can be made from a telephone instrument. The toll call prohibitor of this invention is connected to a telephone instrument which can ordinarily be utilized for making a toll type of call and serves to limit such calls if they are not authorized. Such unauthorized calls are prevented from being made by causing the telephone instrument to be disconnected from the central office when a call to an unauthorized number or series of numbers is attempted and sensed by this invention. The toll prohibitor of this invention can be connected to a telephone line by a telephone interconnect and generally comprises a modular unit which can be connected to provide toll monitoring for a plurality of telephone instruments. The toll prohibitor incorporates a means for detecting the removal of the receiver from a telephone instrument, a power supply or voltage regulator, a series of counters which are programmed to count pulses derived from the make and break of the instrument dial and a means for determining the number of dial pulls in cooperation with a disallowed number detector for disallowing the use of the telephone upon recognition of unauthorized numbers by the modular unit. The modular unit also incorporates a means for inhibiting and resetting the entire system detection and counting circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin Neal Oatis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/677
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A combination of a telephone interconnecting means and a toll prohibiting module comprising: a telephone interconnect for providing pulses from said telephone; means for connecting said interconnect between said telephone and a central office trunk line; connection means between said interconnect and said toll prohibiting module; a relay within the circuit of said toll prohibiting module; detection means within said toll prohibiting module for determining when the telephone receiver is off tHe telephone instrument, connected within said module to activate the toll prohibiting function; means for providing power to said toll prohibiting module; means connected within said module to said connection means for counting the total of the respective numbers being dialed on the telephone; a separate means also connected within said module to said connection means from said total number counting means for counting the number of pulses from said telephone instrument which are being generated by the telephone in order to provide an indication of a discrete number being dialed; and, means to operate said relay to open a connection between said telephone instrument and said central office trunk in response to either a discrete number or a total of numbers from the telephone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
A combination of a telephone interconnecting means and a toll prohibiting module comprising: a telephone interconnect for providing pulses from said telephone; means for connecting said interconnect between said telephone and a central office trunk line; connection means between said interconnect and said toll prohibiting module; a relay within the circuit of said toll prohibiting module; detection means within said toll prohibiting module for determining when the telephone receiver is off tHe telephone instrument, connected within said module to activate the toll prohibiting function; means for providing power to said toll prohibiting module; means connected within said module to said connection means for counting the total of the respective numbers being dialed on the telephone; a separate means also connected within said module to said connection means from said total number counting means for counting the number of pulses from said telephone instrument which are being generated by the telephone in order to provide an indication of a discrete number being dialed; and, means to operate said relay to open a connection between said telephone instrument and said central office trunk in response to either a discrete number or a total of numbers from the telephone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a relay within said interconnect capable of opening the tip ring and ground connections to the central office.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination as claimed in claim 2 further comprising: a noise filter for eliminating unwanted signals emanating from said telephone instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pulse counting means comprise: a pulse decade counter; and, means for converting a binary output of said pulse decade counter into a demultiplexed signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4 further comprising: a power supply capable of delivering five volts to the integrated circuits utilized with the combination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
129 words
A combination for prohibiting a particular call from a telephone instrument comprising: a hook switch circuit for determining when the receiver of a telephone instrument has been removed from its hook; means connected to said hook switch circuit and to a telephone instrument for detecting pulses emanating from a telephone in response to the turn of its dial corresponding to a specific number thereof; a second means connected to said first means for counting the number of dial pulls; and, a third means connected to said first and second means responding to the foregoing number of pulses or the number of dial pulls to disconnect the telephone instrument from the central office trunk line upon a pre-established number of pulses or a pre-established number of turns of the dial.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
129 words
A combination for prohibiting a particular call from a telephone instrument comprising: a hook switch circuit for determining when the receiver of a telephone instrument has been removed from its hook; means connected to said hook switch circuit and to a telephone instrument for detecting pulses emanating from a telephone in response to the turn of its dial corresponding to a specific number thereof; a second means connected to said first means for counting the number of dial pulls; and, a third means connected to said first and second means responding to the foregoing number of pulses or the number of dial pulls to disconnect the telephone instrument from the central office trunk line upon a pre-established number of pulses or a pre-established number of turns of the dial.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as claimed in claim 6 further comprising: a noise filter having a diode and a transistor to chop the high and low ends of a pulse from the output of the filter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |