Telephone control system

Claim 2

Apparatus for controlling the level of calling permitted through a telephone facility according to the authorization level of the particular user of the facility, the facility being of the type including at least one telephone set to be controlled and at least one telephone line capable of transmitting calls of varying levels to and from the telephone set, the telephone set being adapted for use by at least one user, said user being assigned a call authorization code that identifies the user and that represents the level of calling permitted for the user over the telephone line, said apparatus comprising: A. means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for generating signals representing the call authorization code of the user; B. means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for generating signals representing the level of a call to be extended through the telephone set by the user; C. means for switchably connecting the telephone set to the telephone line; and D. control means including i. means responsive to the user authorization code signals for establishing a predetermined maximum level of authorized telephone use for the user, and ii. means responsive to the call level signals for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from the telephone line when the call to be extended by the user exceeds the user's predetermined maximum level.

Claim 3

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which the telephone set includes means for dialing a telephone number comprising a sequence of digits, in which said call level signal generating means comprises means for generating signals representing the number of digits in a dialed telephone number and in which said control means includes: i. means responsive to the user authorization code signals for establishing a predetermined authorized maximum number of dialed digits for the user based upon the user authorization code signals, and ii. means responsive to the number of dialed digits signals for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from the telephone line when the number of dialed digits exceeds said predetermined authorized maximum number of digits for the user.

Claim 4

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which the telephone set includes means for dialing a telephone number comprising a sequence of digits, in which said call level signal generating means comprises means for generating signals representing the value of the first digit in a dialed telephone number, and in which said control means includes means responsive to the first dialed digit value signals for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from the telephone line when the first digit in the dialed telephone number has a value of 0.

Claim 5

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said user authorization code signal generating means includes: i. a user identification device for identifying the user and user's call authorization code according to data encoded in said user identification device, and ii. means adapted to receive said user identification device for reading the data encoded therein and for generating the signals representing the user's call authorization code.

Claim 6

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which said control means further includes means for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from the telephone line which said user identification device is not received in said reading means.

Claim 7

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which each user has one of said user identification devices.

Claim 8

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 further including means for storing the data read by said reading means from said user identification device for each call permitted by said control means.

Claim 9

Apparatus as recited in claim 2 further including means for generating signals representing the value of the digits in the dialed telephone number and for storing the dialed digit value signals for each call permitted by said control means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including: E. a clocking means for generating signals representing day of year and time of day; and F. means coupled to said clocking means for storing the day of year and time of day signals for each call permitted by said control means.

Claim 11

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including: E. a clocking means for emitting pulses spaced by a predetermined time interval; F. means coupled to said clocking means for counting the pulses emitted thereby, said counting means being enabled upon the start of each call permitted by said control means and disabled upon the termination of each permitted call; and G. means coupled to said counting means for detecting and storing the number of pulses counted by said counting means, said number representing the elapsed time of each permitted call.

Claim 12

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which each telephone set to be controlled has an identification code, said apparatus further including means for generating and storing signals representing the identification code of the telephone set being used for each permitted call.

Claim 13

Apparatus as recited in claim 4 in which said reading means is contained in an accessory body and in which said user identification device comprises an encoded card which is manually insertable in a slot provided in said accessory body.

Claim 14

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 in which said accessory body is constructed for detachable engagement with the telephone set.

Claim 15

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 in which said accessory body is formed as a structurally integral part of telephone set.

Claim 16

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 in which said reading means includes an energy source, a card test switch for activating said energy source, said switch being located in said accessory body in a position to be contacted by said encoded card when inserted in said accessory body, said energy source being supported in said accessory body in a position to radiate energy through selectively located energy transmitting portions of said encoded card when inserted in said accessory body, and energy sensing means positioned to receive the energy selectively transmitted through said encoded card and to generate signals representing the user identification and authorization level data encoded in said card.

Claim 17

Apparatus as recited in claim 15 in which said energy source comprises a plurality of light sources supported in said accessory body in positions to radiate light through selectively located light transmitting portions of said encoded card, and in which said energy sensing means comprises a plurality of light sensitive elements positioned to receive the light selectively transmitted through said card.

Claim 18

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 in which said switchable means comprises a normally closed relay connected in series with the telephone line, said relay being opened to disconnect the telephone set from the telephone line when activated by said control means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including call enabling means for overriding said control means to permit extension of predetermined levels of calls through the telephone set independently of the user authorization code signals.

Claim 20

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 further including call enabling means for overriding said control means to permit extension of predetermined levels of calls through the telephone set independently of the insertion of said encoded card in said accessory body.

Claim 21

Apparatus as recited in claim 19 in which said call enabling means includes a first manually depressible switch mounted externally to said accessory body for permitting extension of calls of up to 6 digits independently of the insertion of said encoded card in said accessory body.

Claim 22

Apparatus as recited in claim 20 in which call enabling means includes a second manually depressible switch mounted externally of said accessory body for permitting extension of calls of up to 7 digits independently of the insertion of said encoded card in said accessory body.

Claim 23

Apparatus as recited in claim 3 further including call enabling means for overriding said control means to permit extension of a call to a dialed telephone number when the first digit in the dialed telephone number has a value of 0 provided the user call authorization code signals represent that the user is authorized to dial operator-assisted calls.

Claim 24

Apparatus for controlling the level of calling permitted through a telephone facility according to the authorization level of the particular user of the facility, the facility being of the type including a plurality of telephone sets and a telephone line associated with each telephone set capable of transmitting calls of varying levels to and from each telephone set, the telephone sets being adapted for use by a plurality of users, each user being assigned a call authorization code that identifies the user and that represents the level of calling permitted for the user over the telephone lines, at least some of said users having different call authorization levels, said apparatus comprising: A. a user identification device encoded with data representing the call authorization code of a user; B. a user identification device reading means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for reading said user identification device and for generating signals representing the authorization code data of the user using the telephone set; C. means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for generating signals representing the leve of a call to be extended through the telephone set by the user; D. means for switchably connecting the telephone set to its associated telephone line; E. control means including i. means responsive to said user authorization code data signals for establishing a predetermined maximum level of authorized telephone use for the user, and ii. means responsive to the call level signals for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from its associated telephone line when the call to be extended by the user exceeds the user's predetermined maximum level; F. means for storing said user authorization code data signals and said call level signals for each call permitted by said control means; and G. means operative substantially upon completion of each permitted call for restoring said reading means, said switchable means, said control means, and said storing means to condition for controlling subsequent calls.

Claim 25

Apparatus for controlling the level of calling permitted through a telephone facility according to the authorization level of the particular user of the facility, the facility being of the type including a plurality of telephone sets and a telephone line associated with each telephone set capable of transmitting calls of varying levels to and from each telephone set, the telephone sets being adapted for use by a plurality of users, each user being assigned a call authorization code that identifies the user and that represents the level of calling permitted for the user over the telephone lines, at least some of said users having different call authorization levels, said apparatus comprising: A. a user identification device encoded with data representing the call authorization code of a user; B. a user identification device reading means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for reading said user identification device and for generating signals representing the authorization code data of the user using the telephone set; C. means associated with each telephone set to be controlled for generating signals representing the leve of a call to be extended through the telephone set by the user; D. means for switchably connecting the telephone set to its associated telephone line; E. control means including i. means responsive to said user authorization code data signals for establishing a predetermined maximum level of authorized telephone use for the user, and ii. means responsive to the call level signals for activating said switchable means to disconnect the telephone set from its associated telephone line when the call to be extended by the user exceeds the user's predetermined maximum level; F. means for storing said user authorization code data signals and said call level signals for each call permitted by said control means; and G. means operative substantially upon completion of each permitted call for restoring said reading means, said switchable means, said control means, and said storing means to condition for controlling subsequent calls.

Claim 26

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 in which each telephone set to be controlled includes means for dialing a telephone number comprising a sequence of digits in which said call level signal generating means, comprises means for generating signals representing the value of the digits in a dialed telephone number said storing means being adapted to store said dialed digit value signals.

Claim 27

Apparatus as recited in claim 23 in which said reading means is contained in an accessory body constructed for detachable engagement with the telephone set to be controlled, and in which said user identification device comprises an encoded card which is manually insertable in a slot provided in said accessory body.

Claim 28

Apparatus as recited in claim 25 in which each user has one of said encoded cards.

Claim 31

A method as recited in claim 27 in which the telephone set includes means for dialing a telephone number comprising a sequence of digits, in which said call level signal generating step includes the step of generating signals representing the digits in a dialed telephone number, in which said establishing step comprises the steps of establishing a predetermined unauthorized first dialed digit value and establising a predetermined maximum number of authorized digits based upon said user authorization code signals, and in which said activating step comprises the step of activating said switchable means when the first dialed digit in the dialed telephone number has a value equal to that of said predetermined unauthorized first dialed digit value, and when the number of dialed digits exceeds said predetermined maximum number of authorized digits.

Claim 32

A method as recited in claim 28 further including the step of storing said user authorization code signals and said dialed digit signals for each call extending through the telephone set.