US4095056A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Toll restrictor access circuit
Assignee: TELE PATH IND Inc
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Filing: 1977-02-28
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1997-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A toll restrictor access circuit for use with a plurality of toll restrictors shared by a group of telephone lines is disclosed. The access circuit connects a toll restrictor to a telephone line when a call is initiated so that the number dialed by the caller can be monitored to determine whether the number being dialed is one that is authorized. The toll restrictor controls a polarity reversal relay in the access circuit to disable the telephone dial until a dial tone is detected. If the caller dials a valid number, the toll restrictor energizes a permit relay in the access circuit which allows the call to be completed in the normal manner. The permit relay also de-energizes the polarity reversal relay thereby disabling the telephone dial and releases the toll restrictor so that it may be used by another telephone line. If on the other hand the caller dials a prohibited number, the toll restrictor energizes a restrict relay which disconnects the telephone instrument from the telephone line. At this point, either a busy signal or a recorded announcement can be connected to the telephone instrument. Energization of the restrict relay also de-energizes the polarity reversal relay and releases the toll restrictor. Connection of the toll restrictor to the telephone line also results in energization of a supervisory relay which, together with a time delay circuit, is effective to defeat unauthorized calls by means of flashing the telephone instrument hook switch. The access circuit permits the use of two or more toll restrictors to be shared by a group of telephone lines and may be used either with key system or switchboard system installations. In either type of installation, restricted and non-restricted telephones are classified upon installation. The access circuit includes circuitry to recognize the classification of the telephone instruments.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel J. Ewen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/66; H04M1/677
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a telephone call from a restricted telephone instrument on one of said telephone lines for connecting said toll restrictor to the telephone line, said toll restrictor thereafter monitoring said telephone line to detect a dial tone, polarity-reversal means connected to the telephone line of the restricted telephone for normally disabling the telephone dial but responsive to said toll restrictor after the detection of a dial tone for reversing the polarity of the telephone line and enabling the telephone dial, and restrict means controlled by said toll restrictor for disconnecting the restricted telephone from the telephone line in the event that a prohibited number is dialed and detected, said restrict means also causing said polarity reversal means to resume its normal condition to prevent further operation of the telephone dial and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a telephone call from a restricted telephone instrument on one of said telephone lines for connecting said toll restrictor to the telephone line, said toll restrictor thereafter monitoring said telephone line to detect a dial tone, polarity-reversal means connected to the telephone line of the restricted telephone for normally disabling the telephone dial but responsive to said toll restrictor after the detection of a dial tone for reversing the polarity of the telephone line and enabling the telephone dial, and restrict means controlled by said toll restrictor for disconnecting the restricted telephone from the telephone line in the event that a prohibited number is dialed and detected, said restrict means also causing said polarity reversal means to resume its normal condition to prevent further operation of the telephone dial and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone for connecting said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, and permit means controlled by said toll restrictor for permitting the completion of a call to a valid number and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone for connecting said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, and permit means controlled by said toll restrictor for permitting the completion of a call to a valid number and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 2 for use with a plurality of toll restrictors, said access means being connected to each of said plurality of toll restrictors and responsive to the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone for connecting only a single one of said plurality of toll restrictors to the telephone line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 3 wherein said access means includes interlock means connected to each of said plurality of toll restrictors to prevent the connection of more than one toll restrictor to the telephone line in the event that more than one toll restrictor is free at the time a call from a restricted telephone is initiated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone to connect said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, supervisory means energized by said toll restrictor upon the connection of said toll restrictor to the telephone line, and restrict means controlled by said toll restrictor for disconnecting the restricted telephone from the telephone line in the event a prohibited number is dialed and detected, said supervisory means including time delay means to enable said restrict means in the event that said access means is falsely signaled by manipulating the hook switch of the restricted telephone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
132 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone to connect said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, supervisory means energized by said toll restrictor upon the connection of said toll restrictor to the telephone line, and restrict means controlled by said toll restrictor for disconnecting the restricted telephone from the telephone line in the event a prohibited number is dialed and detected, said supervisory means including time delay means to enable said restrict means in the event that said access means is falsely signaled by manipulating the hook switch of the restricted telephone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone to connect said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, polarity-reversal means connected to the telephone line of the restricted telephone for normally disabling the telephone dial but responsive to said toll restrictor after the detection of the dial tone for reversing the polarity of the telephone line and enabling the telephone dial, and permit means controlled by said toll restrictor for causing said polarity reversal means to resume its normal condition to prevent further operation of the telephone dial if either a valid number is dialed and detected or a predetermined period of time has elapsed and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line and, if a valid number was detected, permitting the completion of the call.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
167 words
A toll restrictor access circuit for use with at least one toll restrictor which may be shared by a group of telephone lines comprising: access means connected to said toll restrictor and enabled by the initiation of a call from a restricted telephone to connect said toll restrictor to the telephone line of the restricted telephone, polarity-reversal means connected to the telephone line of the restricted telephone for normally disabling the telephone dial but responsive to said toll restrictor after the detection of the dial tone for reversing the polarity of the telephone line and enabling the telephone dial, and permit means controlled by said toll restrictor for causing said polarity reversal means to resume its normal condition to prevent further operation of the telephone dial if either a valid number is dialed and detected or a predetermined period of time has elapsed and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line and, if a valid number was detected, permitting the completion of the call.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 6 further comprising restrict means also controlled by said toll restrictor for disconnecting the restricted telephone from the telephone line in the event a prohibited number is dialed and detected, said restrict means also causing said polarity reversal means to resume its normal condition to prevent further operation of the telephone dial and releasing said toll restrictor for use by another telephone line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 7 further comprising supervisory means energized by said toll restrictor upon the connection of said toll restrictor to the telephone line, said supervisory means including time delay means for enabling said restrict means to maintain the telephone disconnected from the telephone line in the event that the caller hangs up and again lifts his handset before the telephone exchange releases its connection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 7 for use with a plurality of toll restrictors wherein said access means includes interlock means for connecting only a single one of said plurality of toll restrictors to the telephone line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein both restricted and non-restricted telephones are connected to said telephone lines via the toll restrictor access circuit, said toll restrictor access circuit further including means for recognizing the classification of telephones as either restricted or non-restricted and permitting non-restricted telephones unlimited access to the telephone line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 7 wherein a non-restricted telephone is directly connected to the telephone line and said toll restrictor access circuit includes means for preventing the energization of said access means by the initiation of a call from a non-restricted telephone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A toll restrictor access circuit as recited in claim 11 wherein a restricted telephone associated with said non-restricted telephone contains a privacy unit for disconnecting the restricted telephone when an attempt is made to access a designated line already in use by said non-restricted access circuit includes means for providing a common connection between the non-restricted and the associated restricted telephones to permit the privacy unit to monitor said designated line to determine when it is in use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |