US5483581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing an automated collect call
Assignee: T-NETIX Inc
•
Filing: 1994-06-06
•
Granted: 1996-01-09
•
Expires: 2014-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Hird
- 👤 Lindsey D. Owen
- 👤 Michael R. Rice
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04M; H04M15/00; H04M15/08; H04M17/00; H04M17/02; H04M3/00; H04M3/42; H04M3/50; H04M3/527; H04M3/53; H04M3/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A pay telephone station operable to be used by a patron placing a collect telephone call through a telecommunications network, the pay telephone station comprising: keypad circuitry operable to receive a sequence of digits input by the patron, the sequence of digits comprising an initial access format, an area code, and a destination phone number, the initial access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call is to be billed to an account not associated with the pay telephone station; a memory operable to store configuration data for the pay telephone station; call conversion circuitry operable to change the initial access format to an altered access format responsive to the configuration data stored in the memory, the altered access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call to be billed to an account associated with the pay telephone station; call completion circuitry for placing the call through the telecommunications network using said altered access format, said area code, and said destination telephone number; circuitry for modifying the memory with data received through the telecommunications network from a remote site; and each of said circuitries and memory resident within a single payphone housing enclosing the telephone pay station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A pay telephone station operable to be used by a patron placing a collect telephone call through a telecommunications network, the pay telephone station comprising: keypad circuitry operable to receive a sequence of digits input by the patron, the sequence of digits comprising an initial access format, an area code, and a destination phone number, the initial access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call is to be billed to an account not associated with the pay telephone station; a memory operable to store configuration data for the pay telephone station; call conversion circuitry operable to change the initial access format to an altered access format responsive to the configuration data stored in the memory, the altered access format indicating to the telecommunications network a telephone call to be billed to an account associated with the pay telephone station; call completion circuitry for placing the call through the telecommunications network using said altered access format, said area code, and said destination telephone number; circuitry for modifying the memory with data received through the telecommunications network from a remote site; and each of said circuitries and memory resident within a single payphone housing enclosing the telephone pay station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the memory is operable to store rate information for billing the telephone call.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the initial access format is a 0 plus number and the altered access format is a 1 plus number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pay telephone station of claim 1, wherein the memory is operable to store programmable telephone numbers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3829617A
Cited
US3813495A
Cited
US4054756A
Cited
US4122308A
Cited
US4326123A
Cited
GB2134749A
Cited
US4585904A
Cited
US4439636A
Cited
US4595983A
Cited
US4538030A
Cited
US4736405A
Cited
US4763350A
Cited
US4593157A
Cited
US4712230A
Cited
EP0185365A1
Cited
US4768223A
Cited
US4791640A
Cited
US4746786A
Cited
US4731818A
Cited
US4797910A
Cited
JPS633305A
Cited
FR2600850A1
Cited
US4777647A
Cited
US4766604A
Cited
US4769834A
Cited
US4935956A
Cited
US4825460A
Cited
US5319701A
Cited
US5153907A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |