US5655013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer-based method and apparatus for controlling, monitoring, recording and reporting telephone access
Assignee: Securus Technologies Holdings Inc
•
Filing: 1995-08-02
•
Granted: 1997-08-05
•
Expires: 2015-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for managing institutional telephone activity utilizes a computer control unit to control a trunk management unit, which connects institutional telephones to outside telephone lines. The computer control unit contains a database for storing the calling privileges and restrictions of institutional users and for recording calling transactions made by the users. The computer control unit implements a prospective call screening feature whereby outside recipients of undesired calls from the institution may enter a code that directs the computer control unit to prohibit similar calls in the future.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay L. Gainsboro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04M3/22; H04M3/2281; H04M3/36; H04M19/00; H04M19/02; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M3/382; H04M3/387; H04M3/42; H04M3/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit all callers within said institution from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
111 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit all callers within said institution from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 1, wherein step (4) includes the step of: detecting a specific sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 2, wherein said sequence of DTMF tones includes the sequence GOTU or 4688.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (5) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit all callers within said institution, and/or within related institution(s), from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 4, wherein step (5) includes the step of: detecting a specific sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 5 wherein said sequence of DTMF tones includes the sequence GOTU or 4688.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of: (5) determining, in response to said control code, whether to: (i) prohibit said institutional caller from calling said outside party in the future and (ii) prohibit any caller from within said institution from calling said outside caller in the future.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 7, wherein step (2)(c) involves detecting a sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 8, wherein step (2)(c) involves detecting the sequence GOTU.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 7, wherein step (4) further determines whether to: (iii) prohibit any caller from within any affiliated institution from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit said institutional caller from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit said institutional caller from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 11, wherein step (4) includes the step of: detecting a specific sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 12, wherein said sequence of DTMF tones includes the sequence GOTU or 4688.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit all callers within said institution, or within one or more related institutions, from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to prohibit all callers within said institution, or within one or more related institutions, from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 14, wherein step (4) includes the step of: detecting a specific sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 15, wherein said sequence of DTMF tones includes the sequence GOTU or 4688.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to: (i) prohibit said institutional caller from calling said outside party in the future and (ii) prohibit any caller from within said institution from calling said outside caller in the future.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) identifying an institutional caller who wishes to place an outside call to an outside recipient; (2) blocking the institutional caller, and while the institutional caller's line remains blocked: (a) calling said outside recipient; (b) providing the identity of said institutional caller to said outside recipient; and (c) receiving a control code from said outside recipient; (3) determining, in response to said control code, whether to connect the institutional caller to the outside recipient; and (4) determining, in response to said control code, whether to: (i) prohibit said institutional caller from calling said outside party in the future and (ii) prohibit any caller from within said institution from calling said outside caller in the future.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 17, wherein step (2)(c) involves detecting a specific sequence of DTMF tones.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 18, wherein step (2)(c) involves detecting the sequence GOTU.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 17, wherein step (4) further determines whether to: (iii) prohibit any caller from within any affiliated institution from calling said outside recipient in the future.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of managing telephone activity as defined in claim 20, wherein step (2)(c) involves detecting a sequence of DTMF tones corresponding to the mnemonic GOTU.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4054756A
Cited
US4935956A
Cited
US5355403A
Cited
US5309505A
Cited
JPH0530193A
Cited
US5329578A
Cited
US5319702A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-04 | 2001-02-03 | 2001-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-04 | 2005-02-03 | 2005-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-04 | 2009-02-03 | 2009-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |