US5926533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer-based method and apparatus for controlling, monitoring, recording and reporting telephone access
Assignee: Opus Telecom LLC
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Filing: 1996-10-04
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Granted: 1999-07-20
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Expires: 2016-10-04
Abstract
Abstract A telephone station interface is provided with apparatus for detecting when a called party has or is attempting to patch or bridge one telephone call with another telephone call. The detecting of such bridging or conferencing is accomplished through the detection of tones which are commonly associated with such activities, such as a ring signal, a busy signal, special information tones (SIT tones), dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF) tones or so-called Touch Tones, call progress tones, or other tones that occur when calls are placed. The present invention does not have the capability of sensing clicks, pops, or other audio signals associated with the conferencing of multiple communications circuits. The method and apparatus herein are for managing institutional telephone activity, and utilize a computer control unit to control a trunk management unit, which connects institutional telephones to outside telephone lines.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay L. Gainsboro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/22; H04M3/2281; H04M3/36; H04M3/38; H04M19/00; H04M19/02; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40; H04M3/382; H04M3/387; H04M3/42; H04M3/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing dial tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said dial tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing dial tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said dial tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the cadence of said dial tones is detected.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing ring tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said ring tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing ring tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said ring tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 3 wherein the cadence of said ring tones is detected.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing busy tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said busy tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing busy tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said busy tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 5 wherein the cadence of said busy tones is detected.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing SIT tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said SIT tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing SIT tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said SIT tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the cadence of said SIT tones is detected.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing call progress tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said call progress tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of managing telephone activity in an institution, comprising the steps of: (1) providing a first communication connection between an institutional caller and an outside recipient; (2) sensing call progress tones present along said first communication connection; and (3) comparing said call progress tones with a set of predetermined tones to determine whether said outside recipient is attempting to bridge said first communication connection with a second communication connection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the cadence of said call progress tones is detected.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of dial tones, and wherein said dial tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of dial tones, and wherein said dial tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cadence of said dial tones is detected.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of ring tones, and wherein said ring tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of ring tones, and wherein said ring tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the cadence of said ring tones is detected.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of busy tones, and wherein said busy tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of busy tones, and wherein said busy tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cadence of said busy tones is detected.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of SIT tones, and wherein said SIT tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of SIT tones, and wherein said SIT tones correspond to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cadence of said SIT tones is detected.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of call progress tones, and wherein said call progress tones corresponds to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
86 words
An apparatus for managing telephone comprising: (1) a first communication connection between a caller and a called party; (2) a tone monitor for monitoring said first communication connection, wherein said monitor is responsive to the occurrence of call progress tones, and wherein said call progress tones corresponds to attempts by said called party to connect said first communication connection with a second communication connection; and (3) a call handler activated by said tone monitor for preventing said first and said second communication connections from being connected.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the cadence of said call progress tones is detected.
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) | 2002-07-19 | 2003-01-18 | 2003-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-07-19 | 2007-01-18 | 2007-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-07-19 | 2011-01-18 | 2011-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |