Patent · US Expired

Long distance modem warning

US6411693B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
5References
37Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 10, 2000
Grant dateJun 25, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 10, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04Q2213/13199
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer implemented method is disclosed for automatically intercepting and analyzing computer modem commands for toll characteristics andthen alternatively permitting or preventing the computer modem command based on the results of the toll analysis and user preferences. The computer modem command is analyzed by extracting any proposed telephone dialing instructions and comparing the proposed telephone number to be dialed with data provided by the local telephone service provider (TSP) in order to determine whether the proposed telephone number would result in a “toll call,” or telephone service charges over and above the usual monthly rate, if transmitted to the modem. If a telephone service charge would result, the computer user is notified and prompted to give further instructions concerning whether the toll call should be placed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.