Computer-based method and apparatus for controlling, monitoring, recording and reporting telephone access
US6611583B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2201/40
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.