Method and apparatus for telephone call fraud detection and prevention
US6914968B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 28, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M1/67
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure discloses a method and apparatus for detecting and preventing telephone call fraud. The call fraud detector apparatus is connected to the telephone line, and includes a telephone line interface with switch hook. A parallel set detector indicates to the microcontroller that another device has gone off hook on the telephone line. The microcontroller causes the telephone line interface switch hook to also go off hook in parallel, thereby preventing pulse dialing by the other device. The device may also include a DTMF tone detector and generator to prevent DTMF dialing on the telephone line. The call fraud detector can provide a visual, audible, and/or tactile indication when unauthorized use of the telephone line occurs, and can be enabled or disabled by an external device. The call fraud detector can log the time and date of each unauthorized call placed on a line, and can also notify the telephone service provider when an unauthorized call is attempted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.