Patent · US Expired

Computer-based method and apparatus for controlling, monitoring, recording and reporting telephone access

US7106843B1 · kind B1 · utility

580Cited by
91References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1998
Grant dateSep 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2201/41
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for managing institutional telephone activity utilizing a computer-based telephony management unit to connect institutional telephones with outside telephone lines. The unit provides institutional users with fully automated, direct dial and collect calling privileges for local, long distance, and international calls. The unit contains a database for storing the calling privileges and restrictions of institutional users, for recording calling transactions made by the users, and for managing user monetary accounts. The unit can record up to 400 hours of conversation in a digital format. The unit provides various administrative capabilities, including user account management, audit trails, transaction reports, centralized management and report capabilities, and detection of fraudulent calling.

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