System and method for controlling outgoing telephone calls

A method of controlling outgoing telephone calls, comprising:

• a) restricting destination telephone numbers dialed from a telephone on a telephone line;
• b) providing a user identifier to the telephone line, the user identifier having at least one call control limitation associated therewith;
• c) dialing a restricted destination telephone number from the telephone;
• d) entering the user identifier;
• e) determining whether the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection between the telephone line and the restricted destination telephone number;
• and
• f) if the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection, completing the telephone call.

A method of controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone network, comprising:

• a) subscribing a telephone line to a system which restricts calls to a set of one or more restricted destination telephone numbers from a telephone on a telephone line, the subscribing including providing a user identifier to the telephone line, the user identifier having at least one call control limitation associated therewith;
• b) dialing one of the restricted destination telephone numbers from a telephone on the telephone line;
• c) entering the user identifier at the telephone;
• d) determining whether the at least one call control limitation associated with the user identifier permits connection between the telephone line and the dialed restricted destination telephone number;
• and
• e) if the at least one call control limitation assigned to the user identifier permits connection, completing the telephone call.

A method for controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone line by users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, comprising:

• a) providing a system including a server coupled to a database which stores subscribed telephone lines, user identifiers for users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, and at least one call control limitation associated with at least one of the user identifiers;
• b) subscribing the telephone line to said system;
• c) designating a user identifier for each user of the telephone on the telephone line;
• d) using a computer in communication with the server of the system to log into the server;
• and
• e) assigning at least one call control limitation to at least one of the user identifiers from the computer.

A method for budgeting telephone calls by a user over a telephone line, comprising.

• a) providing a plurality of templates, each having a plurality of calling rates:
• b) providing a user with an account balance;
• c) using one of the templates to determine a calling rate for a particular telephone call;
• d) monitoring a length of the particular telephone call;
• e) determining an effective cost for the particular telephone call based upon the calling rate and the length of the particular telephone call;
• and
• f) deducting the effective cost from the account balance to provide an updated account balance.

A method for controlling outgoing telephone calls over a telephone line by users of a telephone coupled to the telephone line, comprising:

• a) providing a system including a server coupled to a database which stores subscribed telephone lines;
• b) subscribing the telephone line to said system;
• c) identifying to the system telephone numbers which are restricted by the subscribing line;
• and
• d) terminating an attempted call to a restricted telephone number from the telephone coupled to the subscribed line.

A method for controlling telephone calls by a user over a telephone line, comprising:

• a) having an authorized individual assign a budgetary allocation to a user for outgoing telephone calls on the telephone line;
• b) providing the user with an Internet-accessible location at which an account balance reflecting the remaining balance of the budgetary allocation can be viewed the user;
• and
• c) updating the account balance after each outgoing telephone call over the telephone line by the user.