Telephone call restrictor and related method of programming

A method for programming a call restriction device connected to a telephone line, comprising the following steps:

• establishing a connection between a telephone and a remote computer via the telephone line;
• placing the call restriction device in a mode wherein the call restriction device is programmable;
• sending signals representing call restriction data from the telephone onto the telephone line;
• sending signals representing said call restriction data from the remote computer onto the telephone line;
• and
• storing said call restriction data in the call restriction device so that the call restriction device, when in a call inhibition mode, will restrict calls on the telephone line in accordance with said stored call restriction data.

A system comprising:

• a telephone line;
• a call restriction device connected to said telephone line and programmed to restrict calls on said telephone line in a call inhibition mode and to accept call restriction data in a programming mode;
• a telephone connected to said telephone line;
• and
• an interactive voice response system having an access number that is accessible via a public telephone switching network, wherein said interactive voice response system is programmed to perform the following steps:
• sending a voice message requesting input of call restriction data while connected to said telephone line;
• recognizing signals representing call restriction data returned via said telephone line following sending of said voice message requesting input of call restriction data;
• and
• sending signals representing said call restriction data while connected to said telephone line.

A method for programming a call restriction device connected to a telephone line, comprising the following steps:

• establishing a connection between a computer and a destination station via the telephone line;
• placing the call restriction device in a mode wherein the call restriction device is programmable;
• inputting call restriction data into the computer;
• sending signals representing the inputted call restriction data from the computer onto the telephone line;
• sending signals representing said call restriction data from the remote computer onto the telephone line;
• and
• storing said call restriction data in the call restriction device so that the call restriction device will operate in said call inhibition mode in accordance with said stored call restriction data.

A telephone call restriction apparatus for connection to a telephone line, comprising:

• memory for storing call restriction data in digital format;
• a digital processor programmed to apply said call restriction rule to said call restriction data;
• and
• a converter for converting tone signals on the telephone line into digital signals and converting digital signals from the digital processor into tone signals;
• wherein said digital processor is further programmed to detect that a dialed telephone number belongs to a category of restricted telephone numbers and then restrict a call to a destination identified by said dialed telephone number in accordance with said call restriction data.

A telephone call restriction system comprising:

• a telephone line;
• a telephone connected to said telephone line;
• a call restrictor connected to said telephone line;
• and
• a computer communicative with said telephone and said call restrictor via said telephone line when a connection is established, said computer being programmed to automatically program said call restrictor based on call restrictions input via said telephone.

A method for preventing a telephone call to a restricted destination station, comprising the steps of:

• monitoring a telephone line connected to a telephone;
• detecting that a telephone number dialed on the telephone is restricted;
• and
• generating a high-intensity DTMF signal on the telephone line in response to said detecting step, said high-intensity DTMF signal having sufficient intensity to interfere with a telephone call on the telephone line.

A telephone call restrictor programmed with call restrictions and having a programming mode and a call restriction mode, comprising:

• a controller that is programmable in said programming mode and that detects call inhibition conditions as a function of said call restrictions in said call restriction mode;
• a DTMF transceiver having a port for outputting DTMF signals in both said programming mode and said call inhibition mode;
• and
• a circuit that increases the amplitude of the DTMF signals output from said port of said DTMF transceiver signals, said circuit being active when said controller has detected a call inhibition condition and being inactive at other times.