US 4,893,335 A · Remote access telephone control system

Abstract

A telephone control system connects to the telephone line from a telephone exchange. The control system includes a detector for detecting signals on the line, a signal generator for producing and applying control signals to the telephone line, memory for storing electronic signals and a central processor for monitoring signals on the line as detected by the detector, accessing the memory to produce and apply control signals to the signal generator. The control system is programmable to provide a variety of controllable functions to a remote user including activation of the conferencing/transferring function provided by the telephone exchange to allow a user to sequentially complete successive phone calls through the control system without the user hanging-up, or to redirect calls to pre-programmed, remotely controllable numbers. In addition, the control system is capable of receiving, storing and redirecting messages to pagers.

Claims56

Dependent claims

A telephone control system connected between a telephone line and a local telephone station, said system comprising:

a decoder for determining numbers being dialed by said local station and outputting information signals corresponding thereto;
a dialer selectively placing on said telephone line dialing signals corresponding to digit identifying signals;
processor means receiving the information signals from said decoder, said processor means examining information signals corresponding to numbers being dialed, determining if said information signals have a predetermined value, recording the information signals for numbers being dialed at least up until the time that said processor means determines if a call over said telephone line is being attempted and, in response to said processor means determining that a call over said telephone line is being attempted and within a period thereafter that is independent of the rate of subsequently dialing digits, outputting to said dialer digit identifying signals corresponding to the information signals recorded by said processor means at least up until the time that said processor means has determined that a call over said telephone line is being attempted thereby placing dialing signals corresponding to said information signals on said telephone line;
and
a switch actuatable to a first position in which said telephone station is connected to said telephone line, said switch being actuated by said processor means to said first position responsive to said processor means determining that a call over said telephone line is being attempted and after said processor means has outputted to said dialer the digit identifying signals corresponding to all information signals recorded in said processor means prior thereto, whereby after said switch has been activated to said first position, said dialing signals are thereafter placed on said telephone line in real time as they are generated by said local telephone station.

2 more elements

A telephone control system connected between a telephone line and a local telephone station, said station comprising:

switch means actuated by an off-hook signal for decreasing the impedance between terminals of said control system that are connected to said telephone line:
processor means for momentarily terminating said off-hook signal while a first telephone station is connected to said local telephone station to generate a first hook-flash signal, then allowing a telephone number for a second telephone station to be dialed on said telephone line and then once again momentarily terminating said off-hook signal to generate a second hook-flash signal suitable for causing said first telephone station to be connected to said second telephone station;
storage means for recording the telephone number for said second telephone station;
a dialer receiving an output from said storage means, said dialer being responsive to an initiate signal for applying dialing signals to said telephone line that correspond to the telephone number for said second telephone station;
a ring detector for detecting a ring signal on said telephone line and for generating a ring detect signal in response thereto, wherein said processor means receives an output from said ring detector and generates said off-hook signal in response to said ring detect signal thereby taking said local telephone station off-hook, said processor means further generating in sequence said first hook-flash signal, said initiate signal and said second hook-flash signal thereby forwarding the call placed by said first telephone station to said second telephone station;
and wherein said storage means records a plurality of telephone numbers associated with respective second telephone stations, said system further including a decoder for decoding dialing signals on said line to determine a number being dialed by said first telephone station, wherein said processor means receives an output from said decoder and causes said dialer to apply dialing signals to said line corresponding to a telephone number recorded in said storage means, said telephone number being designated by a respective number being decoded by said decoder thereby forwarding the telephone call placed by said first telephone station to one of several second telephone stations depending upon the number being dialed by said first telephone station.

3 more elements

A remotely accessible telephone control system for connection to a telephone line from a telephone exchange, the telephone exchange providing a user controlled call conferencing function, the system comprising:

detector means for detecting signals on said telephone line;
signal generating means responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply said signals to said telephone line;
memory means for controllably storing electronic signals;
and
central processing means for monitoring signals on said telephone line as detected by said detector means, accessing said memory means and producing and applying predetermined control signals to said signal generating means, said central processing means including means for:
(a) identifying a call to said system from a remote user,
(b) identifying a control signal from said remote user indicating a desired call transfer to a predetermined number,
(c) receiving and storing said predetermined transfer number from said remote user,
(d) activating the call conferencing function of the telephone exchange to place the remote user on hold,
(e) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply appropriate signals to said telephone line to complete a call to said predetermined transfer number,
(f) further activating said telephone exchange to connect said remote user to said predetermined transfer number,
(g) detecting the completion of the call between said remote user and said transfer number and, in response thereto,
(h) repeating items (b) through (f) to allow said remote user to call a further transfer number.

10 more elements

A remotely accessible telephone control system for connecting to a telephone line from a telephone exchange, the telephone exchange providing a user controlled call conferencing function, the system comprising:

detector means for detecting signals on said telephone line;
signal generating means responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply said signals to said telephone line;
memory means for controllably storing electronic signals;
and
central processing means for monitoring signals on said telephone line as detected by said detector means, accessing said memory means and producing and applying predetermined control signals to said signal generating means, said central processing means including means for:
(a) identifying a call to said system from a remote user,
(b) activating the call conferencing function of the telephone exchange to place the remote user on hold,
(c) recalling from said memory means a predetermined transfer number,
(d) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply appropriate signals to said telephone line to complete a call to said predetermined transfer number,
(e) further activating said telephone exchange to connect said remote user to said predetermined transfer number,
(f) identifying a call from a remote user indicating a desired change in said predetermined transfer number,
(g) receiving from said remote user the new transfer number, and
(h) loading into said memory said new predetermined number.

10 more elements

A remotely accessible telephone control system for connection to at least one telephone line from a telephone exchange, the telephone exchange providing a user controlled call function including call conferencing, the system comprising:

detector means for detecting signals on a telephone line;
signal generating means responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply such signals to said telephone line;
memory means for controllably storing electronic signals;
and
central processing means for monitoring signals on said telephone line as detected by said detector means, accessing said memory means and producing and applying predetermined control signals to said signal generating means, said central processing means including means for:
(a) identifying a call to said system from a remote user via said telephone exchange;
(b) identifying a desired call control function;
(c) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply all appropriate signals to said telephone line to accomplish said desired call control function while maintaining said remote user call to said telephone exchange;
(d) activating the call conferencing function of the telephone exchange to place the remote user on hold;
(e) recalling from said memory means a predetermined transfer number;
(f) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply appropriate signals to said telephone line to complete a call to said predetermined transfer number;
(g) further activating said telephone exchange to connect said remote user to said predetermined transfer number;
(h) identifying a call from a remote user indicating a desired change in said predetermined transfer number;
(i) receiving from said remote user the new transfer number;
and
(j) loading into said memory means said predetermined transfer number.

13 more elements

detector means for detecting signals on a telephone line;
signal generating means responsive to control signals to produce predetermined signals and apply such signals to said telephone line;
memory means for controllably storing electronic signals;
and
central processing means for monitoring signals on said telephone line as detected by said detector means, accessing said memory means and producing and applying predetermined control signals to said signal generating means, said central processing means including means for:
(a) identifying a cell to said system from a remote user via said telephone exchange;
(b) identifying a remote user desired call control function;
(c) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply all appropriate signals to said telephone line to accomplish said desired call control function while maintaining said remote user call to said telephone exchange;
(d) activating the call conferencing function of the telephone exchange to place the remote user on hold;
(e) recalling from said memory means a predetermined transfer number;
(f) producing control signals to cause the signal generating means to apply appropriate signals to said telephone line to complete a call to said predetermined transfer number;
(g) further activating said telephone exchange to connect said remote user to said predetermined transfer number;
(h) identifying a call from a remote user indicating a desired change in said predetermined transfer number;
(i) receiving from said remote user the new transfer number;
and
(j) loading into said memory means said predetermined transfer number.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Remote access telephone control system

Life of this patent

Remote access telephone control system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims56