Telephone intercept apparatus and method for intercepting an outgoing telephone number

A telephone intercept device interposed between a telephone company network and telecommunications equipment in a consumer unit, said telecommunications equipment sending at least one digit toward said telephone company network, said telephone intercept device comprising:

• a voltage regulator having a small quiescent current requirement and drawing a supply voltage from said telephone company network;
• an electrically-controlled switching circuit operably disposed between said telecommunications equipment and said telephone company network, said electrically-controlled switching circuit having an open and a closed position;
• an auxiliary input for receiving signals from a non-telephone based device;
• a first circuit operably disposed between said telephone company network and said voltage regulator, said first circuit also being operably connected to said electrically-controllable switching circuit such that said first circuit operably connects said voltage regulator to said telephone company network upon one of (i) said telecommunications equipment assuming an off-hook state while said electrically-controlled switching circuit is closed and (ii) activation of said non-telephone based device;
• a second circuit operably connected to said telephone company network, said second circuit mimicking an off-hook state;
• means for capturing each one of said at least one digit in sequence from said telecommunications equipment into a dialed digit word;
• memory containing at least one function word, each of said at least one function word having an associated telephone number, said memory further include a dedicated telephone number associated with said non-telephone based device;
• first control means for (i) opening said electrically-controlled switching circuit, (ii) forcing said first circuit to operably connect said voltage regulator to said telephone company network, (iii) activating said second circuit, (iv) waiting for dial-tone from said telephone company network, (v) dialing out said associated telephone number after waiting for said dial tone;
• and (vi) closing said electrically-controlled switching circuit after dialing out said associated telephone number, said control means operating only when said dialed digit word corresponds to one of said at least one function word;
• and
• second control means for (i) forcing said first circuit to operably connect said voltage regulator to said telephone company network, (ii) activating said second circuit, (iii) waiting for dial-tone from said telephone company network, (iv) dialing out said dedicated telephone number after waiting for said dial tone;
• and (v) transmitting information associated with said non-telephone based device, said second control means operating only upon activation of said non-telephone based device;
• said voltage regulator providing power to said capturing means, memory and first and second control means.

A method for intercepting a telephone number dialed from telecommunications equipment in a consumer unit for transmission onto a telephone company network, said method comprising the steps of:

• powering a device with a supply voltage from the telephone company network;
• accumulating digits in the telephone number dialed from the telecommunications equipment;
• comparing the accumulated digits with one or more function words;
• disconnecting the telecommunication equipment from the telephone company network upon locating a match between the accumulated digits and one of the one or more function words;
• temporarily mimicking on-hook status;
• mimicking off-hook status;
• waiting for dial tone from the telephone company network;
• dialing out a telephone number associated with the matched one of the one or more function words;
• and
• reconnecting the telecommunication equipment to the telephone company network.