Premised based 3-way call detection device
OwnerJohn Beck Mowinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosure of the invention encompasses the activation, validation and continued verification of an electronic device installed on a common telephone line usually at a residence, to prohibit a three-way call event from being performed by the local telephone after the device has been in communication with and activated by signal from a remote computer system. Furthermore the device and remote system can function in a prepaid calling mode keeping track of the prepaid amounts and debiting the amounts during the call. The invention functionality could also be integrated within a standard telephone inside a telephone housing or functionally into a wireless device or an IP soft phone.
Claims9
A method of preventing a 3-way call from a telephone instrument on a local analog telephone line, normally at a residence, with an apparatus that is connected between the telephone instrument and the local analog telephone line, wherein the local analog telephone line is connected to a remote computer system, said method including the steps of:
- using the apparatus to passively monitor all telephone calls on the local analog telephone line for an activation signal from the remote computer system;
- activating the apparatus during a telephone call upon responding to the activation signal from the remote computer system;
- starting a 3-way call detection feature on the local analog telephone line;
- periodically transmitting, from the apparatus, an “I'm alive” continuity signal over the local analog telephone line to the remote computer system;
- and
- terminating the telephone call, with the apparatus, when a 3-way call is detected on the local analog telephone line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.