US3940569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable toll restrictor
Assignee: E AND M COMMUNICATIONS CORP
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Filing: 1973-08-08
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Granted: 1976-02-24
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Expires: 1993-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A toll restrictor for use in determining whether attempts to complete a trunk call are unrestricted is responsive to at least a first successively dialed three digit code of the call from the trunk to provide a control signal in response to this code being a restricted code to prevent the completion of the call having this code. The restrictor includes a registration portion which comprises relay means responsive to the dialed digits for initially registering the first two successively dialed digits of the code as a first tens digit group and the last successively dialed digit of the code as a second ones digit group. The first tens digit group enables the provision of a family of ten three digit codes having a common first two dialed digits. The registration portion also comprises second relay means responsive to at least the first tens digit group for providing the control signal when at least the tens digit group indicates a restricted three digit code. Only a portion of the three digit codes in a family of such codes can be restricted by the interposition of a relay means, such as a reed relay means; which is operable in response to the provision of at least one unrestricted three digit code in a restricted family of such codes to prevent the operation of the second relay means when the reed relay means is operated. The toll restrictor may also include means operatively connected to the first relay means which are responsive to the first provided digit being a predetermined digit, such as a unique long distance access code, for resetting the toll restrictor to the initial state thereof in response thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie B. Schonbrun
- 👤 Friedrich W. Schwaar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A toll restrictor for use in determining whether attempts to complete a trunk call are unrestricted, said toll restrictor being responsive to at least a first successively dialed three digit code of said call from said trunk and providing a control signal in response to said first dialed three digit code being a restricted code to prevent the completion of a call having said first dialed three digit code, said toll restrictor comprising a binary counting chain portion and a digit registration portion, said binary counting chain being responsive to dial pulses associated with each of said dialed digits in said code for providing a binary equivalent thereof, said dialed digits being successively individually provided to said counting chain one at a time; said counting chain portion successively individually providing said dialed digit binary equivalents to said registration portion for registration of said dialed digits; and said registration portion comprising a first and a second binary to decimal converter means for converting said first and second dialed digit binary equivalents to respective first and second signals corresponding to the equivalent decimal digit, said second binary to decimal converter means being further operable to convert said third dialed digit binary equivalent to a third signal corresponding to the equivalent decimal digit, first relay means responsive to said first and second signals for initially registering the first two successively dialed digits of said first dialed three digit code as a first tens digit group and responsive to said third signal for registering said last successively dialed digit of said first dialed three digit code as a second ones digit group, said first tens digit group enabling the provision of a family of ten three digit codes having a common first two dialed digits, and second relay means responsive to at least said first tens digit group for providing said control signal when at least said tens digit group indicates a restricted three digit code.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
A toll restrictor for use in determining whether attempts to complete a trunk call are unrestricted, said toll restrictor being responsive to at least a first successively dialed three digit code of said call from said trunk and providing a control signal in response to said first dialed three digit code being a restricted code to prevent the completion of a call having said first dialed three digit code, said toll restrictor comprising a binary counting chain portion and a digit registration portion, said binary counting chain being responsive to dial pulses associated with each of said dialed digits in said code for providing a binary equivalent thereof, said dialed digits being successively individually provided to said counting chain one at a time; said counting chain portion successively individually providing said dialed digit binary equivalents to said registration portion for registration of said dialed digits; and said registration portion comprising a first and a second binary to decimal converter means for converting said first and second dialed digit binary equivalents to respective first and second signals corresponding to the equivalent decimal digit, said second binary to decimal converter means being further operable to convert said third dialed digit binary equivalent to a third signal corresponding to the equivalent decimal digit, first relay means responsive to said first and second signals for initially registering the first two successively dialed digits of said first dialed three digit code as a first tens digit group and responsive to said third signal for registering said last successively dialed digit of said first dialed three digit code as a second ones digit group, said first tens digit group enabling the provision of a family of ten three digit codes having a common first two dialed digits, and second relay means responsive to at least said first tens digit group for providing said control signal when at least said tens digit group indicates a restricted three digit code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first relay means further comprises a registration relay chain storage means responsive to said counting chain provided dialed digit binary equivalents for temporarily storing at least said first two of said successively provided equivalents, said counting chain portion returning to its initial state after each provision of a dialed digit binary equivalent to said temporary storage means, said temporary storage means being operatively connected to the input of said conversion chain means for providing said first two dialed digit binary equivalents thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first relay means comprises a plurality of tens relay means, each tens relay means providing a different family of tens digit groups having a different common first digit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 3, wherein said first binary to decimal converter means engages only one contact of each of said tens relay means in response to the provision of said first dialed digit of said code, said second binary to decimal conversion means responsive to the next provided successively dialed digit for operating only one of said engaged plurality of tens relay means depending on the identity of said provided second dialed digit, a different tens relay means being operated in response to the provision of a different second dialed digit, said operated tens relay means providing said first tens digit group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second relay means is operatively connected between said first and second binary to decimal converter means outputs to at least one of said plurality of tens relay means associated with a restricted code, said second relay means being operated when said restricted dialed three digit code comprises at least said first tens digit group associated with said one operated associated tens relay means, whereby said entire family of ten three digit codes having a common first two dialed digits is restricted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second relay means is operatively connected between said first and second conversion means outputs to at least one of said plurality of tens relay means associated with a restricted code, said registration portion further comprising third relay means operatively connected in parallel between at least one of said first and second conversion means outputs and said one tens relay means, said third relay means operating in response to the provision of at least one unrestricted three digit code in a restricted family of ten three digit codes having a common first two dialed digits provided by said one operated restricted code associated tens relay means, said second relay means being operated when said restricted dialed code comprises said first tens digit group associated with said one operated associated tens relay means except when said third relay means is operated, whereby only a portion of the three digit codes in a family of three digit codes having a common first two digits may be restricted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 6 wherein isolation means are connected in parallel between said third relay means and each of the outputs of the second conversion means associated with an unrestricted code in said restricted family of codes for isolating said unrestricted codes from other codes connected in common to said second conversion means outputs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toll restrictor is in an initial state prior to the provision of the first successively dialed digit thereto, and said registration portion further comprises means operatively connected to said first relay means responsive to said first successively dialed digit of said first two digits being a predetermined digit for resetting said toll restrictor to said initial state in response thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 8 wherein said predetermined digit is a unique long distance access code.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 9 wherein said predetermined digit is the number 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said toll restrictor is in an initial state prior to the provision of the first successively dialed digit thereto, and said registration portion further comprises means operatively connected to said conversion chain output responsive to said first successively dialed digit of said first two digits being a predetermined digit for resetting said toll restrictor to said initial state in response thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A toll restrictor in accordance with claim 11 wherein said predetermined digit is a unique long distance access code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
181 words
A toll restrictor for use in determining whether attempts to complete a trunk call are unrestricted; said toll restrictor being responsive to at least one digit in a successively dialed three digit code of a call from said trunk to provide a control signal in response to said one digit in said first dialed three digit code being a restricted code to prevent the completion of a call having said one digit; said toll restrictor comprising binary counting means for sequentially encoding dialed decimal digits into corresponding binary signals; and a digit registration means for registering the dialed digits; said registration means comprising first converter means for converting the first binary encoded digit of said code into a first signal representative of the corresponding decimal digit, second converter means for converting the second and third binary encoded digits of said code into respective second and third signals representative of the corresponding second and third dialed decimal digits, and disable relay means responsive to at least said first signal for generating said control signal when said first signals indicates a restricted code.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
181 words
A toll restrictor for use in determining whether attempts to complete a trunk call are unrestricted; said toll restrictor being responsive to at least one digit in a successively dialed three digit code of a call from said trunk to provide a control signal in response to said one digit in said first dialed three digit code being a restricted code to prevent the completion of a call having said one digit; said toll restrictor comprising binary counting means for sequentially encoding dialed decimal digits into corresponding binary signals; and a digit registration means for registering the dialed digits; said registration means comprising first converter means for converting the first binary encoded digit of said code into a first signal representative of the corresponding decimal digit, second converter means for converting the second and third binary encoded digits of said code into respective second and third signals representative of the corresponding second and third dialed decimal digits, and disable relay means responsive to at least said first signal for generating said control signal when said first signals indicates a restricted code.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
A toll restrictor as in claim 13, in which said second converter means comprises a binary to decimal converter, and tens relay means connected to said binary to decimal converter responsive to said first and second signals for initially registering the first two successively dialed digits of said code as a first tens group signal, said disable relay means being responsive to at least a selected one of said tens group signal for generating said control signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3692951A
Cited
US3784757A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |