Abstract: A call supervisory system in the exchange includes: a trunk card device (TCD) connected to a trunk card of an external system via a control trunk line (CTL); a device control unit (DCU), as a lower level processor, for controlling the TCD; a man machine interface unit (MMIU) matched with the external system for switching data and managing a password; a call trace and path setup control unit (CTCU) for controlling the call supervisory system according to demands of the external system received through the MMIU and informing a result of the relevant control to the external system via the MMIU; a number translation unit (NUTU) for translating and managing the exchange number when processing calls according to the control of the CTCU; a call trace and path setup unit (CTSU) for setting up call supervision and a call path according to the control of the CTCU; a call management unit (CMU) for performing a call process function of the exchange, sending a call supervision control flag to NUTU, and informing occurrenc

Abstract: With a personal call manager, when a caller calls a primary telephone number for the owner of the personal call manager, the personal call manager selectively routes the incoming call to any combination of local extensions on the owner's premises, and to remote extensions such as a telephone instrument on another premises, a pager, a cellular telephone, a central office voice mail box, and a cellular telephone voice mail box. The personal call manager retains control over an incoming call throughout the duration of the call. Consequently, the owner can route the incoming call to multiple locations, or transfer the call to a telephone answering service at any time after taking the incoming call. The personal call manager permits a user to monitor, either locally or remotely, a message being left with a telephone answering service, e.g.

Abstract: A telephone privacy and alerting device for connection between a common telephone line and a telephone device. The privacy and alerting device includes a privacy circuit to prevent the telephone device from accessing the telephone line when another telephone device is already off-hook, and an alerting circuit to indicate an alarm when the telephone device is off-hook and a further telephone device is also off-hook. The privacy circuit includes a voice connecting circuit for connection between the telephone line and the telephone device, a self-latching switch means connected to the voice connecting circuit having an on and off state, and voltage breakdown means for turning the self-latching switch means on when a closed circuit is provided through the telephone device and the potential across said telephone line is above a first predetermined threshold, thereby allowing the voice connecting circuit to establish a current path between the telephone line and the telephone device.

Abstract: In a satellite communication system, a method of unobtrusively intercepting a communication call includes establishing a first connection to originate from a first satellite subscriber (SU) and terminate at a first node at a first transcoder, establishing a second connection to originate from a second node at a second transcoder and terminate at a second SU, switching the first connection to originate from the first SU and terminate at a third node at the second transcoder, passing a first information carried by the first connection at the third node to the second connection at the second node. The first information without substantial delay or processing is transmitted by the second connection to be received by the second SU. The first information may be decoded in a decoder portion of the second transcoder to produce a first decoded information. The first decoded information, accordingly, may unobtrusively be monitored.

Abstract: A telephone wiretapping system having a call-forward event and reporting processor for producing a call-forward event control signal when a call from a calling party to a predetermined telephone line is to be call-forwarded to a different telephone line. A switch is responsive to the control signal produced by the call forward event and reporting system for switching the recording device from the target telephone line to the call-forward event and reporting processor when the control signal indicates a call-forwarding event. With such an arrangement, the recording device will recorded calling event signals to, or from, the target telephone line even though the calling event signals are occurring at the call-forwarded telephone line. The call-forward event and reporting processor produces signalling information taking place between the telephone line of the calling party and the telephone line of the different, call-forwarded telephone line.

Abstract: Each network handled call, including its original leg and all subsequently initiated related call legs, is assigned a single unique identification number. When a determination is made that the call (including any leg thereof) is to be monitored by a law enforcement agency, a switch handling the call requests a trunk connection from a monitoring center. This request includes the assigned unique identification number. The monitoring center then compares the included identification number with previously received identification numbers associated with active call monitoring operations. If the numbers match, this is indicative of the fact that the call at issue is already being monitored, and the request for a trunk connection is accordingly denied as being redundant. More efficient use of valuable monitoring center communications (trunk) and monitoring (recorder) resources is accordingly made.

Abstract: A method for use in an electronic switching system having more than one operator position system connected thereto, is used for wiretapping in order to determine a time length of a telephone call between a caller and a receiver. The method comprises the steps of: (a) measuring an elapsed time from the instant the caller is connected to the receiver; (b) checking if the elapsed time reaches a preset time; (c) wiretapping when the elapsed time reaches the preset time; (d) resetting the elapsed time and going back to step (a) if the caller is determined to be still on the line by the wiretapping; and (e) releasing the connection between the caller and the receiver if the caller is determined not to be on the line any longer by the wiretapping.

Abstract: A first service control point (SCP) for providing law enforcement related call interception capability and a second SCP for providing conventional Intelligent Network (IN) subscriber service features are both provided within an IN based telecommunications network. Two types of trigger flags are then associated with a service switching point (SSP) serving a particular subscriber. Where a first trigger flag associated with call interception is set, a query signal requesting interception routing instructions is transmitted from the serving SSP to the first SCP using a pre-stored network address. Where a second trigger flag associated with an IN service is set, a query signal requesting IN service routing instructions is transmitted from the serving SSP to the second SCP using a directory number associated with the associated subscriber.

Abstract: A method of intercepting the incoming and outgoing calls of a telecommunications subscriber. The call activity of the telecommunications line of the subscriber is monitored by a call processor of a telecommunications switch and predetermined types of call activity are recorded by a recording device. The switch monitors the call activity of a second telecommunications line upon the detection of a predetermined call feature occurring for the subscriber and the recording device records predetermined types of call activity on the second line upon the monitoring of the second line. The switch may also switch, upon the detection of the predetermined call feature, from monitoring the call activity of the subscriber line to monitoring the call activity of the second line. The switch may also switch the recording device from recording the call activity of the subscriber line to recording the call activity of the second line.

Abstract: A telephone subscriber placing a telephone call through a telecommunications network (10) to a telephone line carrying an existing call may interrupt that call by entering an interrupt code to the network. Upon receipt of the code, the network verifies whether the interrupt code is valid by consulting a data base (21) that cross-references interrupt codes to corresponding lines. If the code is valid for the line carrying the existing call, the network then interrupts the existing call.

Abstract: A digital cellular telecommunication network (30) uses transcoders (50) which vocode voice using a maximal lossy compression algorithm which conserves spectrum usage. A call path for an intercepted call is looped from an outer space satellite (32) network into an intercepting terrestrial gateway (34). Compressed call data for each of two half-calls in this call path bypass normal transcoders (50) through the use of rate adapters (80) which translate between data communication protocols that operate at different data rates without voice coding and decoding. After rate adaptation, the compressed call data are combined in a conference bridge (90), and routed to a monitoring center (60). A subscriber unit (36), a second device (48), and the monitoring center (60) all receive call data which has experienced only one compression/decompression cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a pair of sensors for monitoring the status of a telephone line and a local station which detects unauthorized use and causes actuation of a disruption signal to make the telephone line unusable.

Abstract: A three-way call detection and response system comprising, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, a three-way call detector coupled non-intrusively, by a bridge repeater, to a communication path carrying digital signals between originator and recipient end office telecommunication switches. The three-way call detector includes an interface and a digital signal processor electrically connected to the bridge repeater for receipt of digital signals from the communication path. The three-way call detector also includes a local controller which interacts with the interface, a digital signal processor, and a remote controller. The remote controller executes a plurality of software programs which control operation of the system. In accordance with a preferred method, the three-way call detection and response system monitors the communication path for indicia representative of a three-way call signature and, hence, an attempted three-way call placement.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for the transparent monitoring of selected telecommunications sessions in an intelligent switched telephone network is described. The method involves conditioning the network to enable the monitoring of all telecommunications sessions originating from or terminating to any selected subscriber address. The network is conditioned by the installation of monitored trunks with translation tables, linksets and routesets which route all calls to be monitored through the monitored trunk groups. After the network has been conditioned, call monitoring can be accomplished with minimal datafill changes to the translation tables of the telephone switching system that serves the subscriber address. The monitored trunk groups are preferably loop-back trunk groups, but they may be dedicated inter-office trunk groups as well. It is also possible to designate a central switching point to monitor calls for a plurality of satellite switching points.

Abstract: Remote telephone coder 10R and local telephone coder 10L provide coding and decoding for voice communication between remote telephone set 11R and local telephone set 11L through telephone line 12. An eavesdropper listening in on a listening device such as remote extension telephone 14R or local extension telephone 14L hears normal "in-the-clear" conversation (uncoded transmissions) when both of the telephone coders are in the normal mode. However, when both of telephone coders 10R and 10L are in the code mode, the extension eavesdropper using an extension telephone or other unauthorized listening device 14 (shown in phantom) hears only coded transmissions. Further, a remote eavesdropper on remote extension telephone set (main portion 17M with hand portion 17H) employing remote extension coder 16R is also excluded from the coded transmissions between remote telephone coder 10R and local telephone coder 10L.

Abstract: A mobile-radio system is disclosed in which it is possible to selectively monitor and interfere with calls. To this end, the base station includes an intercept device (5) whereby at least one traffic channel is can be intercepted, i.e., whereby transmissions on this channel can be intercepted or jammed. The intercept device (5) is connected to a baseband-processing portion (1).

Abstract: A telephone alerting device for connection to a telephone line and a telephone. When the telephone is off-hook, the device will generate a visual and an audio alarm if an additional telephone connected to the same line also goes off-hook, thereby providing an eavesdropping alarm. The audio alarm is a periodic signal of short duration heard in the ear-pieces of all off-hook telephones connected to the telephone line. The device includes a voice path having a resistor placed in series with the telephone for raising the voltage across the telephone line when the telephone alone is off-hook. In order to trigger the alarm, the telephone must be off-hook and the voltage across the telephone line must be below a threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to simultaneous computer screen and voice monitoring from a remote location, and particularly relates to synchronized telephone and screen monitoring of a computer workstation from a remote location. Such monitoring is useful for providing training and assistance to those using such workstations, especially in connection with telephone use, can also be useful for providing an audit trial of significant on-screen events, or can be used as a trigger to initiate other separate events. In one embodiment, graphics primitives are used to determine localized screen changes which are periodically copied from the monitored workstation desktop and sent over a network to a remote, monitoring, workstation. In another embodiment, localized screen changes are determined by full screen comparison, and sent over a network to a remote, monitoring, workstation.

Abstract: A remote audio monitor for use with a telephone answering device connected to a common telephone line enables the screening of an incoming telephone call from a remote location with respect to the answering device. The remote audio monitor monitors the changing DC voltage levels of the telephone line following the ring signal and the answering of the incoming call, and activates when the answering device has generated a beep tone on the telephone line to indicate recording of an incoming message. Upon the proper sequence of the desired events, the remote audio monitor activates a loudspeaker and broadcasts the received message in real time at a location remote from the answering device. More than one remote audio monitor can be connected to the telephone line to provide simultaneous independent monitoring from various remote locations with respect to the answering device.

Abstract: A method of silent monitoring in a telephone system by a monitor comprising storing in a first table in a memory, correspondence between an agent identifier and a telephone set directory number used by the agent, requesting silent monitoring of the agent using the identifier, checking the table to determine the directory number of the telephone set corresponding to the agent, creating and storing a record containing the directory number, an identifier of the monitor and the agent identifier, in the event a telephone call is in process using the telephone set, conferencing a telephone set used by the monitor with the telephone set used by the agent, using a one way audio path toward the telephone set used by the monitor, in the event the telephone call in process clears, maintaining the record until the telephone set used by the monitor has gone on-hook, and continuing to monitor subsequent calls involving the telephone set used by the agent prior to the telephone set used by the monitor going on-hook, maintai

Abstract: A voice monitoring method which is capable of preventing an occurrence of the interruption of a call and reducing the burden of switching software, and also capable of monitoring the contents of a call whose communication path is performed within the same line switch installed in a remote place is provided. A voice from a monitored subscriber telephone set 6-1 is distributed at a line switch 4-1 to a voice monitor path (unidirectional path) 8-1, and a voice from a subscriber telephone set 6-2 of the other party is distributed at the line switch 4-1 to a voice monitor path (unidirectional path) 8-2. The distributed voices are given through a time-division switch 3 to the first and second terminals of a three-way trunk 5, are mixed at the three-way trunk 5, and are sent through the third terminal to a monitor telephone set 7.

Abstract: A three-way call detection and response system comprising, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, a three-way call detector coupled non-intrusively, by a bridge repeater, to a communication path carrying digital signals between originator and recipient end office telecommunication switches. The three-way call detector includes an interface and a digital signal processor electrically connected to the bridge repeater for receipt of digital signals from the communication path. The three-way call detector also includes a local controller which interacts with the interface, a digital signal processor, and a remote controller. The remote controller executes a plurality of software programs which control operation of the system. In accordance with a preferred method, the three-way call detection and response system monitors the communication path for indicia representative of a three-way call signature and, hence, an attempted three-way call placement.

Abstract: A system which monitors telephone lines includes the capability to detect abnormal line conditions of many varieties. Such detection capabilities include physical damage such as cut line, misuse such as leaving a handset off-hook for an extended period of time, and intentional abuse such as a wire tap. The system is flexible enough to automatically adjust to varying `normal` conditions. As an aid in providing reliable telephone communications, the system will generate immediate alarms upon detection of abnormal conditions and concurrently create a historical database. This database is used to review reliability and response times, identify hardware failure trends or repeated misuse, and provide system management reports so as to adjust to varying normal conditions without generating false alarms. The physical system contains circuitry to scan the incoming telephone lines.

Abstract: A digital cellular telecommunication network (30) uses transcoders (50) which vocode voice using a maximal lossy compression algorithm which conserves spectrum usage. A call path for an intercepted call is looped from an outer space satellite (32) network into a terrestrial gateway (34). Compressed call data for each of two half-calls in this call path are duplicated at any of the network nodes and inserted into the opposing half-call. In addition, the compressed call data are decompressed in a gateway transcoder (50), combined in a conference bridge (90), and routed to a monitoring center (60). A subscriber unit (36), a second device (48), and the monitoring center (60) all receive call data which has experienced only one compression/decompression cycle.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a device for monitoring the integrity of telephone lines and for warning when the lines are inoperative. The device comprises a monitoring unit which continuously senses the voltage across the telephone lines and generates a control signal which assumes a first value when the lines are operational and a second value when the lines are inoperative. An alarm unit generates a warning signal of an audible frequency when the control signal assumes the second value, and is controlled with a switching unit. The switching unit maintains the alarm unit deactivated when the control signal has the first value and activates the alarm unit when the control signal has said second value.

Abstract: A method and system for remote assistance and review of an operator working with complex equipment. An operator at a station at a local site is coupled to an advisor at a station at a remote site, so that the advisor may view and hear the same stimuli as the operator, that the advisor and operator may communicate, and that the advisor may view and control the local apparatus. The operator has limited training or otherwise in need of support, and may be a field engineer or technician. The advisor has extensive training and able to provide technical support, and generally has extended and specialized knowledge with regard to the local apparatus, and may be a technical expert on the local apparatus. The operator may comprise an individual with technical training and knowledge, but lacking managerial or other authority, while the advisor comprises an individual with such authority.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing fraudulent calling activities of computer data systems such as a Private Branch Exchanges (PBX) accessed through dial-up telephone lines via a remote maintenance or administration port. The system is readily adaptable to existing PBX systems without the need to alter PBX hardware or software configurations. The system includes a device to passively monitor calling activity conducted through the remote port of the PBX without alerting the caller in order to detect a condition of activity indicative of fraud. The monitoring device may include rule based expert system software to analyze call transmission data for activities outside the norm that are indicative of fraud. Alternatively, the monitoring device may include software or hardware for comparing call digit origination data to a database of authorized call activity contained within the monitoring device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a communication from a calling party (120) to a called party (130) to be monitored by a monitoring party (140) and/or recorded (180, 190). Upon receipt of a communication, the service node (180) of the system reads identification information associated with the communication and establishes a bridge for the communication between the calling party (120) and the called party (130), and establishes a bridge from the communication to a monitoring party (140) and/or to a recorder ( 180, 190) in accordance with the identification information. In response to receiving an indication from the monitoring party (140) to tear down the bridge, the system tears down the bridge. However, the communication remains connected between the calling (120) and called (130) parties. Neither the calling party (120) nor the called party (130) are aware of the monitoring or of the recording of the communication or of the discontinuation of the monitoring.

Abstract: A vehicle user can request emergency or roadside assistance from a response center by activating a button in the vehicle. The global positioning system is used to continuously store the vehicle location. A cellular telephone network is used to contact a response center and transfer a data string via modem containing information to assist the response center in acting on the request. If a first attempt to contact the response center at a phone number for receiving a data transfer is unsuccessful, a second call is made to a different number bypassing the data transfer and immediately placing the cellular phone into an unmuted condition. This allows the user to hear and interact with a cellular operator, if necessary, prior to being connected to the response center.

Abstract: A fax monitoring apparatus includes one or more line interface circuits to simultaneously detect and analyze audio signals produced on any given telephone line by two connected fax machines, analyzing circuitry to analyze and interpret the audio signals to form a compressed fax image, expansion circuitry, to expand the compressed fax image into a bit-mapped image, memory, to store the compressed fax image and/or the bit-mapped image, and display to display the bit-mapped image of the original fax transmission. A method for monitoring and analyzing the activity of a telephone line includes the steps of sampling the voltage of the telephone line to be monitored, calculating the mean value of the voltage from the samplings, comparing the mean value of the voltage with a reference voltage defined as the mean voltage obtained during the previous time interval, replacing the value of the reference voltage with the mean value, and upon activation, recording the activity of the telephone line.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for prohibiting unauthorized use of a telecommunication line is provided. An interference signal is timely generated by the invention on the telecommunication line such that the illegitimate user may not dial the number correctly. Therefore, the invention may prohibit the unauthorized use of a telecommunication line.

Abstract: A system for controlling and monitoring the recording of telephone calls in institutions such as jails and correctional facilities. Calls are recorded automatically in response to the occurrence of specific triggering events, as pre-defined under software control by a system administrator. Triggering events may include, for example, use of a specific line, attempts to use particular features (such as three-way calling), attempts to dial particular telephone numbers, or use by a particular person. Recorded calls are digitized and stored in standard MS-DOS files on either a local computer system or a remote computer across a network. Stored digitized recordings may be selected for playback under software control by a system administrator. The system of the present invention allows control of recordings from within a conventional telephone system. The integrated nature of the system provides cost savings and improved flexibility.

Abstract: A switchable order wire circuit installed in addition to a trunk connecting a master station which includes an exchanger and a dependent station in a telephone system. The order wire circuit includes a first telephone terminal located in the master station, a second telephone terminal located in the dependent station, and a pair of telephone lines connecting the first and second telephone terminals. The order wire circuit also includes a hooking detection system installed in the master station, for detecting a hooking operation of the second telephone terminal. In addition, a circuit for switching the telephone lines from the first telephone terminal to a public line when the hooking operation is specifically detected is included.

Abstract: A communications monitoring and control system including methods and apparatus for processing a communication directed to a called party. Upon receipt of a communication, the system determines the location of the called party from a changeable list including locations selectively provided by the called party. The communication may be accepted, rejected or monitored by the called party at the locations provided. If rejected, the communication is routed to a message service. If monitored, the communication is routed to a message service, and a one-way connection from the communication to the called party is established. The calling party is unaware of the connection. The called party may discontinue monitoring or connect to the communication at any time during the communication.

Abstract: A data acquisition apparatus, for use as a diagnostic tool in isolating the cause of chronic dropped telecommunication calls, monitors electrical signals associated with multiple telecommunication trunks. It recognizes each occurrence of a terminated call based upon loop current cessation of a duration greater than a predetermined time interval. Each occurrence of a terminated call, as well as electrical data indicative of which equipment terminated the call, is time-stamped and recorded. The apparatus also time-stamps and records data regarding additional electrical events based upon pre-determined ranges of current and voltage. It creates a chronological log of the recorded data. The apparatus interprets the recorded data and provides an easily intelligible message indicating which equipment terminated a particular call.

Abstract: A communication terminal connected to a line of an exchange of a public network, includes a main body of the communication terminal, and a line branching detection controller coupled to the main body. The line branching detection controller includes a communication state detector enabling the communication terminal to call and receive a call when a communication operation of the communication terminal is detected, a line signal monitoring part activated when the communication state detector detects no communication operation and monitoring signals on the line connected to the exchange when activated, and an interference signal generator driven when the line signal monitoring part detects a signal indicating a communication made on the line and generating an interference signal on the line when driven.

Abstract: A dialed number recorder, a data monitor, and a personal computer are connected in combination to monitor the data traffic on a suspect "hacker's" telephone line. At the beginning of a call, the dialed number recorder receives and interprets the DTMF signals detected on the line and translates the DTMF signals into the corresponding telephone number dialed. The data monitor receives all signals on the line and converts them into their corresponding characters and transmits these characters, to the personal computer where the characters are stored in a buffer in dynamic memory. The personal computer compares the received data stream against a set of known characters strings looking for a match. If an on-hook signal (indicating the end of the call) is received without a match, the data stored in dynamic memory thus far is erased. If any series of sequential characters matches one of the known strings, the buffered data is written to the computer's disk.

Abstract: A fax monitoring apparatus comprises one or more line interface circuits to simultaneously detect and analyze audio signals produced on any given telephone line by two connected fax machines, analyzing circuitry to analyze and interpret the audio signals to form a compressed fax image, expansion circuitry to expand the compressed fax image into a bit-mapped image, memory to store the compressed fax image and/or the bit-mapped image, and display to display the bit-mapped image of the original fax transmission.

Abstract: A data signal and a reference signal are multiplexed into a fiber optic communications link for transmission from a first secure location to a seond location. A replica of the reference signal is transmitted from the first location to the second location over a separate communication channel. At the second location, the angular phase difference between the reference signal and the replica thereof is continuously monitored. If the angular phase difference departs significantly from a specified value, an alarm is set as a warning that the fiber optic communications link has been compromised.

Abstract: The invention represents an automatic positive disconnect circuit for controlling the connection of a communication device having two signal conducting lines and sensing means for indicating the mode of said communication device. The circuit is designed to positively disconnect the first and second lines of the communication device when the latter is in the non-operating mode, to filter selected frequencies when in the operating mode, and to permit said communication device to otherwise operate in a normal manner whenever a call is received or a call is initiated.

Abstract: A telephone monitoring system is disclosed which enables the operator to enter comment data and sort comment data entered by the operator and numerical data received from a monitor while the monitor continues to imput information from the target line. The system is comprised generally of a monitor capable of being attached to a target telephone line and when so attached senses voltage changes on that line and translates those voltage changes into a form capable of being stored in the memory, an alphanumeric keyboard, a memory unit storing a program capable of storing data received from the monitor and the keyboard, a processing unit and a display for displaying data entered through the monitor and through the keyboard as well as data developed by the processing unit in accordance with the program contained in the memory.