Abstract: A telephone control system is provided for use between central office telephone equipment and a telephone line pair connected to a predefined telephone station. The telephone control system includes monitoring circuitry for monitoring the telephone line pair to identify predetermined signals. Control circuitry is responsive to the monitoring circuitry for selectively preventing or enabling a telephone call. Circuitry is provided for generating voice messages for transmission on the telephone line, such as to advise the user of time remaining for an established telephone call. Circuitry is provided for storing call information including a user identification number. Control circuitry is provided for detecting a first predetermined event, such as a predetermined time of day, and disconnecting the telephone line pair from the central office telephone equipment responsive to the detected first predetermined event.

Abstract: Improved control apparatus for a pay station is provided that automatically determines the applicable tariff rate and the purchased call time as coins are deposited in accordance with the pay station identification and the phone number of the called party. Selective programming is provided by the control apparatus to select a basic time rate period for each of a predetermined number of tariff rates corresponding to calls to various telephone tariff zones. The control apparatus automatically operates the pay station in either a postpay or prepay mode and credits the calling party with a number of basic time rate periods corresponding to the total value of deposited coins and as coins are deposited. The basic time rate period corresponds to a predetermined number of seconds for a specified basic coin value or denomination. Thus, the calling party establishes a purchased time credit equal to the basic time rate period multiplied by the total number of basic coin denominations deposited.