Abstract: The method to verify designation of pay telephone with an exchange carrier determines receipt of private pay telephone designation for a private pay telephone (PPT) by an interexchange carrier (IXC). The PPT is programmed with at least one telephone number to an IXC in its storage memory. Using that stored number, the PPT calls on its connected telephone line to the IXC. The PPT determines, without manual intervention, whether a response from the IXC is indicative of a status of receipt of PPT designation for the PPT to receive Dial-Around Compensation by the IXC. The PPT then generates a record and stores the record of the response from the IXC in the storage memory of the PPT. Finally, the PPT communicates the stored record of the response from the IXC to the private pay telephone provider.

Abstract: An escrow unit is an electromechanical device used to collect or return coins deposited in a pay telephone. An escrow management system 10 for use in controlling a pay telephone escrow unit 26 is provided which consists of an energy storage unit 20 which stores a voltage for use in activating escrow unit 26 upon control unit 40 closing discharge switch 30. The system also contains a detector 42 to determine the voltage requirement of escrow unit 26 by sensing characteristics of escrow unit 26 related to the impedance of the escrow unit. The system also contains a control unit 40 which controls energy storage unit 20 and detector 42 such that escrow management system 10 can both dynamically determine the voltage required to activate escrow unit 26 and supply the correct voltage for activation of escrow unit 26.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone receives a destination telephone number and billing format information from a user. The microprocessor control system (10) alters the access format of the destination number and places the call as a direct dial telephone call. The billing format information is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing format information may later be retrieved to facilitate the billing of charges for the call to an appropriate party.

Abstract: A card reader (10) is provided that comprises a forward gate (58) that prevents access to the interior of the card reader (10) by other than standard credit card-sized items. Side retainers (36), (38) and (40) coupled to retaining arms (28) and (30) serve to retain appropriately-sized cards and to eject cards which are not long enough. Rear retainers (54) and (56) serve to maintain appropriately-sized cards in contact with an electrical contact (74) of an electrical contact board (72). A fraud prevention antenna (86) prevents access to the electrical systems within card reader (10) from systems outside of card reader (10). A magnetic stripe reader (22) is included in a card guide (16) to allow card reader (10) to also use magnetic stripe cards.

Abstract: A coin handling system prevents jamming of the coin chutes of coin operated machines and keeps foreign objects out of coin validators and other internal mechanisms of coin operated machines. A coin chute 15 guides coins into the coin validator 24. An exit end of coin chute 15 is moved from a rest position above the coin validator 24 to a position above a return chute 25. Coin chute 15 then separates into two pieces, causing large foreign matter to fall out of the coin chute 15. Foreign objects that are pushed into coin chute 15 are forced out of coin chute 15 by slots 30 formed on the back edge of coin chute 15. Foreign objects are thus prevented from going further into coin chute 15 and coin validator 24. A bevelled edge 29 is formed on an edge of chute piece 23, one of two pieces forming coin chute 15. Foreign objects are pushed into coin chute 15, it impacts bevelled edge 29, causing coin chute 15 to separate into two chute pieces.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.

Abstract: A coin handling system comprising an improved coin chute (115) for guiding coins in a coin operated machine is provided comprising a first chute piece (122) and a second chute piece (123), each forming an opposite sidewall of the chute (115). An internal bevelled surface (129) is formed on the backwall (140) of one of the chute pieces (122, 123) so that foreign objects forced into the chute (115) and impacting the backwall (140) will cause the chute (115) to separate into the chute pieces (122, 123) and thereby cause the foreign object to leave the chute (115). Additionally, external bevelled surfaces (144, 148) are formed on the chute pieces (122, 123) so that if a foreign object impacts the outside of the chute (115), the chute (115) separates 15 into the chute pieces (122, 123) and allows continued movement of the foreign object. Thus, the foreign object does not become caught in the coin chute (115). In another aspect of the invention, ridges (130) are formed on the backwall (140) of the chute (115).

Abstract: A pay telephone (10) is disclosed which comprises a front housing assembly (12) and a rear housing assembly (14). A rear board housing (16) is coupled to modules disposed within front housing assembly (12) through a pair of cables (48) and (50) coupled to an interconnect board (46) disposed in front housing assembly (12). Front housing assembly (12) engages rear housing assembly (14) on opposite vertical sidewalls of rear housing assembly (14) through the use of locking hooks (36a)-(36e) and locking hooks (42a)-(42e) and locking receiving slots (40a)-(40e) and locking receiving slots (52a)-(52e).

Abstract: A coin handling system comprising an improved coin chute (115) for guiding coins in a coin operated machine is provided comprising a first chute piece (122) and a second chute piece (123), each forming an opposite sidewall of the chute (115). An internal bevelled surface (129) is formed on the backwall (140) of one of the chute pieces (122, 123) so that foreign objects forced into the chute (115) and impacting the backwall (140) will cause the chute (115) to separate into the chute pieces (122, 123) and thereby cause the foreign object to leave the chute (115). Additionally, external bevelled surfaces (144, 148) are formed on the chute pieces (122,123) so that if a foreign object impacts the outside of the chute (115), the chute (115) separates into the chute pieces (122, 123) and allows continued movement of the foreign object. Thus, the foreign object does not become caught in the coin chute (115). In another aspect of the invention, ridges ( 130) are formed on the backwall (140) of the chute (115).

Abstract: A fraud prevention system and method are provided which utilize communication between an intelligent network platform 14 and a local telecommunications device 10. The local telecommunications device 10 comprises a memory 20 which stores various data values. Intelligent network platform 14 comprises a memory 22 which stores a copy of the values in memory 20. The intelligent network platform 14 randomly generates an address which is transmitted to the local telecommunications device 10. The local telecommunications device 10 retrieves data located at the address and transmits the data to the intelligent network platform 14 as an access string prior to the placement of telephone calls using the intelligent network platform 14. The time and day of the telephone call may also be included in the access string to prevent signals recorded at one time from being used to place telephone calls at another time.

Abstract: A telecommunications system 10 is provided which comprises a PBX system 12 coupled to a call processing system 16 through plurality of trunks 14. SMDR data records are received from the PBX system 12 by the call processing system 16 through an SMDR data line 18. The call processing system 16 includes an SMDR translation system which retrieves call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16 and matches these call records to SMDR data records received from the PBX system 12. The matched records are used to generate a combined SMDR output record for a particular call which is then output through an output line 30 to a call accounting system 32. In this manner, the call processing system 16 can utilize the information received from the PBX system 12 with the accurate call duration information generated in its own systems to provide for accurate call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to interact with a calling party placing a long distance phone call. The telephone receives a billing account number from the calling party through a keypad (24). The telephone determines the validity of the billing account number and, if the billing account number is valid, a communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38). Valid billing account numbers are stored in the telephone for a predetermined period of time. The stored numbers are polled prior to the validation process to determine if an entered number has already been validated. In this manner, a calling party making multiple calls with the same billing account number need only wait for his account number to be verified once.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone receives a destination telephone number and billing format information from a user. The microprocessor control system (10) alters the access format of the destination number and places the call as a direct dial telephone call. The billing format information is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing format information may later be retrieved to facilitate the billing of charges for the call to an appropriate party.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.

Abstract: A coin handling system is provided to prevent the jamming of coin chutes used in coin operated machines and to keep foreign objects forced into coin chutes out of coin validators and other internal mechanisms of coin operated machines. The invention comprises a coin chute 15 for guiding coins into a coin validator 24 in which the exit end of coin chute 15 can be moved from a rest position above the entry to coin validator 24 to a position above a return chute 25. The coin chute can then be separated into two pieces, causing lodged coins and foreign matter to fall out of the coin chute. In another aspect of the invention, foreign objects like coat hangers that are pushed into coin chute 15 are forced out of coin chute 15 by slots 30 which are formed on the back edge of coin chute 15. Coat hangers or other objects are thus prevented from going further into coin chute 15 and coin validator 24.

Abstract: A telecommunications system 10 is provided which comprises a PBX system 12 coupled to a call processing system 16 through plurality of trunks 14. SMDR data records are received from the PBX system 12 by the call processing system 16 through an SMDR data line 18. The call processing system 16 includes an SMDR translation system which retrieves call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16 and matches these call records to SMDR data records received from the PBX system 12. The matched records are used to generate a combined SMDR output record for a particular call which is then output through an output line 30 to a call accounting system 32. In this manner, the call processing system 16 can utilize the information received from the PBX system 12 with the accurate call duration information generated in its own systems to provide for accurate call records associated with each call placed through the call processing system 16.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to interact with a calling party placing a long distance phone call. The telephone receives a billing account number from the calling party through a keypad (24). The telephone determines the validity of the billing account number and, if the billing account number is valid, a communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38). Valid billing account numbers are stored in the telephone for a predetermined period of time. The stored numbers are polled prior to the validation process to determine if an entered number has already been validated. In this manner, a calling party making multiple calls with the same billing account number need only wait for his account number to be verified once.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to automatically place collect calls without the need of a live operator. The telephone uses the microprocessor control system (10) and a speech record/playback generator (44) to receive a destination number and a recorded name from a user. The telephone uses the speech generator (34) to play audio messages to prompt the user throughout the process. The phone informs a called party of the identity of the user and receives responses from the called party through a DTMF receiver (52). A communication path is established through a telephone line interface (38) if the phone receives a response indicating the called party accepts the charges for the collect call. The microprocessor control system (10) generates a billing record or the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can later be retrieved to facilitate billing the call.

Abstract: A telephone system and method of operation are disclosed which use a microprocessor control system (10), a speech generator (34) and speech memory (46) to interact with a calling party placing a long distance phone call. The telephone establishes a communication path through a telephone line interface (38). The microprocessor controlled system (10) generates a billing record for the call which is stored in a call record memory (11). The billing record can include information such as an account number to be billed, destination determining information, the duration of the call, the time of the call, and rate information. The billing record can later be retrieved from a remote location through standard telephone lines to facilitate billing the call. The local generation of billing records facilitates billing for direct calls, collect calls, third party charge calls and calls associated with accounts which are key-padded into the telephone paystation by the customer.