Abstract: Station apparatus is provided for exclusively handling calls without the use of coins including credit cards calls, collect calls, third party charge calls, in WATS calls (800 numbers), emergency calls, directory assistance calls, etc. The station apparatus is especially useful to provide service when interconnected with central office equipment that does not have provisions for automatically blocking local calls, i.e. equipment that does not have local call exclusion features such as found in electronic exchanges. The station apparatus prohibits local calls by opening the loop to the central office if more than a predetermined number of digits are dialed unless the first digit is a "0" or a "1". Thus, the dialing of such numbers as 911, 411, 611, 1911, 0, 0+ is permitted while local calls are prevented.

Abstract: An electronic prepay adapter circuit is provided for use in converting semi-postpay central office telephone equipment to operation in a full prepay mode. In one arrangement, a prepay adapter circuit is connected on a line by line basis between each pay station and the associated line relay of the central office telephone equipment. In another arrangement, the prepay adapter circuit is connected between the linefinder and the first selector of the central office telephone equipment and utilized on a common or shared basis for a plurality of pay station telephone lines. The prepay adapter circuit is easily connected as a self-contained unit or module into the central office telephone equipment by the connection of the central office battery supply, ringing generator, collect and return voltage supplies, sleeve control lead, and the tip and ring line connections.

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.