Patents by Inventor William Lawrence Clayton

William Lawrence Clayton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Communications line security device
    Patent number: 5852653
    Abstract: A device and method for securing terminal equipment connected to a communications line is disclosed. The device, when inserted into the communications line between the caller and terminal equipment, places an air gap in the communications line physically preventing unauthorized callers from accessing the equipment. The device employs an authentication line separate from the communications path that is used to authenticate the caller wishing to use the terminal equipment. The caller must first call the authentication line where the information regarding the source of the caller is retrieved and stored. Once the caller's source is identified, the device answers the line and requires that the caller enter an authentication code. If a proper authentication code is entered, the device disconnects the authentication line and waits a predetermined amount of time for a call on the communications line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventors: John Steven Reel, William Lawrence Clayton, Larry Earl Horton, Louis Bernard Knecht, Thomas John Pavlik, Steven Kent Wooster