Patent ID: 6014435
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
An unauthorized call defeat apparatus adapted to prevent a caller from successfully dialing one or more predetermined digit strings on a touch tone telephone connected to a given telephone line, the call defeat apparatus comprising:A) a touch tone decoder coupled to the telephone line, said touch tone decoder being responsive to the actuation of each key on the telephone by generating a representation of a corresponding digit;B) a processor and a memory cooperatively adapted to generate at least one predetermined digit string representing an unauthorized digit string which, if present in a digit string dialed on the telephone, designates that the call is to be defeated;C) a comparator for comparing each digit string dialed on the telephone to the predetermined digit string; andD) a dialer coupled to the telephone line and responsive to a determination by said comparator that a digit string dialed on the telephone is a match for the predetermined digit string by issuing at least one DTMF digit onto the telephone line to defeat the call in progress.