Abstract:
A device and method for controlling the use of a communication device make a determination as to whether a communication may proceed. The determination may be based upon a time reference, such as a total amount of time that the communication may proceed or an interval of time when communication is not permitted. The determination may alternatively be based upon whether the user is authorized by entry of a personal identification number prior to placing the communication. Various other considerations may be accounted for including whether the communication is to a communication address and/or whether the communication is of a particular type. If the communication may not proceed, then the circuit between a communication device and the communication network is obstructed to terminate the communication following an audio or visual warning.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/068,607 filed Feb. 6, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,082,191, entitled “TELEPHONE USAGE CONTROL”. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to controlling the use of a telephone. More specifically, the present invention relates to governing the use of a telephone based on criteria such as but not limited to who is being called, when the call is being placed, the maximum length of the call, and/or who is placing the call. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Telephone service is an important resource for most people because it enables them to easily communicate with others over great distances. Telephone service has progressed to where a user may place a virtually unlimited number of calls per day and any one call may have a virtually unlimited duration. The constraints for placing telephone calls, such as when a call may be placed and how long a call may proceed, arise due to choices made by the telephone user rather than any constraint being inherent in the telephone-service. Although placing telephone calls is an important part of daily life, it may be desirable on occasion to control the usage of a telephone. 
   Several examples demonstrate how controlling telephone usage may occasionally be desirable. For instance, long distance calls increase in cost as the length of the call increases, and some individuals may inadvertently spend an excessive amount of time, and therefore money, on a particular long distance call. Furthermore, within a given household, rules may be imposed on telephone use such as the particular time of day when a call can be placed to a friend, and/or the amount of time the call to the friend may last. Enforcing such rules and preventing excessive or unauthorized use is difficult because close monitoring of the telephone must be done. 
   Therefore, there is a need for an improved way to place constraints on the use of telephone service. 
   SUMMARY 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and devices for controlling telephone usage. The methods and devices permit constraints to be placed upon use of a telephone or telephone service by one or more ways. The methods and devices employ breaking a circuit between a telephone and a telephone line to control whether a telephone call may proceed. The device employs a switch for breaking the circuit where the switch is controlled by logic that detects whether it is appropriate for the phone call to proceed. 
   The control of telephone usage may be based on a comparison of a determined time to a time reference. The time reference may be of several forms, such as a maximum amount of time that a call may proceed. Thus, if a call may proceed for only a set amount of time, then the set amount of time that is the time reference is compared to the determined time to detect whether the set amount of time has expired. If so, then the circuit is broken to automatically end the call. The time reference may be an interval of time when a call may not proceed, such as during a particular part of the day, and this time reference is compared to the determined time to see if the determined time falls within the interval. If the time is within the interval, then the circuit is broken so that the call may not be completed. 
   Additional considerations may be made when deciding to allow the phone call to proceed in addition to the time reference. For example, the control may be applied only to certain telephone numbers or only to long distance calls. Furthermore, a specific time reference may be applied to a specific telephone number. Additionally, other considerations may be provided, such as allowing calls to 911 to proceed without regard to the time reference and allowing the duration of the call to be extended once the end of the allowable time has arrived. 
   The control of the telephone usage may also be based on knowledge of a personal identification number (PIN). The phone call may proceed only if the PIN is entered prior to dialing the number. Other considerations may be made in this embodiment as well, such as allowing calls to 911 without a PIN or restricting only long distance calls with a PIN. Additionally, the PIN may be required for only a set of telephone numbers to be called or for all telephone number besides those in the set. 
   The various aspects of the present invention may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and by reference to the drawings and claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram depicting one embodiment whereby a device for controlling telephone usage is placed between the telephone line and the telephone. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the general-components of a device for controlling telephone usage. 
       FIG. 3  is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled according to a time reference that is a maximum amount of time for a call to proceed. 
       FIG. 4 . is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled according to a time reference that is a maximum amount of time for a call to proceed in conjunction with other considerations. 
       FIG. 5  is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled according to a time reference that is an interval when a call cannot proceed. 
       FIG. 6  is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled according to a time reference that is an interval when a call cannot proceed in conjunction with other considerations. 
       FIG. 7  is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled based upon entry of a PIN. 
       FIG. 8  is an operational flow of an embodiment where a phone call is controlled based upon entry of a PIN in conjunction with other considerations. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a simplified view of a telephone service environment where various embodiments of the present invention may be implemented. A standard telephone network  102  provides a subscriber line  118  that leads to a phone jack  104 . Telephone service is provided through the phone jack  104  by connection to a telephone cable  120 . Telephone line  120  leads to a control device  106 . A telephone  108  connects to the telephone line  120  through control device  106  via telephone cable  122 . 
   Although shown as a separate device  106 , control device  106  could be integrated into a telephone  108  whereby interconnection to the components of device  106  to the components of the telephone  108  are internal rather than through external line  122 . The control device  106  controls telephone usage by completing or obstructing the circuit between telephone line  120  and telephone line  122 , depending upon whether a call may proceed. As discussed below, the control device  106  employs digital logic to determine whether the call should proceed and to complete or obstruct the telephone circuit. 
   The control device  106  has several external features that enhance the ability to control telephone usage. The use of the external features will be discussed below in relation to the operations that occur when using the device  106 . Such external features include a display screen  110 , such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) that provides textual information to the telephone user. A light  114  such as a light emitting diode (LED) may be included to provide an additional visual indicator. A speaker  112  may be included to provide an audible indicator. A keypad  116  may be included to receive input from a user, such as criteria employed by the digital logic including specific telephone numbers to monitor or an access PIN. 
     FIG. 2  shows the general components of the device  106  in block diagram form. The control device  106  includes a processor  210 , such as hardwired digital logic or a general-purpose programmable processor. The processor  210  performs logical operations to make determinations as to whether a particular call should proceed. Examples of the logical operations that may be performed are discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 3-8 . The processor  210  is operatively coupled to additional components to facilitate these logical operations. 
   The processor  210  is coupled to a switch  212  that has at least two positions, open and closed, that are selected by the processor  210 . The switch  212  has one terminal connected to the phone line  120  and another terminal connected to the phone line  122  such that the operation of the switch  212  from one position to the other serves to make or break electrical continuity between phone line  120  and phone line  122 . The processor  210  may also be connected to the phone line  122  or phone line  120  through a coupling  220  and is configured to monitor the actual phone line signal to detect dialed tones or pulses. 
   In certain embodiments, the processor  210  may rely upon information from a reference clock  204  and/or digital memory  206 . The reference clock  204  may be a digital clock that maintains the time of day. In embodiments where the actual time of day is not relevant but elapsed time is relevant, reference clock  204  may be a timer circuit. Digital memory  206  may be RAM, ROM, and any combination, and it stores volatile and non-volatile data accordingly. The processor&#39;s interaction with the memory  206  and clock  204  is discussed below with reference to the logical operations. 
   The processor  210  may also be configured to control the external features of the control device  106 . A keypad circuit  208  for keypad  116  may be linked to the processor  210  to allow the user to input data. An audio circuit  216  driving a speaker  214  may be linked to the processor  210  to allow the speaker to provide an audible indication to the user. A display circuit  202  for the LCD display  110  may be linked to the processor  210  to provide the textual information. Also, an LED  218  may be linked to the processor  210  to provide an additional visual indicator. 
     FIG. 3  shows exemplary logical operations of the processor  210  where the time reference used to control the call is a maximum amount of time that the call may last. In this embodiment, the control device  106  considers only the time reference when controlling use of the telephone  108 . The logical operations begin at detect operation  302  where processor  210  through its coupling  220  detects that a number is being dialed from the telephone  108 . Once dialing is detected, the processor  210  obtains the time from the clock  204  to use as a start time for the call in progress at time operation  304 . As an alternative to using a clock  204  that keeps the time of day, a timer may be used and the processor  210  would start the timer at time operation  304 . 
   Once the start time has been established, or the timer is running, the processor  210  begins comparing the elapsed time from the clock  204  during the call in progress to the time reference stored in memory  206  at compare operation  306 . The time reference, which is the maximum amount of time that the call may proceed, may be a default setting in memory  206  or a setting entered by a user through the keypad  116  either during setup of the device  106  or prior to each call. Once the elapsed time is compared to the time reference, the processor  210  at query operation  308  detects whether the elapsed time is equal to the time reference. 
   If the time reference is not equal to the elapsed time, then the call has not reached the maximum time allowed. When this is the case, operational flow transitions back to, compare operation  306  where the processor  210  again performs a comparison of the time reference to the elapsed time. Once query operation  308  detects that the elapsed time does equal the time reference, then the processor  210  triggers the switch  212  to move from its first position to a second position at switch operation  310 . The operation of the switch  212  breaks the circuit between the telephone  108  and the telephone line  120  to terminate the call. 
   The switch  212  may break the circuit by opening the connection to terminate the call at the phone  108  connected through the device  106 . The switch  212  may alternatively be configured to electrically short the circuit from the phone line  120  so that all phones on the same subscriber line  118  are not able to maintain the phone call. In either case, the device  106  has controlled the amount of time a user can spend on the telephone  108 . 
     FIG. 4  shows exemplary logical operations of the processor  210  where other considerations are accounted for in addition to the time reference when determining whether to terminate a phone call. The logical operations begin at detect operation  402  where the processor  210  through its coupling  220  detects that a number is being dialed from the telephone  108  and records the dialed number. Recording the dialed number involves recognizing from the tones or pulses transmitted from the phone  108  the numbers being dialed as is conventionally done by the telephone network  102 . 
   After the dialed number has been detected and recorded, the processor  210  at query operation  404  detects whether the dialed number is  911 . If so, then the processor  210  leaves the switch  212  in position to complete the telephone circuit to allow the call to proceed unrestricted at call operation  406 . If query operation  404  detects that the dialed number is not  911 , then operational flow transitions to number operation  408 . Here, the processor  210  references telephone numbers stored in memory  206  to compare the recorded telephone number that has been dialed to those in memory  206 . The numbers in memory  206  may be stored at setup of the device  106  by the user entering them through the keypad  116 . 
   The user may place telephone numbers in memory  206  to place restrictions on calls to the numbers or to place limits on all calls not to the numbers. For example, a parent may want to restrict the amount of time a child spends on the phone when calling a friend, so the telephone number of the friend is stored in memory  206  as a number to restrict. Alternatively, parents may want to restrict the amount of time a child spends on the phone when calling anyone but grandparents, so the number of the grandparents is stored in memory  206  as a number to not restrict. 
   After referencing the dialed numbers in memory  206 , the processor  210  detects whether the dialed number matches a number in memory  206  at query operation  410 . In the case where stored numbers indicate those to restrict and where a match is found, operational flow transitions to time operation  416 . If no match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  412 . In the alternative case (indicated by parenthetical in query operation  410 ) where stored numbers indicate those not to restrict and where a match is not found, operational flow transitions to time operation  416 . If a match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  412 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to query operation  412 , the processor  210  detects whether the dialed number begins with a  1 . If so, then the call is long distance and operational flow transitions to time operation  416 . If not, then the call may not be long distance, and the processor  210  maintains the switch  212  in the first position to complete the telephone circuit and allow the call to proceed without restriction at call operation  414 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to time operation  416 , the processor  210  obtains the time from the reference clock  204  as a start time, or starts the timer  204 . The processor  210  then begins to compare the elapsed time to the time reference in memory  206  that indicates the maximum amount of time that the call may proceed at compare operation  418 . At query operation  420 , the processor  210  detects whether the elapsed time is close to the time reference based on a default or user defined amount of time, such as five minutes. If not, then operational flow transitions back to compare operation  418 . 
   If the elapsed time is close to the time reference, the operational flow transitions to warning operation  422 . Here, if on the first pass to this operation  422  for the current call, the processor  210  triggers the audio circuit  216 , the LED  218 , and/or the display circuit  202  to annunciate or otherwise alert the user that the time for the phone call is about to expire. Query operation  424  then detects whether the elapsed time is equal to the time reference. If not, then operational flow returns to compare operation  418 . If the elapsed time is equal to the time reference, then operational flow transitions to query operation  426 . 
   The processor  210  detects whether a delay button of the control device  106  has been depressed at query operation  426 . For example, a specific key on the keypad  116  may act as a delay button so that the user may override the termination of the call by depressing the delay button after hearing the warning but before the duration of the call exceeds the time reference. If the delay button has been depressed, then the processor  210  delays terminating the call for a default or user defined amount of time at delay operation  428 . After the delay, query operation  426  again detects whether the delay button has been depressed during the delay period. 
   Once query operation  426  detects that the delay button has not been depressed, then switch operation  430  causes the switch  212  to terminate the call. As shown in this embodiment, several additional considerations have been accounted for in addition to the time reference prior to terminating the call, including detecting 911 calls, detecting reference phone numbers in memory for comparison, detecting a long distance call, providing a warning, and permitting a delay. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the operational flow may be altered to eliminate one or more of the particular considerations. 
   For example, one embodiment may involve only detecting 911 calls and detecting long distance calls in addition to monitoring the time reference while another embodiment involves only detecting the reference phone numbers in memory while providing a warning prior to terminating the call. Additional permutations are possible as well, such as where the clock  204  maintains the time of day and the processor  210  immediately terminates the call when a number in memory  206  is dialed again after a call to the same number has already occurred on the same day. 
   An additional embodiment is shown in  FIG. 5  where the time reference is an interval of time during the day and the only consideration is whether the time when the phone call is occurring is within the interval. The logical operations begin at detect operation  502  where the processor  210  through its coupling  220  detects that numbers are being dialed from the telephone  108 . The processor  210  then obtains the current time of day from the clock  204  at time operation  504 . Once the time is known, the processor  210  compares the current time to the time reference stored in memory  206 . 
   The processor  210  decides whether the call should be terminated based on the comparison of the time reference to the current time at compare operation  506 . At query operation  508 , it is detected whether the current time is within the interval. If not, then operational flow returns to time operation  504  where the processor  210  again obtains the current time. If the current time does fall within the interval specified by the time reference, then switch operation  510  terminates the call with the switch  212 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , embodiments may include consideration of several factors in addition to determining whether the time of day when the call is occurring falls within the specified time interval. The logical operations begin at detect operation  602  where the processor  210  detects and records through coupling  220  a phone number being dialed from the telephone  108 . At query operation  604 , the processor  210  detects whether  911  has been dialed. If so, then the call proceeds unrestricted at call operation  606 . If not, then operational flow transitions to number operation  608 . 
   The processor  210  references telephone numbers stored in memory  206  at number operation  608  to compare the dialed telephone number that has been detected to those stored in memory  206 . As with the embodiment discussed with reference to  FIG. 4 , numbers may be stored in memory because calls to those numbers should be restricted, or alternatively because all calls but those to numbers stored in memory should be restricted. Query operation  610  detects whether one of the numbers in memory  206  has been dialed. 
   In the case where stored numbers indicate those to restrict and where a match is found, operational flow transitions to time operation  616 . If no match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  612 . In the alternative case (indicated by parenthetical in query operation  610 ) where stored numbers indicate those not to restrict and where a match is not found, operational flow transitions to time operation  616 . If a match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  612 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to query operation  612 , the processor  210  detects whether the dialed number begins with a  1 . If so, then the call is long distance and operational flow transitions to time operation  616 . If not, then the call may not be long distance, and the processor  210  maintains the switch  212  in the first position to complete the telephone circuit and allow the call to proceed without restriction at call operation  614 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to time operation  616 , the processor  210  obtains the time of day from the reference clock  204 . The processor  210  then compares the time of day to the time reference in memory  206  that indicates the interval during the day when the call may not proceed at compare operation  618 . At query operation  620 , the processor  210  detects whether the time of day is equal to the time reference. If not, then operational flow transitions to query operation  622 . If so, then the processor  210  detects whether a delay button of the control device  106  has been depressed at query operation  626 . 
   If the delay button has been depressed, then the processor  210  delays terminating the call for a default or user defined amount of time at delay operation  628 . After the delay, query operation  626  again detects whether the delay button has been depressed during the delay period. Once query operation  626  detects that the delay button has not been depressed, then switch operation  630  causes the switch  212  to terminate the call. 
   When operational flow transitions to query operation  622 , it is detected whether the time of day is close to the time reference. If the time of day is close to the time reference, then operational flow transitions to warning operation  624 . Here, if on the first pass to this operation  624  for the current call, the processor  210  triggers the audio circuit  216 , the LED  218 , and/or the display circuit  202  to annunciate or otherwise alert the user that the allowable time period for the phone call is about to end. Operational flow then returns to time operation  616 . 
   Similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , several additional considerations have been accounted for in addition to the time reference prior to terminating the call, including detecting 911 calls, detecting reference phone numbers in memory for comparison, detecting a long distance call, providing a warning, and permitting a delay. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that this operational flow may be altered to eliminate one or more of the particular considerations. 
     FIG. 7  shows an embodiment where the control device  106  prevents unauthorized users from placing phone calls. The logical operations begin at PIN operation  702  where the processor  210  receives entry of a PIN by a user through the keypad  116 . At detect operation  704 , the processor  210  through coupling  220  detects that a number is being dialed from the telephone  108 . The processor  210  then compares the entered PIN to a default or user specified PIN stored in memory  206  to determine whether the user who entered the PIN is authorized at compare operation  706 . 
   Query operation  708  then detects whether the entered PIN matches the stored PIN to determine whether the call may proceed. If the PIN numbers match, then the call proceeds without restriction at call operation  710 . If the PIN numbers do not match, then the call is terminated through operation of switch  212  at switch operation  712 . 
     FIG. 8  shows an embodiment where considerations are accounted for in addition to whether a correct PIN has been entered by the user. The logical operations begin at PIN operation  802  where the processor  210  receives entry of a PIN by a user through the keypad  116 . At detect operation  804 , the processor  210  through coupling  220  detects and records a number being dialed from the telephone  108 . Query operation  806  detects whether 911 has been dialed. If so, then the call proceeds without restriction at call operation  808 . If not, then operational flow transitions to number operation  810 . 
   At number operation  810 , the processor  210  references numbers stored in memory  206  to compare the stored numbers to the dialed number. As previously discussed, telephone numbers may be stored in memory when calls to those numbers are to be restricted, or alternatively when calls to all numbers but those stored are to be restricted. Query operation  812  detects whether the dialed number matches a number stored in memory  206 . 
   In the case where stored numbers indicate those to restrict and where a match is found, operational flow transitions to compare operation  818 . If no match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  814 . In the alternative case (indicated by parenthetical in query operation  812 ) where stored numbers indicate those not to restrict and where a match is not found, operational flow transitions to compare operation  818 . If a match is found in this case, then operational flow transitions to query operation  814 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to query operation  814 , the processor  210  detects whether the dialed number begins with a 1. If so, then the call is long distance and operational flow transitions to compare operation  818 . If not, then the call may not be long distance, and the processor  210  maintains the switch  212  in the first position to complete the telephone circuit and allow the call to proceed without restriction at call operation  816 . 
   Once operational flow transitions to compare operation  818 , the processor  210  compares the entered PIN to a PIN stored in memory  206 . Query operation  820  detects whether the entered PIN is the same as the stored PIN to determine whether the user is authorized to place a call. If the PINs match, then the call proceeds without restriction at call operation  822 . If the PINs do not match, then the call is terminated through operation of the switch  212  at switch operation  824 . 
   Although the present invention has been described in connection with various exemplary embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications can be made thereto within the scope of the claims that follow. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the invention in any way be limited by the above description, but instead be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.