NL1002004C2 - Blocking system for expensive outgoing telephone calls - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) is implemented in the exchanges (3,4). These are combined together with lines (5) and the user instruments (6) to make up the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) (2). The user gains access to the blocking circuits by keying in a Personal Identification Number (PIN), known only to the subscriber and the operating company. At a later time, to free the line and allow access, the user rekeys the PIN code.

Description

Title: Method and system for activating and deactivating subscriber lines.

A. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for deactivating a subscriber line, such as a telephone line, and a method for activating a deactivated subscriber line. The invention further relates to a communication system, such as a telephone system, in which such a method is applied.

There is a growing need for protection against telephone line abuse. Parents want to prevent their children from choosing expensive numbers (such as 06 numbers) and thereby increase the telephone bill. There is also a wish among companies that employees do not choose entertainment numbers 10 or call abroad unnecessarily. Many solutions have already been proposed to make dialing certain numbers more difficult.

For example, Canadian patent 1,301,973 discloses a device for blocking calls to "forbidden" telephone numbers. This device must be placed between the telephone and the telephone connection. This makes it possible to circumvent this known device relatively simply.

More effective is creating a list of "prohibited numbers" is a central. In the Netherlands, for example, it is possible to block 06 numbers in the exchange. However, this does not prevent third parties from misusing a person's telephone connection by, for example, arranging a so-called "call house" during his holiday in his home, where international calls can be made at competitive rates.

25 B. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to eliminate the above and other disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a method which makes it possible for a subscriber to block all outgoing calls in a simple manner. In addition, the invention aims to provide a method which makes it possible to (re) activate a subscriber line thus deactivated quickly and easily.

According to the invention, a method for deactivating a subscriber line comprises issuing a deactivation command and an access code to a central coupled to the subscriber line 35, checking the 1002004 2 access code by the central, and blocking the subscriber line by the central outgoing calls. The deactivation command can be similar to existing network services, such as forwarding (* 21), and include, for example, the command * 98. In order to prevent accidental or unauthorized deactivation of the subscriber line, an access code is advantageously added to the deactivation command, although it will be clear that a command without access code is in principle sufficient. In the exchange, the access code is checked, on which, if the control result is positive, the subscriber's line is blocked for outgoing calls. This can be done by placing the relevant subscriber number, or another number related to the subscriber line in question, in the exchange in a table, the table always being consulted when making calls.

Incoming calls can also be blocked if necessary, 15 but this is not necessary to prevent misuse.

When a subscriber's line is deactivated, a non-standard dial tone may be issued to the subscriber's line to remind the subscriber that the subscriber's line is deactivated.

Likewise, if a subscriber's line is deactivated, an alert signal can also be given to a party calling the subscriber's line.

According to the invention, a method for activating a deactivated subscriber line comprises issuing an activation command and an access code to an exchange coupled to the subscriber line, checking the access code by the exchange, and releasing the subscriber line outgoing by the exchange calls. The access codes associated with the deactivation command and the activation command can be identical. Another object of the invention is to indicate a system in which the method is applied.

C. REFERENCES [1] CA 1,301,973 35 [2] EP 0,607,767

D. IMPLEMENTATION EXAMPLES

The invention will be described below with reference to the 1 0 f <? 0 0 4 3 drawing to be explained in more detail.

Figure 1 schematically shows a telephone system in which the invention is applied.

The system 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a telephone network 2 with coupled exchanges 3 and 4. The exchange 4 is coupled to a subscriber's line 5, to which a telephone 6 is connected. Furthermore, several subscriber lines, not shown in more detail, can be coupled to the exchanges 3 and 4.

If the holder of the subscriber's line 5 wants to prevent the device 6, and furthermore all devices that can be connected to the subscriber's line, from generating no outgoing calls, he can, according to the invention, deactivate the subscriber's line 5 (temporarily) in a simple and quick manner. . To do this, he picks up the telephone receiver, dials the deactivation command (eg * 98), then enters his access code (eg 5432), optionally followed by a closing character (eg #), and hangs up. The total command then has the following form: * 98 5432 #. It will be clear that the identification of the holder can also take place in another manner, for instance by inserting an identification card, such as a "smart card" or "chip card", in a telephone set up for this purpose.

In the exchange 4, after the identity of the holder has been checked, measures are taken to prevent outgoing calls from subscriber line 5. This can be done in a similar manner as with the existing blocking of purchase numbers (06 numbers). For example, a table with subscriber lines, which may not make outgoing calls, can be present in exchange 4. In that case, deactivating a subscriber line means that the subscriber line is added to the relevant table.

It will moreover be clear that further exchanges may be connected between the displayed exchange 4 and the subscriber line 5, such as district exchanges. Thus, the actual deactivation of a subscriber's line does not have to take place in an exchange directly coupled to the subscriber's line.

The deactivation command is issued from the subscriber line 5. In most cases this will be done by means of a telephone 6 connected to subscriber line 5, but can also take place via another device 1002004 4 connected to subscriber line 5.

The deactivation, as indicated above, has the result that calls from the subscriber's line 5 do reach the exchange 4, but are not forwarded from there. Optionally, an exception can be made for emergency services, such as 06-11. Calls that reach the exchange 4 (for example via the exchange 3) and are intended for the subscriber line 5 can be forwarded.

If the subscriber, ie the holder of the subscriber's line 5, wishes to (re) activate the line, he picks up the telephone handset, dials the 10 activation command (for example * 99), then enters his access code (for example 5432), possibly followed by a closing character (for example #), and hangs up. The total command then has the following form: * 99 5432 #. Subscriber line 5 is then activated in exchange 4, for example by removing the respective subscriber line from the deactivated subscriber line table.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and that many modifications and additions are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

1 Ü 0 2 0 0 4

Claims (7)

Method for bringing a subscriber line into a deactivated state, comprising issuing a deactivation command and a first access code to a central linked to the subscriber line, checking the access code by the central, and blocking of the central unit from the outgoing call subscriber line, which deactivated state can be canceled by issuing an activation command and a second access code to an exchange linked to the subscriber line, checking the access code by the exchange, and releasing the subscriber line outgoing by the exchange calls, characterized in that the first access code is identical to the second access code. The method of claim 1, wherein incoming calls are also blocked. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein in the deactivated state of a subscriber's line, a non-standard dial tone is delivered to the subscriber's line. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein in the deactivated state of a subscriber's line an alert signal is issued to a party calling the subscriber's line. Communication system, comprising at least one central and subscriber lines coupled to the central, the central comprising means for recognizing a deactivation command, means for checking an access code, and means for blocking in dependence on the deactivation command and a first access code calls from the subscriber's line, the exchange also comprising means for de-activating the deactivated state of the subscriber's line in dependence on an activation command and a second access code, characterized in that the first access code is identical to the second access code. Communication system according to claim 5, wherein the blocking means are also arranged for blocking incoming calls. Communication system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the means for blocking calls comprise a table with deactivated subscriber lines. 1002004