Bell Telephone Laboratories

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

Robert Lawrence Potter

Richard J Piereth

Ronald Michael Dudonis

Kenneth Streisand

John R Williams

Charles Glenn Morrison

A semi-automatic directory assistance system uses a directory assistance computer to help an operator at an operator position terminal find the requested directory number. The control processor, a module control unit, of a module of the system controls the establishment of part of the connection from a subscriber requesting operator assistance to the operator position. The operator at the operator position communicates with the directory assistance computer to find the requested number. After the requested number has been found, the computer sends a message to the control processor. In response to that message, the control processor causes an audio response unit to generate a directory assistance message corresponding to the desired number and causes the response unit to be connected to the subscriber.

Semi-automated directory assistance systems

This invention pertains to systems servicing coin operated telephones and, more specifically, to apparatus in such systems for preventing called party fraud in simulating coin deposit signals. During intermediate coin deposit periods, the network connection between the calling and called stations is split into calling and called portions and then these portions are extended and reconnected. A filter is inserted in the extended called station portion to attenuate fraudulent coin deposit signals originating from the called station. A coin tone detector connected to the extended calling station portion is still actuated by valid coin deposit signals from the calling station, but does not detect the attenuated fraudulent signals.

Called party fraud prevention in an automated coin system

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Naperville, IL, United States of America

Robert Lawrence Potter