Payphone having master and slave modes

Abstract

A microprocessor-controlled coin telephone station includes apparatus that enables it to provide dialed telecommunications service and accept payment therefor--which is its primary function. The coin telephone station further includes apparatus for automatically dialing predetermined telephone numbers, automatically answering incoming telephone calls, and apparatus for monitoring conditions associated with its primary function in order to be a participating member of a hierarchal reporting network--which is its secondary function. In order to carry out the secondary function, the coin telephone station stores operating instructions which cause it to operate as either a Master or a Slave station within the hierarchal network. The operating instructions are downloaded into the telephone station from a Host computer over the Public Switched Telephone Network, which enables it to remotely reconfigure its hierarchal network of telephone stations to efficiently accommodate additional stations and periodic changes in the cost of long distance telephone calls.