The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1996
Albert Chen, New Hyde Park, NY (US);
Other;
Abstract
An apparatus for preventing unwanted telephone calls adapted to operate in conjunction with a conventional telephone and an associated telephone line. A playback mechanism comprises an integrated circuit adapted to allow the transmission of a message via the telephone line upon the activation thereof for prompting a caller to enter a password. Also included is verification circuitry adapted to accept via the telephone line a first password and further transmit an actuation signal upon the positive verification of the first password with a predetermined second password. Finally, control circuitry is connected to the playback mechanism and verification circuitry. The control circuitry is adapted to activate the playback mechanism and allow the transmission of the message to another party upon the receipt of a call. The control circuitry also accepts the first password and allows communication between the telephone and associated telephone line upon the receipt of the actuation signal from the verification mechanism.