Telephone intercept apparatus and method for intercepting an outgoing telephone number

摘要

A telephone intercept device interposed between a telephone company network and telecommunications equipment in a consumer unit. The telephone intercept device monitors outgoing telephone numbers and disconnects the telecommunications equipment from the telephone company network, when necessary to redirect the telephone call to a different telephone number. An electrically-controlled switching circuit disconnects the equipment from the network. A first circuit determines off-hook condition to latch power for the device from the telephone company network. A second circuit mimics an off-hook state to the telephone company to allow the device to dial out the substitute number. A memory contains the target telephone numbers for redirection, as well as the associated redirected telephone number. The intercept device may also be used to communicate to remote monitoring stations the occurrence of an event associated with the consumer unit. A method for intercepting telephone numbers is also disclosed.