Larry Earl Horton

US Patent:

58526536, Dec 22, 1998

Filed:

Aug 23, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/701248

Inventors:

John Steven Reel - Marion TX
William Lawrence Clayton - San Antonio TX
Larry Earl Horton - San Antonio TX
Louis Bernard Knecht - San Antonio TX
Thomas John Pavlik - Fair Oaks Ranch TX
Steven Kent Wooster - San Antonio TX

International Classification:

H04M 166
H04M 157

US Classification:

379 88

Abstract:

A device and method for securing terminal equipment connected to a communications line is disclosed. The device, when inserted into the communications line between the caller and terminal equipment, places an air gap in the communications line physically preventing unauthorized callers from accessing the equipment. The device employs an authentication line separate from the communications path that is used to authenticate the caller wishing to use the terminal equipment. The caller must first call the authentication line where the information regarding the source of the caller is retrieved and stored. Once the caller's source is identified, the device answers the line and requires that the caller enter an authentication code. If a proper authentication code is entered, the device disconnects the authentication line and waits a predetermined amount of time for a call on the communications line. When a call is received during the predetermined period on the communications line, the source information of the caller is retrieved and compared to the information stored from the authentication call.