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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7340052 | Multifunctional electronic device A device for providing telephone communication and data transfer includes a base unit with a display screen and means for retrieving and displaying Internet information via a DSL connection or USB line, for example. A mechanism for recognizing and verifying handwrit... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7324641 | Activating telephone-based services using a POS device A method of providing telephone response unit (TRU)-based services includes receiving from a point-of-sale (POS) device a request at a host computer system to activate TRU-based services. The request includes an identifier that indicates the specific TRU-based servi... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7260203 | Method and apparatus for routing calls based on identification of the calling party or calling line A method and apparatus for routing calls for a subscriber based on the identification of the calling party or the originating line. Generally, the present invention operates to identify a calling party or originating line and then select a routing list based on this... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7215980 | Pen-type mobile telephone A kind of pen-type mobile telephone. It comprises: housing (1), display (2), button (3, 4, 5), telephone receiver (6), earphone (7), etc. It is characterized in that said pen-type mobile telephone's housing possesses slender rod-fo... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7110512 | Method and apparatus for providing prepaid local telephone services A system and method for providing prepaid dialtone services. The system includes a prepaid dialtone service center having an applications server that maintains a prepaid dialtone subscriber database including subscriber identification and service period information.... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7053770 | System and method for communicating alarm conditions in a mesh network Each of a plurality of satellite nodes coupled to a sensing device or an actuator and logically dispersed around an access node are configured to wirelessly communicate alarm conditions. A first satellite node detects and accesses an alarm condition and then prepare... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7050554 | Payment to charities with prepaid card The balance or a portion of the balance associated with a prepaid card with or without a microcircuit is paid into a balance portion collection server, as a donations to charities, after setting up a call between a terminal and the server and after confirmation of t... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6999569 | System and method for using a prepaid card A system and method for transferring money by use of a prepaid card account is disclosed wherein two cards are issued to the user accountholder, one of which is provided to another user, and either user may add value to the prepaid account so that the other user may... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6951302 | System and method for performing a quasi-cash transaction A system and method of performing a quasi-cash transaction for a customer including receiving a desired transaction dollar amount. A State identification card issued to the customer is electronically processed to retrieve machine readable information. Customer ident... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6948090 | Method and apparatus for network identification A processing unit, for example a computer server, that is connectable to a data communications network, has a device reader for reading a supplied network identity from a portable storage device such as a smart card or the like. The processing unit then uses the sup... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6942147 | Smart card reader The subject of the invention is a smart card reader (31) comprising a card reader part for receiving a detachable smart card (11) connected to it and for communicating information between the smart card reader (31) and the smart card (11)... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6915136 | Mobile communication method and mobile communication system Any one of a plurality of terminals sharing the same number determines whether or not to switch a transfer to any of the other terminals sharing the same number. If it determines that the transfer is to be switched, it authenticates one terminal among the other term... | 07/05/2005 |
| 6687350 | Smart card reader and transaction system A smart card reader and transaction system which uses the voice path of a switched telephone network to effect smart card transactions are described. The smart card reader may be used with either a regular telephone or an ADSI telephone. If the telephone ... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6628766 | Apparatus for delivery of prepaid telecommunication services and method therefor An apparatus for delivery of prepaid telecommunication services and method therefor in which in substantially real time after a request for such services is submitted by a purchaser, the request is processed, a PIN number is issued for that particular ser... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6487284 | Card pay telephone with speed dialing A pay telephone includes a keypad, a card reader, and a processor. The keypad receives input signals from a caller. The card reader reads identification data and speed dial numbers from a card received from the caller. The processor receives the input sig... | 11/26/2002 |
| 6480590 | Network access pay telephone, conversion, and method A kit for converting an existing pay telephone to additionally provide computer network access includes an upper housing unit that latches to a lower housing of the existing telephone, and a network adapter unit which includes a network computer and a con... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6473500 | System and method for using a prepaid card A system for using a prepaid card permits a card user to purchase a card, issued by an issuer such as a bank, through an agent at a retail establishment via a terminal, select a PIN, have the card activated at the point of purchase, use the card to purcha... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6381319 | Apparatus for querying a central service An apparatus for querying a central service dials telephone numbers to establish contact with the central service, and accesses services housed in the central service. The geographical location of the apparatus is stored in a tie unit and sent to the appa... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6243450 | Pay-per use for data-network-based public access services An apparatus for vending public multimedia services has a telephone, a multimedia terminal, a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept charges for enabling use of at least one of the telephone and the multimedia terminal, a file receiver ... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6118860 | Public communications services vending method and apparatus An apparatus and method for vending public communications services. The apparatus includes a telephone, a multimedia terminal, and a payment receiver for receiving an authorization to accept charges for enabling use of at least one of the telephone and th... | 09/12/2000 |
| 5926531 | Transmitter for accessing pay-type telephones A system and method for providing remote access to a pay-type telephone. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the system includes a pay-type telephone, and a receiver provided at the telephone for receiving data transmitted via a electromagneti... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5841469 | Audiovisual telecommunication method and apparatus using a digital network A videoconferencing network of audiovisual communication terminals is interconnected by a telephone network. Each terminal is activated only when the balance in a user account has been read and the account has been made available for debiting. The termina... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5760381 | Prepaid card Debit cards, such as long distance telephone cards, may be attractively packaged and even readily mounted for point of purchase display, in such a manner that the card is inactive until activated at the point of purchase. The card may be activated at the ... | 06/02/1998 |
| 5621787 | Prepaid cash card A system is provided which uses a pre-purchased card having an identity number to make long distance telephone calls or to order services over a landline telephone system. When long distance telephone calls are being purchased, the agent selling the card ... | 04/15/1997 |
| 5577109 | Pre-paid card system and method A pre-paid card system enables customers to make purchases using an authorized card. The system includes four main functional components: a plurality of cards, a host computer, a plurality of on-site activation terminals and a main processor. Each of the ... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5483582 | Applications platform for a telephone system gateway interface A system is disclosed for providing enhanced call service and call routing functions from a centralized location on a telephone network line through gateway connections to service providers. A multiple function interface located between a paystation and a... | 01/09/1996 |
| 5463678 | Credit card reader In a card reader, the transducer head is supported at one end of the guide path by a spring-loaded, pivoting arm. The spring is located adjacent the head and urges the head against the card as it passes under the head. The pivoted arm forces the head to f... | 10/31/1995 |
| 5440621 | Apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections in a telecommunication switching network without utilization of rate schedules and call cost computations The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associatable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In ge... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5428677 | Telephone card having calendar function and system for using same A calendar is provided on a telephone card to enhance its usefulness. A telephone set displaying the calendar allows a user to refer to it during a telephone call. A telephone card reader, a telephone card insertion slot, and a number-of-calls counting ap... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5287403 | Method and apparatus for processing telephone calls charged to credit cards When a telephone caller charges a call to a commercial credit card, an announcement which includes the name of the credit card issuer is supplied to the caller after the validation of the credit card. In a preferred embodiment, the issuer of the commercia... | 02/15/1994 |
| 5265155 | Method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections in a telecommunication switching network The present invention provides a method and apparatus for prepayment of telecommunication connections between first and second telecommunication devices operably associatable with the telecommunication lines of a telecommunication switching network. In ge... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5218633 | Enhanced access to telecommunications network A public pay telephone station constructed to accept user carried media which may be in the form of CD disks which are capable of storing a variety of data or information for interacting with the public telephone station. The station is provided with a di... | 06/08/1993 |
| 5157722 | Holder and latching mechanism for a hand-held telephone A telephone holder and latching mechanism for use in conjunction with a hand-held, credit-card telephone in, for example, a commercial aircraft is disclosed. An integrally formed face plate, an integrally formed handset holder, and an integrally formed la... | 10/20/1992 |
| 5153906 | Personal-servicing communication system A communication system offering specific services to specific persons bears a portable memory device with a record of personal information such as the bearer's identification number, class of service, personal data, etc. In making a call, the bearer of th... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5109412 | Hand-held pay station telephone dispenser and cord retractor For use in conjunction with vehicular, hand-held, pay telephone, a telephone dispenser and latching mechanism for securing the telephone in the dispenser and, in response to actuation by a telephone user, releasing the telephone from the dispenser. The di... | 04/28/1992 |
| 5046183 | Semi-automated operator assistance telecommunication calls An operator assistance call handling arrangement is disclosed featuring the use of an intelligent telecommunications station (intelligent phone) for the collection and transmission of call data to an operator assistance system for setting up a call withou... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5046085 | Interfacing system for an international-type pay-telephone An interface unit for coupling an international-type pay-telephone to a land-based or cellular telephone system. The interfacing unit of the invention has a microcomputer, and an associated EPROM in which is stored the exchanges of the telephone numbers t... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5036533 | System for providing automatic voice messaging in a digital network environment The present invention describes an automatic voice messaging system for use in a telephone network having a calling station connectible to a first switch and a called station connectible to a second switch, with the first and second switches connected by ... | 07/30/1991 |
| 4977592 | Dispenser and unlatching mechanism for a hand-held pay station telephone In conjunction with a hand-held, credit-card telephone for use aboard, for example, commerical aircraft, a telephone dispenser and credit-card unlatching mechanism ("CCUM"). The dispenser includes a dispenser channel of generally longitudinal stepwise con... | 12/11/1990 |
| 4975942 | Credit/calling card pay telephone method and system employing telephone unit local card-checking and other intelligence cooperative with local personal host computer A credit/calling card pay telephone method and system, employing appropriate expanded local intelligence at the telephone instrument unit for enabling local card checking and call transaction record keeping, and interfacing with a PC host computer periodi... | 12/04/1990 |
