...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7809120 | Collect credit card service Systems and methods for operator type calling and billing is accomplished by either automated operator instruction prompts, live operator instruction prompts or a combination of both automated and live operator prompts and live or automated billing verification and ... | 10/05/2010 |
| 7397909 | System and method for providing segmented applications The invention provides systems and methods in which an incoming call port is looped back at a switch and, under control of a call segment controller, is directed to applications and/or other termination points to provide enhanced calling services. According to a pre... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7373393 | File system A computer system includes a first computer for receiving access requests to files from clients, a first storage device that is connected to the first computer and stores file management information, a second computer that receives access requests to data from the f... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7343006 | Drive-in restaurant credit-card transaction system A method for conducting credit card transactions at a business having a plurality of remote customer interfaces includes the steps of electronically transmitting a customer's order from one of the plurality of remote customer interfaces to a transaction hub, enterin... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7266371 | Activation and remote modification of wireless services in a packet network context A third generation (3G) mobile communication system supports an over-the-air activation scheme utilizing a wireless packet data protocol. A subscriber identity module (SIM) is preloaded with temporary operating parameters such as a temporary international mobile sub... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7228155 | System and method for remotely initializing a RF transaction The present invention relates to a process for providing a RF module configured to convert a nontraditional transaction device for traditional transaction completion. The RF module is placed in physical and logical communication with a microprocessor of a nontraditi... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7215942 | Architecture for managing prepaid wireless communications services The present invention is directed to a system and method for managing a prepaid wireless account for voice and data communications services. According to one embodiment the communications system, having a prepaid architecture for managing a plurality of prepaid wire... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7130452 | System and method for multi-party validation, authentication and/or authorization via biometrics A system and method for multi-party authentication is described. The multi-party authentication process uses synchronous and persistent biometrics signals received from parties to a transaction, based on a policy, to approve a transaction request. The biometrics sig... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7110792 | Apparatus and method for increased security of wireless transactions A mobile communication device with security mechanisms is provided for enabling wireless personal information transfer with increased security. In another embodiment of the invention, a mobile communication device is used to confirm a transaction. ... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7110515 | Remembrance-promoted number receipt for call allowance A user is allowed to place a call to a target phone number upon receipt of one or more remembrance-promoted numbers and zero or more passwords, from the user, at an access phone number location. The one or more remembrance-promoted numbers comprise one or more of: a... | 09/19/2006 |
| 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 |
| 7082568 | Interactive data analysis support apparatus and media on which is recorded an interactive data analysis support program An interactive data analysis support apparatus for supporting the analysis of data comprises: a cross tabulation display device for displaying according to specified summing up conditions a cross tabulation in which data to be analyzed is cross summed up, a cell spe... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7079810 | System and method for communicating with a remote communication unit via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) The present invention is generally directed to a system and method for communicating between a personal data access device and a remote communication unit. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a device, electrically connected for communication with a publ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7065195 | Systems and methods relating to multipurpose cards A multipurpose card serves as an effective marketing tool in today's competitive marketplace. The multipurpose card includes a main portion and a key ring portion. The key ring portion may be separated from the main portion. ... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7062467 | Information distributing method and system When the amount of money billed each time the information is distributed once is determined depending on the number of times that the information is distributed within a predetermined time period, the intention of information offerer and the estimation of user refle... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7059520 | Universal credit card integrated with cellular telephone A universal credit card with a cellular telephone that has inside of an outer housing and adjacent to a side thereof a magnetic reader/writer capable of reading data from a magnetic strip of a credit card. Along a side of the outer housing adjacent the magnetic read... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7058023 | Self-configuring network telephone system and method A self-configuring telephone device interconnected by a network to other network telephone devices. The network telephone device is especially adapted to connect to other similar devices on a network, such as a local area network, without the need for a central cont... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7024174 | Method and system for data management in electronic payments transactions A method and system for prepaying wireless telecommunications charges utilizes computer hardware and software including, for example, a user's mobile phone, a mobile operator's interactive voice response unit, a mobile payments interactive voice response unit, SMS, ... | 04/04/2006 |
| 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 |
| 6973172 | Method for providing a quantity of telephone time from an ATM or POS terminal A method for providing a quantity of pre-paid telephone time from an automated teller machine (ATM) or a point-of-sale device (POS terminal), to a patron of either of such device. PIN numbers, obtained from a telephone service provider and each designating a pre-pai... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6968174 | Call routing apparatus The present invention relates generally to telecommunications, and in particular to systems and methods for routing and placing telephone calls. In one embodiment, a call manager system is configured to place a call to a pay-per-call service, or to cause such a call... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6912231 | Multi-broadcast bandwidth control system A method and apparatus is provided for managing bandwidth and prioritizing different forms of data to be transmitted from a central hub or node to a plurality of ground stations. All data of all types including image data and text data is processed into frames of TC... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6801607 | System and method for preventing fraudulent calls using a common billing number In a telecommunication network, there is provided a system for monitoring a plurality of telephone calls to a common private branch exchange, PBX) in order to detect fraudulent activity. In particular, fraudulent activity is detected in calls made to and originating... | 10/05/2004 |
| 6526130 | System and method for distributing personal identification numbers over a computer network The present invention comprises a system and method for providing a personal identification number (PIN) to a client terminal over a computer network. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a server receives a request for a PIN over a net... | 02/25/2003 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 6438220 | Method and apparatus for internet-based telephone access to prepaid card and pin systems A method for providing a pre-paid telephone calling card services to a calling party initiating a voice-based connection to a called party telephone using an internet-based IP Phone process running on a personal computer. The method comprises initiating a... | 08/20/2002 |
| 6421433 | Interactive voice personal and live connection telephone messaging system In existing "voice personal" ads, users are not charged for "browsing" the voice mail messages on the system. Consequently, a large percentage of users of the telephone lines required for such a system are using the system free of charge by merely browsin... | 07/16/2002 |
| 6404866 | Telephone calling account system and method A telephone calling account system, method, and card. The method typically includes determining a preexisting account designator of a preexisting account, creating a telephone calling account on a calling platform, and assigning to the telephone calling a... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6404865 | Domestic to country call intercept process (CIP) The invention includes a system and method for detecting fraudulent calling card calls to predefined high fraud countries including a call-intercept system capable of verifying call identities in order to prevent fraudulent calling card use.... | 06/11/2002 |
| 6345090 | Conditional purchase offer management system for telephone calls A conditional purchase offer (CPO) management system is disclosed for receiving and processing CPOs for telephone calls from calling parties. The CPO management system processes the CPO to determine whether one or more long distance carriers is willing to... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6335965 | Voice-data telephonic interface control system In an audio-digital telephone interface system, selective operation prompts a caller with oral instructions to provide: digital control signals, digital data signals (numeric) or audio signals. Inbound and outbound operations are involved and inbound call... | 01/01/2002 |
| 6304640 | Method and system for call disposition messaging A method and system for creating and sending call disposition messages. When a calling card call is validated by the telephone network which issued the card, the card issuing network can request a call disposition message. In response to validation of the... | 10/16/2001 |
| 6289010 | Inbound gateway authorization processing for inter-carrier internet telephony A communication system providing telephony communication across combined circuit switched and packet switched networks, such as a telephone network and the Internet, which are connectable to terminals, such as telephones and computers, for selective commu... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6282276 | Method of billing a value-added call A method of billing a telephone call between a caller and a value-added service. A request is received from a caller for a telephone call between the caller and the value-added service. Information associated with a credit account is requested before the ... | 08/28/2001 |
| 6243574 | Mobile phone distribution system having programming and tracking A mobile telephone programming and accounting system that includes an integrated hardware system interlinking a telephone unit, a telephone interlink receiver, and a central processing unit connected to the interlink receiver. The hardware system also pre... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6160874 | Validation gateway Communication between telecommunications networks and computer systems used by financial institutions to allow processing customer requests to pay for telecommunication services with credit cards is described. In particular, communication that allows both... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6101248 | False call protecting apparatus for use with telephone exchange system and false call protecting method When a false signal received from a telephone set on a false originating side is detected, a call thereof is immediately disconnected. In reality, the system comprises a detecting portion 5A and a signal unit 4. The detecting portion 5A detects a false si... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6091944 | On demand real time telephone billing equipment An on demand, real time billing equipment for a user of a radio telephone employs a telephone switching platform, including an unintelligent switch and a computer, which is in communication with a radio telephone transmitting system, a local telephone tra... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6069941 | Method for controlling subscriber access to a fee-based service Access by a subscriber (12) to a fee-based service is managed so that the subscriber, when qualified, receives the service. If the subscriber is found unqualified, then the subscriber is prompted to enter qualifying information, either in the form of the ... | 05/30/2000 |