A system to be utilized with a telephone facility for on-line handling of customer data contained in a memory in accordance with a select operating format comprising: a plurality of call distributors for routing calls based upon availability wherein said plurality of call distributors are located at different geographic locations, said plurality of call distributors receiving called terminal digital data (DNIS) signals automatically provided by said telephone facility to identify said select operating format from a plurality of distinct operating formats and automatically receiving caller telephone number data from said telephone facility; an operator terminal for use by a person to communicate through the telephone facility; interface switching means connected to said plurality of call distributors and said operator terminal for receiving incoming calls routed by said call distributors; computer means coupled to said interface switching means for connecting an incoming call by a caller to said operator terminal based on a condition, said caller telephone number data being stored in said memory such that said computer means in accordance with said select operating format is capable of accessing said customer data on a selected customer which has a telephone number corresponding to said caller telephone number data automatically provided from said telephone facility, said computer means visually displaying said customer data on a selected customer and said operator terminal capable of providing data entries to said memory; and said customer data on a selected customer contained in memory is updated by incorporating said data entries into said customer data. view more

A control system according to claim 18, wherein the data relating to certain individual callers includes calling number identification data for certain individual callers automatically provided by the communication facility.

A system to be utilized with a telephone facility for on-line handling of customer data contained in a memory in accordance with a select operating format comprising: a plurality of call distributors for routing calls wherein said plurality of call distributor are located at different geographic locations; an operator terminal for use by a person to communicate through the telephone facility; a plurality of interface switching structures located at different geographic locations and connected to the plurality of call distributors and the operator terminal for receiving incoming calls routed by said plurality of call distributors based on call allocation routing data and for receiving called terminal digital date (DNIS) signals automatically provided by the telephone facility to identify the select operating format from a plurality of operating formats; and processing means connected to the plurality of interface switching structures for receiving customer number data entered by a caller and for storing the customer number data in a central memory accessed by said plurality of interface switching structures and based on a condition coupling an incoming call to the operator terminal, the processing means visually displaying the customer number data, the operator terminal providing other data entries to the central memory to update data relating to the caller. view more

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system, the process including the steps of: providing key numbers specifying limits on use to entitle individual callers to access the operations of the interface with the telephone communication system; coupling remote terminals to the interface for providing voice signals to the individual callers; receiving the key numbers as digital identification data in the form of terminal digital data automatically provided by the telephone communication system for the individual callers and additional data provided from the remote terminals under control of the individual callers; qualifying the individual callers by testing to determine if the individual callers are entitled to access the operations of the interface by testing the key numbers for the individual callers with stored key numbers to ensure their validity and further testing the key numbers based on the limits on use specified for the individual callers and accordingly providing approval signals for qualified individual callers; accessing a memory with the key numbers for the individual callers and storing data relating to calls from the individual callers; and processing at least certain of the additional data responsive to the approval signals. view more

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system, the process including the steps of: providing key numbers specifying limits on use to entitle individual callers to access the operations of the interface with the telephone communications system; coupling remote terminals to the interface for providing voice signals to the individual callers; receiving the key numbers as digital identification data in the form of terminal digital data automatically provided by the telephone communication system for the individual callers and answer data provided from the remote terminals under control of the individual callers; qualifying the individual callers by testing to determine if the individual callers are entitled to access the operations of the interface by testing the key numbers for the individual callers with stored key numbers to ensure their validity and testing the key numbers based on the limits on use for the individual callers and accordingly providing approval signals for qualified individual callers; accessing a memory with the key numbers for the individual callers and storing data relating to calls from the individual callers; processing at least certain of the answer data responsive to the approval signals; and providing on-going accounting data to the individual callers, the on-going accounting data for at least one of a plurality of intervals being determined at least in part by the answer data provided by an individual caller during a call and during at least one of the intervals includes real time data provided to the individual caller on-line. view more

A system to be utilized with a telephone facility for on-line handling of customer data contained in a memory in accordance with a select operating format comprising: means for receiving called terminal digital data (DNIS) signals automatically provided by the telephone facility to identify the select operating format from a plurality of distinct operating formats; an operator terminal for use by a person to communicate through the telephone facility; interface switching means connected to the receiving means and the operator terminal for receiving incoming calls; and processing means connected to the interface switching means for receiving customer number data entered by a caller and for storing the customer number data in a memory and based on a condition coupling an incoming call to the operator terminal, the processing means visually displaying the customer number data, the operator terminal providing other data entries to the memory to update data relating to the caller. view more

An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising: call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said remote terminals including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system; selection means coupled to said call data means for selecting one format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processor, said selection means being controlled by said signal-represented call data including DNIS to specify imposed conditions that must exist for a connection to said multiple port, multiple format processor, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition; test means coupled to said selection means for testing said specified imposed conditions for said remote terminals to provide approval signals; interconnect switch means coupled to said test means for providing connections from said multiple port, multiple format processor to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals; and switch means coupled to said interconnect switch for switching to one of said live operator attended terminals based on call data representative of a remote terminal device. view more

An interface control system according to claim 54, wherein a plurality of called numbers are associated with said select processing format.

A controlled data system for use with a telephone communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals comprise a telephonic capability including voice communication structure, and digital input structure in the form of an array of alphanumeric buttons for providing data, and wherein said telephone communication facility includes the capability to automatically provide called number identification data signals (DNIS), said controlled data system comprising: a plurality of interface units including voice generator capability coupled to said telephone communication facility and placed at spaced apart remote geographic locations for receiving calls from said individual callers at said remote terminals and for receiving said called number identification data signals (DNIS) automatically provided by the telephone communication facility; a central processor coupled to said plurality of interface units including voice generator capability by communication lines of said telephone communication facility, and coupled through a coupled interface unit for: 1) controlling cues to said individual callers in accordance with any one of various operating formats, 2) accomplishing a selected one of said various operating formats identified by said called number identification data signals (DNIS), which relate to a telephone number dialed by said individual callers, 3) receiving at least certain identification data relating to said individual callers and testing the at least certain identification data to control access to at least certain operations of said selected format and utilizing the certain identification data to avoid prompting certain callers with a certain previously provided cue or cues and providing at least one other cue, and 4) also receiving other data provided by said individual callers in response to said one or more cues, at least certain other data provided by said individual caller via the digital input structure; and a storage structure associated with said central processor or said coupled interface unit or both for storing data relating to said individual callers including at least certain of said other data, said central processor utilizing at least certain of said identification data to address stored data on said individual callers and updating at least certain stored data in said storage structure based on said identification data and at least certain of said other data. view more

A controlled data system according to claim 1, wherein a live operator at a live operator station can enter data for said individual callers.

A controlled data system according to claim 1, wherein at least certain of said stored data is utilized for subsequent processing.

NA

A telephone call processing system according to claim 28, wherein said means for concurrently processing processes data provided by callers to update a databank relating to said callers.

A telephone call processing system according to claim 28, wherein at least select digits of caller telephone numbers are automatically provided by digital signals from the telephonic communication facility.

A process for interfacing, through a telephone-communication facility, (1) callers who are at a multitude of remote terminals for voice-digital communication with (2) a system for prompting the callers with caller cues, said process comprising the steps of: establishing telephone communications between the callers and the system. the system having a receiving unit for receiving digital signals including dialed-number identification signals provided automatically from the telephone-communication facility; utilizing the dialed-number identification signals to identify one from a plurality of numbers dialed by the callers; also receiving at the receiving unit identification signals relating to the callers; testing said identification signals relating to the callers to determine whether to qualify the callers for access to at least a portion of operations of the system; utilizing, for qualified callers, the identification signals relating to the callers, to avoid prompting certain callers with a certain previously provided cue or cues; and providing to the qualified callers at least one other caller cue. view more

A process according to claim 56, wherein the identification signals relating to the callers comprise a number entered by each of the callers to determine if that caller is eligible to participate.

A process according to claim 56, wherein during the testing step, the process further tests the identification signals against a record of previous use.

A process according to claim 56, wherein the identification signals relating to the callers are calling number identification signals automatically provided by the telephone-communication facility.

A process according to claim 56, further comprising the step of: processing, to isolate a subset of callers, caller-response signals responsive to certain of the plurality of caller cues.

A process according to claim 62, wherein during the processing step, the response signals are processed on-line.

A process for interfacing, through a telephone-communication facility, (1) callers who are at a multitude of remote terminals for voice-digital communication with (2) a system for prompting the callers with caller cues, said process comprising the steps of: receiving identification signals at a receiving unit of the system, the identification signals indicating telephone numbers of the multitude of remote terminals, the identification signals being automatically provided by the telephone-communication facility; testing, to determine whether to qualify the callers for voice-digital communication with the system, the identification signals that indicate the telephone numbers; utilizing, for qualified callers, the identification signals that indicate the telephone numbers to avoid prompting certain callers with a certain previously provided cue or cues; and providing to the qualified callers at least one other caller cue. view more

An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers to make calls, wherein said remote terminals comprise a telephone capability including voice communication means and some of said remote terminals comprise digital input means for providing data, (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any one of a plurality of formats, said communication facility automatically providing call data signals, as to indicate called data (DNIS), to select a specific format from said plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals, for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising: call data means for receiving call data signals from said communication facility for a calling remote terminal indicative of calling number identification signals automatically provided by said communication facility and call data signals to indicate called data (DNIS) to select a specific format from said plurality of formats; interface means for providing automated voice messages relating to said specific format to certain of said individual callers, wherein said certain of said individual callers digitally enter data, including at least caller information data, through said digital input means; means for directly forwarding, under control of said specific format, a call coupled to said interface means from any one of said remote terminals to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals for inputting of caller identification data and caller information data when said remote terminals do not have capability to digitally provide data; qualification means coupled to said live operator attended terminals for controlling access by at least certain of said callers to at least a portion of said system, said qualification being based at least in part on caller identification data entered through said digital input means by at least certain of said callers having digital input means and at said live operator attended terminal when said remote terminals do not have capability to digitally provide data, means for processing coupled to said live operator attended terminals for processing caller information data entered by an operator at said live operator attended terminal; and means for storing coupled to said interface means and said processing means for storing certain select data from said caller information data entered by said operator and data entered digitally by said individual callers to update records on said individual callers. view more

An interface control system according to claim 1, wherein said call data signals automatically provided from said communication facility for a calling remote terminal indicative of calling number identification signals are used to access a positive file of data with respect to said individual callers stored in said means for storing. view more

An interface control system according to claim 1, wherein said call data signals automatically provided from said communication facility for a calling remote terminal indicative of calling number identification signals are used to access a negative file to test for prohibited use status with respect to individual callers. view more

An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers to make calls, wherein said remote terminals comprise a telephonic instrument including voice communication means and some of said remote terminals comprise digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, said communication facility automatically providing call data signals, as to indicate called data (DNIS), to select a particular format from said plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals, for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising: call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said remote terminals indicative of called number identification signals (DNIS) automatically provided by said telephonic communication facility; interface means for providing automated voice messages relating to a specific format to certain of said individual callers, wherein said certain of said individual callers digitally enter data through said digital input means; means for directly forwarding certain of said calls coupled to said interface means from any one of said remote terminals to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals under control of said call data signals when necessary; qualification means for controlling access by at least certain of said callers to at least a portion of said system, means for processing coupled to said live operator attended terminals for processing caller information data entered by an operator at said live operator attended terminal; and means for transferring certain of said calls from said live operators to said interface means to receive processed data via a voice generator. view more

An interface control system according to claim 68, wherein said means for processing also processes said data entered by said certain of said individual callers through said digital input means to control certain operations based on a limit on use. view more

An interface control system according to claim 68, wherein said qualification means controls access at least in part based upon said call data signals.

A process according to claim 1, wherein a limit on use with respect to each of said individual callers specifies a predetermined number of uses.

An analysis control system according to claim 27, wherein said qualification structure qualifies said individual callers to provide access to at least a portion of said system.

An analysis control system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of said at least two forms of distinct identification includes social security number data.

An analysis control system according to claim 42, wherein said plurality of call distributors are at different geographic locations.

An analysis control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means, and digital input means in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing data, said analysis control system comprising: an interface structure coupled to said communication facility to interface said remote terminals for voice and digital communication, and including means to receive answer data signals provided by said individual callers from said remote terminals wherein said communication facility automatically provides called number identification data signals indicating a called number (DNIS) dialed by an individual caller and said called number is one of a plurality of called numbers; voice generator structure coupled through said interface structure for actuating said remote terminals as to provide vocal operating instructions to said individual callers; record structure including memory and control means for storing answer data signals and for receiving identification data signals for specific of said individual callers, said record structure further including means for receiving additional identification data signals on-line for said specific of said individual callers and for storing said additional identification data signals in said record structure for subsequent identification of said individual callers; means for processing at least certain of said answer data signals relating to select ones of said individual callers; and qualification structure for verifying said identification data signals for specific of said individual callers against a file of stored identification data. view more

An analysis control system according to claim 96, wherein said identification data signals comprise caller customer number data.

An analysis control system according to claim 98, wherein said additional identification data signals comprise at least one of caller PIN number data, caller initials data, social security number data, or caller telephone number data.

An analysis control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing data and wherein said communication facility has a capability to provide called number identification data (DNIS) and calling number identification data, said analysis control system comprising: multiple automatic call distributors at geographically distinct locations for receiving calls from said individual callers at said remote terminals; interface structure coupled to said communication facility to interface said remote terminals for voice and digital communication and including means to receive caller data signals representative of data relating to said individual callers, including caller personal identification data and said called number identification data signals (DNIS) and said calling number identification data provided automatically by said communication facility, said called number identification data signals (DNIS) identifying a select format from a plurality of formats; voice generator structure coupled through said interface structure for actuating said remote terminals as to provide vocal operating instructions in accordance with said select format to said individual callers and to prompt said individual callers to enter data; record testing structure connected to receive and test said caller data signals including said calling number identification data and said caller personal identification data against previously stored calling number identification data and caller personal identification data; and analysis structure for receiving and processing said caller data signals under control of said record testing structure. view more

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system according to claim 181, where said key numbers are included in packaging of products.

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system according to claim 181, wherein certain of said voice signals provided to said individual callers indicate computer generated number data formed during operations of said interface. view more

A process according to claim 188, further comprising the step of: processing at least certain of said answer data to isolate a subset of callers.

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system, said process including the steps of: providing products carrying participation numbers specifying limits on use to entitle individual callers to access said operations of the interface with said telephone communication system; coupling remote terminals to said interface for providing voice signals to said individual callers and generating said voice signals for actuating said remote terminals as to provide vocal operating instructions to specific ones of said individual callers; receiving digital identification data from said individual callers responsive to said voice signals including said participation numbers for said individual callers and answer data provided from said remote terminals under control of said individual callers; qualifying said individual callers by testing to determine if said individual callers are entitled to access said operations of the interface based on said limits on use specified by said participation numbers for said individual callers and accordingly providing approval signals for qualified individual callers; accessing a memory with said participation numbers for said individual callers and storing data relating to calls from said individual callers; and processing at least certain of said answer data responsive to said approval signals. view more

A process for controlling operations of an interface with a telephone communication system according to claim 69, wherein the step of providing products includes providing said products for purchase.

A system according to claim 115, wherein said individual callers provide caller credit card number data as said other data.

An analysis control system according to claim 183, further comprising: transfer structure for transferring a call from an individual caller to an attended terminal which displays data obtained from a data bank accessed by said calling number identification data. view more

A telephone call processing system for receiving calls through a telephone communication facility from a multitude of terminals for processing in a select interface format wherein callers are cued by voice signals supplied to said multitude of terminals and respond with digital signals, as by actuating push to said multitude of terminals and respond with digital signals, as by actuating push buttons at said multitude of terminals, said system receiving from the telephone communication systems digital signals indicative of DIS, said telephone call processing system comprising: means for selectively receiving calls from said multitude of terminals in a plurality of call modes to establish telephone communication with a select subset of callers utilizing calling number identification signals automatically provided by the telephone communication facility, said select interface format selected by said digital signals indicative of DNIS; means for receiving identification signals for said callers of said select subset; means for individually cuing said callers of said select subset to provide digital signals that are entered by the callers, wherein at least certain of the cues and their responsive digital signals are a part of common processing operations to isolate a sub-subset of said callers; and means for storing identification signals for said callers of said sub-subset. view more

A telephone call processing system according to claim 1, further comprising.</claim-text> a random number generator utilized during the common processing operations for isolating said sub-subset of said callers.

A telephone call processing system for receiving calls through a telephone communication facility from a multitude of terminals for processing in a select interface format wherein callers are cued by synthesized voice signals supplied to said multitude of terminals and respond with digital signals, as by actuating push buttons at said multitude of terminals, said telephone call processing system comprising: means for selectively receiving calls from said multitude of terminals to establish telephone communication with a select subset of callers, said means for selectively receiving calls comprising means for receiving calls in a plurality of call modes including a toll free calling mode and a caller charge calling mode or an area code mode; means for providing identification signals entered by said callers of said select subset; means for individually cueing said callers of said select subset to prompt digital signals, wherein at least certain of the cues and their responsive digital signals are a part of common processing operations for the plurality of call modes to isolate a sub-subset of said callers; and means for storing identification signals for said callers of said sub-subset. view more

A process for receiving calls through a telephonic communication facility from a multitude of terminals in different call modes including a toll free call mode and an area code call mode and processing the calls in accordance with respective interface formats for the different call modes, wherein the process involves digital signals including digital signals provided by the multitude of terminals as for identification or data, comprising the steps of: receiving calls in the toll free call mode and providing an interface format associated with the toll free call mode; providing an identification number to facilitate participation via the toll free call mode; verifying the participation number for approval receiving calls in the area code mode and providing another interface format associated with the area code mode; providing preliminary automated greetings specific to respective interface formats associated with the toll free call mode and the area code mode, prior to execution of at least certain common operations of the interface formats; and concurrently processing the verified calls received in the toll free call mode and the calls received in the area code mode in accordance with at least certain common operations of the interface formats associated with the toll free and the area code call modes. view more

A telephone call processing system for receiving calls through a telephonic communication facility from a multitude of terminals in a toll free call mode for processing data in accordance with distinct operating process formats and involving digital signals including called number identification signals (DNIS) automatically provided by the telephonic communication facility, the system comprising: first response unit for receiving calls in the toll free call mode wherein the called number identification signals (DNIS) indicative of at least one of a plurality of distinct called numbers identifies one of the operating process formats; voice generator means for prompting callers to enter data in response to at least one voice prompt wherein the data entered by the callers is used to update data for the callers in a database relating to the callers; verification means for verifying at least the calls utilizing the one of the plurality of distinct called numbers in the toll free call mode received by the first response unit to provide verified calls based upon verifying caller entered identification data including caller personal identification data; second response unit means for receiving calls in the toll free call mode wherein called number identification signals (DNIS) indicative of one other of the plurality of distinct called numbers identifies a different one of the operating process formats; means for concurrently processing calls received by the first response unit means and the calls received by the second response unit for concurrent processing of data in accordance with at least certain common operations of the operating process formats; and audio control unit for providing an automated greeting, prior to execution of the certain common operations, under the control of the called number identification signals (DNIS) to callers calling at least one of the distinct called numbers whereby the automated greeting is specific to the one of the plurality of distinct numbers. view more

A telephone call processing system according to claim 56, wherein the verification means tests the digital signals representing calling terminal numbers associated with at least certain of the multitude terminals that are automatically provided from the telephonic communication facility. view more

A process according to claim 80, further comprising the step of:</claim-text> receiving digital signals representing calling number identification signals associated with at least certain terminals that are tested.

An analysis control system for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein each of said remote terminals comprises a telephonic instrument including a voice communication device and digital input device in the form of an array of alphabetic numeric buttons for providing data and wherein said communication facility has a capability to automatically provide terminal digital data, indicating a calling telephone number, said analysis control system comprising: interface structure coupled to said communication facility to interface said remote terminals for voice and digital communication and including means to provide caller data signals representative of data relating to said individual callers provided from said remote terminals or automatically provided by the communication facility with respect to the remote terminals prior to the close of communication with the callers including caller personal identification data entered by the caller via the digital input device and said terminal digital data indicative of a calling telephone number; record testing structure connected to receive and test said caller data signals indicative of said terminal digital data representative of said calling telephone number and said caller personal identification data against previously stored terminal digital data and caller personal identification data; storage structure for storing certain of said data provided by said individual callers including item data for ordering particular items; and analysis structure for receiving and processing said caller data signals under control of said record testing structure. view more

A control system according to claim <HIL><BOLD>11</BOLD></HIL>, wherein the data identifying the order is number data.

A control system according to claim <HIL><BOLD>18</BOLD></HIL> wherein the number data is provided as acknowledgement data to the individual callers.

A method for controlling voice or data or both types of communications for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals include a digital input device for providing digital responsive signals, said method comprising the steps of: receiving caller number identification signals indicative of at least a portion of a caller's number from said communication facility; cuing select ones of said remote terminals to prompt selective actuation by an individual caller of said digital input device to provide responsive signals; selectively identifying said responsive signals from said select ones of said remote terminals as digital data signals or digital control signals, wherein certain of said responsive signals can serve as digital data signals, digital control signals, or both, said responsive signals including signals indicative of a customer identification number for the individual caller that may be utilized to access a file for said individual caller; testing at least a portion of said customer identification number for approval; recording said caller number identification signals from said communication facility as additional data for said individual caller; transferring a call from said individual caller to an attended terminal and displaying at least a portion of data stored in said file to an operator at said attended terminal under control of said responsive signals indicative of said customer identification number and displaying at least a portion of the customer identification number wherein the operator at said attended terminal is capable of entering data to facilitate completion of the call from said individual caller; and generating computer acknowledgement numbers to identify the transaction for the system and individual callers and providing said computer acknowledgement numbers to the individual callers. view more

A method according to claim 34, wherein said, caller identification data provided by said individual caller includes customer number data.

A method according to claim 34, wherein the displaying step includes:</claim-text> displaying at least a portion of the data stored prior to an instant call.

A method according to claim 34, wherein the data displayed includes caller telephone number data.

A method according to claim 51 wherein the data displayed further includes caller address data.

A method according to claim 51 wherein additional data relating to the call is order data.

A method for controlling voice-data communications with a system operating a format for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for use by certain individual callers, wherein said remote terminals include a digital input device for providing digital responsive signals, said method comprising the steps of: interfacing said certain individual callers with an interface unit of said system operating the format; prompting said individual callers via a voice generator to provide responsive signals representative of identification data via said digital input device of said remote terminals; receiving from said individual callers responsive signals representative of caller identification data; comparing said caller identification data received against a file on said individual callers to determine if said caller identification data received is already of record; utilizing said caller identification data received to access the file to locate other data associated with said caller identification data; transferring at least certain of said individual callers to an attended terminal; displaying at said attended terminal at least a portion of the other data associated with the caller identification data; and providing computer generated acknowledgement numbers to said individual callers. view more

A method for controlling voice-data communications with a system operating a format for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for use by certain individual callers, wherein said remote terminals include a digital input device for providing digital responsive signals, said method comprising the steps of: interfacing said certain individual callers with an interface unit of said system operating the format; prompting said individual callers via a voice generator to provide responsive signals representative of identification data via said digital input device of said remote terminals; receiving from said individual callers responsive signals representative of caller identification data; comparing said caller identification data received against a file on said individual callers to determine if said caller identification data received is already of record; utilizing said caller identification data received to access the file to locate other data associated with said caller identification data; transferring at least certain of said individual callers to an attended terminal; displaying at said attended terminal at least a portion of the other data associated with the caller identification data; providing computer generated acknowledgement numbers to said individual callers and wherein the computer generated acknowledgement numbers are provided to the individual callers as confirmation data relating to transactions. view more

A method for controlling voice-data communications for use with a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals include a digital input device for providing digital responsive signals, said method comprising the steps of: cuing select ones of said remote terminals via a voice generator to prompt selective actuation by callers of said digital input device to provide responsive signals; receiving said responsive signals including signals indicative of a customer identification number for an individual caller that may be utilized to access a file for said individual caller or receiving said responsive signals including signals indicative of other data; testing at least a portion of said customer identification number for approval; processing the other data for the individual caller utilizing multiple comparative operations; confirming with said individual caller, via the voice generator, certain of said data stored in said file for said individual caller; and transferring a call from said individual caller to an attended terminal and displaying at least a portion of data stored in said file at said attended terminal under control of said responsive signals indicative of said customer identification number wherein said attended terminal has a capability for data to be entered to facilitate completion of the call from said individual caller. view more

A method according to claim 61 further comprising the step of:</claim-text> receiving caller number identification signals indicative of at least a portion of a caller's number from said communication facility.

A method according to claim 61 wherein at least part of the data stored in the file is caller address data.

A method according to claim 61 wherein at least part of the data stored in the file is caller name data.

A telephone interface system for individually interfacing callers at a multitude of remote terminals for voice-digital communication through a telephone communication facility, said system comprising: communication means for establishing telephone communication with currently active callers at certain of said terminals through said telephone communication facility; means for providing identification signals to said communication means indicative of said currently active callers; memory means for storing caller cues and use indications for said caller cues in relation to said callers as identified by said identification signals; cue means for receiving said caller cues to provide voice signals through said communication means to prompt responses from said currently active callers in the form of digital data signals; and means for selecting a caller cue for said currently active caller from said memory means for application to said cue means under control of said identification signals and said use indications in said memory means for said one of said currently active callers whereby to limit caller cues provided to individual callers for avoiding duplication. view more

A system according to claim 1 further including means to process said digital data signals.

NA