Buyer credit service for a telephone system

• US 3,920,908 A
• Filed: 06/25/1974
• Issued: 11/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Constantine R. Kraus
• Original Assignee: Constantine R. Kraus
• Inventors: Kraus, Constantine R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Application Number:
  US05/482,864
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2CA,2DP,18B,18BE,18BD,27FH 340/149A,152 235/61.7B
• US Class Current: 379/91.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/545 using a stored programme
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

A credit center detachably connectible to a traffic service position system (TSPS) connecting calling and called telephone sets for enabling the calling set to obtain a service on credit from the called set in a telephone system wherein the credit center stores credit intelligence pertinent to the calling set. The calling set starts a call for such service by sending a prefix code followed by the telephone number of the called set to activate the traffic system to record therein signals identifying the class mark and the numbers of the called and calling sets. The traffic system responsive to the class mark and the calling and called set signals recorded therein activates the credit center to deliver the calling set credit intelligence therefrom to the called set for display thereat. The called set after evaluating such credit intelligence displayed thereat activates the traffic system to disconnect the credit center from the called set and to connect the called and calling sets together to complete the call from the calling set to the called set thereby enabling the calling set to obtain the service on credit therefrom. The called set may comprise an automated library, a merchandising mart, a shared-time computer, a data bank or the like.

Claims

1. In combination with a telephone system comprising:

a calling telephone station;

sending central office means;

a called telephone station;

receiving central office means; and

traffic service position system means interposed between said sending and receiving office means to record signals identifying the numbers of said respective calling and called stations as transmitted from said sending office means activated by a predetermined number of signals originating at said calling station as a call for said called station to obtain a service on credit therefrom;

said traffic means also receiving a signal indicating said service credit call thereat;

a credit center storing preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station number;

said traffic means utilizing said calling station number signals recorded therein in response to said service credit call signal received at said traffic means for activating said credit center to locate therein said preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station number;

said traffic means also utilizing said called station number signals recorded therein to connect said credit center through said traffic means and said receiving office means to said called station to deliver from said credit center to said latter station said preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station number as located in said credit center for display at said called station; and

said called station responsive to said preselected credit intelligence displayed thereat to activate said traffic means to disconnect said credit center therefrom and to interconnect said sending and receiving office means and thereby to interconnect said calling and called stations to complete said call from said calling station to said called station for enabling said calling station to obtain said service on credit from said called station.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said sending office means responsive to said predetermined number of signals originating at said calling station transmits said service credit call signal to said traffic means for recording therein and thereafter transmits said calling and called station number identifying signals from said sending office means to said traffic means for recording therein.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said traffic means responsive to said service credit call recorded therein connects said credit center thereto, and thereafter said traffic means responsive to the connection of said credit center thereto transmits said calling station number signals recorded in said traffic means to said credit credit center for recording therein;

said credit center activated by said last-mentioned signals recorded therein locates in said credit center said preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station number.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said traffic means responsive to the completion of the transmission of said calling station number identifying signal to said credit center utilizes said called station number identifying signals recorded in said traffic means to connect said credit center through said traffic means and said receiving office means to said called station for enabling said credit center to deliver said preselected credit intelligence as located therein to said called station.

5. The combination according to claim 4 in which said called station rEsponsive to said preselected credit intelligence delivered thereto transmits a disconnect-credit center signal to said traffic means which responsive thereto disconnects said credit center therefrom and interconnects said sending and receiving office means together at said traffic means and thereby interconnects said calling and called stations.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which said called station includes a pre-identified item of which said calling station preselects a copy thereof as said service on credit from said called station;

said called station also includes a transmitter for transmitting signals related to said item through said receiving office means, said traffic means and said sending office means to said calling station, said latter station having a receiver to receive said signals as transmitted from said transmitter for representing said item copy at said calling station.

7. The combination according to claim 6 in which said credit center includes an attendant telephone position for permitting, between said called station and said credit center attendant position, an evaluation of said credit intelligence displayed at said called station as said latter credit intelligence is also simultaneously displayed at said credit center attendant position before said called station is connected to said calling station and thereby before said transmitter is connected to said receiver.

8. The combination according to claim 1 in which said traffic means includes a telephone set;

said calling station is operated to send signal O (operator) as said service credit call signal followed by said predetermined number of signals for activating said sending office means to interconnect therethrough said calling station and said traffic means set so that said set is energized to permit from said calling station to said traffic means set a vocal indication of said call for service on credit from said calling station to said called station and further so that said sending office means transmits said calling and called station number identifying signals to said traffic means.

9. The combination according to claim 8 in which said traffic means responsive to said vocal credit call indication thereat connects said credit center thereto.

10. The combination according to claim 3 in which said credit center includes a computer consisting of a credit memory and a programmed memory;

said traffic means responsive to said service credit call signal recorded therein connects said traffic means to said computer;

said programmed memory responsive to said calling station number identifying signals received at said computer actuates said credit memory to locate therein said preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station identifying number.

11. In combination with a telephone system including:

a calling telephone station;

sending central office means;

a called telephone station;

electronic apparatus for visually displaying preselected information at said called station;

receiving central office means; and

traffic service position system means interposed between said sending and receiving office means;

said traffic means establishing a first circuit including said sending office means and said traffic means to record in said traffic means signals identifying the numbers of said calling and called station and transmitted in said first circuit by said sending office means activated in response to a predetermined number of signals originating at said calling station as a call for said called station to obtain a service on credit therefrom;

said traffic means also receiving a signal indicating said service credit call thereat;

a credit center storing preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station;

said traffic means responsive to said service credit call signal received thereat to interrupt said first circuit to disconnect said sending office means from said traffic means and to establish a seCond circuit including said traffic means and said credit center;

said traffic means further responsive to said second circuit connection and said calling station identifying signals recorded therein to activate said credit center through said second circuit to locate said credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station as stored in said credit center;

said traffic means additionally responsive to said called station identifying signals recorded therein to establish a third circuit including said credit center, said traffic means, said receiving office means, and said apparatus for delivering in said latter circuit said credit intelligence pertinent to to said calling station as located in said credit center to said apparatus for visual display thereon; and

said called station responsive to said calling station credit intelligence displayed on said apparatus thereat to activate said traffic means to interrupt both said second and third circuits thereby to disconnect said credit center from said traffic means and to establish a fourth circuit including said traffic means, said calling and called stations and said sending and receiving office means to complete said call from said calling station to said called station for enabling said calling station to obtain said service on credit from said called station.

12. The combination according to claim 11 in which said sending office means includes signal producing means responsive to said predetermined signals originating at said calling station to transmit said service credit call signal in said first circuit to said traffic means for recording therein before said sending office means transmits said calling and called station number identifying signals in said first circuit for recording in said traffic means.

13. The combination according to claim 11 in which said traffic means includes a telephone set;

said calling station operated to transmit signal O (operator) as said service credit call signal followed by said predetermined signals in said first circuit for activating said sending office means to interconnect therethrough said calling station and said traffic means set in said first circuit so that said latter station is energized to permit said calling station to transmit in said first circuit to said traffic means set a vocal signal indicating said service credit call and further so that said sending office means transmits in said first circuit to said traffic means said calling and called station identifying signals;

said traffic means responsive to said vocal signal received thereat to interrupt said first circuit to disconnect said traffic means from said sending office means and to connect said traffic means to said credit center in said second circuit.

14. In combination with a telephone system comprising:

calling telephone station means;

called telephone station means; and

traffic service position system means interposed between said calling and called station means to record signals identifying the numbers of said respective calling and called station means in response to a predetermined number of signals originating at said calling station means as a call for said called station means to obtain a service on credit therefrom;

said traffic means also receiving a signal indicating said service credit call thereat;

a credit center storing preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station means number;

said traffic means utilizing said calling station means number identifying signals recorded therein in response to said service credit call signal received at said traffic means for activating said credit center to locate therein said credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station means number;

said traffic means also utilizing said called station means number identifying signals recorded therein in response to said calling station means identifying signals received at said credit center to connect said credit center through said traffic means To said called station means for delivering thereto said credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station means number as located in said credit center; and

said called station means responsive to said credit intelligence delivered thereto to activate said traffic means to disconnect said credit center therefrom and thereby from said called station means and to interconnect said calling and called station means to complete said call from said calling station means to said called station means for enabling said calling station means to obtain said service on credit from said called station means.

15. In a telephone credit circuit including a calling telephone station, a called telephone station, a traffic service position system, and a credit center storing preselected credit intelligence pertiment to said calling station, the method of enabling said calling station to obtain a service on credit through said traffic system from said called station as determined by said credit intelligence stored in said credit center, which method consists of:

recording signals identifying the numbers of said respective calling and called stations at said traffic system in response to an indication provided thereat of a call originating at said calling station and directed to said called station for obtaining said credit service therefrom;

connecting said credit center through said traffic system to said called station as predetermined by said credit service call indication provided at said traffic system and said respective calling and called station identifying numbers recorded therein for enabling said credit center to deliver therefrom said credit intelligence stored therein through said traffic system to said called station; and

instructing said traffic system from said called station after evaluating said credit intelligence delivered thereto to connect said calling station through said traffic system to said called station thereby completing said credit service call for enabling said calling station to obtain said credit service from said called station and to interrupt the connection of said credit center to said traffic system thereby disconnecting said credit center from said called station.

16. The method according to claim 15 in which the recording of said signals identifying the numbers of said calling and called stations at said traffic system includes providing at said traffic system said credit service call indication as a class mark signal before the recording of said calling and called station identifying number signals thereat for predetermining the connection of said credit center to said traffic system thereby enabling said credit center to deliver said stored credit intelligence therefrom through said traffic system to said called station.

17. The method according to claim 15 in which the recording of said signals identifying the numbers of said calling and called stations at said traffic system includes recording at said traffic system said credit service call indication as an electric class mark signal before the recording of said calling and called station identifying number signals thereat for predetermining the connection of said credit center to said traffic system thereby enabling said credit center to deliver said stored credit intelligence therefrom through said traffic system to said called station.

18. The method according to claim 15 in which the recording of said signals identifying the numbers of said calling and called stations at said traffic system includes providing at said traffic system said credit service call indication as a vocal class mark signal before the recording of said calling and called station identifying number signals thereat for predetermining the connection of said credit center to said traffic system thereby enabling said credit center to deliver said stored credit intelligence therefrom through said traffic system to said called station.

19. The method according to claim 15 which Includes the step of preselecting from said calling station an item available to said called station for delivery thereby to said calling station as said credit service after the connection of said calling station through said traffic system to said called station and thereby after the completion of said credit service call.

20. The method according to claim 15 which includes the steps of:

preselecting from said calling station a copy of an item available at said called station for delivery thereby to said calling station as said credit service after the connection of said calling station through said traffic system to said called station and thereby after the completion of said credit service call; and

transmitting from said called station over the connection of said calling station through said traffic system to said called station electric signals related to said preselected item copy for reception at said calling station to represent said last-mentioned copy thereat.

21. In a telephone credit circuit including a calling telephone station, a called telephone station, a traffic service position system, and a credit center storing preselected credit intelligence pertinent to said calling station, the method of enabling said calling station to obtain a service on credit through said traffic system from said called station as determined by said credit intelligence stored in said credit center, which method consists of:

delivering said credit intelligence from said credit center through a connection thereof with said traffic system and thereby to said called station in accordance with identifying numbers of said calling and called stations recorded in said traffic system in response to an indication of a call received thereat and originating at said calling station for said called station to obtain said credit service therefrom; and

instructing said traffic system from said called station after evaluating said credit intelligence delivered thereto to connect said calling station through said traffic system to said called station thereby completing said credit service call to obtain said credit service from said called station and to disconnect said credit center from said traffic system thereby terminating the delivery of said credit intelligence from said credit center through said traffic system to said called station.

22. The method according to claim 21 which includes the step of preselecting from said calling station a specific service available at said called station as said credit service to be obtained therefrom on the connection of said calling station through said traffic system to said called station and thereby after the completion of said credit service call.