Telephone credit card system

• US 4,326,123 A
• Filed: 02/22/1980
• Issued: 04/20/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles Graham
• Original Assignee: Charles Graham
• Inventors: Hosterman, Harry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US06/123,904
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 235/380, 235/382, 179/6.3 CC, 179/183, 179/2 DP, 179/6.02
• US Class Current: 379/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4037 Remote solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/023 Circuit arrangements

Abstract

The invention relates to a device that can read numerical information from a credit card, interfaced with a general purpose digital computer for automatic credit card validation and/or dialing approaches to include through the computer charge and billing information in conjunction with the credit card utilized. The entire system is automatic and eliminates telephone operator intercept. It can be utilized in conjunction with an automatic telephone dialing equipment. There are unique characteristics in the credit card itself which might be either visual, mechanical, or magnetically validated, and wherein the validation equipment preferably has no moving parts to eliminate breakdown problems.

Claims

1. A telephone credit card system which includes an automatic dialer including credit card validation information, a general purpose digital computer to receive the information from the dialer, record the same, and provide interface with the telephonic network, and means to record time and numerical data necessary in conjunction with a telephone call to charge it to the credit number validated which is further characterized by:

inclusion of a microprocessor to interface between the dialer and the general purpose digital computer operating in conjunction with ROMS, RAMS, and PIA'"'"'s to transmit signals through the phone line to the general purpose digital computer.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the dialer includes the ability to dial a preprogrammed number up to 20 numbers when the general purpose digital computer is enabled.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the dialer is adapted to be manually attached to any telephone mouthpiece for preprogrammed transmittal of tone information.