Payment responsive data display network

• US 4,370,649 A
• Filed: 05/19/1981
• Issued: 01/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerard A. Fuerle
• Original Assignee: Gerard A. Fuerle
• Inventors: Fuerle, Gerard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US06/265,063
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 DP, 179/6.3 R, 364/408, 364/410, 364/412, 340/825.26, 340/825.27, 340/825.35, 235/381
• US Class Current: 379/93.25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/16 for devices exhibiting advertisements, announcements, pictures or the like

Abstract

A payment responsive system for displaying information comprises at least one remote terminal adapted to display information for a pre-determined time upon payment, a central processor adapted to control input of information and transmission to the remote terminal, the tramsmission to be initiated at programmed times by the central processor independently of any occurrence of a display query at the remote terminal. The preset time may optionally be restarted upon occurrence of data transmission from the central processor during a display period.

Claims

1. A payment responsive system for displaying information, comprising:

at least one remote terminal for displaying information for a preset time upon payment, said remote terminal having sufficient storage for all selectable information; and

,

a central processor adapted to control input of information and transmission to the remote terminal, said transmission to be initiated at programmed times by the central processor independently of any occurrence of a display query at the remote terminal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote terminal further comprises means for initiating the display of information in response to an information query denoted by said payment.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said preset time period is restarted upon occurrence of transmission from the central processor during a display interval.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said programmed times include a transmit time delay initiated by data input to the central processor and a refresh time independent of data input to the central processor.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a modulator at the central processor and a demodulator at the remote terminal, said transmission being conducted over at least one telephone line to said at least one remote terminal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of remote terminals are provided, each remote terminal having a demodulator accessible by telephone lines from a single central modulator, whereby the remote terminals may be accessed simultaneously.

7. The system of claims 5 or 6, further comprising means on the remote terminal for selecting a display of a total store of information.

8. The system of claims 5 or 6, wherein said transmission from the central processor to the remote terminal includes a total store of information.

9. The system of claims 5 or 6, wherein the transmission from the central processor to the remote terminal consists of recently updated information.