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Card-actuated telecommunication network

  • US 4,517,412 A
  • Filed: 11/23/1983
  • Issued: 05/14/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1982
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A public access network operating in conjunction with existing telecommunication lines, making it possible for a caller holding a credit card issued by any one of several companies to dial calls from any local station included in the network, said network comprising:

  • A. a satellite acting as a hub to connect local stations assocated therewith to said telecommunication lines;

    B. a plurality of local stations accessible to the public and associated with said satellite, each station being provided with a normally-inactive communication set linked to said satellite whereby when said set is activated, a call dialed therefrom goes through a line selected from said telecommunication lines to the called destination, and a credit card reader adapted to receive a caller'"'"'s credit card to generate a digital signal representing the card and its holder;

    C. means responsive to said signal to determine its acceptability to the network, thereby limiting access to the network to valid cards; and

    D. means to generate data regarding the location of the local station from which each call originates as well as the destination of the call and its duration and to relate this data to data derived from the digital signal in regard to the identity of the credit card used by each caller to provide billing information to be supplied to the several companies, making it possible for each of these companies to bill its card holders for calls made through the network.

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