Telecommunications booth and method of use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A telecommunications booth responsive to a user with a planar card having data disposed thereon, comprising:
- a housing;
a card reader supported by said housing for reading the data on said card;
a preprogrammed computer system supported by said housing and including program means for interacting with said user;
a telephone coupled to said computer system and supported by said housing;
a facsimile module coupled to said computer system and supported by said housing;
a modem coupled to said computer system;
a public telecommunications channel; and
means for selectively providing communication between said public telecommunications channel and one of said telephone, said facsimile module, and said modem;
said communication providing means including means for switching connection with said public telecommunications channel to one of said telephone, said facsimile module, and said modem;
said communication providing means further including means for controlling said switching means through said computer system based on interaction between said user and said program means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telecommunications booth providing business travelers a variety of services including telephone, facsimile, and various information options which result in automatic telephone dialing to desired destinations. The various telephonic devices function through a restrictor to access a single public communications channel. The restrictor prevents calls to certain classes of numbers, like 900 numbers. Billing data on the computer may be accessed through a modem.
-
Citations
10 Claims
-
1. A telecommunications booth responsive to a user with a planar card having data disposed thereon, comprising:
-
a housing; a card reader supported by said housing for reading the data on said card; a preprogrammed computer system supported by said housing and including program means for interacting with said user; a telephone coupled to said computer system and supported by said housing; a facsimile module coupled to said computer system and supported by said housing; a modem coupled to said computer system; a public telecommunications channel; and means for selectively providing communication between said public telecommunications channel and one of said telephone, said facsimile module, and said modem; said communication providing means including means for switching connection with said public telecommunications channel to one of said telephone, said facsimile module, and said modem; said communication providing means further including means for controlling said switching means through said computer system based on interaction between said user and said program means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method of using a telecommunications booth wherein access thereto is controlled, comprising the steps of:
-
monitoring a card reader with a preprogrammed computer until a user appropriately presents a planar card having magnetic data disposed thereon; reading said magnetic data with said card reader and communicating same to said computer to activate said computer for user interaction; executing a main program in response to input from said user who is responding to a selection of information and telecommunications services displayed on a monitor in communication with said computer and, based on interaction between said user and said main program, controlling switching means with said computer to provide communication between a public telecommunications channel and one of a telephone, a facsimile module, and a modem; deactivating said computer for user interaction on appropriate input from said user; and printing with a printer a billing statement, said printer being in communication with said computer. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
Specification