Telecommunications card-access system

• US 5,497,411 A
• Filed: 03/14/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cybercard Corporation
• Original Assignee: Joseph C.E. Pellerin
• Inventors: Pellerin, Joseph C. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US08/209,724
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 379/59, 379/67, 379/88, 379/199, 379/200, 379/357, 340/825.31, 340/825.34, 340/825.5, 340/825.51, 380/23, 235/380
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/625 Arrangements in the private branch exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/72 Subscriber identity

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a access-control system for a telecommunication network which connects a serving telecommunication system to a plurality of telecommunication access terminals, comprising: at least one portable memory devices card, for storing a resident PIN and a number of access authorization codes and associated identification data; an access-control module for connection to a telecommunications access terminal, comprising user'"'"'s interface means for communication between the user and said module, means for reading said resident PIN, means for validating an user'"'"'s PIN input on said user'"'"'s interface means for accessing said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data on said card, means for selecting a transaction profile on said user'"'"'s interface means, means for transmitting a selected access authorization code and associated identification data for said transaction profile associated to said validated resident PIN to said serving telecommunication system over said network for executing a transaction defined by said transaction profile.

Claims

1. An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system connected to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising:

(a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating a user'"'"'s PIN;

(b) an access-control module comprising;

input means for receiving said user'"'"'s PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile;

means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;

display means for displaying said transaction profile;

means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; and

control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

(c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said access authorization codes include at least a voice-mail mail box password, a telephone station control password, a mobile identification number for a cellular phone, a bank account code, a credit card number and a preamble code required for an associated access code.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said access authorization codes further includes a Mobile Identification Number for identification of a cellular phone user.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is a proprietary telephone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is an analogue telephone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is a data device or a cellular phone and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said telecommunications access terminal is an ISDN basic rate access terminal and said module is connected thereto through said means for connecting.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for reading comprises:

means for receiving and returning said card; and

a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile when said user'"'"'s PIN has been validated and for reading said selected access authorization code and identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said control means comprises:

means for transmitting said user'"'"'s PIN to said card for validation;

means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user'"'"'s PIN has been validated and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected;

means for enabling said display means to show said preferred transaction; and

means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said input means is a dial pad.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, said telecommunications access terminal being of a type provided with a dial pad, wherein said input means is said dial pad of said terminal.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, said telecommunications access terminal being of a type provided with a dial pad and a display, wherein said dial pad and said display are common to said module and said terminal.

14. An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising:

(a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a corresponding transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated with each of said authorization code, and for validating a user'"'"'s PIN;

(b) an access-control module, comprising;

input means for receiving said user'"'"'s PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile;

means for reading said transaction profile from said card and for reading a selected access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;

display means for displaying said transaction profile;

means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction; and

control means for controlling said input means, said means for reading, said display means and said means for connecting, for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said means for connecting; and

(c) an authorized central issuing system for writing into said card said resident PIN and said number of access authorization codes and associated identification data.

15. An access-control system for a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising:

(a) at least one portable memory device card, for storing a resident PIN of an user and a transaction profile defined by a number of access authorization code and corresponding identification data associated with each authorization code, and for validating an user'"'"'s PIN;

(b) an access-control module comprising;

input means for receiving said user'"'"'s PIN and for selecting a preferred transaction from said transaction profile;

means for receiving and returning said card;

a reader for reading from said card said transaction profile if said user'"'"'s PIN has been validated and for reading said access authorization code and associated identification data if said preferred transaction has been selected;

display means for displaying said transaction profile;

means for connecting said module to a telecommunications access terminal for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data to said serving telecommunications system over said telecommunications network for executing said preferred transaction;

means for transmitting said user'"'"'s PIN to said card for validation

means for enabling said reader to retrieve from said card said transaction profile when said user'"'"'s PIN has been validated, and said selected access authorization code and associated identification data when said preferred transaction has been selected;

means for enabling said display means to show and select said preferred transaction; and

means for transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data from said card to said means for connecting.

16. A method for accessing and controlling a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising the steps of:

writing in a portable memory device card, at an authorized central issuing system, a resident PIN and a transaction profile for a user, said transaction profile being defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated to each of said authorization code;

introducing said card into a means for reading provided at a telecommunications access terminal;

inputting an user'"'"'s PIN on input means at said telecommunications access terminal and transmitting said users'"'"'s PIN to said card;

validating said user'"'"'s PIN, reading said transaction profile from said card and displaying said transaction profile on a display means;

selecting a preferred transaction on said input means;

reading from said card an access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;

transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data for said preferred transaction to said telecommunication network.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said step of validating comprises:

comparing said user'"'"'s PIN with said resident PIN and issuing a validation signal when said PIN'"'"'s coincide; and

counting the number of times the user'"'"'s PIN has been entered and denying user'"'"'s access to the system if said number exceeds a preset threshold.

18. A method for accessing and controlling a telecommunications network which connects a serving telecommunications system to a plurality of telecommunications access terminals, comprising the steps of:

writing in a portable memory device card, at an authorized central issuing system, a resident PIN and a transaction profile for a user, said transaction profile being defined by a number of access authorization codes and identification data associated to each of said authorization code;

introducing said card into a means for reading provided at a telecommunications access terminal;

inputting an user'"'"'s PIN on input means at said telecommunications access terminal and transmitting said users'"'"'s PIN to said card;

comparing said user'"'"'s PIN with said resident PIN and issuing a validation signal when said PIN'"'"'s coincide; and

counting the number of times the user'"'"'s PIN has been entered and denying user'"'"'s access to the system if said number exceeds a preset threshold;

selecting a preferred transaction on said input means;

reading from said card an access authorization code and associated identification data corresponding to said preferred transaction;

transmitting said selected access authorization code and associated identification data for said preferred transaction to said telecommunication network.