Customer service unit

• US RE30,821 E
• Filed: 10/28/1977
• Issued: 12/08/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1961
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telecredit Incorporated (Equifax, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Telecredit Incorporated (Equifax, Inc.)
• Inventors: Goldman, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/846,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149 R, 340/149 A, 340/152, 235/380
• US Class Current: 340/5.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/403 Solvency checks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00087 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02

Abstract

A status-indicating system is disclosed, directed specifically to provide information for regulating credit transactions and the like. An inquiry station includes structure for providing signals that identify a subject and also indicate whether or not the contemplated transaction suggests caution, e.g., cash will be returned on a check. The inquiry signals are transmitted to a primary register which has a location assigned for each subject and which locations record first signals (indicating that the subject is or is not authorized) and second signals (indicating the subject is or is not in question). The questionable status results from a relatively recent inquiry by a subject which involved a transaction of the type suggesting caution. Thus, such transactions result in the recording of the second signals, in the primary register. The system incorporates structure for selectively cancelling the first and second signals from the register as well as for eliminating all the second signals (as at the close of a business day or other period). As disclosed, the register is a cyclic magnetic memory. .Iadd.

Claims

1. A system for registering status for a multiplicity of subjects identified as by numerical designations, and for indicating a subjects status at any of a plurality of remote stations on command, comprising:

a central processing unit including a status register for registering status signals to manifest the status of each of said subjects, said status register including a first recording path and a second recording path, said first path for recording permanent status signals and said second path for recording temporary status signals;

means for sensing said status signals from said status register;

means for recording said temporary status signals in said second path upon the occurrence of designation signals addressing a designation thereon;

address register means to address said status register with designation signals, representative of a subject'"'"'s designation to locate the status signals for a designated subject;

means at each of said remote stations to form designation signals representative of a subjects designation and temporary status signals for a subject;

means at each of said remote stations to manifest a subjects status under control of said status signals;

transfer means to transfer designation signals from each of said remote stations to said address register and to transfer status signals from said status register to each of said means to manifest a subjects status;

and control mean for controlling said transfer means to receive designation signals from a single remote station pending return of status signals to said single remote station.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said status register comprises at least two circular magnetic paths and means for sensing the contents of spaces in said paths under control of said address register to provide status signals.

3. A control system for accounting status of a plurality of subjects each of which is identified as by a numerical designation, comprising:

means for forming electrical signals indicative of the numerical designation for a subject;

register means having locations for registering a first information signal indicative of unacceptable status and a second information signal indicative of a questionable status for each of said numerical designations;

means for transmitting said electrical signals indicative of a numerical designation to said register means;

means for providing information signals from said register means from a location therein identified by received electrical signals indicative of a numerical designation;

means for manifesting said information signals; and

means for recording a second information signal in a location identified by a numerical designation upon the provision of said information signals by said means for providing information signals. .[.4. A system for providing a status report on subjects identified by numerical designations pursuant to various transactions comprising;

means for forming electrical inquiry signals indicative of the numerical designations for a subject;

means for forming electrical inquiry signals indicative of a transaction suggesting caution;

status register means having locations for registering first status signals and second status signals for said numerical designations;

means for transmitting said electrical inquiry signals to said register means;

means for providing status signals from one location in said status register identified by said received electrical inquiry signals indicative of the numerical designation for a subject;

means for manifesting said status signals from said status register in response to said inquiry signals; and

means for recording said electrical inquiry signals indicative of a transaction suggesting caution, as second status signals in said one location identified by said received electrical inquiry signals indicative

4. of the numerical designation for a subject..]. 5. A system according to claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.3 .Iaddend.wherein said means for manifesting said .[.status.]. .Iadd.information .Iaddend.signals comprise:

a first lamp for indicating approval;

a second lamp for indicating disapproval and controlled by said first .[.status.]. .Iadd.information .Iaddend.signals; and

a third lamp indicating caution, and contolled by

5. said second .[.status.]. .Iadd.information .Iaddend.signals. 6. A system according to claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.3 .Iaddend.further including means for selectively clearing all of said second .[.status.]. .Iadd.information .Iaddend.signals recorded in said .[.status.]. register .Iadd.means.Iaddend.. .[.7. A system according to claim 4 wherein said register means comprises a plurality of circular recording paths and wherein said means for providing status signals from one location in said status register includes means to scan said recording paths during a first cycle, and said means for recording said second status signals includes means to scan said recording paths during a second cycle..]. .[.8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said circular recording paths comprise paths of magnetic recording medium..]. .[.9. A system according to claim 8 further including means for selectively clearing all of said second status signals recorded in said status register..]. .[.10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for manifesting said status signals comprise:

a first lamp for indicating approval;

a second lamp for indicating disapproval and controlled by said first status signals; and

a third lamp

6. indicating caution, and controlled by said second status signals..]. 11. A system according to claim .[.4.]. .Iadd.3 .Iaddend.further including means for selectively clearing said second .[.status.]. signals from select locations of said .[.status.]. register .Iadd.means.Iaddend..