Multiple format telephonic interface control system

• US 5,351,285 A
• Filed: 04/13/1993
• Issued: 09/27/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: First Data Resources Incorporated (Fiserv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Katz, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woo, Stella L.
• Application Number:
  US08/047,241
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 379/94, 379/97, 379/96, 379/98, 379/93, 379/142, 379/95, 379/88, 379/91, 379/92
• US Class Current: 379/93.14
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/086 played via telephone, e.g. using a modem
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/00 Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2016 Call initiation by network rather than by subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/46 Arrangements for calling a number of substations in a predetermined sequence until an answer is obtained
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1309 Apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 : PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 : Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 : Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 : Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 : Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13178 : Control signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13256 : Call screening
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1328 : Call transfer, e.g. in PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 : Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13376 : Information service, downloading of information, 0800/0900 services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/002 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54533 : Configuration data, translation, passwords, databases
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/5455 : Multi-processor, parallelism, distributed systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54591 : Supervision, e.g. fault localisation, traffic measurements, avoiding errors, failure recovery, monitoring, statistical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/665 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/74 : Identification of subscriber calling from a party-line

Abstract

Call data signals actuated by a telephone terminal are provided from a telephone communication system to indicate call data as the called number, the calling number and the calling equipment. The call data signals address related control functions for selectively interfacing a live operator terminal or a multiple format multiple port data processing system. The interface connection involves providing a specific format as for automated processing or to prompt an operator. Screening tests and format selection are performed to make a determination. Individual telephone terminals and individual data formats are arranged and interfaced under controlled conditions specified by the call data. Time tests, history tests and demographic tests may be executed in addition to basic selection and qualification tests. Control may be executed from active data storage for assembled control words and record words. Record words for individual calls may be stored along with developed data.

Claims

1. An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for interfacing a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats to concurrently process data, and (3) a plurality of live operator stations with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said terminals including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selection means coupled to said call data means for selecting one of said formats under control of said call data including DNIS to thereby further specify imposed conditions that must exist for a connection of a call either to said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations in accordance with said select one of said formats, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition; and

interconnect switch means for providing format data and controlling connections from a calling remote terminal to a port of said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations under control of said selection means.

2. A system according to claim 1 further including test means to specify test conditions for certain of said formats and means to test compliance with said conditions to further control said interconnect switch means.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the time of a call.

4. A system according to claim 2 wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the history of the calling remote terminal.

5. A system according to claim 2 wherein one of said test means comprises means for executing a test based on the demographics of the calling remote terminal.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection means includes a look-up table for specifying said formats addressed by call data.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection means includes a control storage location and means for setting control data in said control storage location responsive to said call data.

8. A system according to claim 1 further including a voice generator means for prompting a caller.

9. A system according to claim 1 further including means for storing data representative of calls.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein said means for storing includes means for storing billing data.

11. A system according to claim 1 further including means to provide an abort signal, the system being responsive to said abort signal to reactuate said interconnect switch means for providing alternative connections with format data.

12. A system according to claim 11 further including test means to specify test conditions for certain of said formats and means to test compliance with said conditions to further control said interconnect switch means.

13. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection means selects under control of DNIS signals.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection means selects under control of ANI signals.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said selection means selects under control of equipment type signals.

16. An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for interfacing a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats to concurrently process data, and (3) a plurality of live operator stations with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

call data logic for receiving signal-represented call data from said terminals including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selection logic coupled to said call data logic for selecting one of said formats under control of said call data including DNIS to thereby further specify imposed conditions that must exist for a connection of a call either to said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations in accordance with a select one of said formats at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition;

test logic coupled to said selection logic for testing the imposed conditions to provide approval signals; and

interconnect switch means for providing connections from a calling remote terminal to a port of said multiple port, multiple format processor or one of said live operator stations under control of said selection logic and under control of said approval signals from said test logic.

17. A process for interfacing (1) a telephonic communication system including remote terminals either with (2) a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for a calling terminal, or (3) one of a plurality of operator stations with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals, as to indicate called and calling numbers, said process including the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communication system for a calling remote terminal indicative of DNIS and ANI automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting a processing format either for said multiple port, multiple format processing system or one of said plurality of operator stations for the calling remote terminal under control of said data signals as the selected format;

testing the selected format in relation to said call data signals; and

conditionally interfacing said calling terminal to said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for execution of said selected format or to one of said plurality of operator stations under control of said testing of call data signals.

18. A process for interfacing (1) a telephonic communication system including remote terminals either with (2) a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for a calling terminal, or (3) one of a plurality of operator stations with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals, as to indicate called and calling numbers, said process including the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communication system for a calling remote terminal indicative of DNIS and ANI automatically provided by said telephonic communication system, wherein said plurality of formats consist of at least one pay to dial format and one 800 toll free format;

selecting a processing format either for said multiple port, multiple format processing system or one of said plurality of operator stations for said calling remote terminal under control of said call data signals as the selected format;

testing the selected format in relation to said call data signals; and

conditionally interfacing said selected format to said calling remote terminal under control of said testing of said call data signals.

19. A method for interfacing (1) a telephonic communication system including individual remote calling terminals for individual callers with (2) a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals, and wherein said telephonic communication system includes the capability of providing call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communication system for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting for said remote terminals, a select processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format data processing system under control of said call data signals including DNIS provided by said telephonic communication system;

testing said select processing format in relation to said call data signals;

conditionally interfacing said select processing format to said remote terminals under control of said testing in relation to said call data signals; and

selectively terminating certain select calls from said remote terminals in favor of said operator attended terminals.

21. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 19, wherein said conditionally interfacing step further comprises the step of:

interfacing said selected processing format to said remote terminals based upon data entered by operators at said live operator attended terminals.

22. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

providing signal-represented call data from said remote terminals including calling numbers as additional call data signals.

23. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 22, further comprising the step of:

providing said additional call data signals automatically from said telephone communication system (e.g. ANI).

24. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

storing a record of negative file data, said select processing format using said additional call data signals to access said record and obtain data to specify and test for negative file conditions; and

terminating calls from said remote terminals if said calling number matches said data obtained from said negative file data.

25. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 22, further comprising the step of:

storing a record of positive file data, said select processing format accessing said record based on said additional call data and obtaining data to specify and test for positive file conditions.

26. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

terminating calls from said remote terminals if said data to specify and test for positive file conditions is not located.

27. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 25, further comprising the step of:

recording terms of caller billing associated with said select processing format.

28. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of called numbers are associated with said select processing format.

29. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 19, further comprising the step of:

testing to limit access to said select processing format on a one-time only basis.

20. A method for interfacing (1) a telephonic communication system including individual remote calling terminals for individual callers with (2) a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one specified condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals, and wherein said telephonic communication system includes the capability of providing call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting for said remote terminals, a select processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format data processing system under control of said call data signals including DNIS provided by said telephonic communication system;

testing said select processing format in relation to said call data signals;

conditionally interfacing said selected processing format to said remote terminals;

selectively terminating certain select calls from said remote terminals in favor of said operator attended terminals; and

transferring substantially all of said certain select calls from said operator attended terminals back to said multiple port, multiple format data processing system.

30. A method for interfacing (1) a telephonic communication system including remote terminals for individual callers to make individual calls with (2) a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals indicative of DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting a select processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of said call data signals;

testing said select processing format in relation to said call data signals to provide approval signals;

conditionally interfacing said select processing format to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals and said call data signals; and

storing data relating to said individual calls, along with any pay to dial billing data responsive to said call data signals.

31. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 30, further comprising the step of:

providing signal-represented call data from said remote terminals including calling numbers as additional call data signals.

32. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 31, further comprising the step of:

providing said additional call data signals automatically from said telephonic communication system (e.g. ANI).

33. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 32, further comprising the step of:

selectively extracting said pay to dial billing data.

34. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system including remote terminals for individual callers to make individual calls with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system and a plurality of live operator attended terminals, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides certain call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said certain call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting for said remote terminals, a specific pay to dial processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of said call data signals including DNIS;

testing said specific pay to dial processing format in relation to additional call data signals indicative of caller telephone number to provide approval signals; and

conditionally interfacing said specific pay to dial processing format to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals.

35. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 34, wherein said certain call data signals automatically provided by said telephonic communication facility include equipment data.

36. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 35, further comprising the step of:

automatically providing calling numbers (e.g. ANI) from said telephonic communication system as additional call data signals.

37. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 36, further comprising the step of:

testing said calling numbers (e.g. ANI) to specify use history conditions relating to said specific pay to dial processing format, for each of said individual calling terminals.

38. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 34, further comprising the step of:

testing to limit access of said remote terminals to a one time only use.

39. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 36, further comprising the steps of:

storing a record of negative file data, said specific pay to dial processing format accessing said record utilizing said automatically provided calling number data and obtaining data to specify and test for negative file conditions; and

terminating calls from said remote terminals if said calling number matches said data obtained from said negative file data.

40. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 39, wherein said test for negative file conditions is controlled by said calling numbers (e.g. ANI) automatically provided from said telephonic communication system as additional call data signals.

41. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 34, further comprising the steps of:

storing a record of positive file data, said specific pay to dial processing format accessing said record utilizing said caller telephone number data and obtaining data to specify and test for positive file conditions.

42. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 41, wherein said test for positive file conditions is controlled by calling numbers (e.g. ANI) automatically provided from said telephonic communication system as additional call data signals.

43. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication according to claim 34, further comprising the step of:

processing certain select of said remote terminals calling to interface said multiple port, multiple format data processing system based on said call data signals to connect said remote terminals to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals.

44. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication according to claim 43, further comprising the step of:

automatically connecting certain of said remote terminals to certain of said plurality of live operator attended terminals where said individual callers are appropriately prompted.

45. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication according to claim 34, wherein said testing step further comprises the step of:

executing a test based on historical limitations applied to an individual format and utilizing DNIS to control said test.

46. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system including remote terminals with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and wherein said telephonic communication system automatically provides call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals including call data signals indicative of DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting for said remote terminals, a select processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of said call data signals;

testing the select processing format in relation to said call data signals to limit access by said remote terminals to a one time use; and

conditionally interfacing said select processing format to said remote terminals responsive to said testing step.

47. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 46, further comprising the step of:

automatically providing calling numbers from said telephone communication system (e.g. ANI) as additional call data signals.

48. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system including remote terminals with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals including DNIS and ANI automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting a pay to dial processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of said call data signals including DNIS;

testing said pay to dial processing format in relation to said call data signals to provide test result signals;

conditionally interfacing said pay to dial processing format to said remote terminals responsive to said test result signals; and

storing billing provision data for each individual calling terminal based on said call data signals.

49. An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said remote terminals including DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selection means coupled to said call data means for selecting one format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processor, said selection means being controlled by said signal-represented call data including DNIS to specify imposed conditions that must exist for a connection to said multiple port, multiple format processor, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition;

test means coupled to said selection means for testing said specified imposed conditions for said remote terminals to provide approval signals;

interconnect switch means coupled to said test means for providing connections from said multiple port, multiple format processor to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals; and

switch means coupled to said interconnect switch for switching to one of said live operator attended terminals based on call data representative of a remote terminal device.

50. A system according to claim 49, further comprising:

switch means for switching calls from said live operator attended terminal back to said multiple format processor for automated processing.

51. An interface control system for use with, (1) a telephonic communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

call data means for receiving signal-represented call data from said remote terminals indicative of DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication facility;

selection means coupled to said call data means for selecting one pay to dial format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processor, said selection means being controlled by said signal-represented call data to specify imposed conditions that must exist for a connection to said multiple port, multiple format processor, at least one of said formats having at least one imposed condition;

test means coupled to said selection means for testing said imposed conditions to provide approval signals;

interconnect switch means coupled to said test means for providing connections from said multiple port, multiple format processor to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals; and

record means for storing data representative of calls from said individual callers and pay to dial individual caller billing data, under the control of said signal-represented call data.

52. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 51, further comprising the step of:

automatically providing calling numbers from said telephone communication system (e.g. ANI) as additional call data signals.

53. An interface control system according to claim 51, wherein said individual caller billing data is based on a control word for each operating format which imposes the terms of said caller billing data.

54. An interface control system for use with, (1) a telephonic communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, said telephonic communication facility automatically provides call data signals, as to indicate called numbers to select a particular format from said plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals with prompting capability for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

interface means for providing an introductory automated voice message relating to a specific format from said plurality of formats;

means for forwarding coupled to said interface means for forwarding a call from any one of said remote terminals to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals;

means for processing coupled to said forwarding means for processing caller information data entered by an operator at said live operator attended terminal;

means for storing coupled to said processing means for storing certain select data from said caller information data entered by said operator; and

means for reconnecting said call to said interface means to receive certain processed data via an automated voice message.

55. An interface control system according to claim 54, wherein said call data signals automatically provided by said telephonic communication facility include data representative of said remote terminals.

56. An interface control system according to claim 55, wherein said automatically provided call data signals indicating called numbers and data representative of said remote terminals forward said call automatically to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals.

57. An interface control system according to claim 54, wherein certain of said individual callers digitally enter data.

58. An interface control system according to claim 57, wherein said data entered by said individual callers is stored in said interface control system.

59. An interface control system according to claim 54, further comprising:

test structure to specify test conditions against which said caller information data entered by said operators is tested to provide approval signals and said call is interfaced with said specific format depending upon said approval signals.

60. An interface control system according to claim 59, wherein said test structure executes a test based on the history of said remote terminal.

61. An interface control system according to claim 54, wherein a plurality of called numbers are associated with said select processing format.

62. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system including individual remote calling terminals for individual callers to make individual calls with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system and a plurality of live operator attended terminals, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and wherein said telephonic communication system automatically provides call data signals, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system indicative of DNIS automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting for said remote calling terminals, a select processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of said call data signals, said plurality of formats including pay to dial processing formats;

testing use history conditions for said remote calling terminals when said select processing format is a pay to dial processing format to provide approval signals; and

conditionally interfacing said pay to dial processing format to said remote terminals under control of said approval signals.

63. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 62, wherein said automatically provided call data signals further indicate information indicative of said remote terminal devices.

64. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system according to claim 62, wherein said testing step comprises the step of testing use history conditions for said remote calling terminals only for certain of said pay to dial processing formats.

65. An interface control system for use with, (1) a communication facility including remote terminals for individual callers to make calls, wherein said remote terminals may comprise a conventional telephone instrument including voice communication means and some of said remote terminals may further comprise digital input means for providing data, and (2) a multiple port, multiple format processor for concurrently processing data from a substantial number of callers in any of a plurality of formats, said communication facility automatically provides call data signals with respect to pay to dial formats, as to indicate called data (DNIS) including equipment data, to select a particular format from said plurality of formats, and (3) a plurality of live operator attended terminals with prompting capability, for a plurality of formats, said interface control system comprising:

interface means for providing automated voice messages relating to a specific format to certain of said individual callers, wherein said certain of said individual callers digitally enter data through said digital input means;

means for directly forwarding a call coupled to said interface means for forwarding a call from any one of said remote terminals to one of said plurality of live operator attended terminals under control of said call data signals when said remote terminals do not have capability to digitally provide data;

means for processing coupled to said live operator attended terminals for processing caller information data entered by an operator at said live operator attended terminal; and

means for storing coupled to said interface means and said processing means for storing certain select data from said caller information data entered by said operator and data entered digitally by said individual callers.

66. An interface control system according to claim 65, wherein one of said pay to dial formats comprises a 900 number calling format.

67. A method for interfacing a telephonic communication system including remote terminals with a multiple port, multiple format data processing system, said multiple port, multiple format data processing system for concurrently processing data from said remote terminals according to a plurality of formats, at least one of said formats having at least one condition for said remote terminals calling to interface said data processing system, and wherein said telephonic communication system provides call data signals indicating called (e.g. DNIS) and calling (e.g. ANI) numbers, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving said call data signals from said telephonic communications system for said remote terminals indicative of DNIS and ANI automatically provided by said telephonic communication system;

selecting a pay to dial processing format from said plurality of formats of said multiple port, multiple format processing system under control of certain of said call data signals;

testing said pay to dial processing format in relation to said call data signals to provide test result signals;

conditionally interfacing said pay to dial processing format to said remote terminals responsive to said test result signals; and

storing billing provision data for each individual calling terminal based on said call data signals.