Importance

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Abstract

A public access network operating in conjunction with existing telecommunication lines to permit a caller holding a machine-readable credit card to make calls from any local station included in the network without having to deposit coins and without human intervention. The network is constituted by a master control central linked to a group of satellites installed at different locations, such as airport terminals. At every installation, the satellite acts as a hub for many local telephone stations each provided with a standard telephone set and a card reader adapted to scan the caller's credit card to derive therefrom a digital signal identifying the card, its number and expiration date. This signal from an originating local station is transmitted through the associated satellite to a verification processor at the central to test the card number against a stored table of invalid numbers and in other respects to determine the acceptability of the card. If the card passes this test the originating local station is so advised and the telephone set is then activated to permit the caller to dial.

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First Claim