Importance

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Abstract

The invention concerns call-charge payment of telephone calls from payphone telephone instruments (PI) using a credit card, or the like. The invention provides credit transaction arrangements for automatic call-charge payment of calls established through a telecommunications network from payphone instruments (PI). The payphone (PI) is provided with a credit card reader (CRM) which when activated causes the payphone (PI) to automatically set-up a path (NAP) through the telecommunications network to credit transaction equipment (CCE) at a remote location (NP) within the network. Initially, a first record data (HEAD), being relevant to prior call-charge payment, is transmitted over the path (NAP), validated and stored (CDS) at the credit transaction equipment (CCE), and the path is promptly disconnected. The subscriber then sets-up a communication path through the network to a desired called subscriber for communication purposes. Following the release of the communication path, second record data (TAIL), also being relevant to the current call-charge payment, is compiled in the payphone and subsequently transmitted to the credit transaction equipment (CCE) and combined with the first record data (HEAD) for call-charging payment purposes. A data base (DB) employing a computer is concerned with the bill processing.

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First Claim