Importance

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Abstract

A telephone data terminal and data collection network for communicating data over a telephone system using DTMF tone dialing. A telephone data terminal (10) includes an optical bar code reader wand (16) and a slot (22) in which a magnetic field sensor is disposed for reading variations in magnetic field intensity on a magnetic strip (24) applied to a card (24). Data encoded as a bar code, or stored in the magnetic strip, are converted to ASCII data by a CPU (50), and are transmitted either as a DTMF signal to a remote location over the telephone system, or as a data link signal that is incompatible with the telephone system, to a data processor (252). The telephone data terminal can be operated in either a voice prompted data collection mode or a display prompted data collection mode. It includes a two-by-twenty character alphanumeric LCD display (14) in which a prompt message is displayed to a user. The display also may be used in a message mode for displaying a message that the user enters by scanning an appropriate encoded data bar code or magnetic strip. When operating in the display prompted data collection mode, a telephone line controller (110) disconnects the telephone data terminal from the telephone system, and causes a local telephone line connected to it to appear 'busy,' with respect to any incoming telephone calls.

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First Claim