Importance

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Abstract

A Payment Authorization and Information Device for users of credit cards and other forms of credit receives billing information by tape or the like from the provider of the credit cards or from any such provider of credit. In the preferred embodiment, such information, encoded and identified as to the particular user, is broadcast during the retrace time of a television broadcast signal. A user has a receiver that is tuned to the particular channel in which the credit information is broadcast. A Payment Authorization and Information Device at the user's location is enabled to read the billing information into memory and tell the user that he has been billed. The Payment Authorization and Information Device is connected by a modem to the telephone line to signal the provider or the Information Center that the information has been received. At his convenience, the user operates the Payment Authorization and Information Device to print a bill and any other information sent by the provider or the Information Center. If the user wishes to pay the bill, the Payment Authorization and Information Device, upon his direction, will automatically dial the Informat4ion Center or his financial institution and direct payment of the stated amount to the named provider. If the user wishes to vary the amount paid, he may do so by typing instructions into a keyboard.

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First Claim