Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

Encumbrances on making calls charged to a card can be reduced by a) storing information so that an association is created relating a card number and at least one calling telephone station, from which card calls charged to the associated card are to be made, b) using the association to retrieve the card number at the time a card call is made from the at least one associated telephone station and c) automatically supplying the retrieved card number to the telephone network at the appropriate part of call set-up, so that the card number need not be entered by the calling party. The association between the card number and the telephone station, which may be referred to as a 'logical link', is 1) independent of any pre-existing relationship between the card number, or any subset thereof, and the telephone number of the telephone station and 2) continues to exist despite the going on hook of the calling telephone station. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, personal identification information, such as the PIN assigned to the card number by the card issuer or a specially assigned PIN for use with the invention, may also be related to the calling telephone station and the card number by storing additional information to create an association among the calling telephone station, card number and PIN.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim