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.

Abstract: A monitoring system and method, particularly applicable to vehicle monitoring, detects theft of a vehicle or other object and automatically transmits its current position to the proper authorities. For vehicle monitoring, a vehicle monitoring unit mounted on the vehicle determines the initial position of the vehicle and thereafter periodically determines the current position of the vehicle via a position detector. Preferably, the position detector consists of a satellite receiver, such as a GPS receiver, for receiving satellite signals from a plurality of satellites. A controller circuit determines the position of the vehicle from the satellite signals. A range of movement of the vehicle is then determined by comparing the initial position and the current position. When the detected range equals or exceeds a selected range limit, the controller circuit activates a transmitter which transmits position signals representative of the current position of the vehicle.

Abstract: Calling card subscribers are allowed to charge telephone calls to calling card numbers before the calling card issuer's billing system is updated to include account records containing subscriber-specific information associated with those card numbers. Billing data associated with calls charged to those card numbers are stored until account records are created for those card numbers. Upon the creation of an account record for one of those card numbers, subscriber-specific information contained in the account record is combined with the stored billing data associated with that card number to form a conventional billing record for further processing.

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.