Abstract: An automatic process for use in point-of-sale credit card or debit card systems for taking corrective action based on information returned from the banking system and/or the point-of-sale system. The automatic process replaces the human clerk as the interface in control of action by the point-of-sale device enabling unattended operation. The automatic process includes the maintenance of a hot list for denying use of repeatedly rejected cards, stopping the automatic operation if the banking system denies point-of-sale device access, and allows for local proprietary cards to be used independent of the banking system.

Abstract: The local telephone message announcing device automatically checks a remote telephone voice messaging system for stored messages in a consistent and timely manner, announces the presence of stored messages through an external indicator and automatically connects the user to the stored messages upon entry of a predetermined command by the user. The device checks for the stored messages by detecting a unique tone sent to a user's telephone set or telephone number by the remote telephone voice messaging system to indicate the presence of stored messages. The detection occurs at predetermined time intervals whereby interference with the operation of the local telephone set is minimized. In addition, the device is easily installed by a person without technical expertise and can be adapted to any type of telephone set.