Abstract: A telephone configures as a programmable microcomputer (telephone-computer) which operates in most circumstances through a standard telephone 12-key keypad input. The telephone-computer has the overall appearance of a telephone and includes telephone electronics and a microprocessor unit operated in conjunction with other computer elements, including memory devices, a programmable gate array (PGA) chip which can be initially programmed and then fixed, and enhanced integrity features. The PGA has the capability of being configured to accommodate various types of software which require different hardware Configuration, but without actually reconfiguring the hardware. The telephone-computer delivers data processing capabilities and services through an ordinary telephone instrument via conventional telephone lines with a network host computer which communicates with a vast panoply of service bureaus.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide communication between a user-friendly terminal, such as a "home terminal" shaped to resemble a conventional telephone, and a number of service provider computers such as financial institutions. The system's application software transforms simple user commands into commands understood by the service provider computers. The network host computer supplies messages to the terminal for generating prompts needed to solicit required information from the user, and communicates with the service computers according to their respective protocols. The invention provides a packet assembler and disassembler (PAD) element within the home terminal itself, allowing fast response time for the customer at the home terminal while retaining the benefits of data error entry error correction and data transmission error correction.

Abstract: An improved user terminal specifically designed for use in the home for accessing a wide variety of service computers is disclosed. The terminal comprises a single board computer including a microprocessor remotely reconfigurable programmable gate array logic, several types of solid-state memory, and various input-output units. The programmable gate array forms the logical connection between the microprocessor, the memory, and the input-output elements, and allows the computer to functionally mimic an IBM Personal Computer, thus allowing it to run a wide variety of software. The programmable gate array can be remotely reconfigured, and a so-called FLASH-EPROM memory is used to store reconfiguration code. This allows the hardware to be reconfigured remotely in order to add additionally function, or to cure a particular problem such as to prevent a "virus" or the like from attacking the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a telephone configured as a programmable microcomputer (telephone-computer) which operates in most circumstances through a standard telephone 12-key keypad input. The telephone-computer includes telephone electronics and a microprocessor unit operated in conjunction with other computer elements, including memory devices, and a programmable gate array (PGA) chip and enhanced integrity features, and has the overall appearance of a telephone. The PGA has the capability of being reconfigured to accommodate various types of softwares which require different hardware configuration, but without actually reconfiguring the hardware. The telephone-computer delivers data processing capabilities and services through an ordinary telephone instrument via conventional telephone lines with a network host computer which communicates with a vast panoply of service bureaus.

Abstract: A card reader for reading data recorded on a magnetic stripe on a card includes a guide for guiding the card along a path past a transducer head. A gimbal arrangement mounts the head on the end of a mounting shaft which is journaled in the end of an arm for free rotation about an axis parallel to the stripe as it moves along the path. The arm swivels about a transverse axis perpendicular to the stripe and is biased to bring the head into the guide path through a head opening. The head has a leading bevelled surface so that a card inserted in the path will lift the head which will then ride firmly on the stripe. By virtue of the free rotation of the head about an axis parallel to the stripe, the device adjusts for any lack of parallelism between the head and the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmable microcomputer or microprocessor device with associated memory and telephone circuitry designed to be operated in most circumstances through a standard telephone 12-key keypad input. The microcomputer device of the present invention, which includes the primary microprocessor operated in conjunction with other computer elements, including memory, has the overall appearance of a telephone. The primary microprocessor of the invention consists of a central processing unit and associated memory and includes enhanced integrity features. The device delivers data processing capabilities and services through an ordinary telephone instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a programmable microcomputer or microprocessor device with associated memory designed to be operated in most circumstances through a standard telephone 12-key keypad input as augmented by four programmable function keys. The microcomputer device of the present invention, which includes the primary microprocessor operated in conjunction with other computer elements, including memory, has the overall appearance of a telephone. The primary microprocessor of the invention consists of a central processing unit and associated memory and includes enhanced integrity features.

Abstract: A privacy screen for a color CRT tube to shield images displayed on the color CRT tube film from observers to the sides of an observer in front of the tube. A first light control film contains a plurality of closely spaced louvers and is located in front of the color CRT tube. The louvers are positioned at a tilt angle relative to a vertical line and at a first direction relative to the vertical line. A second light control film contains a plurality of closely spaced louvers and is located in front of the CRT tube and the first light control film. The louvers of the second film are positioned at a tilt angle relative to the vertical line and at a second direction relative to the vertical line and opposite to the first direction of the louvers of the first film.

Abstract: An off hook telephone sensing system for use with a voice and data transmission system, including a transaction terminal coupled to a telephone line for data transmission, a telephone instrument coupled to the telephone line for voice transmission, an off hook telephone sensing device coupled to the telephone instrument for detecting the on-hook or off-hook condition of the instrument and for providing an output signal having values in accordance with the on-hook or off-hook condition of the instrument, a switching means coupled to the telephone instrument and to the telephone line for connecting or disconnecting the telephone instrument to or from the telephone line, the transaction terminal including means coupled to the off-hook sensing device and responsive to the output signal for producing an interrupt signal when the off-hook sensing device detects the off-hook condition of the telephone instrument and with the telephone instrument disconnected from the telephone line, and the transaction terminal incl

Abstract: An adaptive threshold optical reader for detecting optically encoded information when positioned within an optical path, including a light source for producing light energy along the optical path, a light detector responsive to the light energy along the optical path and for producing an ouput signal in accordance with the light energy detected by the light detector, means responsive to the output signal from the light detector and with the means having at least two states and with the means in a first state producing an adaptive threshold signal when there is no optically encoded information positioned within the optical path and with the adaptive threshold signal representative of the output signal from the light detector with a threshold level of optically encoded information and adaptive to optical changes and with the means in a second state for producing an information signal representative of the output signal from the light detector when there is optically encoded information positioned within the opt

Abstract: A terminal for providing for the performance of transactions by a user on a step by step basis and with the terminal, including, a visual display for displaying to the user at specific steps in a transaction instructional text to the user for the performance by the user to advance the transaction on a step by step basis, a plurality of function selectors located adjacent the visual display and with each selector corresponding to the location of particular instructional text on the visual display, the visual display including at particular ones of the steps in a transaction instructional text including a choice of one or one of a plurality of the function selectors to advance the transaction to the next step, and means coupled to the function selectors for enabling and/or visually indicating only those selectors which are part of the choice for a particular one of the steps.

Abstract: Method for marking a large number of credit cards with unique credit card numbers. A lot size of plastic sheets is selected which is related to the numerical base, b, for expressing the sheet numbers. Each sheet is identically marked with position numbers placed in each of a plurality of uniform credit card areas on each sheet with each area having a position number differing from the position numbers of the other areas on the sheet. Each sheet in the lot is marked with an individual sheet number with sheet numbers being marked by separately marking the individual digits making up the sheet number. After marking the sheets with a digit in the sheet number, the sheets are sorted before marking the next digit. The sorting size is dependent upon the numerical base, b, and the order of the digit which has been marked. After sorting, the sheets in each of the sorted groups have the same distribution of sheet numbers. The next digit is then marked on the sheets and the sheets are again sorted, etc.

Abstract: A process for forming credit cards in which encoded information is screen printed on a plastic sheet. In the process, a photographic film is placed in contact with a surface having film exposure means positioned with respect to the surface. Locating means are formed on the film and the film is positioned on the surface through the locating means. Thereafter, small predetermined coded spaces are exposed on the film and the exposed film is developed to provide coded darkened spaces corresponding to the exposed coded spaces.The developed film is placed against a silk screen having first positioning means which coact with the locating means on the film to position the film with respect to the silk screen. The screen is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion and light is shone on the screen through the film to expose the emulsion except at the coded darkened areas.The screen is washed to provide a coded screen having openings corresponding to the exposed coded spaces on the film.

Abstract: A terminal for providing for the performance of transactions by a user on a step by step basis and with the terminal, including, a visual display for displaying to the user at specific steps in a transaction instructional text to the user for the performance by the user to advance the transaction on a step by step basis, a plurality of function selectors located adjacent the visual display and with each selector corresponding to the location of particular instructional text on the visual display, the visual display including at particular ones of the steps in a transaction instructional text including a choice of one or one of a plurality of the function selectors to advance the transaction to the next step, and means coupled to the function selectors for enabling and/or visually indicating only those selectors which are part of the choice for a particular one of the steps.